United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc is a public charity based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It serves Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Union counties, using collective giving and community partnerships to support economic opportunity and respond to locally identified needs.
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc at a glance
In short: United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc gave $11.0M across 210 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), mostly in North Carolina. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $11,033,511
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 210
- +12.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,541
- -7.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,878
- Total assets
- $26,676,212
- -17.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (48 of 208, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc
- Review Cycle
- The announced 2026 Unite Charlotte cycle closes September 25, 2026.
- Deadline
- The announced 2026 Unite Charlotte cycle closes September 25, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 601 E Fifth St 350, Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 372-7170
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Housing Collaborative ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,021 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 653 grants of 1,021 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way of Greater Charlotte states that it serves Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Union counties in the Charlotte region. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to North Carolina recipients: 94% went to NC, 3% to NY, 2% to GA, 1% to SC, and less than 1% to TN, as reported in the filing data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 210 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 48 of 208 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10.6M (2024) to $21.3M (2021). In 2025 it made 210 grants totaling $11.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Collaborative Charlotte, NC | Restricted Program Funding to Achieve Contracted Outcomes | $1,178,487 |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte Charlotte, NC | Donor designated 3rd party for general support, restricted program funding to achieve contracted outcomes | $284,207 |
| The Bulb Gallery Charlotte, NC | Donor Designated for General Support, Program Operating Cost | $276,631 |
| Lakewood Neighborhood Alliance Inc Charlotte, NC | Donor Designated for General Support, Program Operating Cost | $259,996 |
| Corporation for Supportive Housing New York, NY | Program Operating Cost | $250,736 |
| Ada Jenkins Families and Careers Development Center Inc Davidson, NC | Donor designated (and 3rd party) for general support, program operating cost, restricted program funding to achieve contracted outcomes | $241,195 |
| The Life Project of North Carolina Charlotte, NC | Program Operating Cost | $234,132 |
| Crossroads Corporation Charlotte, NC | Program Operating Cost | $216,996 |
| Salvation Army - Charlotte Area Command Brookhaven, GA | Donor designated (and 3rd party) for general support, program operating cost, restricted program funding to achieve contracted outcomes | $207,771 |
| Renaissance West Community Initiative Charlotte, NC | Donor designated (and 3rd party) for general support, program operating cost | $197,871 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,676,212 | $17,113,009 | $22,400,683 | $11,033,511 | 210 | $1,514,207 |
| 2024 | $32,199,529 | $20,608,188 | $19,916,731 | $10,571,465 | 186 | $495,104 |
| 2023 | $30,441,279 | $20,880,064 | $20,796,013 | $12,956,056 | 200 | $555,834 |
| 2022 | $28,665,296 | $24,251,139 | $20,846,388 | $12,903,066 | 186 | $632,369 |
| 2021 | $29,734,806 | $23,258,976 | $26,878,386 | $21,325,308 | 239 | $1,291,749 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to use collective giving to build pathways to economic opportunity for all, primarily through neighborhood-based, grassroots, and responsive solutions. It describes its regional approach as tailored to the strategies identified by residents and focused on economic mobility.
United Way of Greater Charlotte’s funding includes programs for grassroots nonprofits and neighborhood organizations. Its Unite Charlotte program provides unrestricted or general operating support and capacity-building assistance to grassroots organizations serving Mecklenburg County. United Neighborhoods supports resident-led neighborhood revitalization and offers Block Building grants for organizational capacity, community engagement, and resident-driven planning. County grant priorities include education and economic opportunity in Anson County; mental wellness in Cabarrus County; and education, economic opportunity, and healthcare in Union County.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work funded. Housing Collaborative says it helps people experiencing or at risk of homelessness secure rental housing. The Bulb Gallery describes its work as expanding access to fresh produce through mobile farmers markets. Renaissance West Community Initiative says its mission is to promote a community centered on quality housing, education, health, wellness, and opportunity. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, United Way of Greater Charlotte reported 210 grants totaling $11,033,511. Grant amounts ranged from $5,292 to $1,178,487, with a median of $30,878.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $1,178,487 to Housing Collaborative for restricted program funding to achieve contracted outcomes; $284,207 to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for donor-designated and restricted program support; $276,631 to The Bulb Gallery for donor-designated general support and program operating costs; $259,996 to Lakewood Neighborhood Alliance Inc for donor-designated general support and program operating costs; and $250,736 to Corporation for Supportive Housing for program operating costs.
Application processes vary by initiative. The 2026 Anson County and Cabarrus County grant processes are by invitation only. The Unite Charlotte funding cycle announced for 2026 is open to organizations with annual operating budgets between $500,000 and $2 million that have operated continuously for at least three years, hold current IRS 501(c)(3) status, serve Mecklenburg County, meet the stated leadership and nondiscrimination requirements, do not proselytize, and complete United Way’s Financial Certification process. Required materials include a current strategic plan, organizational plan, or written organizational priorities, and minutes from the organization’s three most recent board meetings.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Bill Currens, Board Chair; Ron Messenger, Vice Chair; Hank Alston, Cabarrus County Chair; Lula Jackson, Anson County Chair; Rhett Brown, Union County Chair; Joe Wall, Finance Chair; Avaleen Crawford Williams, Finance Vice Chair; Cathy Campbell, Campaign Chair; Hendrick Ellis, Campaign Vice Chair; and Brian Middleton, Community Impact Chair.
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc is led by Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, Interim President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 8 of 35 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathryn Firmin-Sellers
Interim President & CEO
Chief Impact Officer → Interim President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$118K (2021) → $200K (2025)
Laura Yates Clark
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$255K (2021) → $213K (2025)
Bill Currens
Board Chair
Director → Board Vice Chair, 2023
Board Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Middleton
Community Impact Chair
Director → Community Impact Chair, 2022
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Campbell
Campaign Chair
Director → Campaign Vice Chair, 2022
Campaign Vice Chair → Campaign Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hank Alston
Cabarrus County Chair
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Wall
Finance Chair
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lula Jackson
Anson County Chair
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rhett Brown
Union County Chair
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
O'Shauna Hunter
Director of Housing Solutions
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Robert Wilkinson
Director of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Will Pitts
Board Director
Campaign Chair → Board Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beau Fisher
Board Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Williams
Board Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Tamol
Board Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Fagg
Board Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Giddens
Board Director
Board Director → Finance Vice Chair, 2024
Finance Vice Chair → Board Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitch Gibson
Board Director
Board Director → Community Impact Vice Chair, 2024
Community Impact Vice Chair → Board Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Pearce
Board Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Kesner
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Ayers
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. O'Leary
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Bryant
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Martino
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clint Hill
Chief Develop. Officer
Chief Development Officer → Chief Develop. Officer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$148K (2021) → $178K (2025)
Jamese Ivy
Chief Impact Officer
Director Neighborhood Initiatives → Director Neighborhood Init, 2024
Director Neighborhood Init → Chief Impact Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$111K (2023) → $119K (2025)
Kendra Green
Chief Administrator Officer
Assistant Vice President of Donor Operations → Chief Administrator Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$114K (2023) → $131K (2025)
Leanne Skipper
Int. Chief Development Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Marcel Solomon
Volunteer Advisory Representative
Director → Volunteer Advisory Representative, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raj Natarajan
Past Board Chair
Board Chair → Board Director, 2024
Board Director → Past Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hendrick Ellis
Campaign Vice Chair
Director → Campaign Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ron Messenger
Vice Chair
Finance Chair → Second Vice Chair, 2023
Second Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Avaleen Crawford Williams
Finance Vice Chair
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Juliana
Ascend Agency Representative
Board Director → Ascend Agency Representative, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sil Ganzo
Partner Agency Representative
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (28)
- Former: Dena R. Diorio (2021–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Pamela Wideman (2022–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Shawn Heath (2022–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Myra Foster (2022–2023) — Board Director
- Former: Will Alston (2022–2023) — Community Impact Vice Chair
- Former: Beth Diggs (2021–2022) — Anson County Chair
- Former: Denise White (2021–2022) — Union County Chair
- Former: Gary Greer (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Heath Campbell (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: John Martin (2021–2022) — Partner Agency Representative
- Former: Matthew J. Kosmicki (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Peggy L. Brookhouse (2021–2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Robert Granow (2021–2022) — Director of Finance
- Former: Scott P. Vaughn (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Sean O'Connell (2021–2022) — Finance Vice Chair
- Former: Avaleen Crawford (2022) — Director
- Former: Bradley Caplan (2022) — Mln County Chair
- Former: Dee O'Dell (2022) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: Brian Floyd (2021) — Cabarrus County Chair
- Former: C. Dee O'Dell (2021) — Community Impact Chair
- Former: Dave Regnery (2021) — Director
- Former: David Leitch (2021) — Director
- Former: George W. Beckwith (2021) — Director
- Former: Neville Poole (2021) — Director
- Former: R. Chandler Root (2021) — Chair & Board of Directors
- Former: Ronald E. Messenger II (2021) — Finance Vice Chair
- Former: Susan C. Edwards (2021) — Director
- Former: Willie E. Alston Jr. (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $213K, to Laura Yates Clark (President/CEO (Thru 6/24)). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc
How much does United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc give each year?
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc gave $11.0M across 210 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $10.6M across 186 grants.
What is United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc's typical grant size?
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc's median grant in 2025 was $30,878, and its average grant was $52,541, across 210 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc that year got $20K on average.
Where does United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc give grants?
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (145 grants), Monroe, NC (8 grants), Concord, NC (7 grants) and Huntersville, NC (6 grants).
Does United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (209 of 210) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc's largest grantees?
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Housing Collaborative ($1,178,487), Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte ($284,207) and The Bulb Gallery ($276,631), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc?
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc reported $26.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.1M.
What does United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to use collective giving to build pathways to economic opportunity for all, primarily through neighborhood-based, grassroots, and responsive solutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc?
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc's EIN?
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-0529948. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 23, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-greater-charlotte-inc-morg_f4a90d4ef04940cfa39b91ac280ae8f7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_560529948_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-greater-charlotte-inc-morg_f4a90d4ef04940cfa39b91ac280ae8f7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc'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.
United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?