What a turning point year this has been for the Kenan Trust! FY 2025 saw the implementation of the Trust’s first ever strategic plan, the launch of a new website and logo for the Kenan Trust, and nearly $40 million in new grants awarded to outstanding organizations across Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia.

With the launch of the Trust’s new strategic plan, our Trustees affirmed their commitment to education as a fundamental and enduring value of the Kenan Trust. Over the next five years, the strategic plan will guide our work across a variety of focus areas and strategies all with an eye toward meeting the “needs of the moment” while honoring our founder’s belief that “a good education is the most cherished gift an individual can receive.” In FY25, our education grants were focused on Access and Persistence to Degree, Literacy, Arts Education, and Educational Quality.

Our new strategic plan also includes a focus on grantmaking to promote Human Thriving. Our grants in this priority area are focused on projects that support individuals, families, and entire communities with a special emphasis on economic mobility and access to healthcare in FY25.

In addition to our grantmaking in Education and Human Thriving, special efforts were made by Kenan Trust Trustees and the staff to support organizations in western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. We were so thankful to partner with the YMCA of Western NC, Manna Food Bank, Mountain Area Health Education Center, the Community Foundation of Western NC among others to bring needed relief and recovery efforts to the communities impacted by the powerful hurricane.

As we embarked on our first year of grantmaking guided by our strategic plan, we also launched a new website and logo for the Kenan Trust. In addition to giving the Trust a refreshed look, the new website and branding have helped us communicate our mission and values with grantees, other funding partners, and all of our stakeholders.

As we reflect on the past year, we are most struck by a deep appreciation for the hard work of our grantees. We have been inspired by each grantee organization, and we are profoundly grateful for the high impact and outstanding results being achieved by our partners in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New York. Their efforts have led to an exceptional number of high impact “wins” in areas like literacy and arts education, through projects to advance educational quality, and through efforts to promote economic mobility and stronger communities. A special thanks to each of our grantees for your vision, aspirations, hard work, and dedication to meaningful results for the constituents you serve.

With gratitude and joy for the privilege of this work, we thank each of you for your partnership and we look forward to more important work together!

Nancy J. Cable, Ph.D.
Executive Director