The Goodnight Educational Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on North Carolina cultural institutions and education at K–12 and higher-education levels, favoring capital projects, endowments and unrestricted operating support. Grants are large and targeted, often repeated to the same institutions, and aimed at building institutional capacity (facilities, endowments) and statewide education initiatives. The foundation’s giving profile is locally focused (Cary/Raleigh area and statewide NC) and leans toward sustaining flagship public cultural assets and education infrastructure.
The Goodnight Educational Foundation’s largest recent grant was $5 million to the NC Museum of Art for endowment support and restricted funds for the park, a clear sign of how strongly it favors durable institutional assets. Across its recent giving, the foundation backs North Carolina cultural institutions and education infrastructure rather than short-term projects, pairing major museum support with repeated commitments to Cary Academy, NC State, and statewide education initiatives. Its portfolio shows a pattern of large, targeted awards that build capacity: endowments, annual funds, building funds, scholarship endowments, and unrestricted operating support all appear in the recent grants list. The foundation has made multiple gifts to the NC Museum of History Foundation, including annual-fund support, and it has also supported MyFutureNC with unrestricted funds in several consecutive years. Education is a second major lane. Grants to Ncsu Foundation Inc include the Goodnight Education Endowment, the Goodnight Scholars program, student emergency funds, and support for the College of Education’s math summit. Cary Academy appears with building-fund and scholarship-endowment support, reflecting a long-horizon approach to school and university capacity.
In cultural preservation, The Goodnight Educational Foundation has supported the NC Museum of Art with endowment and park-restricted funding, and the NC Museum of History Foundation with annual-fund grants. Those gifts point to an interest in sustaining public history and arts institutions over time. In higher education, the foundation gave Ncsu Foundation Inc $1.6 million for the Goodnight Education Endowment and another $1,022,000 for Goodnight Scholars. It also supported student emergency assistance and the College of Education’s math summit, showing attention to both access and academic programming. Their K–12 support includes Cary Academy, which received building-fund grants and a scholarship endowment. The foundation also funded the NC Independent Colleges and Universities for a science-of-reading initiative, connecting its education giving to literacy work across North Carolina. Workforce and statewide education efforts appear through MyFutureNC and North Carolina Education Corps, both of which received unrestricted support.
$26.2M
$145M
$10M
$8.6M
Most grants fall between $21K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$21K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in NC.
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Relatively concentrated, large-dollar grants with multiple repeat gifts to a small set of flagship local and statewide institutions; emphasis on multi-year commitments, capital projects, and endowment-building rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: NC Museum of Art, NC Museum of History Foundation, MyFutureNC, NCSU Foundation, Cary Academy
Typical awards cluster around the mid-five-figure range, with p25 at $21,250, a median of $25,000, and p75 at $100,000, even as some grants reach into the millions. The recent record also shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including NC Museum of Art, NC Museum of History Foundation, Ncsu Foundation Inc, Cary Academy, and MyFutureNC. That repeat pattern suggests an ongoing institutional relationship rather than one-off sponsorships. The foundation is a private family-style grantmaker in practice, funds individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Grants are local and entirely in North Carolina.
Grantmaking is entirely in North Carolina, with 100% of grants to recipients in the state and the top giving city pattern concentrated in Raleigh. Recent awards also land in Cary and Durham, including Cary Academy, James B. Hunt Institute, and the NC School of Science & Math Foundation in Durham. The geographic footprint is local rather than national or multi-state, with no non-U.S. recipient countries in the recent record.
Its recent grants go to North Carolina museums, schools, universities, and education programs. Examples include the NC Museum of Art, NC Museum of History Foundation, Cary Academy, Ncsu Foundation Inc, MyFutureNC, and North Carolina Education Corps.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including the NC Museum of Art, NC Museum of History Foundation, Ncsu Foundation Inc, Cary Academy, and MyFutureNC. That pattern indicates repeated support over time rather than isolated awards.
Its typical grants are relatively small compared with a few large capital awards: p25 is $21,250, the median is $25,000, and p75 is $100,000. The recent list also includes million-dollar and multi-million-dollar gifts.
Its giving is local and entirely in North Carolina. The recent grant record shows recipients in Raleigh, Cary, and Durham, and 100% of grants in the dataset go to North Carolina organizations.
The foundation supports higher education, K–12 schools, and statewide education initiatives. Recent examples include the Goodnight Education Endowment and Goodnight Scholars at Ncsu Foundation Inc, Cary Academy’s building and scholarship funds, and unrestricted support for MyFutureNC and North Carolina Education Corps.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC MUSEUM OF ART NC MUSEUM OF ART | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT, RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR PARK |
| MYFUTURENC MYFUTURENC | RALEIGH, NC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CARY ACADEMY CARY ACADEMY | CARY, NC | $565,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT |
| NC COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION NC COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | STUDENT ENERGENCY FUND |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $70,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE OF ED, MATH SUMMIT |
| NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUND NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUDN | DURHAM, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | NCSSM - MORGANTON |
| FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS | RALEIGH, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATORS OF EXCELLENCE FUND |
| NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION | CARY, NC | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| PUBLIC ED WORKS PUBLIC ED WORKS | RALEIGH, NC | $45,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC | RALEIGH, NC | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT | CULLOWHEE, NC | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| LATINX EDUCATION CENTER LATINX EDUCATION CENTER | SILER CITY, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | SEMILLAS SUMMER CAMP AT CARY ACADEMY |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | KENAN FELLOWS |
| STUDENT U STUDENT U | DURHAM, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | CHANCELLOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF NC AT CHAPEL HILL NC PUBLIC RADIO - WUNC | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING |
| YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | CAMPT SEA GULL AND SEAFARER |
| MEREDITH COLLEGE MEREDITH COLLEGE | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | MINORITY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP |
| BOYS CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY INC BOYS CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY INC | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NC SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL NC SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONALS | CARY, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| EDUCATION NC EDUCATION NC | RALEIGH, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| PBS NORTH CAROLINA PBS NORTH CAROLINA | RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| LATINX EDUCATION CENTER LATINX EDUCATION CENTER | SILER CITY, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | 2ND SOMOS CAROLINA PROGRAM COORDINAT |
| WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP | RALEIGH, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL H HUGH SHELTON INITIATIVE |
| NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM SOCIETY NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM SOCIETY | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | AQUARIUM SCHOLARS |
| PLEASANT GROVE FOUNDATION PLEASANT GROVE FOUNDATION | CARY, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | THE DREAM ACADEMY |
| NC SCIENCE FAIR FOUNDATION NC SCIENCE FAIR FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | CHASS DEAN'S DISCRETIONARY FUND |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | NCSU SCIENCE HOUSE |
| PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | DUDLEY FLOOD CENTER |
| YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | CAMP KANATA |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $1,600,000 | 2024 | GOODNIGHT EDUCATION ENDOWMENT |
| NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION | RALEIGH, NC | $1,500,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL FUND |
| NC MUSEUM OF ART NC MUSEUM OF ART | RALEIGH, NC | $1,500,000 | 2024 | ENDOWMENT, RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR PARK |
| CARY ACADEMY CARY ACADEMY | CARY, NC | $1,265,000 | 2024 | BUILDING FUND |
| MYFUTURENC MYFUTURENC | RALEIGH, NC | $1,000,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM | RALEIGH, NC | $450,000 | 2024 | ROCK DISPLAY |
| NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATIONS CORPS NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION CENTER | RALEIGH, NC | $300,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $200,000 | 2024 | STUDENT ENERGENCY FUND |
| JAMES B HUNT INSTITUTE JAMES B HUNT INSTITUTE | CARY, NC | $100,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC | RALEIGH, NC | $71,200 | 2024 | COLLEGE OF ED, MATH SUMMIT |
| NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION | CARY, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUND NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUDN | DURHAM, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | NCSSM - MORGANTON |
| FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS | RALEIGH, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATORS OF EXCELLENCE FUND |
| HIGHER EDUCATION WORKS HIGHER EDUCTATION WORKS | RALEIGH, NC | $45,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC | RALEIGH, NC | $40,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
| DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT | CULLOWHEE, NC | $35,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS |
NC MUSEUM OF ART NC MUSEUM OF ART
$5,000,000ENDOWMENT, RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR PARK
MYFUTURENC MYFUTURENC
$1,000,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION
$1,000,000ANNUAL FUND
CARY ACADEMY CARY ACADEMY
$565,000SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
NC COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION NC COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$100,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$100,000STUDENT ENERGENCY FUND
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$70,000COLLEGE OF ED, MATH SUMMIT
NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUND NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUDN
$50,000NCSSM - MORGANTON
FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS
$50,000EDUCATORS OF EXCELLENCE FUND
NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION
$45,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
PUBLIC ED WORKS PUBLIC ED WORKS
$45,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC
$40,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT
$35,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
LATINX EDUCATION CENTER LATINX EDUCATION CENTER
$30,000SEMILLAS SUMMER CAMP AT CARY ACADEMY
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$25,000KENAN FELLOWS
STUDENT U STUDENT U
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$25,000CHANCELLOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
UNIVERSITY OF NC AT CHAPEL HILL NC PUBLIC RADIO - WUNC
$25,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC
$25,000CAMPT SEA GULL AND SEAFARER
MEREDITH COLLEGE MEREDITH COLLEGE
$25,000MINORITY TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP
BOYS CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY INC BOYS CLUB OF WAKE COUNTY INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NC SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL NC SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONALS
$25,000SCHOLARSHIPS
EDUCATION NC EDUCATION NC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
PBS NORTH CAROLINA PBS NORTH CAROLINA
$25,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
LATINX EDUCATION CENTER LATINX EDUCATION CENTER
$20,0002ND SOMOS CAROLINA PROGRAM COORDINAT
WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP WAKE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
$15,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$10,000GENERAL H HUGH SHELTON INITIATIVE
NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM SOCIETY NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM SOCIETY
$10,000AQUARIUM SCHOLARS
PLEASANT GROVE FOUNDATION PLEASANT GROVE FOUNDATION
$10,000THE DREAM ACADEMY
NC SCIENCE FAIR FOUNDATION NC SCIENCE FAIR FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$10,000CHASS DEAN'S DISCRETIONARY FUND
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$10,000NCSU SCIENCE HOUSE
PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC
$10,000DUDLEY FLOOD CENTER
YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE INC
$5,000CAMP KANATA
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$1,600,000GOODNIGHT EDUCATION ENDOWMENT
NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY FOUNDATION
$1,500,000ANNUAL FUND
NC MUSEUM OF ART NC MUSEUM OF ART
$1,500,000ENDOWMENT, RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR PARK
CARY ACADEMY CARY ACADEMY
$1,265,000BUILDING FUND
MYFUTURENC MYFUTURENC
$1,000,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM
$450,000ROCK DISPLAY
NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATIONS CORPS NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION CENTER
$300,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$200,000STUDENT ENERGENCY FUND
JAMES B HUNT INSTITUTE JAMES B HUNT INSTITUTE
$100,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NCSU FOUNDATION INC NCSU FOUNDATION INC
$71,200COLLEGE OF ED, MATH SUMMIT
NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION NC BUSINESS LEADERS FOR EDUCATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUND NC SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & MATH FOUDN
$50,000NCSSM - MORGANTON
FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS FRIENDS OF NC STATE MUSEUM OF NS
$50,000EDUCATORS OF EXCELLENCE FUND
HIGHER EDUCATION WORKS HIGHER EDUCTATION WORKS
$45,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC PUBLIC SCHOOL FORUM OF NC
$40,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR NCCAT
$35,000UNRESTRICTED FUNDS