Mecklenburg Partnership for Children
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children is a public charity based in Charlotte, North Carolina, also known as Smart Start of Mecklenburg County. It supports early childhood programs and services, including child care and education, health and safety, and family support. Its website describes a vision in which every child in Mecklenburg County enters kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children at a glance
In short: Mecklenburg Partnership for Children gave $24.6M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $1.8M), mostly in North Carolina. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $24,562,092
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,754,435
- +38.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $315,845
- Total assets
- $1,411,629
- -19.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- 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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mecklenburg Partnership for Children
- Contact
Mailing address: 601 East Fifth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 377-6588
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mecklenburg Partnership for Children funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mecklenburg County ($19.9M). Together the top 10 received $24.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 38 grants of 103 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s website describes its work in Mecklenburg County. Its reported 2025 grants went entirely to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mecklenburg Partnership for Children open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 11 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. How we count
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10.3M (2019) to $24.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $24.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County Charlotte, NC | Meck. Pre-K | $19,916,877 |
| Childcare Resources Charlotte, NC | Quality Every Day | $1,299,930 |
| CMS Charlotte, NC | NC Pre-K Program | $500,000 |
| Meck Co Health Dept Charlotte, NC | Child Health Care Cons. | $439,764 |
| Communities in Schools Charlotte, NC | Safe Journey | $436,700 |
| Childcare Resources Charlotte, NC | Teacher Coaching | $339,938 |
| YMCA of Greater Charlotte Charlotte, NC | Parents as Teachers | $322,033 |
| Childcare Resources Charlotte, NC | Preschool | $309,656 |
| Care Ring Inc Charlotte, NC | Nurse Family PSHIP | $226,741 |
| Charlotte Speech & Hearing Greensboro, NC | Community Language Impact PGM | $199,820 |
Ready to take the next step with Mecklenburg Partnership for Children?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,411,629 | $32,449,826 | $32,297,014 | $24,562,092 | 14 | $111,252 |
| 2024 | $1,753,973 | $32,513,187 | $31,444,935 | $24,114,743 | 19 | $129,414 |
| 2023 | $1,170,490 | $28,508,319 | $30,163,576 | $23,111,426 | 24 | $40,722 |
| 2022 | $3,360,557 | $28,062,403 | $28,578,536 | $22,301,745 | 24 | $1,692 |
| 2021 | $3,359,541 | $23,292,360 | $23,296,142 | $18,173,214 | 22 | $5,143 |
| 2020 | $2,699,492 | $21,585,151 | $20,683,183 | $16,060,216 | 22 | $38,461 |
| 2019 | $1,449,525 | $14,176,697 | $13,450,790 | $10,264,440 | 23 | $26,356 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s 2023 filing describes programs in child care and education quality, child care and education affordability, health and safety, and family support. Examples include services to improve child care quality and teacher education, support affordable child care and preschool classrooms, provide early intervention and therapeutic services for young children, and offer family workshops and community-based resources.
Its 2025 grants included support for Mecklenburg Pre-K, quality child care, teacher coaching, preschool, child health care, and family support. The organization’s website says it funds community programs focused on early care and education, family support, health, and literacy.
Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Child Care Resources says it works with families and communities to expand access to high-quality, affordable early learning and school-age opportunities. Communities In Schools of Charlotte says its mission is to surround students with community support so they can stay in school and achieve in life. Care Ring says it empowers people with limited resources to establish and maintain good health. Charlotte Bilingual Preschool says it prepares Spanish-speaking children for success through dual-language, multicultural early childhood education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 14 grants totaling $24,562,092. Itemized grants ranged from $104,855 to $19,916,877, with a median of $315,844. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina.
The largest reported grants included $19,916,877 to Mecklenburg County for Mecklenburg Pre-K, $1,299,930 to Child Care Resources for Quality Every Day, $500,000 to CMS for the NC Pre-K Program, and $439,764 to the Mecklenburg County Health Department for child health care consultation. Other grants included $436,700 to Communities In Schools for Safe Journey, $322,033 to the YMCA of Greater Charlotte for Parents as Teachers, and $226,741 to Care Ring for the Nurse Family Partnership.
The website’s FY 2026–27 funding application page describes separate Smart Starts Funds and Innovation Grant applications. The listed process included submitting an application through a grant portal, with review teams evaluating applications, a Community Investment Committee making recommendations, and board and North Carolina Partnership for Children approvals. Listed application materials included a logic model, budget worksheet, and, for Innovation Grant applicants, an applicant assessment tool. Applicants were also asked for a W-9, board list, latest audited financial statement, and IRS tax-exempt letter for 501(c)(3) organizations; additional materials applied to certain budget activities and five-star facilities. The FY 2026–27 application cycle is closed. The page says applications for FY 2027–28 should open in February 2027.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amanda Nitto as board chair, Liz Buckingham as vice chair, Ben Gilman as past chair, and Kelly King as treasurer. It also lists Joanette Freeman, Braxton Winston, Elaine Liberato Jenkins, Emily Nanney, Kru Trivedi, and Latoya Scott as directors.
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children is led by Michael L. Blackwelder, CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 5 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael L. Blackwelder
CEO
CAO → CEO & CAO, 2024
CEO & CAO → CEO, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$137K (2023) → $194K (2025)
Amanda Pickens Nitto
Board Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jake House
Director
Chief Executive Officer → Director & CEO, 2024
Director & CEO → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$101K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Jennifer Stamp
Strategic Initiatives Director
Chief Strategy Officer → Strategic Initiatives Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2023) → $115K (2025)
Jared Keaton
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joanette Freeman
Director
Board Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Latoya Scott
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shivani Mehta
Director
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Braxton Winston
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Nanney
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Meier
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Liberato Jenkins
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Joyner
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heba Abdelbaky
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Henderson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kru Trivedi
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maddie Myers
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teressa Beam
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lis Pordes
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine J. Etters
CFO
Director of Finance → Finance Director, 2023
Finance Director → CFO, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $132K (2025)
Mary-Margaret Kantor
Chief Early Education Officer
Meck Pre-K → Chief Early Education Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $115K (2025)
Syreeta Campbell
CIO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$128K (2025)
Ben Gilman
Past Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
Board Chair → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liz Buckingham
Vice Chair
Director → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly King
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (33)
- Former: Tamikia Treene (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Tamar Goldblatt (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Renee Johnson (2024) — Director
- Former: Ray Jones (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Krutesh Trivedi (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Marybeth Simon (2020–2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Jacob T. House (2022–2023) — CEO
- Former: Jacqueline McKnight (2023) — Director
- Former: Matthew Hayes (2023) — Director
- Former: Cheryl Richards (2019–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Cinty Fritz (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Betsy Mack (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Chris Law (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Dwayne Sanders (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John Eller (2022) — Director
- Former: Carrie Reeder-Petkavitch (2019–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Nancy Hughes (2019–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Victoria Manning (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: T. Dean (2021) — Meck Pre-K Executive Director
- Former: George Dunlap (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Dana Eure (2020) — Director
- Former: Dimple Ajmera (2020) — Director
- Former: Barbara Bascom (2019) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Bo Boylan (2019) — Director
- Former: Gibbie Harris (2019) — Director
- Former: Janice Price (2019) — Director
- Former: Mary Beth Simon (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Matt Newton (2019) — Director
- Former: Robert McCarter (2019) — Director
- Former: Ruth Hedgpeth (2019) — Director
- Former: Sarah J. McNeill (2019) — Director
- Former: Tameika Leslie (2019) — Director
- Former: William Myer (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $194K, to Michael L Blackwelder (CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mecklenburg Partnership for Children
How much does Mecklenburg Partnership for Children give each year?
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children gave $24.6M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $24.1M across 19 grants.
What is Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's typical grant size?
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's median grant in 2025 was $315,845, and its average grant was $1,754,435, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Mecklenburg Partnership for Children give grants?
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children 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 Charlotte, NC (13 grants).
Does Mecklenburg Partnership for Children give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Preschool" (3 grants).
Who are Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's largest grantees?
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's largest 2025 grantees include Mecklenburg County ($19,916,877), Childcare Resources ($2,054,379 across 4 grants) and CMS ($500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mecklenburg Partnership for Children?
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $32.4M.
What does Mecklenburg Partnership for Children fund?
The organization’s 2023 filing describes programs in child care and education quality, child care and education affordability, health and safety, and family support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mecklenburg Partnership for Children?
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's EIN?
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1853108. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 23, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 1, 2024)
Live grants for the work Mecklenburg Partnership for Children funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mecklenburg Partnership for Children's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
The Presbyterian Hospital
Winston-Salem, NC
The Presbyterian Hospital funds community outreach, particularly health-related services, while also supporting arts, cultural, regional, and literacy initiatives. In 2024, it made 58 grants ranging from $5,145 to $503,571 (median $14,275), with 88% of grant dollars going to North Carolina. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.8B
Grants
58
Total Given
$2.9M
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc
Charlotte, NC
United Way of Greater Charlotte supports nonprofits and community initiatives focused on economic opportunity and locally identified needs, including housing, food security, education, health, and mental wellness. Its grants primarily serve Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Union counties; in 2025, the median grant was $30,878, with awards ranging from $5,292 to $1,178,487. Application access varies by program: the 2026 Anson and Cabarrus county processes are invitation-only, while the 2026 Unite Charlotte cycle is open to eligible organizations serving Mecklenburg County.
Assets
$26.7M
Grants
210
Total Given
$11.0M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Presbyterian Hospital Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
Assets
$115.6M
Grants
2
Total Given
$4.6M
The Perper Family Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Perper Family Foundation supports education, health, and human services, with grants also spanning arts and culture, housing, cancer research, and environmental projects. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $660,250, with a median of $2,500, and went to organizations across several states, especially Maine, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$12.6M
Grants
45
Total Given
$1.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mecklenburg Partnership for Children funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mecklenburg-partnership-for-children-morg_dfdfbb90b5a049e98ecca4d8711a5541
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561853108_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mecklenburg Partnership for Children funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mecklenburg-partnership-for-children-morg_dfdfbb90b5a049e98ecca4d8711a5541},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Mecklenburg Partnership for Children'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.
Mecklenburg Partnership for Children down — hundreds of funders to go?