Collective Charitable Giving
Special Giving Programs
Amplify the power of philanthropy by giving collaboratively.
Through our collective giving programs, you can pool your donations with others who share your interests, research community needs and decide as a group where to make grants. You also have the opportunity to engage through educational activities, volunteerism and more.
You can also strengthen nonprofits and improve lives throughout our region by supporting FFTC's other special giving programs.
Our Programs
The Plus Collective – formerly known as the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund – is a giving program that awards grants to nonprofits supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community in the Charlotte region, as well as partners with community allies.
Whether you wish to be involved with grantmaking decisions, or simply want to support the fund with a generous donation, your gift provides funding to nonprofits that support the local LGBTQ+ community.
Give to the Fund
Make an impact in the lives of our LGBTQ+ community. You can give by check, online, through a donor advised fund or by designating The Plus Collective in a planned gift.
Giving Levels
Founders provide generous one-time gifts and are recognized in perpetuity on the website and printed materials for their leadership and generosity.
- Platinum Founder: Gifts of $10,000 or more
- Gold Founder: Gifts of $5,000 to $9,999
- Silver Founder: Gifts of $2,500 to $4,999
Stakeholders give annually to The Plus Collective, and are eligible to participate in the grantmaking process each year they give. They are recognized for their generosity, both online and in printed materials.
- Stakeholder Plus: A gift of $1,250, where $1,000 supports annual grantmaking and $250 is applied to The Plus Collective’s endowment to support future grantmaking
- Stakeholder: A gift of $1,000 ($500 for those under 30 years old)
Donors: If you are not ready to become a stakeholder or founder, you can still make an impact with a smaller donation.
To give by check, note The Plus Collective on the memo line and mail to: Foundation For The Carolinas, 220 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Our Sponsors
Equality
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Humanity
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Dignity
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Compassion
McGuireWoods LLP
Pride
HopeWay
The Plus Collective Board of Advisors
Devlin McNeil, Chair
Lynn Davidson, Treasurer
Michael Rodriguez, Secretary
Lizzie Faust
Liz Fitzgerald
Jeremy Hall
Kelly Hall
Rebecca Hoover
Kyle Luebke
Tyler Neal
JC Neilson
Lee Robertson
Shelly Schoenfeld
Vanessa Simon
Tyler Smith
With the goal of enhancing the quality of life within our communities, NGAAP is a collective giving program that promotes philanthropy among African Americans in the Charlotte region.
Established in 2008, members pledge $1 a day for three years and envision a healthy, safe and prosperous community for families to live, work and flourish. We award grants to nonprofits that address issues affecting a disproportionate number of African Americans.
Grants are awarded to organizations that serve unmet needs of the African American community. We will award grants up to $10,000 for operations and programs that support the mission of NGAAP.
Criteria
Based and operating in Mecklenburg County
501(c)3 status (use of fiscal sponsors allowed)
Annual organizational budget not exceeding $500,000
50% or more of population served by identified program/organization is African American
CM3A-identified need and priority
30% or more of Board members are Black/African American (representative of County demographics at 32.2% in 2014)
Funding priority given to initiatives that respond to and promote the mission of “Social, Civic and Legal Justice” within the African American community
Preferred Programs
Build understanding and appreciation for the inequality in legal outcomes based on ethnicity and race
Cultivate opportunities to build collaboration and community
Support voter registration and engagement
Promote policies and procedures that reduce disproportionality and disparities in the justice system
Areas Typically Not Funded
Capital campaigns and endowment funds
Networking infrastructure, hardware and software for computers or other similar forms of technology
Publication of books
Projects that promote political activity or religious views
Organizations for re-granting purposes
Debt retirement/deficit funding
Activities occurring prior to grant decision
Projects typically the funding responsibility of federal, state or local government
New proposals that duplicate existing or established programs or services
Strategic planning if it is in “ordinary course of business”
The current grant cycle is now closed.
AACF was established in 1993 to support efforts that promote economic self-reliance, equal opportunity, leadership skills and cultural awareness among the region's African American community.
The grant funds were made possible through the Lethia Henderson Fund Endowment and the Elizabeth S. Randolph African American Fund Endowment. Individual contributions help the fund grow, increasing the potential to spur and support impactful programs.
Since 1994, AACF has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to nonprofits that serve the African American community.
Grant Programs
Our strategic grantmaking to educational, economic, health and cultural initiatives fosters opportunity, leadership and civic participation among the underserved and underrepresented in Mecklenburg and nearby counties. The current grant cycle is now closed.
Focus areas
- Public education support. AACF supports students in public elementary, middle and high schools, as well as programs serving students ages birth to 18 during out-of-school time.
- Health. AACF also supports programs that address the health and nutrition of students ages birth to 18 and provide services for diseases that disproportionately affect African Americans.
- Economic development. AACF also supports programs that provide business development and support for African American-owned businesses.
Eligibility
- Grants are limited to eligible organizations for projects in or benefitting Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC.
- Grants are made to qualified 501(c)3, governmental, educational and religious organizations.
Areas Typically Not Funded
- 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
2021 Board of Advisors
Terik Tidwell, Chair, Johnson C. Smith University
Ed Franklin, Bank of America
Jahuie McCrary, Red Ventures
Lucious Taylor, Wells Fargo
Dr. Jodi Turner, UNC Charlotte
Adrian Woolcock, ProSidian Consulting
The Plus Collective & NGAAP Contact
