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1. What
is The Belk Foundation?
The philanthropy of The Belk Foundation
is the public expression of gratitude and commitment shown by the Belk
department store organization – and by the Belk family who created it –
to the communities that have helped the company to grow and prosper since
its establishment in 1888.
The Belk Foundation makes grants to a wide variety
of community-based nonprofit organizations and institutions whose
missions and actions support “the advancement of Christian causes and the
upbuilding of mankind,” as set forth in the
will of William Henry Belk, founder of the Belk department store
organization.
History and Mission
The John M. Belk Memorial Fund was created in 1928
upon the death of Dr. John M. Belk, brother of William Henry Belk and co-founder
of the Belk department store organization. Karl Hudson Sr., an early Belk
managing partner, supported the creation of the Memorial Fund and served
as its Trustee until his death in 1953.
The Memorial Fund was operated primarily for the building,
re-building and remodeling of Presbyterian churches, manses and Sunday
school buildings in the Southeast.
The John M. Belk Memorial Fund also supported the
education and training of Christian missionaries, the establishment of
public libraries, the aiding of hospitals and their indigent patients and
the advancement of the YMCA and YWCA.
Soon after William Henry Belk’s death in 1952, his
heirs combined the charitable portion of his estate with the John M. Belk
Memorial Fund to form The Belk Foundation.
The mission of The Belk Foundation is to support
local and regional educational, religious, cultural, social and medical
causes “for the up-building of mankind,” including
- assisting secondary schools, colleges and
universities and their programs;
- assisting religious institutions and organizations
and their programs;
- supporting area arts and other cultural organizations
and their programs;
- supporting community-based human services
organizations and their programs; and
- aiding
hospitals and healthcare organizations and their programs.
The Belk Foundation remains committed to fulfilling
the philanthropic vision of its founders and continues to be an effective
means of expressing the Belk family’s values.
Where Do The Foundation’s Funds Come From?
The Belk Foundation’s money for grantmaking,
like that of most private foundations, comes from the interest income and
investment earnings of its endowment.
Historically, the Belk department store organization has made an
annual gift to The Belk Foundation to support its charitable giving.
The Belk Foundation currently has assets in excess
of $50 million. Each year the
organization gives approximately five percent of its assets to various
charitable organizations whose programs and services reflect the vision
of William Henry and Dr. John M. Belk.
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2. What Are The Belk Foundation’s Giving Guidelines?
Geographic Scope
While The Belk Foundation’s gifts are concentrated
primarily in North
Carolina, where Belk, Inc. is based,
it awards grants to charitable organizations in communities
in the 16 states where Belk stores are located:
On rare occasions, a national organization (such as
the Red Cross) may be supported outside of the region; but grants
generally are not made to organizations that distribute funds or provide
services outside of the Southeast, and never outside of the United States.
Areas of Interest
Like most foundations, The Belk Foundation annually
receives hundreds of grant proposals, but it focuses its grantmaking on the following five areas of
interest: education, religion,
culture, society and medicine. The
Belk Foundation typically views capital campaigns more favorably than
supporting ongoing operations.
Grant Limitations
Grants from The Belk Foundation are not awarded to:
- individuals, including students;
- public, government or quasi-governmental programs,
agencies or organizations (excluding certain public secondary
schools, colleges and universities); or
- international
programs and/or organizations.
Additionally, The Belk
Foundation does not provide door prizes, gift certificates, merchandise
or other giveaways.
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How Do Organizations Obtain Grants From The Belk
Foundation?
Starting June 1, 2005, The Belk Foundation’s Board
of Advisors elected to exclude unsolicited grant applications from
consideration. The Foundation obtains sufficient grant proposals through
its own devices to consume its annual grant making capability.
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3. Grant
History
The Belk Foundation’s legacy of giving totals more
than $21 million over the past 10 years.
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4. Who Are The Belk Foundation’s Board of Advisors?
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John M. Belk, Chairman
Charlotte, N.C.
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Leroy Robinson
Charlotte, N.C.
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Claudia W. Belk
Charlotte, N.C.
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B. Frank Mathews II
Gastonia, N.C.
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Katherine McKay Belk-Cook
Charlotte, N.C.
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J. Kirk Glenn Jr.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
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Katherine Belk Morris
Southern Pines, N.C.
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Mary Claudia Belk Pilon
Charlotte, N.C.
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5. How Can I Contact The Belk Foundation?
Mr. Paul B. Wyche Jr.,
Trustee
The Belk Foundation
2801 W. Tyvola Road
Charlotte, NC
28217-4500
(704) 426-8404
paul_wyche@belk.com
M.C. Belk Pilon, Foundation Administrator
The Belk Foundation
2801 W. Tyvola Road
Charlotte, NC
28217-4500
(704) 426-8396
m_c_belk@belk.com
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