Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc logo

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Charlotte, NC EIN: 20-0946449 Website

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It supports nonprofit partners and community programs, with its website describing a focus on youth, community opportunity, holistic health and access to essentials across the Carolinas.

Key facts about Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc

In short: Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc gave $1.6M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $111K), mostly in North Carolina. 64% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
20-0946449
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$1,552,000
Grants made (2025)
14
Average grant
$110,857
Median grant
$37,500
New grantees (estimate)
64% first-time grantees (9 of 14, 2025)
Total assets
$1,259,199
Primary geography
North Carolina (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

-20.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.6M

+36.1% YoY

Grant Count

14

-6.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$111K

+45.8% YoY

Is Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

64%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 9 of 14 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $161K; repeat grants $21K. How we count

Medians: $100K first-time, $12K repeat.

  • 14% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 733% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

In its 2024 filing, the Foundation stated that it aims to enrich quality of life for people in need, especially children and youth in the Charlotte area. It said it supports eligible 501(c)(3) organizations delivering programs in literacy and education, military support, fitness and wellness, and hunger. The filing describes grantmaking as a way to advance organizational and community priorities, with programs identified through community contacts.

The Foundation’s website describes youth reading, career readiness and mentorship; small-business and entrepreneurship support; economic mobility, equity and civic engagement; and physical, mental and emotional wellness, including access to housing, nutrition, healthcare and mental health services. It also identifies a Chairman’s Legacy Fund for transformational gifts and long-term community investment across the Carolinas, pillar grants, scholarships and an annual fundraising gala.

Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work funded. Second Harvest Food Bank describes its mission as providing food assistance through partner organizations while engaging communities in eliminating hunger and its causes. Renaissance West Community Initiative says it promotes a collaborative community centered on quality housing, education, health, wellness and opportunity. Soldiers’ Angels says it provides aid, comfort and resources to military members, veterans and their families. Foundation For The Carolinas describes itself as a community foundation and catalyst for community change, while Speedway Children’s Charities says it funds nonprofits addressing children’s medical, educational or social challenges.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 14 grants totaling $1,552,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $37,500. The largest reported awards included $500,000 each to Second Harvest Food Bank for hunger and the American Red Cross for medical care; $100,000 each to Soldiers’ Angels for veterans, Renaissance West Community Initiative for community work, Generation Nation for community work, and Hope Street Food Bank for hunger. Other listed awards included $50,000 to Foundation For The Carolinas, $25,000 each to UNCF and Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte, and $12,000 to Speedway Children’s Charities.

Review Cycle

was October 28, 2016. The 2015 education-grant announcement described a past cycle for Charlotte-area public schools and 501(c)(3) organizations supporting public education in Mecklenburg County, with a September 25, 2015 deadline.

How to Apply

for outside grant applicants.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Foundation’s stated mission refers to children and youth in the Charlotte area, and its website describes community impact across the Carolinas. In 2025, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 40% to recipients in Washington, DC; the remainder went to Texas (6%), Florida (1%) and Colorado (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

CharlotteWashingtonConcordNew YorkGreensboroMatthewsColoradoCorneliusHuntersvilleRestonSan AntonioStatesvilleTampaWashington DCWoodbridge

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M9 grants2019 11 grants2020 8 grants2021 9 grants2022 11 grants2023 15 grants2024 14 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $137K (2021) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Second Harvest Food Bank: $500KSecond Harvest Food Bank$500KAmerican Red Cross: $500KAmerican Red Cross$500KSoldier's Angels: $100KSoldier's Angels$100KRenaissance West Community Initiative: $100KRenaissance West CommunityInitiative$100KGeneration Nation: $100KGeneration Nation$100KHope Street Food Bank: $100KHope Street Food Bank$100KFoundation for the Carolinas: $50KFoundation for the Carolinas$50KUNCF: $25KUNCF$25KBoys and Girls Club of Charlotte: $25KBoys and Girls Club ofCharlotte$25KSpeedway Children's Charities: $12KSpeedway Children's Charities$12K

The largest 2025 recipient was Second Harvest Food Bank ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.

Grant Size Distribution

57 grants across all recorded years

41<$50K4$50–100K9$100–250K$250–500K3$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 57 (72%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Second Harvest Food Bank Charlotte, NCHUNGER$500,000
American Red Cross Washington, DCMedical Care$500,000
Soldier's Angels San Antonio, TXVeterans$100,000
Renaissance West Community Initiative Charlotte, NCCommunity$100,000
Generation Nation Washington, DCCommunity$100,000
Hope Street Food Bank Charlotte, NCHUNGER$100,000
Foundation for the Carolinas Charlotte, NCCommunity$50,000
UNCF Washington, DCEducation$25,000
Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte Charlotte, NCCommunity$25,000
Speedway Children's Charities Concord, NCChildren$12,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $1,259,199 $1,525,319 $1,683,730 $1,552,000
2024 $1,592,532 $655,249 $1,266,658 $1,140,247
2023 $1,909,998 $1,346,185 $399,294 $222,710

The Foundation reports that it was formed in 2004.

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,259,199$1,592,532$1,909,998
Revenue$1,525,319$655,249$1,346,185
Expenses$1,683,730$1,266,658$399,294
Net Investment Income$49,521$75,561$37,596

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 6, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 31, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 8, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 5, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 26, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin as directors and co-chairpersons. James Jordan was listed as director and president through December 2024, and Shelly Cayette-Weston as director and president as of December 2024. Other listed officers and directors were James H. Dunlevy, treasurer; Amy Dawson, Damian Mills and Mc Belk Pilon, directors; Betsy Mack, executive director; and Shannon Gilligan, secretary.

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc is led by Betsy Mack, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Betsy Mack

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James Jordan

    Director & President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shelly Cayette-Weston

    Director & President

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gabe Plotkin

    Director & Co-Chairperson

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rick Schnall

    Director & Co-Chairperson

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James H. Dunlevy

    Director & Treasurer

    Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amy Dawson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Damian Mills

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mc Belk Pilon

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shannon Gilligan

    Secretary

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Fred Whitfield (2019–2024) — Director & Vice Chairman
  • Former: Michael Jordan (2019–2024) — Director & Chairman
  • Former: Tamara Daniels (2021–2022) — Director & Secretary
  • Former: Joe Pierce (2019–2021) — Director & Secretary

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 333 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 688-9000
Website: https://nba.com

Frequently asked questions about Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc

How much does Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc give each year?

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc gave $1.6M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 15 grants.

What is Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $110,857, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc that year got $161K on average.

Where does Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc give grants?

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (40%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (7 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).

Does Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (7 grants).

Who are Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Second Harvest Food Bank ($500,000), American Red Cross ($500,000) and Soldier's Angels ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc?

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.

What does Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc fund?

In its 2024 filing, the Foundation stated that it aims to enrich quality of life for people in need, especially children and youth in the Charlotte area. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc?

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nba.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc's EIN?

Charlotte Hornets Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0946449. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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