Make North Carolina First
Make North Carolina First is a 501(c)(4) organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina, established in 2013. The organization conducts research, sponsors educational activities and events, and disseminates information to promote public understanding of issues affecting North Carolina's common good, quality of life, and economic well-being.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$823K
+150.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.8M
+355.8% YoY
Grant Count
18
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$655K
+127.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Make North Carolina First's mission centers on conducting research, sponsoring educational activities and events, and disseminating accurate and timely information to the public. The organization focuses on social issues and topics important to North Carolinians, including:
- North Carolina's education system
- Environmental issues
- Voter registration and voter representation
The organization's primary NTEE classification is Government and Public Administration.
Grantmaking
Make North Carolina First is an active grantmaker. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization's grantmaking focuses primarily on North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total assets: $822,814
- Total revenues: $13,275,871
- Total expenses: $12,781,044
- Total giving: $11,782,500
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $822,814 | $327,987 | $335,693 |
| Revenue | $13,275,871 | $2,884,143 | $2,435,370 |
| Expenses | $12,781,044 | $2,891,849 | $2,666,928 |
| 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
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include North Carolina Families First ($5,290,000), Rally NC ($1,728,000), Fair Future NC ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Families First Raleigh, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $5,290,000 |
| Rally NC Raleigh, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $1,728,000 |
| Fair Future NC Raleigh, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $1,000,000 |
| Progress North Carolina Action Raleigh, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $781,500 |
| NC A Philip Randolph Educational Fund Inc Raleigh, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $730,000 |
| Down Home NC Greensboro, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $400,000 |
| Siembra NC Greensboro, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $375,000 |
| NCAAT In Action Raleigh, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $350,000 |
| Majority Rising NC Cary, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $250,000 |
| Advance North Carolina Raleigh, NC | Education of public on various social issues | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Abram | Chairperson | 1 | — |
| Dean Debnam | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jay Reiff | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Michael L Weisel | General Counsel, Secretary, Treasurer | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Make North Carolina First fund?
Make North Carolina First's mission centers on conducting research, sponsoring educational activities and events, and disseminating accurate and timely information to the public. The organization focuses on social issues and topics important to North Carolinians, including: • North Carolina's education system • Environmental issues • Voter registration and voter representation The organization's primary NTEE classification is Government and Public Administration.
How do I apply for a grant from Make North Carolina First?
Make North Carolina First is an active grantmaker. Recent grant activity includes: • **Fair Future NC**: $1,000,000 grant in 2024 for education of the public on various social issues The organization's total giving in 2024 was $11,782,500, with typical award amounts ranging from $10,000 to $5,290,000.
Where does Make North Carolina First make grants?
The organization's grantmaking focuses primarily on North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Make North Carolina First award?
In 2024, Make North Carolina First awarded 18 grants totaling $11.8M — an average of about $655K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Make North Carolina First's EIN?
Make North Carolina First's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3981642. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Make 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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