Charlotte Mecklenburg African American Community Fund

The Charlotte Mecklenburg African American Community Committee (CMAACC), a partnership between the African American Community Foundation, Charlotte Mecklenburg African American Agenda and Johnson C. Smith University, facilitates grantmaking to nonprofit organizations addressing disparities experienced by Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s African American community.

The grant funds are made possible through the Lethia Henderson Fund Endowment and the Elizabeth S. Randolph African American Fund Endowment, both managed by Foundation For The Carolinas. The Henderson Fund was established in 1981 to support nonprofit programs and organizations with an emphasis on health and community service.  Ms. Henderson was an African American business woman and resident of the Beatties Ford Road Corridor.  The Randolph Fund was established in 1993 to foster philanthropy and to support non-profit programs and organizations that address African American concerns.  Ms. Randolph was a teacher and principal in Charlotte and also lived along the Beatties Ford Road Corridor.

2013 Grant Opportunities

The CMAACC accepts grant applications from nonprofit organizations in three focus areas: Public Education Support, Health and Economic Development.

Focus area: Public Education Support

The CMAACC supports students in public elementary, middle and high schools, as well as programs serving students ages birth to 18 during out-of-school time.

K-12 Public Education Support Services 

The CMAACC seeks programs focusing on the following results:

• Innovative and curriculum-based programs for underachieving students to achieve at or above grade level, with an emphasis on science, technology, English and math (STEM)
• Students have access to and are provided the necessary support services to decrease the likelihood or occurrence of dropout indicators

Pre-K and Out-of-School Time for Students (ages birth to 18) 

The CMAACC seeks programs focusing on the following results:

• Children and youth exhibiting positive behaviors during out-of-school hours through accessible, high quality pre-school, after-school, summer and extended day learning opportunities

Focus area: Health

The CMAACC also supports programs that address the health and nutrition of students ages birth to 18 and provide services for diseases that disproportionately effect African Americans. The Committee seeks programs focusing on the following results:

• Innovative cultural and community-based interventions that reduce health disparities
• Priority will be given to programs serving economically disadvantaged adults and families

Focus area: Economic Development 

The CMAACC also supports programs that provide business development and support for African American-owned businesses. The CMAACC seeks service providers focusing on the following results:

• Providers offering training, counseling and technical assistance to increase the success of African American-owned businesses in Mecklenburg County
• Providers offering expert and readily accessible assistance to prospective and existing small business owners and their employees

Areas Generally Not Funded Include:

• Basic operating support except for professional development training leading to provider certifications or licensure
• Endowment funds
• Direct support of individuals; scholarships to private or parochial schools
• Travel and conferences; publication of books
• Projects that promote political or religious views
• Purchase of equipment except for technology purchases directly related to delivering public education support programs

Eligibility

• Grants are limited to eligible organizations for projects in or benefiting Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC.
• A potential Grantee must be or have a fiscal sponsor that is either a United States-based private operating foundation, as defined in IRC § 4942(j)(3), or public charity, as defined in IRC § 509(a)(1), (2), or (3), which is tax exempt under IRC §501(c)(3).

Amount of Grants
Grants of up to $10,000 may be awarded. However, it is anticipated that most awards will be for smaller amounts.

2013 Grant Timeline

• Friday, February 22, 2013 – Application Information Workshop (Attendance was required to apply. Those organizations who were unable to attend the mandatory workshop are welcome to monitor our website in December 2013 for the 2014 application cycle dates).  
• Friday, March 29, 2013 – Grant application deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted (postmarked applications for the due date will be considered late).
• Monday, June 3, 2013 – Notification of grant awards

To apply, please click here to download the application. Please note: When clicking on the link to access an application, you may receive a request to enter a login and password. Please click "Cancel"and the application will appear.

2012 Grants

The Steering Committee for the Charlotte Mecklenburg African American Community Fund awarded $19,000 benefitting Charlotte’s African American community, including: providing workforce development activities and services to reduce unemployment among low-income individuals, after-school mentoring programs pairing high achieving high school students with third graders attending Title One schools, summer environmental education and kayaking programs for at-risk inner city youth and education, and social development for males who are at risk of failing high school.

• Catawba Riverkeeper - $5,000
• YBM Leadership Academy - $5,000
• Men Who Care Global - $5,000
• Charlotte Area Fund - $4,000

For More Information:

Contact Qiana Austin, Assistant Vice President, Community Programs & Civic Leadership, at qaustin@fftc.org or 704.973.4535.