The Thomas S. Kenan III Foundation makes modest, targeted grants to local nonprofits in North Carolina, prioritizing community-serving institutions such as hospital family housing, regional historic sites, and education/learning organizations. Their giving appears focused on operating and capital needs (annual campaigns and facility repairs) rather than purely program pilots, indicating a preference for sustaining core services and infrastructure at established organizations.
The Thomas S Kenan III Foundation repeatedly backs established North Carolina institutions with unrestricted, operating, and capital support, while also extending grants to education, arts, horticulture, and health-related organizations outside the state. One of the clearest signals in the recent record is the $42,500 grant to SECU Family House of UNC Hospitals for its annual campaign and year-end deficit, paired with a $30,000 repair grant to the Duplin County Education Foundation for Liberty Hall Commission repairs. Those awards point to a funder that supports core needs rather than short-term pilot work. The foundation’s grantmaking also reaches university-linked funds and community-serving nonprofits. Recent examples include support for Knowledge Well’s annual campaign, a scholarship fund at UNC Greensboro, and the Thomas S. Kenan Educational Fund at Duke University. Alongside those gifts are grants for historic restoration, pediatric rehabilitation, and arts programming, showing a portfolio that mixes institutional stewardship with community access. The pattern is consistent with modest, targeted checks to organizations already embedded in their local fields, especially in North Carolina.
Education appears across several levels. The foundation gave $25,000 to UNC-Greensboro for the Happy Dubose Kenan Gray Scholarship Fund, $12,000 in both 2024 and 2025 to the Duplin County Board of Education for James Kenan High School scholarships, and $10,000 to North Carolina State University for the WRK, JR. Fund for ETS. Arts and culture are another recurring lane. Grants include $10,000 to the UNC School of Arts Foundation for the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for Arts, $10,000 to The Artscenter for a new location opening, and $15,000 to the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum for dining room restoration. Health and family support also show up in the record. The foundation awarded $42,500 to SECU Family House of UNC Hospitals for an annual campaign and year-end deficit, and $12,000 to UNC Health Foundation for the Fitch Comprehensive Pediatric Rehab Program Fund. It also gave $10,000 to Urban Youth Impact Inc for facilities improvement, building project, and scholarships.
Typical grants are modest: p25 is $2,500, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent list includes a smaller number of larger awards, but most gifts cluster at or below the $10,000 level. Repeated support appears in the data, including grants in multiple years to Duplin County Board of Education and North Carolina State University, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time checks. The foundation gives from a regional platform, and it also funds individuals. The pattern leans toward designated support, unrestricted operating help, annual campaigns, scholarships, and facility or repair needs.
$251K
$2.2M
$145K
$301K
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, local giving with a small number of mid-sized, one-off grants that fund annual campaigns or capital/repair needs; supports established nonprofits rather than experimental startups.
Notable grantees: SECU Family House of UNC Hospitals, Duplin County Education Foundation / Liberty Hall Commission, Knowledge Well Inc
Most grants land in North Carolina, which accounts for 73% of grants to recipients. Recent recipients are concentrated in Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Carrboro, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Kenansville, and Wilmington. Outside North Carolina, Florida appears in the recent record through recipients in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, and additional grants go to Kalaheo, Hawaii; Lockport, New York; Middleburg, Virginia; and Alexandria, Virginia. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the data provided.
The foundation supports universities, schools, arts organizations, botanical gardens, historic sites, and health-related nonprofits. Recent grants include scholarship funds, arts institute support, historic restoration, pediatric rehab, and annual campaign or operating support for community-serving institutions.
Yes. The recent grants include $25,000 to UNC-Greensboro for the Happy Dubose Kenan Gray Scholarship Fund, $12,000 in 2024 and 2025 to Duplin County Board of Education for James Kenan High School scholarships, and support for university-linked educational funds at Duke and NC State.
Typical grants are modest: the 25th percentile is $2,500, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent list includes larger awards as well, but the overall pattern is centered on smaller checks rather than very large grants.
Yes. The recent grants include multiple-year support to some recipients, such as Duplin County Board of Education in 2024 and 2025 and North Carolina State University in 2024 and 2025. That points to recurring relationships in addition to one-time gifts.
North Carolina receives most of the grants, with 73% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent North Carolina recipients include Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Carrboro, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Kenansville, and Wilmington.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUPLIN COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION | KENANSVILLE, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | LIBERTY HALL COMMISSION - REPAIRS |
| KENAN CENTER LOCKPORT | LOCKPORT, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND |
| ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH | DURHAM, NC | $12,000 | 2025 | DESIGNATED FOR THE FH KENAN CONCERT FUND |
| DUPLIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | KENANSVILLE, NC | $12,000 | 2025 | JAMES KENAN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNC - GREENSBORO | GREENSBORO, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | HAPPY DUBOSE KENAN GRAY SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | KENAN INSTITITUE ETHICS - DIRECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY |
| FRANK H KENAN CHAPEL LANDFALL | WILMINGTON, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNCSA MUSIC STUDENT CONCERTS |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | WRK, JR. FUND FOR ETS |
| URBAN YOUTH IMPACT INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | FACILITIES IMP./BLG PROJECT & SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NC ARTS IN ACTION | DURHAM, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH | DURHAM, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT ORGAN DEDICATION COMPANY |
| UNC- WILMINGTON | WILMINGTON, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTH CARE INITIATIVES - HONOR DR. & MRS SAYEDS |
| DUKE UNIVERSITYALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT RECORDS | DURHAM, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | THE THOMAS S. KENAN EDUCATIONAL FUND - SP DUKE GARDENS |
| THE ARTS CENTER - CARRBORO | CARRBORO, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| NATIONAL TROPICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN | KALAHEO, HI | $6,000 | 2025 | KAHANU GARDEN DISCRETIONARY FUND |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF ORANGE COUNTY | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| SCHOOL OF ETHICS AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| TROSA | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| NC CENTER FOR NONPROFITS | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| DURHAM RESCUE MISSION | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | GREATEST NEEDS |
| THALIAN ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY THEATRE | WILMINGTON, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PRODUCTION OF 1776 MUSICAL |
| CARING HOUSE INC | DURHAM, NC | $3,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS - MEMORY FRANKIE DUBOSE |
| DURHAM NATIVITY SCHOOL | DURHAM, NC | $3,000 | 2025 | INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES |
| MOUNT VERNON LADIES ASSOCIATION | MT VERNON, VA | $3,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT - MARTHA WASHINGTON QUILTS |
| LANDFALL FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, NC | $2,600 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| NORTH CAROLINA ZOO SOCIETY | ASHEBORO, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED - MEMORY OF OWEN KENAN |
| SECU FAMILY HOUSE OF UNC HOSPITALS | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - LOCKPORT | LOCKPORT, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | MUSIC CONCERTS |
| SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL | RALEIGH, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT 2025 AUCTION GALA |
| THE ARTS CENTER - CARRBORO | CARRBORO, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | AUCTION SUPPORT |
| WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| NORTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (KIDZU) | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| VIRGINIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $2,500 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL | RALEIGH, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | DESIGNATED FOR SARAH GRAHAM KENAN FUND |
| SWINGPALS INC | DURHAM, NC | $2,500 | 2025 | GREATEST NEEDS |
| INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE | RALEIGH, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| PRESERVATION NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT "NEW WHEELS" |
| BRIDGE21 PARK CITY | PARK CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2025 | GREATEST NEEDS |
| TABLE MINISTRIES INC | CARRBORO, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| DUKE DIVINITY SCHOOL | DURHAM, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| AMERICAN WILD HORSE PRESERVATION CAMPAIGN | DAVIS, CA | $500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CFK AFRICA | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $500 | 2025 | UNDESIGNATED |
| DUKE UNIVERSITYALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT RECORDS | DURHAM, NC | $22,500 | 2024 | THE THOMAS S. KENAN EDUCATIONAL FUND ($12,500 GIFT AND $10,000 GIFT) |
| NATIONAL TROPICAL BOTANICAL GARDEN | KALAHEO, HI | $15,000 | 2024 | MCBRYDE GARDENS |
| JAMES G MARTIN CENTER | RALEIGH, NC | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF CIVICS EDUCATION |
| HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM | PALM BEACH, FL | $15,000 | 2024 | RESTORATION - DINING ROOM |
| DUPLIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION | KENANSVILLE, NC | $12,000 | 2024 | JAMES KENAN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS |
| YOUTH MENTORING COLLABORATIVE | DURHAM, NC | $12,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS-UNDESIGNATED |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $10,000 | 2024 | THE KENAN INSTITUTE FOR ETHICS |
DUPLIN COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$30,000LIBERTY HALL COMMISSION - REPAIRS
ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$12,000DESIGNATED FOR THE FH KENAN CONCERT FUND
DUPLIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$12,000JAMES KENAN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
UNC - GREENSBORO
$10,000HAPPY DUBOSE KENAN GRAY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
KENAN INSTITITUE ETHICS - DIRECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY
FRANK H KENAN CHAPEL LANDFALL
$10,000UNCSA MUSIC STUDENT CONCERTS
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000WRK, JR. FUND FOR ETS
NC ARTS IN ACTION
$10,000OPERATIONS
ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$10,000SUPPORT ORGAN DEDICATION COMPANY
DUKE UNIVERSITYALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT RECORDS
$10,000THE THOMAS S. KENAN EDUCATIONAL FUND - SP DUKE GARDENS
THE ARTS CENTER - CARRBORO
$10,000UNDESIGNATED
NC CENTER FOR NONPROFITS
$5,000UNDESIGNATED
DURHAM RESCUE MISSION
$5,000GREATEST NEEDS
THALIAN ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY THEATRE
$5,000SUPPORT PRODUCTION OF 1776 MUSICAL
MOUNT VERNON LADIES ASSOCIATION
$3,000SUPPORT - MARTHA WASHINGTON QUILTS
LANDFALL FOUNDATION
$2,600UNDESIGNATED
NORTH CAROLINA ZOO SOCIETY
$2,500UNDESIGNATED - MEMORY OF OWEN KENAN
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - LOCKPORT
$2,500MUSIC CONCERTS
SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL
$2,500SUPPORT 2025 AUCTION GALA
THE ARTS CENTER - CARRBORO
$2,500AUCTION SUPPORT
WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
$2,500UNDESIGNATED
NORTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM (KIDZU)
$2,500UNDESIGNATED
VIRGINIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
$2,500UNDESIGNATED
SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL
$2,500DESIGNATED FOR SARAH GRAHAM KENAN FUND
SWINGPALS INC
$2,500GREATEST NEEDS
PRESERVATION NORTH CAROLINA
$1,000SUPPORT "NEW WHEELS"
BRIDGE21 PARK CITY
$1,000GREATEST NEEDS
DUKE DIVINITY SCHOOL
$1,000UNDESIGNATED
DUKE UNIVERSITYALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT RECORDS
$22,500THE THOMAS S. KENAN EDUCATIONAL FUND ($12,500 GIFT AND $10,000 GIFT)
DUPLIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
$12,000JAMES KENAN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
YOUTH MENTORING COLLABORATIVE
$12,000OPERATIONS-UNDESIGNATED