Democracy North Carolina
Democracy North Carolina's mission is to strengthen democratic structures, build power among disenfranchised communities, and inspire confidence in a transformed political process that works for all.
Democracy North Carolina at a glance
In short: Democracy North Carolina gave $225K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $75K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $225,000
- -31.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $75,000
- +37.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $3,369,719
- -32.3% 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 Democracy North Carolina funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Common Cause Education Fnd-North Carolina ($75K). Together the top 3 received $225K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 15 grants of 26 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Democracy North Carolina gives
- Giving fell 22% 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 $225K (2025) to $506K (2020). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $225K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Common Cause Education Fnd-North Carolina Raleigh, NC | Voters' Education | $75,000 |
| Southern Vision Alliance Durham, NC | Voters' Education | $75,000 |
| NC PIRG Educational Fund Raleigh, NC | Voters' Education | $75,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,369,719 | $2,454,981 | $3,956,393 | $225,000 | 3 | $89,760 |
| 2024 | $4,975,898 | $4,130,615 | $5,462,640 | $327,943 | 6 | $70,993 |
| 2023 | $6,357,615 | $3,497,922 | $3,508,986 | $243,000 | 3 | $14,324 |
| 2022 | $5,778,090 | $4,559,210 | $4,321,510 | $288,100 | 8 | $3,468 |
| 2021 | $5,545,351 | $3,905,206 | $3,079,139 | $313,000 | 6 | $582,389 |
| 2020 | $4,682,500 | $5,762,651 | $4,689,975 | $505,800 | 9 | $4,326 |
About Democracy North Carolina
Based on IRS filings
Democracy North Carolina is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Morrisville, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $225K. Net investment income was $90K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Democracy North Carolina is led by Adrienne Kelly, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adrienne Kelly
Executive Director
Operations Director → Co-Executive Director, 2021
Co-Executive Director → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
55 hrs/week
$98K (2020) → $129K (2025)
Marcus Bass
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
April Dawson
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Futch
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Levenstein
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrian Maldonado
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monica Gibbs
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamara Kersey
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Braren
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Roberts
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Schachter
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thessa TJ Pickett
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christian Stolz
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dionne Sanders
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Greg Walker-Wilson (2020–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Irving Joyner (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jim Overton (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Randy Lucas (2020–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Cheryl CarterEllis (2021–2024) — Co-Executive Director
- Former: Cynthia Wallace (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Ajamu Dillahunt (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Julia Hawes (2024) — Communication Director
- Former: Jarrette Pittman (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Meredith Emmett (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sandy Welton (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Tomas Lopez (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Diane Robertson (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Ivanna Gonzalez (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Janet Colm (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Louisa Warren (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 $129K, to Adrienne Kelly (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Democracy North Carolina
How much does Democracy North Carolina give each year?
Democracy North Carolina gave $225K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $328K across 6 grants.
What is Democracy North Carolina's typical grant size?
Democracy North Carolina's median grant in 2025 was $75,000, and its average grant was $75,000, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Democracy North Carolina give grants?
Democracy North Carolina 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 Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does Democracy North Carolina give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Democracy North Carolina's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Voters' Education" (3 grants).
How large is Democracy North Carolina?
Democracy North Carolina reported $3.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What is Democracy North Carolina?
Democracy North Carolina is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Morrisville, NC. It holds $3.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Democracy North Carolina's EIN?
Democracy North Carolina's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2271150. 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 2022 (received by the IRS September 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 28, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 10, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 5, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Democracy North Carolina funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Democracy North Carolina's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Democracy North Carolina'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.
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