The Charles & Irene Nanney Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on local emergency and basic-needs charities, with the majority of funding directed to Crisis Assistance Ministry and multiple Salvation Army programs. Grants are explicitly charitable and appear aimed at direct service delivery for people in crisis rather than long-term program development. The foundation gives relatively few, sizable gifts and shows willingness to repeat support for the same organizations.
Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants focused on direct-service charities, including repeat funding to the same organizations rather than broadly distributed small grants.
The Charles & Irene Nanney Foundation C/o David Powell Nanney Jr repeatedly directs some of its largest recent gifts to emergency aid providers in North Carolina, with both Crisis Assistance Ministry and The Salvation Army appearing among its highest-dollar grants. That pattern points to a foundation centered on direct help for people facing short-term hardship rather than broad, multi-state philanthropy. In the recent record, the foundation also supports education, food access, and community-serving organizations, but the strongest throughline is local service delivery for households in crisis. Its giving shows repetition as well as concentration. Crisis Assistance Ministry received $27,900 in 2023 and $24,065 in 2024, while The Salvation Army appears in Gastonia and Charlotte across the same period. The foundation also backed United Way of Gaston County, Holy Angels Inc, and Gaston Symphonic Band, showing that it funds a small set of local organizations across charitable, civic, and education categories. The overall pattern is one of relatively few grants, often at meaningful dollar levels, with renewed support across years for familiar recipients.
Emergency financial assistance is central to the foundation’s portfolio. It gave $27,900 in 2023 and $24,065 in 2024 to Crisis Assistance Ministry, indicating continued support for short-term help in household crises. Food and basic-needs services also appear in the record. The foundation awarded $2,500 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina Inc in 2023 and $2,500 to Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in 2024, alongside a $2,500 grant to Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina Inc in Raleigh. Education is another recurring area. Grants include $20,000 to Campbell University Law School and $18,750 to Mars Hill University in 2023, with renewed support for Mars Hill University, Wake Forest University, Gardner-webb University, and Campbell University Law School in 2024.
Typical grant sizes cluster around small-to-mid five figures and low thousands: the 25th percentile is $2,000, median $2,500, and 75th percentile $12,000. The recent record also shows repeated support across years for several recipients, including Mars Hill University, Wake Forest University, Gardner-webb University, Campbell University Law School, and United Way of Gaston County. That points to renewed giving rather than isolated one-time awards. The foundation is a private family foundation connected to David Powell Nanney Jr., and the grants are charitable rather than program-related investments. No application process is shown in the data.
$164K
$2.9M
$210K
$211K
Most grants fall between $2K and $12K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$12K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: Crisis Assistance Ministry, The Salvation Army (local chapters), Local emergency/basic-needs service providers
All recent grants went to U.S. recipients, and every listed recipient is in North Carolina. Gastonia appears frequently, with grants to Salvation Army, Crisis Assistance Ministry, United Way of Gaston County, Gaston Symphonic Band, Gaston Literacy Council Inc, With Friends Inc, and Cancer Services of Gaston County. Charlotte and Winston Salem also recur, along with Raleigh, Buies Creek, Belmont, Boiling Springs, MARS HILL, and Winston Salem. The pattern is tightly local and entirely in-state.
The recent record shows support for emergency aid, food assistance, education, civic groups, and medical or community-service organizations. Examples include Crisis Assistance Ministry, food banks in Winston Salem and Raleigh, several North Carolina universities, United Way of Gaston County, and Cancer Services of Gaston County.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Crisis Assistance Ministry, Mars Hill University, Wake Forest University, Gardner-webb University, Campbell University Law School, United Way of Gaston County, Holy Angels Inc, and With Friends Inc.
The grant-size profile centers on modest awards: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $12,000. Recent grants include both smaller awards at $2,500 and larger gifts in the $15,000 to $27,900 range.
Its recent grants are entirely in North Carolina. Gastonia is a frequent recipient city, and other listed locations include Charlotte, Winston Salem, Raleigh, Buies Creek, Belmont, Boiling Springs, MARS HILL, and Gastonia-area organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | RALEIGH, NC | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| MARS HILL UNIVERSITY | MARS HILL, NC | $18,750 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY | GASTONIA, NC | $17,700 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $17,700 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $16,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY | BOILING SPRINGS, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| UNITED WAY OF GASTON COUNTY | GASTONIA, NC | $11,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| STOWER FAMILY YMCA | BELMONT, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY | LEWISBURG, PA | $7,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HOLY ANGELS INC | BELMONT, NC | $5,250 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| GASTON SYMPHONIC BAND | GASTONIA, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| CANCER SERVICES OF GASTON COUNTY | GASTONIA, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | MEDICAL |
| COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| WITH FRIENDS INC | GASTONIA, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| GASTON LITERACY COUNCIL INC | GASTONIA, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HILLSDALE CHURCH PRESCHOOL | ADVANCE, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | EDI |
| MEREDITH COLLEGE | RALEIGH, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HOUSE OF MERCY | BELMONT, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| WHITAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CIRCLE OF COMMITMENT INC | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| MORGAN ELEMENTARY PTA | CLEMMONS, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | GASTONIA, NC | $500 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| GASTON COLLEGE FOUNDATION | DALLAS, NC | $250 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| GASTON ARTS COUNCIL | GASTONIA, NC | $250 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $22,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| MARS HILL UNIVERSITY | MARS HILL, NC | $18,750 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY | GASTONIA, NC | $17,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY | BOILING SPRINGS, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | RALEIGH, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNITED WAY OF GASTON COUNTY | GASTONIA, NC | $11,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| GASTON COUNTY FAMILY YMCA | GASTONIA, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| HOLY ANGELS INC | BELMONT, NC | $5,250 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY | LEWISBURG, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GASTON SYMPHONIC BAND | GASTONIA, NC | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GASTON LITERACY COUNCIL INC | GASTONIA, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WITH FRIENDS INC | GASTONIA, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| GASTON COUNTY CANCER SOCIETY | GASTONIA, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MEREDITH COLLEGE | RALEIGH, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| WHITAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CIRCLE OF COMMITMENT INC | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HOUSE OF MERCY | BELMONT, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| SAVING GRACE ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION INC | WAKE FOREST, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | GASTONIA, NC | $500 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| GASTON ARTS COUNCIL | GASTONIA, NC | $250 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GASTON COLLEGE FOUNDATION | DALLAS, NC | $250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY | GASTONIA, NC | $24,065 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $24,065 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| MARS HILL UNIVERSITY | MARS HILL, NC | $18,750 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $15,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL | BUIES CREEK, NC | $15,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
$20,000EDUCATION
MARS HILL UNIVERSITY
$18,750EDUCATION
THE SALVATION ARMY
$17,700CIVIC
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
$15,000EDUCATION
STOWER FAMILY YMCA
$10,000CHARITABLE
HOLY ANGELS INC
$5,250CIVIC
GASTON SYMPHONIC BAND
$5,000CHARITABLE
CANCER SERVICES OF GASTON COUNTY
$2,500MEDICAL
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$2,500EDUCATION
WITH FRIENDS INC
$2,500CIVIC
GASTON LITERACY COUNCIL INC
$2,500EDUCATION
HILLSDALE CHURCH PRESCHOOL
$2,000EDI
MEREDITH COLLEGE
$2,000EDUCATION
HOUSE OF MERCY
$2,000CIVIC
WHITAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CIRCLE OF COMMITMENT INC
$2,000EDUCATION
MORGAN ELEMENTARY PTA
$2,000EDUCATION
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
$500RELIGIOUS
GASTON ARTS COUNCIL
$250EDUCATION
THE SALVATION ARMY
$22,000CIVIC
MARS HILL UNIVERSITY
$18,750EDUCATION
CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
$17,000CHARITABLE
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
$15,000EDUCATION
CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
$15,000EDUCATION
GASTON SYMPHONIC BAND
$3,000CHARITABLE
GASTON LITERACY COUNCIL INC
$2,500EDUCATION
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$2,500EDUCATION
WITH FRIENDS INC
$2,500CIVIC
GASTON COUNTY CANCER SOCIETY
$2,500CHARITABLE
MEREDITH COLLEGE
$2,000EDUCATION
WHITAKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CIRCLE OF COMMITMENT INC
$2,000EDUCATION
HOUSE OF MERCY
$2,000CIVIC
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
$500RELIGIOUS
GASTON ARTS COUNCIL
$250EDUCATION
CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
$24,065CHARITABLE
THE SALVATION ARMY
$24,065CIVIC
MARS HILL UNIVERSITY
$18,750EDUCATION
CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
$15,000EDUCATION