Carolina Thread Trail
Carolina Thread Trail was a Charlotte, North Carolina public charity that supported development of a regional network of trails, greenways and blueways. Its 2022 filing is marked as its final return: the organization dissolved at the end of that year and transferred its remaining assets to Foundation For The Carolinas for the benefit of Catawba Lands Conservancy, which the filing says will continue the project. Carolina Thread Trail therefore appears to have wound down and is no longer making grants.
Carolina Thread Trail at a glance
In short: Carolina Thread Trail gave $8.4M across 18 grants in 2022 (avg $466K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $8,386,205
- +2508.3% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 18
- +350.0% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $465,900
- +479.6% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2022; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Carolina Thread Trail
- Contact
Mailing address: 220 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 973-4500
Website: https://carolinathreadtrail.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Carolina Thread Trail
Who Carolina Thread Trail funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Foundation for the Carolinas ($7.5M). Together the top 10 received $8.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 38 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trail network covered 15 counties in North and South Carolina. In 2022, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 1% to recipients in South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Carolina Thread Trail gives
- Giving grew 1128% from 2019 to 2022. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $322K (2021) to $8.4M (2022). In 2022 it made 18 grants totaling $8.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation for the Carolinas Charlotte, NC | Trail Development | $7,463,261 |
| City of Shelby Shelby, NC | Trail Development | $275,000 |
| Town of Richfield Richfield, NC | Trail Development | $87,061 |
| Town of Cramerton Cramerton, NC | Trail Development | $86,700 |
| Town of Wadesboro Wadesboro, NC | Trail Development | $85,000 |
| Town of Spencer Spencer, NC | Trail Development | $50,000 |
| Town of Waxhaw Waxhaw, NC | Trail Development | $50,000 |
| Town of Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant, NC | Trail Development | $43,923 |
| Friends of North Stanly Trails and Parks Richfield, NC | Trail Development | $40,000 |
| City of Concord Concord, NC | Trail Development | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Carolina Thread Trail?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2022 filing is marked as the organization’s final return.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | $337,577 | $9,811,944 | $8,386,205 | 18 | $2 |
| 2021 | $9,604,448 | $2,824,826 | $1,321,483 | $321,520 | 4 | $39 |
| 2020 | $7,655,189 | $1,864,609 | $1,186,767 | $432,666 | 10 | $-462 |
| 2019 | $6,554,153 | $1,109,535 | $1,306,738 | $683,000 | 6 | $12,554 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission was to provide capital, technical expertise and support to local communities to build the regional trail vision and conserve natural areas along the trails. Its filing describes grants to eligible 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and governmental entities participating in regional trail development and land conservation along trails. Grants supported approved trail development plans, with plans reviewed regularly to ensure grant funds were used for trail development.
The 2022 filing says the organization also engaged Catawba Lands Conservancy to assist with planning and development of greenways, trails and environmental protection. Catawba Lands Conservancy describes its own mission as conserving and managing land for public benefit in North Carolina’s Southern Piedmont and facilitating a network of greenways, trails and blueways. Foundation For The Carolinas describes its own mission as inspiring philanthropy and strengthening the region through community initiatives and services to donors and constituents.
Grantmaking
In 2022, Carolina Thread Trail reported 18 grants totaling $8,386,205. Grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $7,463,261, with a median of $35,000. The largest grants listed were $7,463,261 to Foundation For The Carolinas for trail development, $275,000 to the City of Shelby for trail development, and $87,061 to the Town of Richfield for trail development. Catawba Lands Conservancy received $17,760 in 2022.
The Implementation Grant Program provided catalytic funding for trail construction, design, land acquisition and corridor planning. The program description gives an award range of $15,000–$140,000 and reports more than $8 million in grants over the program’s history. The website described applications as rolling, without specific due dates, and encouraged prospective applicants to speak with staff before applying. These application details are not current, as the organization dissolved at the end of 2022.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing listed the following directors: Shuford Abernethy, Sally Daley, Dehler Hart, Dana Maness, Bailey Patrick, Marshall Rogers, Jennifer DeWitt, Lat Purser, Tim Belk and Blair Boggs.
Carolina Thread Trail is led by Jarred Cochran, Chair since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 17 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Jarred Cochran
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bailey Patrick
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Maness
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dehler Hart
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Dewitt
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lat Purser
Director
Member → Chair, 2020
Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marshall Rogers
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Daley
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shuford Abernethy
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Belk
Director
Member → Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Blair Boggs
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Delane Clark
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Priester
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harris Morrison
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Morris
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Johnson
Vice Chair
Member → Director, 2020
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Micahel Marsicano
Vice President
New on the 2022 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Alex Rankin (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jim Lawton (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael Marsicano (2019–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Bill Allen (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Christine Li (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jamie McLawhorn (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Keith A. Smith (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Kelly Katterhagen (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Goodman (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Tom Webb (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: John Collett (2019) — Member
- Former: Sherri Gregory (2019) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Carolina Thread Trail
How much does Carolina Thread Trail give each year?
Carolina Thread Trail gave $8.4M across 18 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990. In 2021 it gave $322K across 4 grants.
What is Carolina Thread Trail's typical grant size?
Carolina Thread Trail's median grant in 2022 was $35,000, and its average grant was $465,900, across 18 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990.
Where does Carolina Thread Trail give grants?
Carolina Thread Trail gives mostly in North Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (2 grants) and Richfield, NC (2 grants).
Does Carolina Thread Trail give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Carolina Thread Trail's 2022 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Trail Development" (18 grants).
Who are Carolina Thread Trail's largest grantees?
Carolina Thread Trail's largest 2022 grantees include Foundation for the Carolinas ($7,463,261), City of Shelby ($275,000) and Town of Richfield ($87,061), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
What does Carolina Thread Trail fund?
The organization’s stated mission was to provide capital, technical expertise and support to local communities to build the regional trail vision and conserve natural areas along the trails. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Carolina Thread Trail?
Carolina Thread Trail has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check carolinathreadtrail.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Carolina Thread Trail's EIN?
Carolina Thread Trail's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1528527. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2022.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 12, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Carolina Thread Trail's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Carolina Thread Trail's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Carolina Thread Trail down — hundreds of funders to go?