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Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services Private Foundations
John W. and Anna H. Hanes Foundation
The John W. and Anna H. Hanes Foundation makes grants exclusively for such charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes as a majority of the individual trustees shall determine. The foundation has always been interested in improving the life of the citizens of North Carolina and will continue to support this interest. The foundation has a primary interest in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County where it is administered.
Annual application deadlines
Arts, culture and humanities
Environment, animals
International/foreign affairs
Public/society benefit
Program limitations
Public charities in North Carolina. Applicants must show that they have received substantial financial support from their local community and their trustees prior to consideration.
States served
Geographic limitations
North Carolina, with a primary interest in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
Focus is on non-recurring grants to public charities in North Carolina for short-term projects or other non-operational purposes that are not maintenance-oriented.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
F. Borden Hanes, Jr.
Ralph Womble
Drewry H. Nostitz
Robert M. Willis
Robert H. Lassiter
Grants generally are not approved for typical operational or maintenance-oriented purposes. However, proposals may be considered to help cover operational costs in the initial stages of a program. Primary consideration will be given to projects of a non-recurring nature or short-term duration. Grants may be made to match contributions or other sources of funds for the support of a particular project.
Restrictions: The trustees are limited by the Trust Agreement to make grants for the above purposes within North Carolina.
To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users.
It is a prime requirement that organizations show that they have received substantial financial support from their local community and their trustees prior to consideration by this foundation. The foundation also expects organizations to contact out-of-state sources of funding.
Grantmaking priorities
Preference may be given to requests for the following:
Primary interest in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, North Carolina. Applicants must show that they have received substantial financial support from their local community and their trustees prior to consideration.
Annual application period and deadlines
Applications are accepted year-round. Applications must be submitted by December 15 for the January meeting, March 15 for the April meeting, June 15 for the July meeting and September 15 for the October meeting. Please be advised that grants approved by the John Wesley and Anna Hodgin Hanes Foundation are generally paid in the latter half of December each year.
Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission.
Required agreements and reports
Except as otherwise specified when a grant is awarded, a progress report must be submitted within 6 months after receiving funds.
The John Wesley and Anna Hodgin Hanes Foundation was established in 1947 by their children (Daisy Hanes Lassiter, Lucy Hanes Chatham, John Wesley Jr., James Gordon Sr., Ralph Philip, and Robert March), and their grandchildren (Hugh G. Chatham and Anne Hanes Willis). Additional contributions have been made over the years by other family members and Hanes Hosiery Mill. Initially, the foundation's mission was to improve the lives of the citizens of Forsyth County, North Carolina. In 1958, with a subsequent gift by Robert March, its scope was broadened to include all of North Carolina, while continuing to have a distinct focus on Forsyth County citizens.
The Hanes and Hodgin families were instrumental in business and politics in North Carolina and also at national levels. John Wesley was a genius and a visionary for growth and development. He was frank, strong, honest, and true. He bought a failing tobacco plant in 1872, turned it around, and sold it to R. J. Reynolds in 1900 for $1 million. He bought the Hodgin tobacco plant and turned it into a men's hosiery plant, renaming it Shamrock Mills in 1901. His son, James Gordon Hanes, took the helm in 1903 at his father's death. It became Hanes Hosiery in 1914. In 1918, the company expanded its product line to include women's socks. In 1938, working with DuPont, they introduced nylon into their hosiery and became the first company to start producing pantyhose in the 1960s. Subsequent corporate actions included the spin-off of the L'eggs brand in 1972 and the sale of the company to Sara Lee in 1979.
Anna Hodgin married John Wesley Hanes in 1879 in a brilliant and fashionable wedding in Winston-Salem with, among others, R. J. Reynolds as a groomsman. In 1903, R. J. Reynolds served as pall bearer at John Wesley's funeral. Anna survived her husband by 43 years, and reared eight children from their home at 4th and Cherry in Winston-Salem, it is said with an atmosphere of love, broad vision of service, calm purposefulness, moral values, and quiet philanthropy. Educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Anna's children earned seats on Wall Street and the SEC board, served as the Undersecretary of the Treasury, as an ambassador, as banking executives, and as servants of both houses of the North Carolina state government, and held numerous other positions of state and local leadership.
The information on this page is a summary only and may not reflect all requirements related to a foundation's grantmaking process. In the event the information contained on this website differs from a foundation's governing instrument, the governing instrument shall control.
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