This fiscal year, the program gave out approximately $3.5 million to local nonprofits.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Applications are open for Charlotte nonprofits to receive the city’s next round of financial partner grants, but officials are changing the process this year to ensure greater transparency.
A mandatory virtual information session for applying nonprofits is scheduled for Friday at 12:30 p.m., a change the city has implemented to ensure funding reaches organizations where it’s needed most.
The Charlotte Museum of History has relied on the financial partner program as its only municipal support for the past two years. Museum President Terri White said the funding comes with strict requirements.
“The best thing about the city partner program is that you have to operate within very tight parameters of working with a bunch of different types of companies, making sure that they’re vendors that are city-approved,” White said. “Although we were already doing that, we look at this as another layer of transparency, that if you donate money to Charlotte Museum of History, you know your money’s being used wisely and appropriately.”
The program focuses on nonprofits that align with the City Council’s strategic priorities, which will be addressed in the information session. This past application period was the first time the Council implemented a detailed way to score applications.
“We focus on great neighborhoods, safe communities, well-managed government, transportation and planning, as well as workforce development,” Senior Budget Analyst Cherie Smith said. “If they can identify impactful performance measures to show how they are advancing that work within the community, they’re perfect candidates for this program.”
This year, the city awarded $812,038 from the general fund to five financial partners and $2.7 million from one-time sources to 21 nonprofits, totaling approximately $3.5 million. The city hopes to expand the program next year.
The budget process begins in May, so the exact amount of available funding remains unclear, particularly with the loss of COVID-era American Rescue Plan Act funds. Despite uncertainty, Smith encouraged nonprofits to apply now.
“You can’t make assumptions on what will or will not be there from a funding perspective, but you can make a conscious effort to apply for the program to ensure that you can continue to have an impact within the community,” Smith said.
The museum’s $100,000 grant this year will help fund a new augmented reality exhibit of the American Revolution, specifically focused on Charlotte and the Carolinas, that will open in April.
White said the support has been critical and is supportive of the push for transparency. However, they are unsure if they will apply again, as they are seeking more long-term permanent funding from the city, especially in uncertain financial times.
“Right now, it’s very concerning,” White said. “Lots of stressful calls about making sure we meet budgets. I know that a lot of nonprofits have had to cut staff. Some have had to cut hours. We haven’t reached that point just yet, but we are hyper aware of where every dollar goes.”
Applications are due Dec. 19.
Contact Julie Kay at [email protected] and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.