FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities is a public charity based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its stated work is grantmaking and related programs intended to foster economic development and greater social and economic mobility for low-income and minority communities in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area.
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities at a glance
In short: FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities gave $5.6M across 104 grants in 2024 (avg $54K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,645,739
- -43.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 104
- -54.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $54,286
- +25.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $44,500
- Total assets
- $1,410,895
- -82.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities
- How to Apply
-
The organization’s filing describes a grant application process for the Beyond Open program. Foundation For The Carolinas’ general competitive-grant guidance directs applicants to review program-specific eligibility and instructions; its sample application says applications are submitted online and paper applications are not accepted.
- Contact
Mailing address: 220 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 973-4500
Website: https://fftc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Byrams Homecare Inc ($150K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
333 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 211 grants of 333 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated mission refers to low-income and minority communities in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. In 2024, 99% of its grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 1% to recipients in South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 104 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities gives
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). 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 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.6M (2024) to $9.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 104 grants totaling $5.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Byrams Homecare Inc Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $150,000 |
| Daily View Pools LLC Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $150,000 |
| McSassy LLC Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $150,000 |
| Original Chicken & Ribs Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $150,000 |
| Rebrand Collective LLC Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $150,000 |
| Top Shelf Installations LLC Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $150,000 |
| My Little Helper & CO LLC Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $149,990 |
| Loyd Visuals Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $137,000 |
| Moor Clothings & Alterations LLC Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $108,500 |
| A Mother's Dream CDC Inc Charlotte, NC | Support to Help Small Business Grow | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,410,895 | $300,000 | $7,149,494 | $5,645,739 | 104 |
| 2023 | $7,905,622 | $19,334,130 | $12,149,321 | $9,909,866 | 229 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its mission is to foster economic development opportunities and greater social and economic mobility for low-income and minority communities in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. Its described focus is small-business grants and support for the small-business ecosystem.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the organization reported 104 grants totaling $5,645,739. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $150,000, with a median of $44,500. The largest reported awards included $150,000 each to Byrams Homecare Inc, Daily View Pools LLC, MCSassy LLC, Original Chicken & Ribs, Rebrand Collective LLC, and Top Shelf Installations LLC. Each was described as support to help a small business grow.
The organization’s filing describes an application and review process requiring detailed information about the business and owner, goals, requested amount, and planned use of funds, including an itemized list of assets and reasonable costs. Business plans, financial statements, and other business tools are also listed as required documents. The filing says a grant review team guides and advises the program and makes recommendations, using objective selection criteria and metrics.
Foundation For The Carolinas’ general grant guidance describes competitive grant programs with online applications and eligibility criteria. Its general eligibility guidance lists nonprofits, congregations, government agencies, and educational institutions, and states that it is prohibited from making grants or loans to small businesses. The organization’s filing, however, describes its own small-business grant program. The available information does not clarify how those statements relate.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cathy Bessant as CEO; Alyssa Federico as CFO; Douglas Benson as secretary; and Federico Rios and Evan Wolkofsky as assistant secretaries. It lists Tonya S. Blackmon and Lucia Zapata Griffith as directors. Jewell Hoover is listed as chair and noted as having resigned on September 5, 2024.
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities is led by Cathy Bessant, CEO on the 2024 filing; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cathy Bessant
CEO
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jewell Hoover
Chair
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucia Zapata Griffith
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tonya S. Blackmon
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa Federico
CFO
Treasurer → CFO, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Benson
Secretary
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Federico Rios
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evan Wolkofsky
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Laura Smith (2023) — President
- Former: Doug Benson (2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities
How much does FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities give each year?
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities gave $5.6M across 104 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $9.9M across 229 grants.
What is FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities's typical grant size?
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities's median grant in 2024 was $44,500, and its average grant was $54,286, across 104 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities give grants?
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities gives mostly in North Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (95 grants) and Indian Trail, NC (2 grants).
Does FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 104 grants with a stated purpose on FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support to Help Small Business Grow" (104 grants).
Who are FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities's largest grantees?
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities's largest 2024 grantees include Byrams Homecare Inc ($150,000), Daily View Pools LLC ($150,000) and McSassy LLC ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities?
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $300K.
What does FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities fund?
The organization states that its mission is to foster economic development opportunities and greater social and economic mobility for low-income and minority communities in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities?
The organization’s filing describes a grant application process for the Beyond Open program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities's EIN?
FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-2022464. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work FFTC Partners for Empowering Communities funds
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