Imagine North Carolina First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina, established in 2013 and granted tax-exempt status in June 2015. The organization functions as a grantmaking entity and social science research institute that initiates, cultivates, and funds strategic efforts to advance economic opportunity, quality of life, government accountability, and civic participation among underserved communities throughout North Carolina.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$864K
-64.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$16.9M
+525.8% YoY
Grant Count
31
+55.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$546K
+303.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Imagine North Carolina First initiates, cultivates, and funds strategic efforts to promote economic opportunity, quality of life, government accountability, and civic participation among underserved communities in North Carolina. Its primary mission is to foster an economy and democracy that works for all North Carolina citizens.
Primary Program Areas:
Civic Engagement Programs — Funding various nonprofit entities to inform, educate, and protect citizens concerning voting rights, access to voting, and other key voter issues impacting their lives.
Non-Profit Entity Support — Funding various nonprofit entities that conduct public policy and opinion research, sponsor educational activities, and host forums and presentations to disseminate information promoting public understanding of solutions to North Carolina's public policy issues.
Grantmaking
Imagine North Carolina First distributes grants to nonprofit organizations across multiple focus areas including education, philanthropy, voluntarism, grantmaking, and human services.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Imagine North Carolina First primarily funds efforts within North Carolina, though grantmaking also extends to the District of Columbia and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $16,133,945
- Total Expenses: $17,635,813
- Net Income: -$1,501,868
- Total Assets: $863,598
- Total Liabilities: $8,450
Historical Financial Trend: The organization has maintained significant annual revenues and expenses in the $16-17 million range, with total assets remaining modest relative to annual giving activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $863,598 | $2,459,236 | $265,231 |
| Revenue | $16,133,945 | $5,378,847 | $6,134,509 |
| Expenses | $17,635,813 | $3,285,721 | $7,603,499 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include State Engagement Fund ($3,000,000), NC A Philip Randolph Institute Inc ($2,300,000), Progress North Carolina ($1,859,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Action For Climate Emergency Charlestown, MA | Funding for Non Partisan Programming | $300,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Washington, DC | Funding For Hurricane Helene Response | $10,000 |
| America Votes Washington, DC | Funding for Operations | $150,000 |
| Blueprint NC Durham, NC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $600,000 |
| Carolina Federation Fund Durham, NC | Funding For Civic Engagement | $225,000 |
| Common Cause Raleigh, NC | Funding For Election Protection | $200,000 |
| Community News Center Washington, DC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $38,000 |
| Democracy North Carolina Morrisville, NC | Funding For Nonpartisan Get Out The Vote | $525,000 |
| Disability Rights North Carolina Raleigh, NC | Funding For Election Protection | $60,000 |
| Down Home North Carolina Greensboro, NC | Funding Non-Partisan Programming | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Russ Swindell
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russ Swindell | Executive Director | 1 | $6,250 |
| Nina Szlosberg Landis | Chairperson | 0.5 | — |
| Mary Mountcastle | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Joel Fleishman | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Erin Bryd | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
| Deena Hayes-Greene | Board Member | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In February 2024, left-leaning North Carolina organizations received $1 million in civic engagement grants from the organization, reflecting continued commitment to voter engagement and civic participation initiatives.
Left-leaning NC organizations receive $1M in 'civic engagement ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Imagine North Carolina First fund?
**Mission Statement:** Imagine North Carolina First initiates, cultivates, and funds strategic efforts to promote economic opportunity, quality of life, government accountability, and civic participation among underserved communities in North Carolina. Its primary mission is to foster an economy and democracy that works for all North Carolina citizens. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Civic Engagement Programs** — Funding various nonprofit entities to inform, educate, and protect citizens concern…
How do I apply for a grant from Imagine North Carolina First?
Imagine North Carolina First distributes grants to nonprofit organizations across multiple focus areas including education, philanthropy, voluntarism, grantmaking, and human services. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $10,000 to $3,000,000 • Total giving in 2024: $17,127,000 **Recent Grantmaking Activity:** The organization has funded the State Engagement Fund and various other nonprofit entities focused on civic engagement and policy research.
Where does Imagine North Carolina First make grants?
Imagine North Carolina First primarily funds efforts within North Carolina, though grantmaking also extends to the District of Columbia and New York.
What size grants does Imagine North Carolina First award?
In 2024, Imagine North Carolina First awarded 31 grants totaling $16.9M — an average of about $546K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Imagine North Carolina First's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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