OVERVIEW: This is a regional funder that serves a 13-county region in North Carolina and South Carolina and supports a broad range of community needs.
IP TAKE: The Foundation for the Carolina’s is a large, sprawling community foundation that is comprised of thirteen smaller foundations serving one or more counties in the greater Charlotte region, the Foundation for Black Philanthropy and the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community. FFTC mostly organizes its grantmaking by county rather than theme, leaving something of a blank slate for grantseekers. This is, however, an approachable funder, so reach out with questions and ideas to see if your organization is a good fit. FFTC accepts unsolicited applications and often has funding options for all kinds of organizations.
PROFILE: The Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC) was created in 1958 and is one of the largest community foundations in the U.S. The foundation claims assets of $5 billion across more than 3,000 funds. Since its founding, FFTC has made more than $50 million in grants to nonprofits. According to its mission statement, FFTC “inspires philanthropy and empowers individuals to create a better community.”
This funder awards competitive grants through dozens of funds, most of which focus on one of the 13 counties of North or South Carolina served by the foundation. While this funder does not organize its grantmaking thematically, tax filings indicate that major areas of giving include community development, environmental causes, education, health, human services and arts and culture. Note that this funder runs an open application program for its competitive grant programs but does not accept applications on behalf of its many donor-advised funds.
Grants for Environment, Climate Change and Clean Energy
While FFTC does not outline priorities for its thematic areas of giving, recent grantmaking reveals a strong commitment to conservation and environmental and climate justice in its service region.
- Some of the foundation’s larger environmental grantees include the Southern Environmental Law Center, the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conserevancy and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
- Grants have also supported smaller and community-led environmental groups. Recipients include Asheville’s South Wings, Conserving Carolina, the Yadkin Riverkeeper and Muddy Sneakers, an environmental education program in Brevard, North Carolina.
Grants for Education
Another major giving area is education. FFTC supports early childhood, K-12 and higher education and also runs a robust scholarship program. The foundation does not name priorities for its giving, but appears to prioritize equitable access, opportunity and academic and arts enrichments for students of all ages.
- Early childhood education is a smaller area of giving. Grantees include Salisbury’s Partners in Learning Child Development Center, Adventure Academy of Harrisburg, North Carolina and ApSeed Early Childhood Education in Salisbury.
- K-12 grants support a combination of schools and organizations that provide out-of-school programming. Grantees include the Charlotte Christian School, Above and Beyond Students of Charlotte, Communities in Schools or Rowan, the St. James Learning Center of Marion, South Carolina and Charlotte’s Heart Math Tutoring.
- Higher education grants have gone to North Carolina Central University, Spartanburg’s Converse University, East Carolina University in Greenville and Warren Wilson College in Asheville, among others.
- The foundation also awards more than 150 scholarships annually to students from the region pursuing higher education. Find information about how to apply at the program page.
Grants for Public Health and Mental Health
FFTC makes grants for health and mental health, prioritizing organizations that increase access for underinsured and low-income residents of its service area.
- Health grantees include the HealthReach Community Clinic of Mooresville, Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley, Community Health Services of Union County and the Community Care Clinic of Dare.
- Grants to organizations providing mental and behavioral health services have supported Charlotte’s Hope Haven, Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, Brave Step, which supports victims of sexual assault, and Despierta, an organization that provides counseling and other services to Latina immigrants in Charlotte.
Grants for Housing, Homelessness, Food and Nutrition
In tandem with its mental health giving, the foundation supports numerous organizations that support homeless and vulnerable people with emergency, transitional and affordable housing, as well as case management and services for homeless individuals and families.
- Organizations serving homeless and vulnerable children and youth figure prominently here. Grantees include the Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, Alexander Youth Network in Charlotte and the Children’s Homes of Iredell County.
- Other housing and homelessness grantees include the Raleigh Rescue Mission, the Veterans Bridge Home in Charlotte, the Housing Collaborative of Charlotte and United Ministries in Greenville, South Carolina.
- Grantees working to prevent hunger and food insecurity include Feed NC, Feeding Charlotte and the Hunger and Health Coalition of Boone, North Carolina.
Grants for Community Development, Arts and Culture, Religious Causes
FFTC also supports community development, with many grants supporting programs run by religiously-affiliated organizations and Christian churches. Community arts programs also appear to be of interest.
- Many religious organizations and churches that have received funding form FFTC run community, youth and human services programs for their communities. Grantees include Lauringburg Presbyterian Church, Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, Greater Spartanburg Ministries and Matthew 25 Ministries of Harmony, North Carolina.
- Arts and culture grants have supported South Carolina’s Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra, the Charlotte Art League, Charlotte’s Three Bone Theatre and Baran Dance, also of Charlotte.
- Other community grants have gone to 100 Gardens in Charlotte, the Sullenberger Aviation Museum and the Historic Rosedale Foundation.
Grants for Racial Justice
FFTC houses the Foundation for Black Philanthropy, which oversees and conducts grantmaking for donor-advised and other charitable funds that focus on “empowering Black communities” and upholding “the strong tradition of Black philanthropy in our community.” Specific themes of grantmaking may change for year to year. Recent grants appear to emphasize youth, education and leadership development, with grants supporting organizations like Achieving Success on Purpose, Right Moves for Youth and the Ronnie L. Bryant Leadership Academy, all of which operate in Charlotte. The Foundation for Black Philanthropy accepts applications via FFTC’s application portal.
Grants for Jewish Causes
Another component of the FFTC, the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community, organizes and administers funding for the Jewish community of Charlotte and simultaneously working to strengthen its Jewish organizations. While donor-advised grantmaking has supported causes across the U.S. and around the world, many Charlotte-area Jewish organizations have also received support. Grantees include The Ballantyne Jewish Center, the Charlotte Jewish News, the Jewish Preschool on Sardis, the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library and Resource Center and several local temples.
Important Grant Details:
Although FFTC has awarded grants upwards of $30 million, grants most commonly fall in the $10,000 to $200,000 range, and the foundation’s largest grants likely represent donations from its donor-advised funds. .
- See a list of North and South Carolina counties served by the foundation here.
- This funder organizes its grantmaking by county rather than thematic area. If your area of interest is not mentioned here, your organization may still be able to receive funding from FFTC. See information about eligibility at the foundation’s application and FAQ page.
- Due dates for competitive grant applications vary by program. See a list of due dates by county and program here.
- Grant seekers can email competitivegrants@fftc.org with questions. Grant seekers can keep up with recent grants and foundation happenings in the funder’s Newsroom or by following FFTC’s social media accounts, which are linked to the bottom of the website.
Submit questions via email to competitivegrants@fftc.org or call the foundation at (704) 973-4500.
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