Originally launched in response to the civic unrest that erupted in Charlotte in the fall of 2016, Unite Charlotte provides not only funding, but also capacity-building initiatives, to local grassroots organizations advancing racial equity and addressing economic mobility.

By the end of 2021, Unite Charlotte will have awarded $2.2 million in funding to dozens of organizations. In addition, leaders of these agencies receive, tuition-free, an opportunity to earn Duke University’s Certificate in Nonprofit Management, helping bolster their sustainability and community impact.

After the first year of funding, organizations can apply to receive larger grants and executive leadership training in subsequent years, thereby allowing Unite Charlotte to build a diverse, inclusive leadership pipeline for the Charlotte area’s nonprofit sector.

2022 Unite Charlotte Grants

United Way is opening its 2022 grant cycle for Unite Charlotte on August 2, 2021. This cycle will make one-year grant awards averaging $25,000 to 25 organizations with budgets under $250,000. However, grant awards may fluctuate based on funding availability and decisions made by the grant-making committee.

Funding will be prioritized for Black- and Brown-led organizations with a demonstrated commitment to serving historically marginalized groups. Unite Charlotte also invests in capacity-building trainings for nonprofits to strengthen program quality and foster organizational growth.

Application Resources

Agencies interested in receiving funding through Unite Charlotte are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming information sessions about the 2022 Unite Charlotte funding priorities and process.Although the sessions have ended, you can watch the webinar here.
Access Passcode: uS5$Z%e?

Unite Charlotte Information Session PowerPoint

Unite Charlotte Information Packet

Unite Charlotte – How to Write A Grant Application PowerPoint

Unite Charlotte – How to Write A Grant Application Zoom Recording Workshop – 07/14/2021
Passcode: +LJ!hB5k

Unite Charlotte Partners

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2021 Unite Charlotte Recipients

Academy of Goal Achievers
Anthony Morrow Charities
Aspire Community Capital**
B.E.A.M. Foundation
Be More Foundation
Black Social Capital Initiative (The Lee Institute)
Block Love Charlotte
Carolina Migrant Network
Children of the World Learning Center
Circle de Luz
Cops and Barbers, Inc**
E2D- Eliminate the Digital Divide**
For the Struggle
GardHouse Limited
GenerationNation
Grooming Greatness Foundation
Historic West End Partners
Hope Vibes
Immigrant Impact Fund
Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance**
Lionel Lee Jr. Center for Wellness
Mecklenburg Council of Elders**
National Black Child Development Institute (Charlotte)
North End Community Coalition***
Our Turn
Premier Foundation of North Carolina
Profound Gentlemen***
Project B.O.L.T.
Project One Scholarship Fund
Refugee Support Services***
Southside Rides***
West Side Community Land Trust***
Wilson Oasis

*2nd year recipient

**3rd year recipient

***4th year recipient

2019 Unite Charlotte Recipients

Aspire Community Capital*
Camino Community Center**
Cops and Barbers, Inc*
E2D*
Mecklenburg Council of Elders*
Profound Gentleman**
Race Matters for Juvenile Justice**
Refugee Support Services**
Southside Rides**
Soy Latino Como Tu**
Stiletto Boss University*
The Light Factory*
West Side Community Land Trust**
Young Black Leadership Alliance*

*2nd year recipient

**3rd year recipient

2018 Unite Charlotte Recipients

2017 Unite Charlotte Recipients

Advancing Opportunities for Youth, Families and Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

United Way’s Unite Charlotte partner Project B.O.L.T. provides programming and resources to improve the quality of life for youth, families and formerly incarcerated people in Charlotte.

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Addressing Homelessness through Innovation, Hope and Advocacy

Unite Charlotte partner Hope Vibes addresses homelessness through direct relief, research, innovation, advocacy and systemic disruption.

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Reducing Disparities in Access to Mental Health Care

Unite Charlotte partners Anthony Morrow Charities and Wilson Oasis eliminate barriers to mental health care access in minority populations.

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Cultivating Our Community’s Youngest Leaders

Unite Charlotte partners The Academy of Goal Achievers and Building Excellence Affirming Manhood (B.E.A.M.) Foundation educate, mentor and strengthen young minds.

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Supporting Innovation at Cops and Barbers Inc.

Cops and Barbers Inc. provides opportunities to foster dialogue and improve police-community relations for equitable community growth across Charlotte.

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Eliminating the Digital Divide

Motivated by his young daughter’s concern about fellow students struggling to complete assignments because they lacked access to a computer and internet connectivity in their homes, Pat Millen sought a solution to bridge the digital divide in area schools.

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Guiding Future Young Professionals

After working hard to become a successful philanthropist and entrepreneur, Jania Massey sought a way to fill the void she saw with social capital and opportunity for girls of color in Charlotte.

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Adapting to a New Home

With nearly 17,000 refugees resettling in Charlotte over the past 20 years, Rachel Humphries saw a need for helping these newly-arrived residents successfully adapt to their new home.

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Growing Teachers Into Leaders

Jason Terrell and Mario Shaw started Profound Gentlemen, a nonprofit focused on building a community of male educators of color – from pre-K through high school – who can provide a profound impact on boys and young men of color.

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Creating New Opportunities

Dave Moore understands that young men getting out of jail most often won’t be able to secure a job quickly, because he’s an ex-felon himself; the idea for Southside Rides came to him while serving a sentence for dealing drugs.

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Take Action

Make a Contribution

Be a part of the change and make a gift today!

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Share and Advocate

Share our work through Unite Charlotte with your coworkers, friends and family members.

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