Plus Collective: Grassroots Grants

The Plus Collective offers Grassroots Grants to support organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community in Charlotte. These grants, capped at $5,000, aim to strengthen startup organizations and meet unmet needs not covered by other funding. Applications are reviewed continuously by the TPC Grants Committee. Priority is given to services promoting inclusion, leadership, and diverse engagement. Applicants must demonstrate a significant impact on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area and utilize grant funds solely within this region.

NOTE: There is no formal grant cycle; all applications will be reviewed by the TPC Grants Committee and decisioned by the TPC Board as received. Send a letter of interest including a brief overview of your organization and primary contact information via email.
We are a giving program and foundation that awards grants to organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community in the Charlotte region while also cultivating partnerships with community allies.
The Plus Collective (TPC) will award grants to Charlotte-area organizations serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.
Grassroots Grants are intended to build capacity and strengthen the effectiveness of startup organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) nonprofit status) whose primary objective is to serve the Charlotte-Mecklenburg LGBTQ+ community, allowing TPC to reach organizations with unmet needs that fall outside of the current Basic Operating and Programs, Projects, and Events (PPE) Grant parameters. As such, there is no formal grant cycle; all applications will be reviewed by the TPC Grants Committee and decisioned by the TPC Board as received. Grassroots Grants will be awarded to support general operations as specified in the grant application that exemplify the vision of The Plus Collective: Guided by principles. Inspired by diversity. Supported by community.
Grassroots Grants cannot exceed $5,000.
Funding Priorities
Applicant organizations should exemplify TPC’s vision: Guided by principles. Inspired by diversity. Supported by community. The organizations’ services should support the following:
Building understanding and appreciation, as well as promoting the value of inclusion within the organization’s circle of influence, for LGBTQ+ populations.Cultivating leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ people.Engaging and including people with diverse backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identity in programs, services and organizational values.
Funding Considerations
As you complete your application, give special consideration to documenting the following criteria which will be used in making grant decisions:
Scope of impact: The organization has a positive impact on its audience and the Charlotte LGBTQ+ community.Nurtures individuals to actualize their potential: The program, project or event supports individuals within the LGBTQ+ community in their personal journey through acceptance, pride, support of community and leadership.Presents a positive image of LGBTQ+ people to the community: The program, project or event presents a fair and positive understanding of people who are LBGTQ+.Effectiveness: The organization is effective at utilizing resources to provide the services and benefits it offers.Budget: The organization’s budget presents reasonable costs for services performed and an efficient way to achieve the objectives.Diversity: The organization engages and includes people of color, trans individuals and others typically underserved within the LGBTQ+ community.Defined measures: The organization identifies clear objectives and uses relevant metrics and measures to define a successful outcome.Organizational experience: The organization has the appropriate talent, skills, and experience to execute its objectives and effectively utilize grant funds.

Eligibility

Grant RequirementsApplications from organizations applying for a second Grassroots Grant will be evaluated by these and other criteria established by TPC:The organization’s progress toward meeting the mission over the prior periodProgress toward self-sufficiency including status of 501(c)(3) applicationSuccess in fundraising over the prior periodAvailable funds within the parameters set by the TPC BoardApplicants may apply for ONE Grassroots Grant per annual cycle.Grassroots Grants are only awarded to organizations whose primary objective is to provide services or benefits to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg LGBTQ+ community. Applicant organizations must attest that at least 75% of their services are provided in and at least 75% of their budget is utilized within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area and must agree to use grant funds solely within Mecklenburg County.Grant awards will be made to organizations with or without 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.Grassroots applicants with 501(c)(3) status should have received nonprofit designation within the last 12 months.Receiving organizations without 501(c)(3) status must partner with an established local organization with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status that will serve as a fiscal sponsor. TPC Board and Grants Committee reserve the right to request additional information at any time. Failure to respond to requests for additional information may result in denial of the application and/or disqualification from future grant opportunities.Applicants are expected to return funds to TPC if the organization is unable to utilize the funds for the purposes specified in the application or by the grant use deadline.Grassroots Grant funds must be used within six months of receipt. Funds not used within six months of receipt must be returned to TPC unless and extension is approved.

Ineligibility

Please do not submit a grant application for the following purposes, as they will not be funded:Capital campaigns and endowment fundsHardware, software, or other similar forms of technology infrastructureRequests in which funds will be re-granted to other organizations Events from which the proceeds will benefit other organizationsDebt retirement/deficit fundingProjects that promote policy advocacy, political activity or religious viewsActivities occurring prior to grant decisionProjects that are typically the funding responsibility of federal, state or local governmentNew proposals that duplicate existing or established programs or servicesStrategic planning in “ordinary course of business”Publication of books (paper or digital) unless being published to be sold to raise additional funding for the organizationPrevious recipients of TPC’s Basic Operating or Programs, Projects & Events (PPE) Grants are not eligible to apply for Grassroots Grants.