Originally founded in 2016 following the civil unrest sparked by the killing of Charlotte resident Keith Lamont Scott, Unite Charlotte seeks to address the structural racism that exists within the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Since then, dozens of grassroots organizations—the majority of them founded and/or led by people of color—have received grant funding, capacity-building training, and leadership development opportunities. This is an intentional effort to support their mission and work, increase their impact, and grow a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of nonprofit leaders in Charlotte.

By the end of 2022, United Way will have awarded Unite Charlotte funding to over 75 grassroots agencies. In addition to grant funding, leaders from over 50 of these agencies have completed Duke University’s Nonprofit Management Certification program at no-cost to them as part of the program’s capacity-building component. This and other trainings help bolster their sustainability and community impact.

Once an agency successfully finishes as a “Unite Charlotte First Year” recipient, it is then invited to apply for a larger grant award for the next 1-2 years. Funding for executive leadership training is then provided to these Unite Charlotte “Second Year” and “Third Year” grantees. This investment in leadership allows the agencies to better execute on its mission and goals, driving stronger outcomes and impact.

2023 Grant Process

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Unite Charlotte Partners

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2022 Unite Charlotte Partners

Unite Charlotte First Year

Alluvium Inc.
Brenda H. Tapia Family Foundation
Do Greater Foundation, Inc.
EmpowHERment, Inc.
Exodus Foundation.org
Family Mankind
Heal Charlotte
Healing Vine Harbor Inc.
Innovate Tech Charlotte
Jessie’s World Inc. (DBA: Triumph Services)
Locked Out Love Inc.
Money Magnets Club
National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Queen City Metropolitan Chapter
Our Daily Bread Foundation
Prodigal Son Foundation
Promise Youth Development, Inc.
Que-OS (DBA: BOOM Charlotte)
She Built This City
S.T.A.R.S. Math & English Academy
The 100 Black Men of Greater Charlotte, Inc.
The Arts Empowerment Project
The Bulb Gallery
The FACTS Initiative
UMBA Bright Stars, Inc.
Urban Institute for Strengthening Families

Unite Charlotte Second Year

Anthony Morrow Charities
B.E.A.M. (Building Excellence Affirming Manhood) Foundation
Black Social Capital Initiative
Block Love Charlotte
Carolina Migrant Network
Children of the World Learning Center
Circle de Luz
For The Struggle, Inc.
GardHouse Limited
GenerationNation
Grooming Greatness Foundation
Historic West End Partners, Inc.
Hope Vibes, Inc.
Lionel Lee Jr. Center for Wellness
National Black Child Development Institute – Charlotte
Our Turn, Inc.
Premier Foundation of North Carolina
Project B.O.L.T. (Building Outstanding Lives Together)
The Academy of Goal Achievers, Inc.
Wilson Oasis

Unite Charlotte Third Year

ASPIRE Community Capital
Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance
Mecklenburg Council of Elders
North End Community Coalition
Profound Gentlemen
Refugee Support Services of the Carolinas
Southside Rides Foundation
Stiletto Boss University
West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition
West Side Community Land Trust

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

*2nd year recipient

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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