Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc
Cleveland County Partnership for is a public charity based in Shelby, North Carolina, formed in 1994. Its stated mission is to help children from birth through age five access quality early childhood education and other services that prepare them to enter school healthy and ready to learn, using community and other Cleveland County resources.
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc at a glance
In short: Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc gave $5.0M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $504K), mostly in North Carolina. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,044,918
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $504,492
- +9.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $338,051
- Total assets
- $430,528
- -513.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- 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. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2325, Shelby, NC 28151
Phone: (704) 734-2052
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cleveland County Schools ($1.9M). Together the top 10 received $5.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 26 grants of 55 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in North Carolina. The listed recipients were in Shelby or Kings Mountain.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 10 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.3M (2020) to $5.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $5.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland County Schools Shelby, NC | NC PRE-K | $1,898,019 |
| Connected Kids Shelby, NC | NC Pre-K, Early Head Start | $886,891 |
| Mama Lissa's Tiny Tot University LLC Shelby, NC | Early Head Start | $539,384 |
| Berryland Clubhouse Shelby, NC | NC Pre-K; Early Head Start | $384,809 |
| Restoration Learning Academy Shelby, NC | NC Pre-K; Early Head Start | $376,415 |
| Child Care Connections of Cleveland County Inc Shelby, NC | Child care resource & referral, child care quality enhancement & sustainability, educ. Bonuses | $299,686 |
| Play Palace Preschool Shelby, NC | NC Pre-K; Early Head Start | $256,055 |
| It Takes a Village Child Enrichment Center Kings Mountain, NC | NC Pre-K; Early Head Start | $207,064 |
| Bloom BLC Shelby, NC | NC Pre-K; Early Head Start | $137,721 |
| Apples of Gold South Inc Shelby, NC | NC Pre-K; Early Head Start | $58,874 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $430,528 | $7,785,969 | $7,251,198 | $5,044,918 | 10 |
| 2024 | $-104,243 | $6,911,638 | $7,102,336 | $5,051,197 | 11 |
| 2023 | $100,985 | $6,292,822 | $6,428,559 | $4,664,526 | 11 |
| 2022 | $261,662 | $6,517,681 | $6,421,221 | $4,891,270 | 12 |
| 2021 | $125,732 | $6,139,348 | $6,344,275 | $4,772,088 | 11 |
| 2020 | $330,659 | $5,982,563 | $5,709,209 | $4,252,005 | 11 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its mission is to provide every child from birth through age five access to quality childhood education and other services that better prepare the child to enter school healthy and ready to learn, using community and other Cleveland County resources.
Its 2024 filing describes programs including NC Pre-K classrooms, Early Head Start, subsidized child care, child care referrals and provider training, quality sustainability support for child care facilities, education-based salary supplements, and family literacy through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. These program descriptions include services to children, families, providers, and facilities; they do not by themselves establish grant opportunities for outside applicants.
The 2025 grants included awards to child care and early education organizations. One recipient, Child Care Connections of Cleveland County Inc, describes its own mission as “creating a link between parents, providers, and the community to improve the availability, accessibility and affordability of quality child care.”
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 10 grants totaling $5,044,918. Grant amounts ranged from $58,874 to $1,898,019, with a median of $338,050.
The largest awards were $1,898,019 to Cleveland County Schools for NC Pre-K; $886,891 to Connected Kids for NC Pre-K and Early Head Start; $539,384 to Mama Lissa’s Tiny Tot University LLC for Early Head Start; $384,809 to Berryland Clubhouse for NC Pre-K and Early Head Start; and $376,415 to Restoration Learning Academy for NC Pre-K and Early Head Start. Child Care Connections of Cleveland County Inc received $299,686 for child care resource and referral, child care quality enhancement and sustainability, and education bonuses.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Tonya Arrington, Bonnie Beam, Will Caldwell, Leslie Cobb, Meredith Diebold, Heather Horton, and Kerri Melton, directors; Betty Crow Kennedy, vice chair; Andrea Leslie-Fite JD, secretary/treasurer; and Thomas McGhee II, chair.
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc is led by Shannon R. Ooten White, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shannon R. Ooten White
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
61 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $142K (2025)
Thomas McGhee II
Chair
Secretary & Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Beam
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hugh Sandoe
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kerri Melton
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Cobb
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonya Arrington
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Horton
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Swanson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Will Caldwell
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Ruppe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katrine Wray-Smith
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Diebold
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Jarosinski
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betty Crow Kennedy
Vice Chair
Chair → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Leslie-Fite JD
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Paula Peeler (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Gracie Crowder (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Dashe' Lawton (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Gina Carter (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Katina Wray-Smith (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Les Howard (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Andrea Leslie Fite (2020–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Brittany Jones (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Dana Gill (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rita Chen (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Robin Brackett (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rosemarie G. Allen (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Sandra Jenkins (2020–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Wesley Cogdill (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kay McWhirter (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Tamara Goforth (2022) — Director
- Former: Laura McGill (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Tony Fogleman (2021) — Director
- Former: Betty Denkler (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Betty Stack (2020) — Director
- Former: Bill Watson (2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Wampler (2020) — Director
- Former: Kay Howell (2020) — Director
- Former: Tammy Branton (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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $142K, to Shannon White (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc
How much does Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc give each year?
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc gave $5.0M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.1M across 11 grants.
What is Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's typical grant size?
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's median grant in 2025 was $338,051, and its average grant was $504,492, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc give grants?
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Shelby, NC (9 grants).
Does Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "NC Pre-K; Early Head Start" (7 grants).
Who are Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's largest grantees?
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cleveland County Schools ($1,898,019), Connected Kids ($886,891) and Mama Lissa's Tiny Tot University LLC ($539,384), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc?
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc reported $431K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.8M.
What does Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc fund?
The organization states that its mission is to provide every child from birth through age five access to quality childhood education and other services that better prepare the child to enter school healthy and ready to learn, using community and other Cleveland County resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc?
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's EIN?
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1875246. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
Live grants for the work Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cleveland-county-partnership-for-children-inc-morg_931cbbc45cbf4d218474a826d545fcd2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561875246_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cleveland-county-partnership-for-children-inc-morg_931cbbc45cbf4d218474a826d545fcd2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc'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.
Cleveland County Partnership for Children Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?