The David and Nicole Tepper Charitable Foundation makes a small number of large, strategic gifts focused on immediate humanitarian relief, concentrated community impact in the Carolinas, and social-services organizations that serve vulnerable populations. Grants skew toward emergency/disaster response and food-security nonprofits, major civic institutions in Charlotte (including support tied to the Panthers/Foundation for the Carolinas), and direct support for legal/justice and higher-education institutions serving historically marginalized communities.
Highly concentrated giving: a small number of very large grants (many $1M+), including repeat funding to some organizations; mix of domestic regional investments in the Carolinas and large-scale humanitarian donations internationally.
A pattern of seven-figure gifts to Charlotte institutions and emergency-relief groups defines the David and Nicole Tepper Charitable Foundation. In the recent grants list, the foundation gave $1,751,014 to Foundation for the Carolinas in 2024 and $1,672,000 to the same organization in 2023, showing repeated support for a civic intermediary in Charlotte. It also made large general-support grants to Johnson C Smith University, Charmeck Family Justice Center Inc, Nourish Up, and the American National Red Cross, which places higher education, family justice, food access, and disaster response at the center of its giving. The foundation’s work also reaches beyond North Carolina through grants to Global Empowerment Mission, The Umbrella Center, World Central Kitchen, and Vision to Learn. Across the recent list, grants are usually unrestricted general support rather than tightly specified project funding. The organization’s giving is sizable enough to move on a national scale, yet many of its largest awards cluster around community institutions and safety-net nonprofits serving vulnerable populations.
A clear theme in the foundation’s grantmaking is food and hunger relief. It gave $1,000,000 to Nourish Up in 2025, $600,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Inc in 2025, $435,625 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC Inc in 2025, and $831,000 to Manna Food Bank Inc in 2025. Another major strand is family justice and victim services: Charmeck Family Justice Center Inc received $1,000,000 in 2025, and Charlotte Rescue Mission received $350,000 in 2023. Education is also present through general support for Johnson C Smith University at $1,035,000 in 2024 and $500,000 to University of North Carolina Charlotte in 2023. The foundation has additionally backed health-adjacent civic infrastructure, including Atrium Health Foundation grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Typical grants are large: p25 is $25,000, median grant size is $100,000, and p75 is $250,000. The recent list shows repeated support for several organizations across multiple years, including Foundation for the Carolinas, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Atrium Health Foundation, Global Empowerment Mission Inc, Vision to Learn, and Classroom Central, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. Grants are generally made as general support, with the foundation’s philosophy tags pointing to unrestricted, core operating, and flexible funding. It is a private charitable foundation with no individual giving and no program-related investments listed.
$21.5M
$70.6M
$31.8M
$21.9M
Most grants fall between $25K and $250K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in NC.
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Notable grantees: Foundation for the Carolinas, Global Empowerment Mission, Johnson C. Smith University, CharMeck Family Justice Center, American National Red Cross
Grant recipients are entirely in the US, with Charlotte, NC appearing most often in the recent grants list. Other North Carolina recipients include Asheville, Winston Salem, and Charlotte’s broader civic and nonprofit network. Outside North Carolina, the foundation gave to Washington, DC; Doral, FL; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Ansonia, CT. DC is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Short Hills, NJ.
The recent grants point to disaster and emergency humanitarian response, food security, community revitalization in Charlotte and the Carolinas, higher education support for Johnson C Smith University, and legal and family justice services such as Charmeck Family Justice Center Inc.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is relatively large. The 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $100,000, and the 75th percentile is $250,000, with several recent awards rising to seven figures.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Foundation for the Carolinas, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Atrium Health Foundation, Global Empowerment Mission Inc, Vision to Learn, and Classroom Central. That pattern suggests recurring relationships rather than isolated gifts.
Washington, DC is the top state by grant count in the recent data. North Carolina is also prominent, especially Charlotte, where many of the largest grants are concentrated.
The recent grants are listed as general support, and the foundation’s philosophy tags emphasize general or unrestricted support, core operating support, flexible funding, and organizational sustainability.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $2,750,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF METROLINA INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $2,158,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC | RALEIGH, NC | $2,051,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST NC INC | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $1,394,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,230,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VISION TO LEARN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NOURISH UP | CHARLOTTE, NC | $1,115,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION INC | DORAL, FL | $1,100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARVEST HOPE FOOD BANK | COLUMBIA, SC | $1,059,300 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK INC | CHARLESTON, SC | $885,600 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS | CHARLOTTE, NC | $687,252 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACTION PATHWAYS INC (SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEAST NC) | FAYETEVILLE, NC | $642,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MANNA FOOD BANK INC | MILLS RIVER, NC | $638,200 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLASSROOM CENTRAL INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $503,091 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED JEWISH CHARITIES OF GREATER CHARLOTTE INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $496,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE | RALEIGH, NC | $440,200 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF THE ALBEMARLE | ELIZABETH CITY, NC | $425,300 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA INC | PEMBROKE PARK, FL | $422,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ATRIUM HEALTH FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $375,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GOLDEN HARVEST FOOD BANK INC | AUGUSTA, GA | $297,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CMS FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC | DALLAS, TX | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF CHARLOTTE INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $156,250 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAMARITAN'S FEET INTERNATIONAL | CHARLOTTE, NC | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE STEVE SMITH FAMILY FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $125,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RECEPTIONS FOR RESEARCH - THE GREG OLSEN FOUNDATION | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAROLINA FARM TRUST INC | CORNELIUS, NC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION INC | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF GREATER CHARLOTTE INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RUTGERS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL INC | MIAMI, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG POLICE FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERATION WARM INC | GLEN MILLS, PA | $48,996 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOHNSON C SMITH UNIVERSITY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DANCE FOR THE CURE INC | HILLSBOROUGH, NJ | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CANCER SERVICES OF GASTON COUNTY INC | GASTONIA, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHARLOTTE HORNETS FOUNDATION INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MUGGSY BOGUES FAMILY FOUNDATION | MATTHEWS, NC | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FEEDING THE CAROLINAS | CLEMMONS, NC | $11,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AUTISM CHARLOTTE | CHARLOTTE, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EDWARD CHARLES FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GENERATION WE INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHECKERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB FOUNDATION INC | PALM BEACH, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TOWN OF PALM BEACH UNITED WAY INC | PALM BEACH, FL | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION INC | DORAL, FL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHARMECK FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NOURISH UP | CHARLOTTE, NC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
GENERAL SUPPORT
NOURISH UP
$1,115,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
THE STEVE SMITH FAMILY FOUNDATION
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
RECEPTIONS FOR RESEARCH - THE GREG OLSEN FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAROLINA FARM TRUST INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG POLICE FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JOHNSON C SMITH UNIVERSITY
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DANCE FOR THE CURE INC
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CANCER SERVICES OF GASTON COUNTY INC
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MUGGSY BOGUES FAMILY FOUNDATION
$12,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AUTISM CHARLOTTE
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERATION WE INC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHECKERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB FOUNDATION INC
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NOURISH UP
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT