Foundation For The Carolinas is a Charlotte-based community foundation serving a 13-county region through donor funds, grants, scholarships and civic leadership.
FFTC works with donors, nonprofits, companies and community partners to expand philanthropy, support charitable giving and advance civic and social progress across the Carolinas.
Foundation For The Carolinas was established in 1958 with a $3,000 gift from the United Way. It began as the United Community Foundation, created by 24 Charlotte leaders to receive and distribute charitable gifts, honor donor intent and build a permanent resource for community needs. The foundation later became the Greater Charlotte Foundation in 1967 and adopted the name Foundation For The Carolinas in 1984. Its service area expanded over time from Charlotte-Mecklenburg to a broader Carolinas footprint.
FFTC manages charitable funds for individuals, families, companies and nonprofits, including donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, nonprofit agency funds, discretionary funds and other giving vehicles. Most grantmaking is fundholder-recommended, while discretionary grants are guided by local volunteer boards and committees. The foundation also runs competitive grant programs, supports regional affiliates, manages endowments, offers scholarships and leads civic initiatives through the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership.
Since 1958, FFTC has grown from a small community foundation into one of the largest U.S. community foundations, with assets exceeding $5B. In 2025, FFTC fundholders reached a record $1B in grants, with more than 17,000 grants awarded to nonprofits across the United States. The foundation also supported $4M in scholarships to more than 1,000 students and reported more than $1.2M in regional affiliate grants across North and South Carolina.
FFTC works with regional affiliates, donor fundholders, nonprofits, corporations, professional advisors and supporting organizations. Notable affiliated or umbrella organizations include Arts & Science Council, The Carolina Theatre, Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, E4E Relief, Foundation For Black Philanthropy, Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community, Greater Steps Scholars, Leading on Opportunity and Read Charlotte. Agility Together involves partners including United Way of Greater Charlotte, SHARE Charlotte, The Lee Institute and UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute.
FFTC’s stated purpose centers on growing philanthropy, advancing civic and social progress, supporting sustainability, leading in the philanthropic sector and being a trusted community partner. The foundation’s 2026 Governing Board is chaired by Kieth Cockrell of Bank of America. FFTC is confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Its Belk Place civic campus in Uptown Charlotte includes the Luski-Gorelick Center for Philanthropy, Levine Conference Center, Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, Sonia and Isaac Luski Gallery and Carolina Theatre. The headquarters also serves as a meeting and convening space, with no-cost conference space offered to local nonprofits.