Quarterly Spotlight
Quarterly Spotlight
Building momentum together
Powered by the generosity and partnership of our fundholders and community partners, Foundation for the Carolinas is advancing a strategic framework that strengthens philanthropy and drives distinctive civic and social impact throughout our 13-county region. The highlights below reflect steady progress toward our shared goals and the remarkable impact made possible through collaborative action.
2026 Q2 highlights
- This quarter, more than 3,700 grants, totaling $152 million, were awarded by our fundholders to nonprofits making a difference locally and nationwide.
- Our fundholders contributed more than $93 million to their FFTC funds with a total of 37 new funds opened by companies, families and nonprofits to help achieve their charitable vision.
- We launched 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.
- Through the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership’s Agility Together initiative, more than 230 nonprofit leaders engaged in sessions focused on change management, mental health and resilience.
- FFTC fundholders awarded $3.6 million in scholarships to nearly 1,000 students so far this year, helping open doors to educational opportunities across our region.
- On July 1, we introduced an enhanced fundholder portal, making it easier to access fund information, manage charitable giving and complete key tasks online.
- We launched a reimagined website designed to help you more easily find information, explore giving opportunities and learn about the impact philanthropy is making throughout the community.
- Through the Arts & Science Council’s Community Connector Grants, 71 projects received 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.
- The Carolina Theatre earned a 2026 Charlotte Gem Award for Commercial Preservation, recognizing FFTC’s leadership in restoring and preserving one of Charlotte’s most treasured historic landmarks. The theatre also welcomed 1,300 students for a performance by the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet and hosted a variety of community events, including the inaugural Favorite Things Fest, the Charlotte Symphony and showings of The Sound of Music.
- The Robinson Center for Civic Leadership launched fftc:FWD at the 2026 Community Impact Summit, an innovative civic leadership platform developed in collaboration with 14 nonprofits, 21 local artists and photographers, and seven small businesses to connect community members with opportunities to lead on issues they care about.
More than 450 nonprofit, civic and community leaders gathered at the Carolina Theatre on May 14 for the annual Community Impact Summit, co-hosted by SHARE Charlotte and the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership at Foundation for the Carolinas.