Imagine North Carolina First
Imagine North Carolina First is a public charity based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It funds nonprofit organizations working on civic engagement and public-policy education, with its stated mission centered on economic opportunity, quality of life, government accountability, and civic participation among underserved communities in North Carolina.
Imagine North Carolina First at a glance
In short: Imagine North Carolina First gave $16.9M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $546K), mostly in North Carolina. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,927,000
- +525.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +55.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $546,032
- +303.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $863,598
- -64.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (9 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Imagine North Carolina First
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 428, Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone: (919) 679-1776
Website: https://imaginencfirst.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Imagine North Carolina First funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was State Engagement Fund ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $12.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 43 grants of 110 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina. The remaining shares went to Michigan (4%), Massachusetts (2%), the District of Columbia (1%), and New York (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Imagine North Carolina First open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 31 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $571K; repeat grants $536K. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $288K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2023) to $16.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $16.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| State Engagement Fund Raleigh, NC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $3,000,000 |
| NC A Philip Randolph Institute Inc Raleigh, NC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $2,300,000 |
| Progress North Carolina Raleigh, NC | Funding For Operations | $1,859,000 |
| NC Citizens for Protecting our Schools Raleigh, NC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $1,415,000 |
| North Carolina Association of Educators Raleigh, NC | Funding For Nonpartisan Get Out The Vote | $1,000,000 |
| NC Black Alliance Raleigh, NC | Funding For Nonpartisan Get Out The Vote | $705,000 |
| Rally NC Raleigh, NC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $625,000 |
| Blueprint NC Durham, NC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $600,000 |
| Michigan Civic Education Fund Madison Heights, MI | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $600,000 |
| Unifour One Greensboro, NC | Funding For Nonpartisan Get Out The Vote | $560,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $863,598 | $16,133,945 | $17,635,813 | $16,927,000 | 31 |
| 2023 | $2,459,236 | $5,378,847 | $3,285,721 | $2,705,000 | 20 |
| 2022 | $265,231 | $6,134,509 | $7,603,499 | $7,118,000 | 25 |
| 2021 | $1,746,999 | $4,219,239 | $3,449,868 | $2,934,000 | 15 |
| 2020 | $965,128 | $4,503,438 | $5,579,761 | $5,182,150 | 19 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization says it works to foster an economy and democracy that work for all North Carolina citizens. Its stated programs fund nonprofits that inform, educate, and protect citizens on voting rights, voting access, and other voter issues. It also funds organizations conducting public-policy and opinion research, sponsoring educational activities, and hosting forums and presentations about North Carolina public-policy issues.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. State Engagement Fund says it combines policy research, grassroots organizing, and communications to align organizations working on health care, public education, equality, the environment, and poverty. Democracy North Carolina says its mission is to strengthen democratic structures, build power among disenfranchised communities, and inspire confidence in a transformed political process. North Carolina Asian Americans Together describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on civic engagement and political participation in the state’s AAPI community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Imagine North Carolina First reported 31 grants totaling $16,927,000. Awards ranged from $10,000 to $3,000,000, with a median grant of $250,000.
Among the largest grants were $3,000,000 to State Engagement Fund for nonpartisan programming; $2,300,000 to NC A Philip Randolph Institute Inc for nonpartisan programming; $1,859,000 to Progress North Carolina for operations; and $1,415,000 to NC Citizens for Protecting our Schools for nonpartisan programming. Other awards included $1,000,000 to North Carolina Association of Educators for nonpartisan get-out-the-vote work, $705,000 to NC Black Alliance for the same stated purpose, and $525,000 to Democracy North Carolina for nonpartisan get-out-the-vote work.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Russ Swindell as Executive Director and Nina Szlosberg Landis as Chairperson. It also lists Mary Mountcastle, Joel Fleishman, Erin Bryd, and Deena Hayes-Greene as board members.
Imagine North Carolina First is led by Russ Swindell, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Russ Swindell
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$9K (2020) → $6K (2024)
Nina Szlosberg Landis
Chairperson
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joel Fleishman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Mountcastle
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deena Hayes-Greene
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Bryd
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Adam Stein (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kim McGuire (2020–2023) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $6K, to Russ Swindell (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Imagine North Carolina First
How much does Imagine North Carolina First give each year?
Imagine North Carolina First gave $16.9M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.7M across 20 grants.
What is Imagine North Carolina First's typical grant size?
Imagine North Carolina First's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $546,032, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Imagine North Carolina First that year got $571K on average.
Where does Imagine North Carolina First give grants?
Imagine North Carolina First gives mostly in North Carolina: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (15 grants), Durham, NC (3 grants), Greensboro, NC (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Imagine North Carolina First give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Imagine North Carolina First's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Funding Non-Partisan Programming" (14 grants), "Funding For Nonpartisan Get Out The Vote" (5 grants) and "Funding for Operations" (3 grants).
Who are Imagine North Carolina First's largest grantees?
Imagine North Carolina First's largest 2024 grantees include State Engagement Fund ($3,000,000), NC A Philip Randolph Institute Inc ($2,300,000) and Progress North Carolina ($1,859,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Imagine North Carolina First?
Imagine North Carolina First reported $864K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $16.1M.
What does Imagine North Carolina First fund?
The organization says it works to foster an economy and democracy that work for all North Carolina citizens. Its stated programs fund nonprofits that inform, educate, and protect citizens on voting rights, voting access, and other voter issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Imagine North Carolina First?
Imagine North Carolina First has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check imaginencfirst.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Imagine North Carolina First's EIN?
Imagine North Carolina First's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4006055. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Imagine North Carolina First funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/imagine-north-carolina-first-morg_c36bf7729e9d472590529c44bd8464a3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464006055_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Imagine North Carolina First funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/imagine-north-carolina-first-morg_c36bf7729e9d472590529c44bd8464a3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Imagine North Carolina First'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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