The Leon Levine Foundation concentrates its recent giving on a single local higher-education beneficiary, providing large institutional support to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, most notably the Levine Scholars Program. Grants are aimed at operational and program support for university-based scholarship and leadership development initiatives, reflecting a strong place-based commitment to Charlotte-area higher education. The foundation’s profile is distinctive for very large, targeted awards to a core grantee rather than broad diversified giving.
Focus Areas
Levine Scholars Program — merit and leadership undergraduate scholarships at UNC CharlotteOperational support for UNC Charlotte/Foundation of the University of North Carolina at CharlottePlace-based higher education philanthropy focused on Charlotte/Mecklenburg County
Who They Fund
students and academic scholarslow-income renters/home-seekersfood-insecure householdspatients (including pregnant patients) and clinical populationsfamilies served by community schools
About Leon Levine Foundation
A defining pattern in The Leon Levine Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its repeated support for the Foundation of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, including $2.1 million awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for operational support and the Levine Scholars Program. That continuity points to a funder that uses large, sustained commitments rather than scattered one-off gifts. The foundation also backs related Charlotte-area institutions with similarly sizable support, including Atrium Health Foundation for the Levine Cancer Institute and the Foundation for the Carolinas for a Way Home Housing Endowment. Its work is place-based and institutional, with many grants tied to university, health care, housing, and community infrastructure in North Carolina and South Carolina. The recent record also shows support for Jewish community organizations in Charlotte and regional initiatives outside the city, suggesting a portfolio that blends flagship local commitments with mission-area grants across its Carolinas footprint. The result is a giving profile centered on long-term support for organizations with operating scale, program continuity, and visible community reach.
What Leon Levine Foundation Funds
Education is a major lane, especially when the goal is long-term student success. In one recent award, the foundation gave $2.1 million to the Foundation of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Inc for the Levine Scholars Program, and in another it gave $500,000 to Appalachian State University Foundation Inc for the Leon Levine Hall for Health Sciences. Health care is another clear priority: Atrium Health Foundation received $1 million for the Levine Cancer Institute and $500,000 for Pediatric Behavioral Health Services. Housing and emergency support also appear in the portfolio, including $1 million to Foundation for the Carolinas for A Way Home Housing Endowment and $500,000 to Care Ring Inc for a Relocation Capital Campaign. Jewish community support is present as well, with $1 million to United Jewish Charities of Greater Charlotte Inc for General Support.
How Leon Levine Foundation Gives
Typical grant size clusters at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent list also includes several seven-figure awards. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off: the same core institutions appear across multiple years, especially the Foundation of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Inc and Atrium Health Foundation. The foundation makes grants as a private foundation and funds individuals, but the recent record is heavily institutional. Its stated grant modes include general operating, program-specific, and capital campaign support, and its mission-area structure includes education, health care, human services, and Jewish values. Unsolicited applications are accepted through a Letter of Inquiry process.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$57.9M
Total Assets
$1.9B
Total Revenue
$1.1B
Total Expenses
$71M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $25K and $75K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$75K
Geographic Reach
Regional10 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Thomas W Lawrence
Director/President, CEO
Deep Analysis
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Highly concentrated giving: very large, repeat grants to a single core grantee (UNC Charlotte/Foundation of UNC Charlotte) directed at operational and scholarship program support rather than many small or geographically distributed grants.
Funding Style
operational support / general operatingcapital campaign / capital investmentcapacity building / organizational developmentendowment / long-term sustainabilityexpansion / program scale-up
Notable grantees: Foundation of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Inc., Levine Scholars Program (UNC Charlotte), University of North Carolina at Charlotte (institutional support)
Topics
health care delivery & clinical services (cancer, health centers, behavioral health)housing affordability & homelessness preventionfood security & hunger reliefK–12/community school models & youth educationcommunity health infrastructure & wellness hubsfaith leader / clergy capacity & congregational strengtheningcivic/community organizing and neighborhood development
Where Leon Levine Foundation Makes Grants
Giving is regional and concentrated in the Carolinas. North Carolina recipients account for 78% of grants, while South Carolina is the top state by grant count overall. Charlotte is the main hub in the recent grant list, with awards also landing in Boone, Raleigh, and Spartanburg. Other named recipient locations include Charlotte-Mecklenburg institutions and regional organizations tied to NC and SC. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 1,354 grants to U.S. recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leon Levine Foundation
What are The Leon Levine Foundation’s main focus areas?
The foundation’s mission areas center on education, health care, human services, and Jewish values. Recent grant descriptions point to early childhood readiness, student stability, mentoring, post-secondary success, direct access to care, housing and financial stability, and Jewish community building and education.
How does The Leon Levine Foundation usually structure its grants?
It uses general operating, program-specific, and capital campaign support. The grant list includes large operating awards, such as support for university and health care institutions, along with capital and endowment-style gifts for housing, arts, and community facilities.
What is the foundation’s typical grant size?
Its grant-size distribution is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $75,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards can be much larger, but the typical grant size remains in that lower range.
Where does The Leon Levine Foundation focus its giving geographically?
Its giving is regional across North Carolina and South Carolina. North Carolina recipients make up 78% of grants, and South Carolina is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients include organizations in Charlotte, Boone, Raleigh, and Spartanburg.
Can organizations apply for support from The Leon Levine Foundation?
Yes. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications, and its general grantmaking process uses a Letter of Inquiry. Its grant opportunities are described for eligible nonprofits within North Carolina and South Carolina.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Leon Levine Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Varies
General Nonprofit Grants (Operating, Program, Capital)
EducationHealthcareHuman Services+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must meet the Foundation's eligibility requirements, be a 501(c)(3) organization, operate within North Carolina or South Carolina, and align with the Foundation's healthcare, education, human services, or Jewish values mission areas. Start-ups and unproven programs are generally not eligible; sustainable organizations should typically have at least $500,000 in contributed revenue. Organizations may submit only one LOI for operating or project-related funding per Foundation fiscal year (July 1-June 30).
Deadline: LOIs are accepted year-round and reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants may apply once per Foundation fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Full proposal and renewal deadlines are provided through the grantee portal.
basic needsfood assistancetemporary shelter+12 more
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations in NC and SC that provide safety-net services, housing supports, employment and financial stability services, or programs that protect and strengthen children and families.
Jewish community buildingJewish educationSocial and senior services+2 more
Who can apply: Jewish and related nonprofit organizations operating in NC and SC; select U.S. organizations working on U.S.-Israel relations. Applicants should follow the Foundation's LOI/application process.
early childhood educationschool readinessstudent stability+3 more
Who can apply: Nonprofits that use evidence-based interventions to eliminate or mitigate obstacles to academic achievement; priorities include readiness for K, student stability supports, social capital, post-secondary success, and closing the achievement gap in Mecklenburg County.
community buildingsocial servicessenior services+5 more
Who can apply: Jewish organizations and other nonprofits serving Jewish communities in the Carolinas through community-building, education, social services, leadership development, or Israel engagement programs.
Deadline: No specific deadline listed; applicants are directed to submit a letter of inquiry.
Early childhood education (Ready for K)Student stability supportsMentoring and youth development (Social Capital)+2 more
Who can apply: Organizations working in the Foundation's education priorities within NC and SC. Applicants should submit an LOI via the Foundation's How to Apply process.
Basic NeedsHousing StabilityEconomic Security+6 more
Who can apply: Organizations must align with human services priorities in NC and SC, including safety-net services, housing support, economic security, and child/family welfare.
Deadline: No specific deadline listed; applicants are directed to submit a letter of inquiry.
direct access to carebehavioral healthdental care+7 more
Who can apply: Organizations in NC and SC that provide direct care, wraparound support, or coordination services that improve health outcomes; special interest in organizations serving uninsured and underinsured populations.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
