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    5. Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust

    Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust

    ActiveArts, Culture & Humanities
    CHARLOTTE, NC7049734500EIN: 82-05762922 filings on record
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    About Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust

    The Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust is a place-based arts funder that concentrates almost all of its support on cultural institutions in Charlotte and the surrounding region, prioritizing museum collections, performing arts organizations, and arts education. It favors major, established institutions (museums, symphony, ballet, performing arts center) while also supporting culturally specific organizations and youth-focused arts programs. Grants are often repeat awards and sizable investments aimed at sustaining institution-building, capital/stabilization, and program continuity rather than one-off small projects.

    Focus Areas

    Major visual arts museums and museum capacity-building in Charlotte (Mint Museum, Bechtler)Large performing arts organizations and venue support (Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Ballet, NC Performing Arts Center)Children's and youth arts education and performance (Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Choir School)Culturally specific arts institutions and African American arts (Harvey B. Gantt Center)Local arts infrastructure and backbone support (Arts & Science Council, McColl Center)

    Who They Fund

    nonprofit arts organizations

    About Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust

    The Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust’s recent giving is anchored by six- and seven-figure support for Charlotte’s core arts institutions, with the Mint Museum receiving $1,395,649 in 2024 and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art receiving $987,206 the same year. That pattern points to a funder that backs the organizations carrying the city’s cultural infrastructure: museums, performing arts groups, and arts education providers. In 2024, Discovery Place Inc received $1,310,068, while the North Carolina Performing Arts Center Foundation received $829,067, showing that the trust’s priorities extend beyond a single discipline and include major venues and public-facing arts experiences. Repeat awards are a defining feature of this grantmaking. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society Inc, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Levine Museum of the New South, Mccoll Center for Art Innovation, and Harvey B Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture. The grant pattern favors sustained institutional support over isolated project checks, with awards large enough to reinforce operations, programming continuity, and long-term capacity.

    What Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust Funds

    Museum support is a major thread in the trust’s grantmaking. The Mint Museum received $1,395,649 in 2024 and $854,751 in 2023, while the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art received $987,206 in 2024 and $836,626 in 2023. Performing arts organizations also receive substantial backing. The North Carolina Performing Arts Center Foundation received $829,067 in 2024, and Charlotte Ballet received $194,569 in 2024. Arts education appears in the trust’s support for Children's Theatre of Charlotte, which received $600,000 in 2024 and $481,362 in 2023. Community-oriented cultural work is also visible in the Harvey B Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture, which received $298,551 in 2024 and $272,372 in 2023.

    How Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust Gives

    Typical grant size is sizable: the grant-size distribution runs from $10,000 at the 25th percentile to a $147,466 median and $458,241 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also shows repeat awards across years, including to museums, performing arts groups, and arts education organizations, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a local funder, and it does not fund individuals. It also does not make program-related investments. The pattern is consistent with institutional support through grantmaking rather than other financing tools.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $7.5M

    Total Assets

    $213.9M

    Total Revenue

    $1.4M

    Total Expenses

    $8.4M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $10K and $458K, with a median of $147K.

    25th Percentile

    $10K

    Median

    $147K

    75th Percentile

    $458K

    Geographic Reach

    Local5 states funded

    About 88% of grants go to recipients in PA.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

    Leadership

    DOUGLAS BENSON

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    individual artists
    local communities/audiences
    museums and cultural institutions

    Giving Approach

    Concentrated, high-dollar local giving with frequent repeat grantees: a small number of large institutional grants account for the bulk of funding, supplemented by occasional smaller educational or partner grants and some university arts gifts.

    Funding Style

    program/project supportgeneral operating supportcapacity building

    Notable grantees: Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Arts & Science Council

    Topics

    performing artsvisual artscultural heritage preservationarts educationcommunity arts engagement

    Where Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust Makes Grants

    Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Charlotte, with 88% of grants going to recipients in North Carolina. Most recipients in the recent list are Charlotte-based, including institutions in museum, performing arts, education, and cultural heritage work. Outside North Carolina, the trust has also made grants in Pennsylvania, including Point Park University in Pittsburgh, and in California, including the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. The recipient-country distribution is entirely domestic: all reported grants went to U.S. organizations.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust

    What kinds of organizations does Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust fund most often?

    The trust mostly funds Charlotte arts institutions: museums, performing arts organizations, arts education groups, and culturally specific cultural organizations. Recent grants include support for museums such as the Mint Museum and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, plus performing arts and education groups such as Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society Inc and Children's Theatre of Charlotte.

    Does Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust make repeat grants?

    Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Society Inc, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Levine Museum of the New South, Mccoll Center for Art Innovation, and Harvey B Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture.

    What is the typical grant size?

    The grant-size distribution centers on larger awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $147,466, and the 75th percentile is $458,241. Recent awards range from small support such as $10,000 to UNC School of the Arts to seven-figure grants for major institutions.

    Where are most grants made?

    Most grants go to North Carolina recipients, which account for 88% of grants. The trust is a local funder, and the recent recipient list is dominated by Charlotte organizations, with a smaller number of awards going outside North Carolina to places such as Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2024

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    MINT MUSEUMCHARLOTTE, NC$1,395,6492024ARTS & CULTURE
    DISCOVERY PLACE INCCHARLOTTE, NC$1,310,0682024ARTS & CULTURE
    BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ARTCHARLOTTE, NC$987,2062024ARTS & CULTURE
    NORTH CAROLINA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATIONCHARLOTTE, NC$829,0672024ARTS & CULTURE
    CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTECHARLOTTE, NC$600,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SOCIETY INCCHARLOTTE, NC$550,0732024ARTS & CULTURE
    LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTHCHARLOTTE, NC$388,8782024ARTS & CULTURE
    MCCOLL CENTER FOR ART INNOVATIONCHARLOTTE, NC$384,6722024ARTS & CULTURE
    WING HAVEN FOUNDATION INCCHARLOTTE, NC$308,5942024ARTS & CULTURE
    HARVEY B GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS & CULTURECHARLOTTE, NC$298,5512024ARTS & CULTURE
    CHARLOTTE BALLETCHARLOTTE, NC$194,5692024ARTS & CULTURE
    ARTS & SCIENCE COUNCILCHARLOTTE, NC$144,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    OPERA CAROLINACHARLOTTE, NC$21,8982024ARTS & CULTURE
    UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIALOS ANGELES, CA$20,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    POINT PARK UNIVERSITYPITTSBURGH, PA$20,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    CHARLOTTE CHOIR SCHOOLCHARLOTTE, NC$12,1952024ARTS & CULTURE
    ARTSCHARLOTTE, NC$11,7592024ARTS & CULTURE
    UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTSWINSTONSALEM, NC$10,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    NEW YORK UNIVERSITYNEW YORK, NY$10,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN INCSAVANNAH, GA$10,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITYBOONE, NC$10,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITYGREENSBORO, NC$10,0002024ARTS & CULTURE
    CAROLINA RAPTOR CENTER INCCHARLOTTE, NC$6,6702024ARTS & CULTURE
    MINT MUSEUMCHARLOTTE, NC$854,7512023ARTS & CULTURE
    BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ARTCHARLOTTE, NC$836,6262023ARTS & CULTURE
    ARTS & SCIENCE COUNCILCHARLOTTE, NC$668,4012023ARTS & CULTURE
    CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SOCIETY INCCHARLOTTE, NC$493,1142023ARTS & CULTURE
    CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTECHARLOTTE, NC$481,3622023ARTS & CULTURE
    LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTHCHARLOTTE, NC$327,2522023ARTS & CULTURE
    MCCOLL CENTER FOR ART INNOVATIONCHARLOTTE, NC$309,0982023ARTS & CULTURE
    HARVEY B GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS & CULTURECHARLOTTE, NC$272,3722023ARTS & CULTURE
    WING HAVEN FOUNDATION INCCHARLOTTE, NC$245,0542023ARTS & CULTURE
    CHARLOTTE BALLETCHARLOTTE, NC$150,9322023ARTS & CULTURE
    POINT PARK UNIVERSITYPITTSBURGH, PA$30,0002023ARTS & CULTURE
    OPERA CAROLINACHARLOTTE, NC$22,2302023ARTS & CULTURE
    APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITYBOONE, NC$10,0002023ARTS & CULTURE
    UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTSWINSTONSALEM, NC$10,0002023ARTS & CULTURE
    WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITYCULLOWHEE, NC$10,0002023ARTS & CULTURE
    NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITYGREENSBORO, NC$10,0002023ARTS & CULTURE
    ARTSCHARLOTTE, NC$7,0952023ARTS & CULTURE
    CHOIR SCHOOL AT ST PETER'S INCCHARLOTTE, NC$6,9752023ARTS & CULTURE
    NORTH CAROLINA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATIONCHARLOTTE, NC$6,2772023ARTS & CULTURE

    MINT MUSEUM

    $1,395,649
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    DISCOVERY PLACE INC

    $1,310,068
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

    $987,206
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    NORTH CAROLINA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION

    $829,067
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE

    $600,000
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SOCIETY INC

    $550,073
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTH

    $388,878
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    MCCOLL CENTER FOR ART INNOVATION

    $384,672
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    WING HAVEN FOUNDATION INC

    $308,594
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    HARVEY B GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS & CULTURE

    $298,551
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHARLOTTE BALLET

    $194,569
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    ARTS & SCIENCE COUNCIL

    $144,000
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    OPERA CAROLINA

    $21,898
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

    $20,000
    LOS ANGELES, CA2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

    $20,000
    PITTSBURGH, PA2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHARLOTTE CHOIR SCHOOL

    $12,195
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    ARTS

    $11,759
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

    $10,000
    WINSTONSALEM, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    NEW YORK, NY2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN INC

    $10,000
    SAVANNAH, GA2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    BOONE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    GREENSBORO, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CAROLINA RAPTOR CENTER INC

    $6,670
    CHARLOTTE, NC2024

    ARTS & CULTURE

    MINT MUSEUM

    $854,751
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    BECHTLER MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

    $836,626
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    ARTS & SCIENCE COUNCIL

    $668,401
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SOCIETY INC

    $493,114
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLOTTE

    $481,362
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTH

    $327,252
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    MCCOLL CENTER FOR ART INNOVATION

    $309,098
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    HARVEY B GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS & CULTURE

    $272,372
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    WING HAVEN FOUNDATION INC

    $245,054
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHARLOTTE BALLET

    $150,932
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

    $30,000
    PITTSBURGH, PA2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    OPERA CAROLINA

    $22,230
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    BOONE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    UNC SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

    $10,000
    WINSTONSALEM, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    CULLOWHEE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    GREENSBORO, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    ARTS

    $7,095
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    CHOIR SCHOOL AT ST PETER'S INC

    $6,975
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE

    NORTH CAROLINA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER FOUNDATION

    $6,277
    CHARLOTTE, NC2023

    ARTS & CULTURE