Foundation for the Carolinas’ Fundholders Grant More Than $150 Million to Nonprofits in Second Quarter of 2026

Foundation for the Carolinas’ Fundholders Grant More Than $150 Million to Nonprofits in Second Quarter of 2026

Date: 06-13-26

CHARLOTTE, NC – Foundation for the Carolinas has announced that its charitable fundholders granted more than $150 million to local and national nonprofits in the second quarter of 2026. The grantmaking, which totaled more than 3,700 grants, was detailed in a recent Q2 report released by the Foundation.

The grantmaking totals from Q2 increased FFTC’s total grantmaking for 2026 to nearly $350 million total. The fifth-largest community foundation out of 800 in the country, with assets in excess of $5 billion, FFTC is headquartered in Charlotte and serves a 13-county region in North and South Carolina.

“Foundation fundholders continue to show up through their generosity and support of our community,” said FFTC President Laura Yates Clark. “The trends we saw in 2025 have continued, with donors stepping up time and time again, having a tremendous impact on both our local community and national nonprofits.”

Coming off a record-breaking 2025 in which FFTC fundholders distributed $1 billion via 17,000+ grants, the second quarter grantmaking numbers highlighted the ongoing generosity of Foundation fundholders. Additional impact in the second quarter of 2026 included $109 million contributed by FFTC fundholders into their funds – a 114% increase over Q1; 37 new funds opened by companies, families and nonprofits; and $3.6 million in scholarships awarded to nearly 1,000 students.

The vast majority of grants were selected by Foundation fundholders and awarded to nonprofits of their choosing. Grants were also distributed from scholarship funds, disaster and hardship relief programs, nonprofit endowments and other giving vehicles managed by FFTC. About 2% of total grantmaking was awarded directly by the Foundation to local nonprofits.

The grantmaking totals were detailed in the Foundation’s recently released second quarter report, which documented highlights from April 1-June 30, 2026, including:

  • Launching the K Needs Play Collective Giving Fund, creating a new way for supporters to help bring hands-on learning, creativity and play back into local kindergarten classrooms.
  • The Foundation’s arts initiative, the Arts & Science Council, announced results of its Community Connector Grants, with 71 projects receiving more than $1 million to expand access to arts and culture and remove barriers to participation across the county. In addition, ASC's programming reached more than 80,000 students across 132 schools, marking a 15% increase from the previous year.
  • Through FFTC’s Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, the Foundation expanded its support of local nonprofits, launching a new website – fftc:FWD.net – designed to connect community members with the causes they care about. The Robinson Center also assisted more than 230 local nonprofit leaders through its Agility Together initiative.

For more information about the Foundation and its impact, visit fftc.org.

About Foundation for the Carolinas 
Founded in 1958, Foundation for the Carolinas is a community foundation serving a 13-county region across the Carolinas. Remarkable impact is at the heart of the Foundation's mission, and the driving force of that impact is the thousands of nonprofits, families and companies who partner with FFTC to amplify the power of giving. Visit www.fftc.org. 

Media Contact: Timothy Hager, 704.973.4587 or thager@fftc.org