Search Through Mecklenburg County Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

Making community possible

At U.S. Bank, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change in our communities. Through our Community Possible Grant Program, we are partnering with organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing and communities connected through arts and culture.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners.

How we partner with nonprofits

We focus on collaborative grantmaking and sustainable, high-impact funding with 501(c)(3) nonprofit partners. We partner with organizations that support:

• Economic and workforce advancement
• Safe and affordable housing
• Community arts and culture

Our strategy

Our community affairs and foundation team work closely with U.S. Bank regional leadership, business resource groups and our National Community Advisory Committee to ensure that prevailing needs are addressed in all the communities we serve.

To make the most meaningful impact, we prioritize organizations that:

• Focus on economic development issues related to work, home and play
• Address more than one of the grant pillars (work, home and play)
• Are based in and serve designated U.S. Bank communities
• Advance diversity, equity and inclusion

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Who We Are

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

What We Fund

/ What We Fund

The Creag Foundation is focused on innovation in the industry. We will consider proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are finding new ways to address societal issues facing the nonprofit community. Applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for one year before submitting. If your organization has held 501(c)(3) status for over a year, and your believe that your organization has a new approach to an existing social problem or is addressing a previously unaddressed social issue, you are welcome to contact us and request that we consider your organization for a funding opportunity.

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

The Plus Collective

We are a giving program and foundation that awards grants to organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community in the Charlotte region while also cultivating partnerships with community allies.

Grassroots Grants

The Plus Collective (TPC) will award grants to Charlotte-area organizations serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.

Grassroots Grants are intended to build capacity and strengthen the effectiveness of startup organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) nonprofit status) whose primary objective is to serve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg LGBTQ+ community, allowing TPC to reach organizations with unmet needs that fall outside of the current Basic Operating and Programs, Projects, and Events (PPE) Grant parameters. As such, there is no formal grant cycle; all applications will be reviewed by the TPC Grants Committee and decisioned by the TPC Board as received. Grassroots Grants will be awarded to support general operations as specified in the grant application that exemplify the vision of The Plus Collective:

Grassroots Grants cannot exceed $5,000.

Funding Priorities

Applicant organizations should exemplify TPC’s vision: The organizations’ services should support the following:

• Building understanding and appreciation, as well as promoting the value of inclusion within the organization’s circle of influence, for LGBTQ+ populations.
• Cultivating leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ people.
• Engaging and including people with diverse backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identity in programs, services and organizational values.

Funding Considerations

As you complete your application, give special consideration to documenting the following criteria which will be used in making grant decisions:

• Scope of impact: The organization has a positive impact on its audience and the Charlotte LGBTQ+ community.
• Nurtures individuals to actualize their potential: The program, project or event supports individuals within the LGBTQ+ community in their personal journey through acceptance, pride, support of community and leadership.
• Presents a positive image of LGBTQ+ people to the community: The program, project or event presents a fair and positive understanding of people who are LBGTQ+.
• Effectiveness: The organization is effective at utilizing resources to provide the services and benefits it offers.
• Budget: The organization’s budget presents reasonable costs for services performed and an efficient way to achieve the objectives.
• Diversity: The organization engages and includes people of color, trans individuals and others typically underserved within the LGBTQ+ community.
• Defined measures: The organization identifies clear objectives and uses relevant metrics and measures to define a successful outcome.
• Organizational experience: The organization has the appropriate talent, skills, and experience to execute its objectives and effectively utilize grant funds.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborate with a wide range of nonprofit organizations that align with our strategic funding priorities. We prioritize our funding to activities and programs that have a broad reach and support the needs of underserved communities. We aspire to have a positive impact on the communities we serve by using our financial and volunteer resources and business expertise in collaboration with community organizations to help solve complex societal problems.

• Financial health
• Housing affordability
• Small business growth
• Sustainability

We may also support other local needs in eligible communities such as disaster relief, arts and culture, civic engagement, education, human and social services, and workforce development. However, opportunities are limited as our intent is to direct the majority of our giving within our major focus areas.

The Plus Collective

We are a giving program and foundation that awards grants to organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community in the Charlotte region while also cultivating partnerships with community allies.

Programs, Projects, and Events (PP&E) Grants

The Plus Collective (TPC) will award up to $25,000 in Programs, Projects and Events (PPE) Grants to a select group of Charlotte-area organizations serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.

Programs, Projects and Events (PPE) Grants are awarded to encourage LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to serve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg LGBTQ+ community either directly or in partnership with another organization(s). The program, project or event should exemplify the vision of

LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ organizations are eligible for (i) ONE direct PPE Grant of up to $5,000 or (ii) ONE PPE grant of up to $7,500 if applying in partnership with another 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization(s).

Organizations may apply for either a Basic Operating Grant or a Programs, Projects and Events (PPE) Grant, but NOT both.

Funding Priorities

Applicant organizations should exemplify TPC’s vision: The organizations’ services should support the following:

• Building understanding and appreciation, as well as promoting the value of inclusion within the organization’s circle of influence, for LGBTQ+ populations.
• Cultivating leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ people.
• Engaging and including people with diverse backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identity in programs, services and organizational values.

Funding Considerations

As you complete your application, give special consideration to documenting the following criteria which will be used in making grant decisions:

• Scope of impact: The organization has a positive impact on its audience and the Charlotte LGBTQ+ community.
• Nurtures individuals to actualize their potential: The program, project or event supports individuals within the LGBTQ+ community in their personal journey through acceptance, pride, support of community and leadership.
• Presents a positive image of LGBTQ+ people to the community: The program, project or event presents a fair and positive understanding of people who are LBGTQ+.
• Effectiveness: The organization is effective at utilizing resources to provide the services and benefits it offers.
• Budget: The organization’s budget presents reasonable costs for services performed and an efficient way to achieve the objectives.
• Diversity: The organization engages and includes people of color, trans individuals and others typically underserved within the LGBTQ+ community.
• Defined measures: The organization identifies clear objectives and uses relevant metrics and measures to define a successful outcome.
• Timeline: The proposed timeline is realistic for accomplishing the outcomes.
• Organizational experience: The organization has the appropriate talent, skills, and experience to execute its objectives and effectively utilize grant funds.

The Plus Collective

We are a giving program and foundation that awards grants to organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community in the Charlotte region while also cultivating partnerships with community allies.

Basic Operating Grants

The Plus Collective (TPC) will award Operating Grants to Charlotte-area organizations serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.

Basic Operating Grants are intended to build capacity and strengthen the effectiveness of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose primary objective is to serve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg LGBTQ+ community. Grants will be awarded to support the general operations of organizations that exemplify the vision of

Organizations may apply for either a Basic Operating Grant or a Programs, Projects and Events (PPE) Grant, but NOT both.

Funding Priorities

Applicant organizations should exemplify TPC’s vision: The organizations’ services should support the following:

• Building understanding and appreciation, as well as promoting the value of inclusion within the organization’s circle of influence, for LGBTQ+ populations.
• Cultivating leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ people.
• Engaging and including people with diverse backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identity in programs, services and organizational values.

Funding Considerations

As you complete your application, give special consideration to documenting the following criteria which will be used in making grant decisions:

• Scope of impact: The organization has a positive impact on its audience and the Charlotte LGBTQ+ community.
• Effectiveness: The organization is effective at utilizing resources to provide the services and benefits it offers.
• Budget: The organization’s budget presents reasonable costs for services performed and an efficient way to achieve the objectives.
• Diversity: The organization engages and includes people of color, trans individuals and others typically underserved within the LGBTQ+ community.
• Defined measures: The organization identifies clear objectives and uses relevant metrics and measures to define a successful outcome.
• Organizational experience: The organization has the appropriate talent, skills, and experience to execute its objectives and effectively utilize grant funds.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

Description

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation (CMCF) is a permanent endowment at Foundation For The Carolinas. CMCF’s Board of Advisors directs its grantmaking to support a community where every resident is afforded the opportunity to be well-educated, safely housed, meaningfully employed and actively engaged in community decisions. CMCF views itself as an investor in the community and is interested in creating the highest possible levels of community gain, focused on improving the lives of residents in Mecklenburg County, N.C.

Result and Investment Areas

CMCF’s intended investments for this grant opportunity originate from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force Report (March 2017) and Leading on Opportunity’s Opportunity Compass. Launched in 2022, the Opportunity Compass is a tool that provides a shared language for the key determinants of economic mobility and establishes a baseline for future progress for our community. Recognizing the importance of investing in efforts that we know move the needle on economic mobility, the most competitive applications in this grant cycle will clearly demonstrate how their organization’s work addresses at least one economic mobility indicator reflected within the Opportunity Compass. CMCF encourages all applicants to explore the Opportunity Compass prior to applying.

Cradle to Career

A child’s earliest years have a profound and lasting impact on their school success, their career success, and their lives. CMCF seeks proposals that address early childhood (birth to kindergarten) and college and career readiness (elementary school to age 24). Priority will be given to proposals that will:

• Ensure access to safe and enriching early care and education or strengthen the early care and education workforce in Mecklenburg County, N.C.
• Support parents and other caregivers as a child’s first teacher in promoting positive early brain development.
• Broaden the range of and access to high-quality college and career pathways offered by K-12 and post-secondary institutions and equip students with the necessary information and guidance to understand them.
• Create more on-ramps to education, training, and employment for disconnected youth and young adults, including paid work-based learning opportunities for students.
• Expand and strengthen support for first-generation or low-socioeconomic status students as they transition to and complete post-secondary education.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Purpose and overview

The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Local Arts Agency and the cultural catalyst, driving economic growth and community retention through the arts, sciences, and culture. ASC leads as the voice of culture in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, fueling community retention and upward mobility for all our residents. 

ASC Culture Blocks is a vital piece of ASC’s mission to actively remove barriers to access and connect communities across Mecklenburg County with free arts, science, and history experiences. Culture Blocks is funded by Mecklenburg County and administered by the Arts & Science Council in partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.  

The program organizes funds and supports cultural experiences shaped by residents, close to where they live, and delivered through our partnership with public libraries, recreation centers, parks, and other community spaces. These programs are focused within historically underserved neighborhoods, with minimal opportunities or access to arts, science, and history experiences. 

Culture Blocks offers a wide range of programs, including though not limited to workshops and experiences in visual arts, dance, theater, writing, photography, culinary arts, music classes, film screenings, concerts, festivals, and multicultural events. These programs serve neighborhoods in Charlotte and the towns of Cornelius, Huntersville, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.  

Community Involvement - Community is Key

At the heart of Culture Blocks is its people. ASC is committed to our investment in fostering diverse, self-sustaining communities that enhance cultural expression and promote a sense of belonging for all residents. Ownership and involvement of residents in these programs are key. Culture Block Program providers develop their experiences based on feedback gathered from the community through ASC Community Gatherings. Proposals are only accepted if they clearly demonstrate how community feedback has shaped the planned activities and experiences. This ensures that all programs and experiences align with the local needs and interests that have been expressed through community feedback by the individuals within those communities.

Key Program Intentions

Programming must prioritize enriching experiences that are accessible to a broad audience rather than professional development or training for specific groups. 

Culture Blocks supports programs that can engage and enrich the community at any time without the need for prior training, offering flexibility and accessibility. 

Funding is designated for the direct delivery of programming and does not cover start-up costs or capacity-building efforts. 

Gupta Family Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, USA. Our mission is to support organizations that provide focused intervention in the lives of people who have been disadvantaged in some way to help them become self-reliant. We take a very broad view of “disadvantage” to include anything that holds a person back from realizing their potential, such as poverty, physical or mental disability, social alienation, etc. The foundation also supports relief agencies that serve people affected by emergencies such as natural disasters.

The foundation evaluates and awards annual and multi-year grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000 (USD). Our focus is on funding smaller organizations all around the world that are led by individuals with a deep personal commitment to their missions. 

Our selection criteria include:

• Mission alignment
• The organization is run by the founder or, if not, by a successor who embodies the original inspiration, passion and commitment of the founder.
• At least 90% of grant monies reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• The organization is non-sectarian, i.e.,
  • It does not, directly or indirectly, support or condone the proselytization of any religion,
  • It is not supported by or affiliated to a religious organization.

Background

The Social Capital Grants program aligns with the recommendations of the Opportunity Task Force. It is designed to support organizations and programs focused on building social capital-networks, relationships, and access to opportunities --- through the lens of increasing economic opportunity for all children, youth, and families in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

The program will concentrate on supporting and strengthening organizations and programs that build and nurture social capital within communities, among communities, between organizations, and promotes a culture of caring and life navigation.

Building Social Capital & Promoting a Culture of Caring

• All children, youth, and families have access to pipelines of opportunities to development, resources, information, and positive networks and relationships.
• Organizations, business, educational and religious institutions, along with individuals collectively leverage their connections, relationships, and resources to help improve life of all children, youth, and families.
• Development of mutually genuine and trusting relationships, that promote the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and personal stories. 
• Development of a culture of caring that's demonstrated to every child, youth and families in Mecklenburg County.

Life Navigation

• All children and youth have access to an enduring person or persons of caring and support that expose them to new opportunities, connect them to careers, and assist with navigation of educational systems and life. 
• All children, youth, and families are offered tangible pathways to achieving their active aspirations*. 

*Active aspirations are goals that a person is consciously and deliberately working toward--requiring an individual to invest time, energy, and resources.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation (CMCF) provides grants for organizations serving residents of Mecklenburg County, which align with its vision of a community where every resident is afforded the opportunity to be well educated, safely housed, meaningfully employed and actively engaged in community decisions. Further, CMCF believes that the preservation and protection of natural resources and environmentally conscious decision-making are vital to maintaining the community’s quality of life. 

Result and Investment Areas

The Foundation views itself as an investor in the community and is interested in creating the highest possible levels of community gain, focused on improving the lives of Mecklenburg County citizens. 

The Foundation typically awards grants between $10,000-$50,000 to eligible organizations. However, actual award amounts will be determined based on merit of the project and available funds.

Specific investment and results areas are outlined below and should be reflected in grant applications. 

Family Formation

Young women and men have access to the necessary information, resources and support to help them:

• Delay pregnancy when they chose to do so.
• Prepare for a healthy pregnancy and positive birth outcome when they chose to become a parent. 
• Build and strengthen their families as they are being formed.

Financial Security

• Parents are on a pathway to living wage employment, asset building and other means of creating financial stability, thus helping their children break the inter-generational poverty cycle.
• Families are equipped with the basic logistical support and services they need to find and maintain employment.

Innovative Housing Solutions

• Children and families are living in safe, nurturing and stable residential environments. 

Parenting Education, Family Support and Engagement

• Parents/other caregivers are strong advocates for their children and have increased knowledge of and skills for early brain and other positive child development.
• Families are well-connected to community resources and supports.
• Families are helping each other succeed through peer support
• Parents are addressing their own and their mental/behavioral health issues to more effectively support their children’s social/emotional needs and educational outcomes.
• The impact of a family’s involvement with the criminal justice system is lessened.
• Fathers are positively engaged in the lives and futures of their children.

For the purpose of this grant program, we define “family” as a household unit consisting of a parent(s) or other primary adult caregiver(s) such as grandparents or other designated relatives, and children under the age of 18 who are being cared for and supported by the adult caregivers. 

Arts & Science Council: Arts Education Grants

The Arts Education Grants program provides targeted funding to nonprofit education departments at mid to large cultural institutions within Mecklenburg County. These education-operating grants support high-quality, impactful arts, science, history, and heritage education programs delivered either within schools or at the organization’s venue, specifically serving school-age children. With a dedicated focus on Title I schools, these grants, funded by Mecklenburg County, seek to expand arts education experiences, eliminate barriers to arts and culture participation for school-age children, enhance student achievement, foster creativity, and contribute to the holistic development of our next generation of leaders. We believe that arts education is fundamental to building a more creative, empathetic, and vibrant future for all students within CMS. 

The Arts Education grants stemmed from the research and development of the City of Charlotte Arts & Culture Plan, which outlined a vision to sustain and grow the arts and culture sector in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. While inspired by this resource from the city, this grant offering also aligns with Mecklenburg County’s strategic plan priorities, particularly those related to fostering a Connected Community and promoting Economic Opportunities. Successful proposals will demonstrate how their arts education programs contribute to the broader county goals, such as: 

• Fostering access to physical, social, and informational resources for all community members, especially youth. 
• Building a community where all people can thrive and be well through enhanced educational opportunities. 
• Providing economic opportunities for individuals by developing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills in young learners. 
• Building a Healthy Community where all people can thrive and be well. 
• Enhancing Community and Partnership Engagement throughout the County.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Women's Impact Fund Grant

Our grantmaking process has two purposes. First, to make high-impact grants to local nonprofit organizations. Second, to train our members as thoughtful philanthropists. We continue to lean into trust-based philanthropy principles and aim to conduct a fair, transparent grantmaking experience.

Program Areas

Women’s Impact Fund makes annual grants in five program areas. Nonprofits must choose in which program area to apply.

• Arts & Culture
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Human Services

Funding Principles

• Builds resilience and/or demonstrates the ability to adapt to changing societal and environmental circumstances
• Reduces disparities in our community
• Increases accessibility
• Responsive to, or aware of, root causes
• Considers racial and/or gender equity
• Serves populations that are underserved or not reached through other resources or organizations

Funding

Grant applications, member vote, and the grant pool size determine recipients and grant amounts. Grants for can range from $10,000 to $100,000. Unlike prior years, WIF is not asking applicants to request a specific funding amount.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Vision

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, "A Foundation for All", was established in 2002. It was begun in order to give a clear voice for those who wish to be a part of the many, worthy, forces for change in our world.

We are a foundation whose purpose is to look ahead towards the future, giving the past its due by remembering where we came from, and how much we can all accomplish together. We aim to make the critical difference on our planet by recognizing and having respect for our ever changing world. We respect all Life, the Environment, and all People, no matter who they are.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education
• entrepreneurship
• enrichment of community
• environment

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

Helping Build Better Futures

Our mission is to deliver great value to our customers every day. For over four decades, our deep commitment to the principles of providing value and caring for others has helped define our culture. It extends beyond the walls of our stores, distribution centers, and offices, and into our local communities around the world. The intersection of these principles defines our global community mission:

Deliver great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future.

Our Social Impact Areas

We bring our community relations mission to life around the world by focusing our giving on four social impact areas where we believe we can have the most impact and are critical to helping families and children succeed and thrive.

Basic Needs

We are passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations that help fill critical basic needs such as a warm meal, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep for vulnerable families.

Education & Training

Our efforts have focused on quality enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide skills, resources, and opportunities to support school and career success for children, teens, and young adults.

Patient Care & Research

We support organizations that deliver services to families and children facing health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

Empowering Women

We support programs that provide services ranging from help for those fleeing domestic violence, to others that offer education, training, and job placement resources.

Arts & Science Council: Strategic Investment Grants (SIG)

The Strategic Investment Grant is designed to provide funding to established nonprofits in Mecklenburg County with a primary mission centralized in arts, science, history, and/or heritage. This support will fund one-time strategic opportunities to invest in their organization’s growth and sustainability. These project-based grants aim to significantly improve an organization’s management, strengthen fundraising, provide a unique learning opportunity for staff/board, and/or achieve operating efficiencies for maximized impact. By investing in these capacity-building initiatives among local nonprofits and fostering collaboration throughout the creative ecosystem and with other sectors, this grant recognizes that targeted strategic investments are fundamental to achieving sustained community benefit. 

• Projects must take place: Between October 1, 2025 – May 1, 2026.    
• Grant amount: ASC will make grants up to $50,000 for project-based support.
• For requests up to $10,000, a match is not required.  

For requests up to $50,000, ASC requires grantees to provide 50% matching funds toward the project expenses via funding from other grants, cash, or in-kind. This requirement demonstrates additional buy-in, financial sustainability, and expansion of the impact of this request among your organization. Organizations with an operating budget of $1.25 million or more must provide matching funds. 

Background

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) provides federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for physical security enhancements and other security-related activities to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist or other extremist attack. NSGP also seeks to integrate the preparedness activities of nonprofit organizations with broader state and local preparedness efforts.

NSGP is a competitive federal grant program from DHS/FEMA administered through the North Carolina Dept. of Public Safety (NCDPS) / North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) in the state of NC.

NSGP - Urban Area (NSGP-UA)

NSGP-UA funds nonprofit organizations located within Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) designated high-risk urban areas, which is defined as the Charlotte Area in NC.

Primary Purpose

Target Hardening.  Some example projects include contracted security, fencing, lighting, cameras, security/reinforced doors, window treatments, communications equipment, security alarm systems, security plans, and staff training and exercises.

The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.

Funding

Eligible nonprofit sub-applicants with one site may apply for up to $150,000 for that site. Nonprofit sub-applicants with multiple sites may apply for up to $150,000 per site for up to three sites, for a maximum of $450,000 per sub-applicant per state and funding source.

For example, a nonprofit organization with locations in multiple states may apply for up to three sites within each state, per funding source, for a maximum of six sites per state (three under NSGP-S, and three under NSGP-UA).