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Art Pope Fund

Founder:

James Arthur “Art” Pope
Location:

Raleigh, North Carolina

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The Art Pope Fund is a grantmaking foundation active in North Carolina and Wisconsin associated with James Arthur “Art” Pope, 1 2 a North Carolina businessman and Republican Party donor. 3

Philanthropy

In 2022, the Art Pope Fund donated $20,000 to the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law, a free market organization that advocates for limited government in North Carolina by providing educational resources to the public, policymakers, and to the North Carolina State Bar. 1

The Art Pope Fund contributed between $10,000 and $19,999 to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Running Rebels Community Organization, according to the Running Rebels 2020 Impact Report. 2 The 2018 Annual Report by Running Rebels also listed the Art Pope Fund as one of its donors. 4 The Running Rebels Community Organization focuses on mentoring and development of Milwaukee youth through community engagement, safe environments, and supportive programs. 5

In 2020, the Art Pope Fund is listed as donating between $5,000 and $9,999 to the Florentine Opera Company. 6 The Florentine Opera Company is a nonprofit based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that focuses on opera, musical, and theatrical productions to support community and education programs. 7

Founder

The Art Pope Fund is named for James Arthur “Art” Pope, who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received his law degree from Duke University. 3

Pope is the chairman of Variety Wholesalers, Inc., a private company that owns retail chains Roses and Maxway. 8

The company has 400 stores in the Eastern United States and employs more than 10,000 people. 3

Pope is also the chairman of the John William Pope Foundation, which makes grants on public policy, education, arts, and humanitarian efforts. 8 3  The foundation was established by and named for his father. Art Pope became chairman after his father’s death in 2006. 9

Pope has also held several roles in North Carolina state government. Pope was special counsel to North Carolina Gov. Jim Martin (R) in 1985. 3 He was elected four times to the North Carolina House of Representatives. 3 He rose to the post of House minority leader, the top Republican position in the chamber at the time. 10 Pope later ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor. 11

Then-North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) appointed Pope as the state budget director, a position he held from 2013 through 2014. 12 3 As state budget director, he pushed for cutting spending and taxes, but faced opposition in the state legislature regarding education funding. He further attempted to defund public financing for judicial candidates. 10

Pope was appointed in 2020 as a member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. 13

References

  1. North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2022, Schedule B, Part I.
  2. “2020 Impact Report.” Running Rebels Community Organization. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://runningrebels.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/RR2020AnnualReport_RU.pdf

  3. “James Arthur Pope.” Our People. Bradley Foundation. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.bradleyfdn.org/our-people/james-arthur-pope
  4. 2018 Annual Report. Running Rebels Community Organization. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://runningrebels.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/092018-Annual-Report-FINAL-DESIGN_RU.pdf
  5. “Running Rebels Community Organization.” Cause IQ. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/running-rebels-community-organization,393910464/
  6. The Florentine Opera. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d6818d6bcb923000103101a/t/5e71233c7b59166f2c5b82f7/1584472905116/CARMEN+2020+FLORENTINE+OPERA%5B1%5D.pdf
  7. “Florentine Opera Company.” Cause IQ. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/florentine-opera-company,391098132/
  8. “Art Pope.” Board of Governors. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.northcarolina.edu/apps/campus_profiles/member.php?contact_id=8514
  9. “Featured Supporter: James Arthur “Art” Pope.” Fund for American Studies. January 30, 2012. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://tfas.org/news/featured-supporter-james-arthur-art-pope/
  10. Gold, Matea. “In N.C., conservative donor Art Pope sits at heart of government he helped transform.” The Washington Post. July 19, 2014. Accessed February 4, 2022.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-nc-conservative-donor-art-pope-sits-at-heart-of-government-he-helped-transform/2014/07/19/eece18ec-0d22-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html
  11. Schofield, Rob. “Art Pope’s new gig at UNC.” NC Policy Watch. June 25, 2020. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2020/06/25/art-popes-new-gig-at-unc/#sthash.CiUckx2m.dpbs
  12. “James Arthur ‘Art’ Pope.” John William Pope Foundation. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://jwpf.org/team/james-arthur-art-pope/
  13. Associated Press. “GOP Donor, Ex-Lawmaker Art Pope Elected To Join UNC board.” WUNC. June 25, 2020. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://www.wunc.org/education/2020-06-25/gop-donor-ex-lawmaker-art-pope-elected-to-join-unc-board
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