our history
The Endowment was established from the sale of the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2020. Since then, the initial fund has grown from nearly $1.3 billion to more than $1.7 billion, allowing The Endowment to award millions in grants to our community every year, in perpetuity.
By aligning with New Hanover County’s Strategic Plan and The Endowment’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, our work is focused on improving outcomes for all residents of New Hanover County. The Endowment advances this mission by investing in solutions across four pillars.
Through the careful stewardship of resources, our grantmaking and programs are aimed at creating long-term systemic change that is community-informed, grounded in data, and driven by impact.
A Historic Genesis: 2020–2021
The Endowment is formally established from the sale of the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health. A founding Board of Directors is appointed to oversee the strategic vision and safeguard the funds in perpetuity.
Establishing a Foundation: 2022
Following an intensive exploratory phase and community listening sessions, The Endowment launched our inaugural grantmaking cycles. Based on the four strategic pillars, a first wave of capital was deployed to local nonprofits and partners in New Hanover County.
Total grants: 111
Total Awarded: $9.3 million
Scaling Strategic Investment: 2023
Moving from initial grants, The Endowment committed its first major multi-year investments: strategic and responsive grants. This included a groundbreaking $22-million healthcare workforce pipeline grant – uniting UNCW, Cape Fear Community College, the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, and New Hanover County Schools to collaboratively address critical regional healthcare talent shortages.
Total grants: 33
Total Awarded: $55 million
Addressing Complex Community Challenges: 2024
The Endowment expanded its grantmaking focus to begin addressing complex, interconnected challenges requiring multi-partner solutions. This included major investments targeting regional food security, development and housing.
Total grants: 50
Total Awarded: $53 million
Scaling with Rigor & Stewardship: 2025
In 2025, The Endowment focused on strengthening relationships, elevating community voices, and laying the groundwork for sustained, strategic impact in New Hanover County.
In addition to completing a strategic refresh in May of 2025, The Endowment convened funders, launched landscape assessments and Community Grants Program, Arts & Culture Program and announced the establishment of a $2 million Emergency Recovery Grant Reserve for 2026.
Total Grants: 169
Total Awarded: $54 million
Landmark Grant: 2026
In May 2026, The Endowment announced jointly with New Hanover County and New Hanover County Schools, a major philanthropic investment up to $116 million over ten years to support a comprehensive, countywide school improvement and capital modernization plan that will be implemented over the next decade in New Hanover County.
Landscape Assessments: To help guide our strategy development, The Endowment launched a series of data-driven assessments exploring behavioral health, early childhood education, county-wide recreation, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These efforts bring together research, shared learning, and community perspectives.