CMS Foundation
The CMS Foundation invests in innovation to help charlotte-mecklenburg schools (CMS) address big challenges and expand opportunities for our students and educators. As the nonprofit fundraising partner for charlotte mecklenburg schools, we harness the power of philanthropy to seed innovative ideas and accelerate system-wide transformation.
CMS Foundation at a glance
In short: CMS Foundation gave $1.6M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.6M), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,637,562
- +34.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,637,562
- +34.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,637,562
- Total assets
- $4,743,581
- +41.4% 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.
How to apply to CMS Foundation
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from CMS Foundation
CMS Foundation Innovation Center
CMS Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
COVID-19 Relief Fund
CMS Foundation
Amount
$3.6 million
Deadline
Deadline not published
Teacher Innovation Grants
CMS Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who CMS Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools ($1.6M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
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 CMS Foundation gives
- Giving grew 54% 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 $1.1M (2022) to $2.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Charlotte, NC | Education | $1,637,562 |
Ready to take the next step with CMS Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,743,581 | $3,378,391 | $2,170,690 | $1,637,562 | 1 | — |
| 2024 | $3,353,867 | $2,587,340 | $1,706,391 | $1,218,740 | 1 | — |
| 2023 | $2,324,495 | $1,292,506 | $1,653,238 | $1,300,178 | 1 | — |
| 2022 | $2,429,009 | $1,442,639 | $1,573,615 | $1,063,118 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | $2,648,221 | $3,841,369 | $3,256,557 | $2,915,358 | 1 | $-60,716 |
| 2020 | $2,035,073 | $2,685,676 | $1,430,220 | $1,070,621 | 1 | — |
About CMS Foundation
Based on IRS filings
CMS 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 $4.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.6M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
CMS Foundation is led by Sonja Gantt Gibson, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 16 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sonja Gantt Gibson
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Webb
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Skidmore
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas M. Scrivener
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deidra Parrish Williams
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas W. Benson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gerard M. Camacho
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay H. Jones
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Jordan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Cook
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlitta Hatch
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Alcorn
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Perry
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Turner
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Moore
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Hill
Superintendent
Director → Superintendent, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Sandra Holub (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Kobi Kennedy Brinson (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Adam Bernstein (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ann B. Clark (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Courtney Ramey (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Earnest J. Winston (2020–2023) — Superintendent
- Former: Kathryn Kissam (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Hugh Hattabaugh (2022–2023) — Superintendent
- Former: Julie Robinson Sheffer (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Bernie Washington (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: J. Brandon Neal (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Frank Emory (2020) — Director
- Former: Holly Welch Stubbing (2020) — Director
- Former: John Shimp (2020) — Director
- Former: Melissa Buchanan (2020) — Director
- Former: Scott Culpepper (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 CMS Foundation
How much does CMS Foundation give each year?
CMS Foundation gave $1.6M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 1 grant.
How large is CMS Foundation?
CMS Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What is CMS Foundation?
CMS Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Charlotte, NC. It holds $4.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does CMS Foundation operate?
CMS Foundation has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is CMS Foundation's EIN?
CMS Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0258541. 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 May 16, 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 April 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work CMS Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in CMS Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in North Carolina
State Employees Credit Union Foundation
Raleigh, NC
The foundation funds capital projects, regional or statewide programs, and organizational capacity building that strengthen North Carolina communities; it favors projects with broad or replicable impact and does not fund operating budgets or shortfalls. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,250 to $1 million, with a median of $2,500. Applications are accepted at any time and typically reviewed semiannually.
Assets
$61.0M
Grants
1,806
Total Given
$17.4M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Foundation For The Carolinas funds education and youth development, environmental and wildlife work, health and human services, and animal welfare, with a reported median grant of $25,000 in 2024. Its competitive programs focus on Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Carolinas, and specific local communities, while donor-advised funds may support eligible nonprofits more broadly; it accepts applications for some competitive grants, but most grants are recommended by fund advisors and have no application process.
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
Dogwood Health Trust
Asheville, NC
Dogwood Health Trust funds work in housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness that improves wellbeing in Western North Carolina, including its 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $21 million, with a median of $37,500; application requirements vary by funding opportunity.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
835
Total Given
$148.2M
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds charitable organizations serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, economic opportunity, civic engagement, arts, health, and human services. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000; specific programs offer grants ranging from small grants of up to $2,000 to capital grants of up to $100,000. The profile describes application-based programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
North Carolina Community Foundation Inc
Raleigh, NC
The North Carolina Community Foundation supports charitable organizations and community programs in areas such as human services, education, youth development, health, food and nutrition, and the arts. Its typical grant was $15,000 in 2025; it serves communities statewide, with an emphasis on rural North Carolina, and accepts applications through specific affiliate, giving-circle, and other grant programs.
Assets
$569.1M
Grants
732
Total Given
$30.6M
Triangle Community Foundation Inc
Durham, NC
The foundation supports nonprofits in cultural arts, education and youth, nonprofit capacity building, and sustainable communities, with grants also benefiting fields such as health, conservation, and human services. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000 and ranged from about $5,000 to $1.39 million; it primarily serves Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties in North Carolina. It accepts applications for competitive discretionary programs during open grant cycles; donor-advised fund grants are also made.
Assets
$335.8M
Grants
599
Total Given
$26.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from CMS Foundation'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.
CMS Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?