North Carolina State University Foundation

About North Carolina State University Foundation

North Carolina State University Foundation Inc’s largest recent grants went to North Carolina State University for scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and facility support. In 2024, that award totaled $25,634,815, followed by another $20,831,387 grant in 2023 for the same broad university uses. Those grants point to a funder built around direct institutional support rather than outside nonprofit grantmaking: the foundation’s role is to support the university’s colleges, libraries, and other university-connected functions through financial assistance and related support. The foundation’s grantmaking also includes smaller, campus-based awards tied to student experience and innovation. Its active annual grant programs support new and innovative initiatives for undergraduate and graduate education, with awards limited to $25,000 in the competitive programs. A separate annual awards program recognizes individuals or families who have shown leadership and dedication to NC State through philanthropy or fundraising, while another honors former board members for service that furthered the university’s mission. Together, these patterns show a funder centered on NC State’s academic, operational, and advancement needs.

What North Carolina State University Foundation Funds

A clear theme is student-centered academic support. The foundation funds scholarships and student emergency support, and its annual competitive programs are aimed at seed funding new initiatives that enhance the undergraduate and graduate experience at NC State University. It also supports faculty and academic infrastructure. One of the largest recent grants to North Carolina State University covered faculty support, departmental support, and facility support, showing that the foundation backs both people and the systems around them. Innovation is another recurring focus. The Annual Grants Program and the “Ideas Brought to Life” / “Make it Happen” competitive grants both provide non-recurring seed funding for new programs and initiatives, with a stated size limit of $0–$25,000. Recognition and advancement are part of the mix as well. The Menscer Cup Award honors leadership in philanthropy or fundraising, and the Jerry and Elizabeth Godwin Award recognizes former board members who contributed expertise, counsel, or resources to the university’s mission.

How North Carolina State University Foundation Gives