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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leon Levine Foundation reported a distributable amount of $42.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Atrium Health Foundation ($1,000,000), Atrium Health Foundation ($1,000,000), Atrium Health Foundation ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Child's Haven Inc Greenville, SC | General Support | $100,000 |
| Ada Jenkins Families and Career Development Center Inc Davidson, NC | General Support | $65,000 |
| Addlestone Hebrew Academy Charleston, SC | General Support | $30,000 |
| Advocates for Healthy Citizens DBA HealthNet Gaston Gastonia, NC | HealthNet Gaston | $35,000 |
| Affinity Health Center ROCK HILL, SC | General Support | $40,000 |
| Alexander Youth Network Charlotte, NC | General Support | $125,000 |
| Alliance Medical Ministry Raleigh, NC | General Support | $50,000 |
| Anderson Free Clinic Anderson, SC | General Support | $30,000 |
| Anderson Interfaith Ministries Inc Anderson, SC | General Support | $40,000 |
| Appalachian State University Foundation Inc Boone, NC | Leon Levine Hall for Health Sciences | $500,000 |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Leon Levine Foundation fund?
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 accom…
How do I apply for a grant from The Leon Levine Foundation?
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. The Foundation does not offer pre-submission consultations with staff due to the volume of requests received. Organizations must meet the following criteria to be eligible: • Registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit • Operating within…
Where does The Leon Levine Foundation make 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.
What size grants does The Leon Levine Foundation award?
In 2024, The Leon Levine Foundation awarded 433 grants totaling $42.2M — an average of about $97K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Leon Levine Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Leon Levine Foundation reported a distributable amount of $42.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Leon Levine Foundation's EIN?
The Leon Levine Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1427515. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Leon Levine Foundation'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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