About Foundation for the Carolinas
Driving remarkable impact by growing philanthropy, catalyzing civic and social change, fostering sustainability and leading the philanthropic sector; serving as a trusted community partner to amplify the power of giving.
Focus Areas
Health & Human ServicesEducation & Youth DevelopmentArts & CultureEnvironmental SustainabilityAnimal WelfareCommunity DevelopmentEconomic OpportunityScholarshipsNonprofit sustainability and capacity building
Funding Style
charitable donationone-time/annual giftundesignated/unrestricted support
About Foundation for the Carolinas
Foundation for the Carolinas has made some of its largest recent charitable gifts to higher education, with Catawba College receiving $56,557,611 in 2025 after a $33,971,673 gift in 2024. That scale sits alongside repeated support for major regional and national nonprofits, including the Southern Environmental Law Center, which received $29,462,000 in 2024 and $26,472,000 in 2025. The foundation’s recent giving reaches beyond North Carolina to organizations working in environmental law, conservation, health, humanitarian relief, and education. As a mixed community foundation with $1,452,891,764 in annual grants and $3,934,238,899 in assets, it operates at a scale that places sizable charitable gifts across a broad portfolio of causes. Its recent record includes major support for Rocky Mountain Institute, International Rescue Committee Inc, League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Nova Ukraine, and several North Carolina colleges and health institutions. The pattern suggests a grantmaker that combines place-based support in the Carolinas with large gifts to organizations active on national policy, public health, and climate-related work. Leadership is listed under Catherine P Bessant.
What Foundation for the Carolinas Funds
Education appears prominently in the foundation’s recent giving. Catawba College received $20,120,430 in 2023, and Johnson C Smith University received $11,831,270 in 2025. Duke University Medical Center also received $17,000,000 in 2025, showing that higher education support extends into research and medical education. Environmental sustainability is another clear area of focus. Southern Environmental Law Center received $26,425,500 in 2023 and Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund received $14,065,000 in 2024, both tied to environmental advocacy and legal work. Rocky Mountain Institute received $24,200,000 in 2024 for its energy and climate-related mission. Health and reproductive health also show up in the recent grant list. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic received $14,095,000 in 2025, while Duke Cancer Institute received $13,005,000 in 2025. These gifts sit alongside broader health-related support through Atrium Health Foundation in Charlotte.
How Foundation for the Carolinas Gives
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $93,290 at the 75th percentile, but its recent portfolio also includes very large charitable gifts. The data shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Catawba College, Southern Environmental Law Center, International Rescue Committee Inc, League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Nova Ukraine, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, and Rocky Mountain Institute. That pattern points to recurring support rather than isolated one-off grants. Foundation for the Carolinas is classified as a mixed community foundation, and the philosophy tags indicate charitable donation, one-time/annual gift, and undesignated/unrestricted support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.5B
Total Assets
$3.9B
Total Revenue
$761.4M
Total Expenses
$849.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $93K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$93K
Geographic Reach
Regional48 states funded
About 62% of grants go to recipients in NC.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
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