NC Counts Coalition logo

NC Counts Coalition

Public charity · Grantmaker Raleigh, NC EIN: 82-5469509 Website

NC Counts Coalition is a public charity based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is a nonpartisan nonprofit that works through cross-sector partnerships to advance systemic solutions for communities facing systemic barriers, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-wealth, and immigrant communities.

NC Counts Coalition at a glance

In short: NC Counts Coalition gave $369K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in North Carolina. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$369,300
-89.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
22
-76.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$16,786
-55.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$18,725
Total assets
$9,264,537
+8.6% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
32% first-time grantees (7 of 22, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
North Carolina (100% 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 NC Counts Coalition

How to Apply

No funding opportunities are currently listed. The coalition encourages prospective applicants to check regularly, as new grant opportunities and requests for proposals are posted throughout the year.

Contact

Mailing address: 900 Ridgefield Drive 090, Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: (919) 271-6820
Website: https://nccounts.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who NC Counts Coalition funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Unidxs Western NC: $35KUnidxs Western NC$35KCenter for Participatory Change: $29KCenter for ParticipatoryChange$29KCentro Comunitario Hispano-Americano: $29KCentro ComunitarioHispano-Americano$29KEl Centro of Henderson County: $28KEl Centro of Henderson County$28KCollaborative La Milpa: $27KCollaborative La Milpa$27KVecinos Inc: $25KVecinos Inc$25KHola Carolina: $25KHola Carolina$25KTrue Ridge: $25KTrue Ridge$25KAbipa: $24KAbipa$24KUnete Inc: $24KUnete Inc$24K

The largest 2024 recipient was Unidxs Western NC ($35K). Together the top 10 received $271K.

Grant Size Distribution

246 grants across all recorded years

186<$50K52$50–100K7$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 186 grants of 246 (76%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The coalition describes work throughout North Carolina. Its 2024 reported grants went entirely to North Carolina recipients, with the listed grant purposes focused on Western North Carolina relief.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.

Cities

DurhamRaleighCharlotteFayettevilleAshevilleGreensboroHendersonHendersonvilleWinston-SalemGreenvilleRocky MountBurlingtonEnfieldAnsonvilleBiscoeCullowheeElizabeth CityKinstonLaurinburgLumberton

Is NC Counts Coalition open to new grantees?

32%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 22 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $18K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 78% from 2021 to 2024. Method

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

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M22 grants2020 57 grants2021 52 grants2022 93 grants2023 22 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $369K (2024) to $3.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $369K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Unidxs Western NC Bryson City, NCWestern NC Relief$34,700
Center for Participatory Change Asheville, NCWestern NC Relief$29,250
Centro Comunitario Hispano-Americano Brevard, NCWestern NC Relief$29,250
El Centro of Henderson County Hendersonville, NCWestern NC Relief$27,750
Collaborative La Milpa Asheville, NCWestern NC Relief$27,000
Vecinos Inc Cullowhee, NCWestern NC Relief$25,250
Hola Carolina Asheville, NCWestern NC Relief$24,700
True Ridge Hendersonville, NCWestern NC Relief$24,700
Abipa Asheville, NCWestern NC Relief$24,250
Unete Inc Canton, NCWestern NC Relief$24,250
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$9,264,537$3,640,478$2,909,183$369,30022$77,440
2023$8,533,242$13,323,090$6,027,901$3,496,44393—
2022$1,238,053$6,020,797$5,106,257$2,829,01552—
2021$475,354$3,427,386$3,132,530$1,695,73957—
2020$190,481$1,058,002$1,747,546$634,73722—

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

NC Counts Coalition’s mission is to build a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina through cross-sector partnerships that advance systemic solutions for communities facing systemic barriers.

Its recovery and resiliency program works with government and community partners to understand community needs and develop responses to crises. Its civic engagement work provides nonpartisan education and resources to help communities understand and participate in the democratic process. The coalition also advocates on issues related to its mission and values.

The 2024 grants listed were designated for Western North Carolina relief. Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported: Center for Participatory Change says its mission is “Igniting collective power. Transforming systems of oppression. Healing in community.” VECINOS INC says it provides equitable, culturally centered healthcare and wellness services. Hola Carolina describes its mission as building bridges between cultures, embracing diversity, and creating more economically vibrant communities. True Ridge says it provides bilingual services to assist families toward safety and self-support. UNETE INC describes its work as fostering inclusive and equitable spaces that support health, self-advocacy, and wellness. Centro Unido Latino Americano says it offers culturally responsive programs related to health equity, education, workforce development, civic engagement, and essential resources.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, NC Counts Coalition reported 22 grants totaling $369,300. Grants ranged from $5,750 to $34,700, with a median of $18,725. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina; the listed grants were for Western North Carolina relief.

Among the largest grants were $34,700 to UNIDXS Western NC in Bryson City; $29,250 each to Center for Participatory Change and Centro Comunitario Hispano-Americano; $27,750 to El Centro of Henderson County; and $27,000 to Collaborative La Milpa. Other notable grants included $25,250 to VECINOS INC, $24,700 each to Hola Carolina and True Ridge, and $24,250 each to ABIPA and UNETE INC.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are Gwendolyn Kea, chair/treasurer; Conchita McIver, secretary; Cornell Wright, Dr. Tonya Williams Leathers Ed, Jorge Sousa, and Ieshia Robertson, board members; and Stacey Carless, executive director.

NC Counts Coalition is led by Stacey Carless, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Stacey Carless

    Executive Director

    Executive Director → Executive Di, 2022

    Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $111K (2020) → $152K (2024)

  • Gwendolyn Kea

    Chair & Treasurer

    Treasurer → Chair & Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cornell Wright

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Conchita McIver

    Secretary

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ieshia Robertson

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jorge Sousa

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tonya Williams Leathers Ed

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (8)
  • Former: Allisa Shepard (2021–2023) — Chair
  • Former: Tonya Williams Leathers Ed D. (2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Juliana Cabrales (2020–2022) — Chairperson
  • Former: Rebecca Tippett (2020–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Brandy Bynum Dawson (2021–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Demetrius Deloatch (2021–2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: Juan G. Garcia (2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Angel Wright-Lanier (2020) — 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

Stacey Carless — Executive Director: $152KStacey CarlessExecutive Director$152K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $152K, to Stacey Carless (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about NC Counts Coalition

How much does NC Counts Coalition give each year?

NC Counts Coalition gave $369K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 93 grants.

What is NC Counts Coalition's typical grant size?

NC Counts Coalition's median grant in 2024 was $18,725, and its average grant was $16,786, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from NC Counts Coalition that year got $17K on average.

Where does NC Counts Coalition give grants?

NC Counts Coalition gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (4 grants) and Hendersonville, NC (2 grants).

Does NC Counts Coalition give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on NC Counts Coalition's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Western NC Relief" (12 grants) and "Census Equity Fund" (8 grants).

Who are NC Counts Coalition's largest grantees?

NC Counts Coalition's largest 2024 grantees include Unidxs Western NC ($34,700), Center for Participatory Change ($29,250) and Centro Comunitario Hispano-Americano ($29,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is NC Counts Coalition?

NC Counts Coalition reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.6M.

What does NC Counts Coalition fund?

NC Counts Coalition’s mission is to build a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina through cross-sector partnerships that advance systemic solutions for communities facing systemic barriers. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from NC Counts Coalition?

No funding opportunities are currently listed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is NC Counts Coalition's EIN?

NC Counts Coalition's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-5469509. 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

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in NC Counts Coalition's focus areas in our free grants database

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Funders that support many of the same organizations

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). NC Counts Coalition funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nc-counts-coalition-morg_0d138d9bc84e4006a27ab5d4674ec471

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_825469509_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{NC Counts Coalition funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/nc-counts-coalition-morg_0d138d9bc84e4006a27ab5d4674ec471},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 NC Counts Coalition'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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