Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation - Social Capital Grants

Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation - Social Capital Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Foundation for the Carolinas
Amount: US $2,500 - US $10,000
Last Updated: August 22, 2025

Summary

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation's Social Capital Grants program aims to foster social capital, enhancing networks and opportunities for children, youth, and families in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. By supporting organizations that build trusting relationships and a culture of caring, the program promotes life navigation and access to essential resources. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and religious organizations, focusing on initiatives that create lasting impacts in the community.

Overview

Background The Social Capital Grants program aligns with the recommendations of the Opportunity Task Force. It is designed to support organizations and programs focused on building social capital-networks, relationships, and access to opportunities --- through the lens of increasing economic opportunity for all children, youth, and families in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The program will concentrate on supporting and strengthening organizations and programs that build and nurture social capital within communities, among communities, between organizations, and promotes a culture of caring and life navigation. Building Social Capital & Promoting a Culture of Caring All children, youth, and families have access to pipelines of opportunities to development, resources, information, and positive networks and relationships.Organizations, business, educational and religious institutions, along with individuals collectively leverage their connections, relationships, and resources to help improve life of all children, youth, and families.Development of mutually genuine and trusting relationships, that promote the exchange of ideas, perspectives, and personal stories. Development of a culture of caring that's demonstrated to every child, youth and families in Mecklenburg County. Life Navigation All children and youth have access to an enduring person or persons of caring and support that expose them to new opportunities, connect them to careers, and assist with navigation of educational systems and life. All children, youth, and families are offered tangible pathways to achieving their active aspirations*. *Active aspirations are goals that a person is consciously and deliberately working toward--requiring an individual to invest time, energy, and resources.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible organizations for competitive grantmaking programs include: 501(c)3 nonprofitsCongregations, Churches, and Religious OrganizationsGovernmental agenciesEducational institutionIf the organization conducting the project does not meet these criteria, you can apply for a grant under the fiscal sponsorship of an eligible organizationChurches which do not have 501(c)(3) public charity status may still qualify as eligible charities. Eligibility of churches to receive FFTC grants is determined using the guidance provided in IRS Publication 1828.

Ineligibility

Requests typically not funded through our discretionary grants programs:Capital campaign requestsDebt retirement/deficit fundingDirect support of individuals (e.g. scholarships, hardship)Duplication of existing programs or services by new organizationsEndowment fundsTravel and conferencesPublication of booksProjects that are typically the funding responsibility of federal, state or local governmentSponsorships or fundraisersRequests ineligible for funding through our discretionary grants programs:Projects that promote specific political or religious viewsPolitical or lobbying activities