# William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust

William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust is an Endowment / Foundation based in Chapel Hill, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Chapel Hill, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- **Founded:** 1965
- **Assets under management:** 900 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** kenancharitabletrust.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/william-r.-kenan-jr.-charitable-trust

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust was created in 1965 from the estate of the chemist and industrialist who inherited a portion of Henry Flagler's Standard Oil fortune. Thomas S. Kenan III has served as trustee since 1984. Lawrence L. Gray joined the board in 2020. The Trust deploys capital through a diversified endowment portfolio of corporate stocks, bonds, and government obligations. It maintains limited partner commitments to private vehicles including J.C. Flowers & Co. and GoldenTree Asset Management. Grant activity targets education and human thriving programs across North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Florida. Related vehicles include the William R. Kenan, Jr. Fund for Ethics at Duke University and the William R. Kenan, Jr. Fund for the Arts. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has acted as corporate trustee, custodian, and investment advisor since 1965. The Trust reported an endowment valued at approximately $900 million. Dr. Nancy J. Cable became Executive Director in 2023 after serving as Chancellor of UNC Asheville. July 2023: The Trust participated as speaker at the Faith & Health Convening in Chautauqua, New York. The structure separates grantmaking from investment management through an external corporate trustee relationship that has remained unchanged since founding. Affiliated private foundations coordinate specific program areas while the Trust retains oversight of the core endowment.

## Sectors

- Education

## People

- Thomas S. Kenan III — Trustee
- Lawrence L. Gray — Trustee
- Dr. Nancy J. Cable — Executive Director

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust?

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. serves as corporate trustee, custodian, and investment advisor. The board of trustees sets overall policy.

### Does the Trust participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The Trust holds limited partner positions in vehicles managed by J.C. Flowers & Co. and GoldenTree Asset Management.

### How is the Trust related to affiliated foundations?

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Fund, William R. Kenan, Jr. Fund for Ethics, and William R. Kenan, Jr. Fund for the Arts coordinate specific grant programs under the Trust's oversight.

### What geographic areas receive grants?

Grantmaking focuses on North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Florida.

## Related profiles

- [Costa Asset Management](https://altss.com/profile/costa-asset-management-costa-family-office)
- [Avitas Wealth Management](https://altss.com/profile/avitas-wealth-management)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/william-r-kenan-jr-charitable-trust

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