Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation
The library foundation exists to help the charlotte mecklenburg library improve lives and build a stronger community.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation at a glance
In short: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation gave $33.4M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $33.4M), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $33,447,251
- +1971.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $33,447,251
- +1971.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $33,447,251
- Total assets
- $31,172,541
- -46.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Charlotte Mecklenburg Library ($33.4M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation gives
- Giving grew 4679% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $627K (2020) to $33.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $33.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Charlotte, NC | Operating Support | $33,447,251 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,172,541 | $3,194,892 | $34,169,698 | $33,447,251 | 1 |
| 2024 | $58,619,903 | $7,264,775 | $1,982,409 | $1,614,494 | 1 |
| 2023 | $53,032,461 | $4,905,932 | $2,302,484 | $1,840,153 | 1 |
| 2022 | $50,051,589 | $14,482,826 | $1,571,476 | $699,816 | 1 |
| 2021 | $38,034,444 | $6,519,993 | $1,901,846 | $1,676,414 | 1 |
| 2020 | $31,013,254 | $19,011,019 | $820,803 | $627,073 | 1 |
About Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Charlotte, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $31.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $33.4M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation is led by Jenni Gaisbauer, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; none of the 26 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jenni Gaisbauer
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Helen Hope Kimbrough
Chair
Second Vice Chair → First Vice Chair, 2023
First Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Harrington
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Robinson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Dodd
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alessandro Morante
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcellus Turner
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroleen Towery
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caton Morris
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra Sharp
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Hope Star
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Appleby
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Bennett
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joclyn Balanda
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kellie Lofton
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Alger
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Thomas
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Spencer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcey Stone
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Portwood
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Selena Giovannelli
Vice Chair
Director → Second Vice Chair, 2023
Second Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa Federico
Chief Financial Officer
Assistant Secretary → Senior Vice President & Finance, 2024
Senior Vice President & Finance → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Benson
Chief Administrative Officer
Assistant Secretary → Senior Vice President & General Counsel, 2024
Senior Vice President & General Counsel → Chief Administrative Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Kiser
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Director → Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teleia White
Deputy Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Barb Ellis (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Christina Wilson (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Gene Cochrane (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Leroy Davis (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Gina Lawrence (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Peter Keane (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Ann Caulkins (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Crawford Pounds (2020–2022) — Past Chair
- Former: Holly Welch Stubbing (2020–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Jennifer Dewitt (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Green (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Jennifer Susan Gaisbauer (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Lauren Woodruff (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lee Keesler (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Linda Lockman-Brooks (2020–2022) — Nominating Chair
- Former: Meredith Heimburger (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Paige Roselle (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Florence Kim (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Joe Helweg (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Hannah Terrell (2022) — Director
- Former: Liz Winer (2022) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Star Winer (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kevin Bittle (2021) — Director
- Former: Lajuan Pringle (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation
How much does Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation give each year?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation gave $33.4M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 1 grant.
How large is Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation reported $31.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.2M.
What is Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Charlotte, NC. It holds $31.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation operate?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation's EIN?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1172548. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?