The Leon Levine Foundation
The Leon Levine Foundation is a private philanthropic organization established in 1980 by Leon Levine, founder and former chairman of Family Dollar Stores, Inc. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Foundation operates as a nonprofit entity with a staff of 24 employees. It functions as a grantmaking institution dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations across North and South Carolina that align with its core mission areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1B
+52.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$42.2M
+21.9% YoY
Grant Count
433
+5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$97K
+15.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to empower underserved Carolinians to be self-sufficient and strengthen the Jewish community. The organization supports programs and organizations in four core mission areas:
Education — Supporting quality education and school readiness initiatives
Healthcare — Improving access to quality healthcare by investing in local and regional programs that prolong and enhance quality of life
Human Services — Supporting individuals and institutions seeking to accomplish human services goals
Jewish Values — Strengthening the Jewish community
Healthcare Focus
Within healthcare, the Foundation prioritizes:
- Direct Access to Care — Funding medical, behavioral health, dental, and pharmacy services, including preventative care, with special interest in organizations serving the uninsured and underinsured
- Supportive Services — Funding wraparound care and patient family support services in coordination with human services programs
- Care Coordination & Case Management — Fostering collaboration between community organizations and healthcare providers to streamline referrals and prioritize patient outcomes
The Foundation has a special emphasis on early childhood health funding to ensure young children and families have access to preventative care and medical support during critical developmental years.
Grantmaking
The Foundation accepts Letters of Intent (LOIs) on a rolling basis. Organizations may submit only one LOI during the Foundation's fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), and the Foundation reserves the right to decline repeat requests for funding made within a 12-month period.
How to Apply
The Foundation accepts Letters of Intent (LOIs) on a rolling basis. Organizations may submit only one LOI during the Foundation's fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), and the Foundation reserves the right to decline repeat requests for funding made within a 12-month period.
Ready to take the next step with The Leon Levine Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations across North Carolina and South Carolina. Geographic expansion began in 2017, extending from Charlotte to communities throughout the Carolinas including Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston and their surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2002: $130 million
- 2008: $342 million
- 2013: Foundation granted $15 million annually
- 2015: Assets exceeded $500 million following an additional $150 million contribution from Leon and Sandra Levine
Cumulative Grants Awarded:
- 2006: $50 million in cumulative grants
- 2013: $150 million in cumulative grants
- 2016: $200 million in cumulative grants
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,062,952,521 | $696,277,546 | $721,802,260 |
| Revenue | $454,802,339 | $14,848,840 | $101,958,051 |
| Expenses | $50,252,939 | $40,362,507 | $34,539,192 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $45,666,861 | $36,830,274 | $32,007,945 |
| Net Investment Income | $34,120,352 | $46,241,094 | $68,094,367 |
| Distributable Amount | $42,236,488 | $33,216,721 | $35,805,671 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Leon Levine Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Tom Lawrence — President (hired as first full-time employee in 2002; became Executive Director in 2012)
- Sandra Levine — Chairman Emeritus
- Justin Steinschriber — Senior Vice President
- Carla Miles — Director, Human Resources
- Michael C Tarwater — Board Member
- Michael Richardson — Director
The Board of Directors expanded to 5 members in 2009 and expanded again in 2018.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation committed $10 million to advance early literacy in underserved North Carolina communities, demonstrating continued focus on education initiatives.
The Leon Levine Foundation Commits $10 Million to Advance Early LiteracyThe Foundation provided a grant to support UNC's IMPACTT-NC program.
Leon Levine Foundation grants $10M to boost childhood reading - BusinessThe Foundation has announced a spend-down plan, indicating a strategic approach to deploying its assets over time.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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