The David Belk Cannon Foundation is a place‑based funder concentrated in Gaston County and the broader Carolina region that prioritizes capital projects, institutional capacity, and place‑based conservation. Its grants overwhelmingly support local education institutions (private K–12 schools, colleges, and workforce/innovation centers), community philanthropy via a local community foundation donor‑advised fund, and a mix of faith‑based retreat/conference facilities and land/conservation initiatives. Most awards are large, multi‑hundred‑thousand to million‑dollar gifts intended for buildings, strategic initiatives, or endowed program support.
The David Belk Cannon Foundation’s recent grantmaking is defined by large, place-based gifts for capital projects and strategic institutional support in North Carolina. A single theme runs through the portfolio: helping schools, colleges, community institutions, and civic organizations build, expand, or sustain facilities and long-term programs. In Gastonia, the foundation has backed the Gaston Community Foundation with multiple awards for the New Hope Business District and donor-advised fund activity, including a $1,500,000 grant in 2025 and a $1,094,300 grant in 2023. It has also made seven-figure commitments to Davidson College for the Center for Career Development and to Montreat Conference Center for a new lodge facility, showing interest in education, convening spaces, and local infrastructure. Other substantial grants have supported Gaston Day School’s new upper school building, Saint Mary’s School construction, and the Conservation Fund’s Carolina Farms Fund Project. The pattern is consistent: institutional building, endowment-style support, and projects tied to the Carolinas region.
Education-related grants are a major part of the portfolio. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to Davidson College for the Center for Career Development and $333,333 to Gaston College Foundation for the Fiber Innovation Center, pairing higher-education infrastructure with workforce-oriented programming. It also supported K–12 and independent-school projects, including $892,000 to Gaston Day School for construction of a new upper school building. Beyond schools, the foundation funds community and civic facilities. A $200,000 grant to Gaston County Family YMCA supported its capital campaign, while $250,000 to Covenant Village funded outdoor pavilion and parking improvements. The foundation also backs arts and public-interest institutions: Schiele Museum of Natural History received $150,000 for a new dinosaur exhibit, and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden received $300,000 for phase 1 projects in its strategic plan.
Typical awards are sizable, with a p25 of $20,000, a median of $32,000, and a p75 of $126,250, but the recent grants list shows many awards well above that upper quartile. The foundation operates as a regular funder and does not make program-related investments. The pattern also suggests repeat support rather than one-off giving: Gaston Community Foundation appears in multiple years, including grants for both the New Hope Business District and the DBC Donor Advised Fund. Recipients also recur across years in other cases, such as Saint Mary’s School and Davidson College. Funding is often directed to capital campaigns, construction, or board-directed support.
$9.2M
$132.5M
$8.4M
$10.1M
Most grants fall between $20K and $126K, with a median of $32K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$32K
75th Percentile
$126K
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Concentrated, high‑value grants with a small number of recipients; frequent repeat support to a lead intermediary (Gaston Community Foundation) alongside one‑off multi‑hundred‑thousand to million‑dollar capital gifts. Emphasis on capital/strategic investments rather than many small operating grants.
Notable grantees: Gaston Community Foundation, Gaston Day School, Davidson College, Montreat Conference Center, The Conservation Fund
Giving is highly concentrated in North Carolina, which accounts for 80% of grants to recipients in the HQ state and is also the top state by grant count. Many awards land in Gastonia, including grants to Gaston Community Foundation, Gaston Day School, Gaston County Family YMCA, and Schiele Museum of Natural History. Other recurring North Carolina destinations include Davidson, Raleigh, Belmont, Dallas, Charlotte, and Arden. Outside North Carolina, grants in the recent list reached Virginia, South Carolina, and Massachusetts, with recipients in Arlington, Richmond, Pinewood, and Boston.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on capital construction, campus improvements, and strategic institutional projects. Examples include a new upper school building for Gaston Day School, a new lodge facility at Montreat Conference Center, the Center for Career Development at Davidson College, and Phase 1 projects in Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s strategic plan.
Yes. Education-related awards include $1,000,000 to Davidson College for the Center for Career Development, $333,333 to Gaston College Foundation for the Fiber Innovation Center, and $892,000 to Gaston Day School for construction of a new upper school building. The Year Up grants also point to career-readiness support for local employers and the Charlotte region.
The typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $32,000 at the median, and $126,250 at the 75th percentile, but many awards are much larger. Recent grants include seven-figure gifts and repeated support to the same institutions across multiple years, often tied to capital campaigns, construction, or board-directed purposes.
Most grants go to North Carolina recipients, and 80% of grants are to organizations in the HQ state. Gastonia appears frequently, along with Davidson, Charlotte, Raleigh, Belmont, Dallas, and Arden. Outside North Carolina, the recent grant list includes recipients in Virginia, South Carolina, and Massachusetts.
Recurring support is common. Gaston Community Foundation appears in multiple years with different awards, including the New Hope Business District and donor-advised fund support. Davidson College and Saint Mary’s School also receive more than one grant across the recent list, showing repeated rather than purely one-time funding.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston Community Foundation | Gastonia, NC | $1,500,000 | 2026 | New Hope Business District |
| Gaston Day School | Gastonia, NC | $892,000 | 2026 | Board Directed, Construction of new upper school building |
| Gaston Community Foundation | Gastonia, NC | $543,600 | 2026 | DBC Donor Advised Fund, Rankin Fund, Strategic Planning |
| The Conservation Fund | Arlington, VA | $500,000 | 2026 | Conservation Fund's Carolina Farms Fund Project |
| Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | Belmont, NC | $300,000 | 2026 | Support Phase 1 projects in DSBG's strategic plan |
| Covenant Village | Gastonia, NC | $250,000 | 2026 | Outdoor Pavillion & Driveway/Parking Lot Improvements |
| Christ Church Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $250,000 | 2026 | Transforming Hearts, Changing Lives campaign |
| Gaston County Family YMCA | Gastonia, NC | $200,000 | 2026 | Capital Campaign |
| Saint Mary's School | Raleigh, NC | $166,666 | 2026 | Construction |
| Schiele Museum of Natural History | Gastonia, NC | $150,000 | 2026 | Support New Dinosaur Exhibit |
| Year Up | Boston, MA | $150,000 | 2026 | Support program to prepare career-ready talent for local employers |
| Kintegra Health | Gastonia, NC | $125,000 | 2026 | New facility in Bessemer City, NC |
| Community Foundation of Western NC | Asheville, NC | $125,000 | 2026 | Hurricane Helene relief |
| Woodberry Forest School | Woodberry Forest, VA | $125,000 | 2026 | Scholarships |
| Christ School | Arden, NC | $100,000 | 2026 | Support Endowed DBC Scholarship |
| Boys Girls Clubs of Greater Gastoni | Gastonia, NC | $95,000 | 2026 | Dancing for Future Stars |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center | Charlotte, NC | $83,333 | 2026 | Housing Development and Community Center |
| Dream Center Academy | Gastonia, NC | $75,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Union Presbyterian Seminary | Richmond, VA | $62,500 | 2026 | John & Missy Kuykendall VP for Dean of Students |
| Kenan-Flagler Business School | Chapel Hill, NC | $55,000 | 2026 | Board Directed, Other |
| Presbyterian Psychological Services | Charlotte, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | Operating support |
| Randolph-Macon Academy | Front Royal, VA | $40,000 | 2026 | Scholarship support |
| National MS Society | New York, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | Walk MS 2024 |
| Philanthropy Roundtable | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Buncombe County Schools Foundation | Asheville, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | School counseling efforts |
| Salvation Army | Gastonia, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| SOCKS | Belmont, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Public Ed Works | Raleigh, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating support |
| With Friends Inc | Gastonia, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating support |
| Crisis Assistance Ministry | Gastonia, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| United Way of Gaston County | Gastonia, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Gaston Literacy Council | Gastonia, NC | $21,500 | 2026 | Children's books, Sponsor for luncheon |
| Madelyn's Fund | Charlotte, NC | $20,000 | 2026 | Operating support |
| Christian Prayer and Healing Center | Gastonia, NC | $13,000 | 2026 | Board Directed, Operating Support |
| Hope United Survivor Network | Gastonia, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | Operating support |
| First ARP Church | Gastonia, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | Board directed |
| Foundation for the Carolinas | Charlotte, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | Board directed, Jenner V. Foundation Fund |
| Wing Haven | Charlotte, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | Board directed |
| Stable Resources | Gastonia, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | Board Directed |
| Carolina Wildlife Conservation Cent | Iron Station, NC | $1,500 | 2026 | Operating Support |
| Gaston Community Foundation | Gastonia, NC | $1,500,000 | 2025 | New Hope Business District |
| Gaston Day School | Gastonia, NC | $892,000 | 2025 | Board Directed, Construction of new upper school building |
| Gaston Community Foundation | Gastonia, NC | $543,600 | 2025 | DBC Donor Advised Fund, Rankin Fund, Strategic Planning |
| The Conservation Fund | Arlington, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | Conservation Fund's Carolina Farms Fund Project |
| Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden | Belmont, NC | $300,000 | 2025 | Support Phase 1 projects in DSBG's strategic plan |
| Covenant Village | Gastonia, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | Outdoor Pavillion & Driveway/Parking Lot Improvements |
| Christ Church Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | Transforming Hearts, Changing Lives campaign |
| Gaston County Family YMCA | Gastonia, NC | $200,000 | 2025 | Capital Campaign |
| Saint Mary's School | Raleigh, NC | $166,666 | 2025 | Construction |
| Schiele Museum of Natural History | Gastonia, NC | $150,000 | 2025 | Support New Dinosaur Exhibit |
DBC Donor Advised Fund, Rankin Fund, Strategic Planning
The Conservation Fund
$500,000Conservation Fund's Carolina Farms Fund Project
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
$300,000Support Phase 1 projects in DSBG's strategic plan
Covenant Village
Outdoor Pavillion & Driveway/Parking Lot Improvements
Christ Church Charlotte
$250,000Transforming Hearts, Changing Lives campaign
Saint Mary's School
$166,666Construction
Schiele Museum of Natural History
$150,000Support New Dinosaur Exhibit
Kintegra Health
$125,000New facility in Bessemer City, NC
Community Foundation of Western NC
$125,000Hurricane Helene relief
Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center
$83,333Housing Development and Community Center
Union Presbyterian Seminary
$62,500John & Missy Kuykendall VP for Dean of Students
Kenan-Flagler Business School
$55,000Board Directed, Other
Presbyterian Psychological Services
$50,000Operating support
National MS Society
$40,000Walk MS 2024
Salvation Army
$25,000Operating Support
SOCKS
$25,000Operating Support
With Friends Inc
$25,000Operating support
Crisis Assistance Ministry
$25,000Operating Support
Gaston Literacy Council
$21,500Children's books, Sponsor for luncheon
Madelyn's Fund
$20,000Operating support
Christian Prayer and Healing Center
$13,000Board Directed, Operating Support
Hope United Survivor Network
$10,000Operating support
First ARP Church
$5,000Board directed
Wing Haven
$2,500Board directed
Stable Resources
$2,000Board Directed
Carolina Wildlife Conservation Cent
$1,500Operating Support
DBC Donor Advised Fund, Rankin Fund, Strategic Planning
The Conservation Fund
$500,000Conservation Fund's Carolina Farms Fund Project
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
$300,000Support Phase 1 projects in DSBG's strategic plan
Covenant Village
$250,000Outdoor Pavillion & Driveway/Parking Lot Improvements
Christ Church Charlotte
$250,000Transforming Hearts, Changing Lives campaign
Saint Mary's School
$166,666Construction
Schiele Museum of Natural History
$150,000Support New Dinosaur Exhibit