In a supplemental round of grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund, $275,500 was awarded to 11 local arts and cultural organizations to support artists, staff and online programming and educational opportunities for children and families.
To date, more than $10 million has been granted to a range of nonprofits – from large institutions to small grassroots organizations – that primarily focus on human services. However, the grants committee has received grant applications from a wide range of nonprofits with compelling circumstances, including local arts groups.
“It’s important as we look to support our local nonprofits that we not overlook the contributions of artists, musicians, educators, professionals and others in our recovery from this pandemic,” said Michael Marsicano, Foundation For The Carolinas president and CEO. “Professional artists and teaching artists play a vital role in our community, and these grants will help support the continuation of their work in unique and interesting ways.”
The latest grants include:
- $35,000 to ARTPOP to help make media space available to assist selected local artists.
- $15,000 to Brand the Moth to support artist workshops and stipends for teachers and students in its Meta Mural Residency program.
- $25,000 to Caroline Calouche & Co. to support artistic and teaching staff, as well as purchase equipment to allow a safe reopening of the program.
- $40,000 to Charlotte Center City Partners Community Trust to support the Charlotte Music Community COVID-19 Relief Fund, which will aid local musicians who have been financially impacted by the pandemic.
- $10,000 to the Charlotte Art League to support artistic staff and pay expenses to ensure artists have access to creative spaces after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
- $20,000 to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture to sponsor virtual programming for its “Unmasked” conversation series.
- $75,000 to Discovery Place to support its digital learning series and maintain its “living collection” exhibits for two months.
- $28,500 to Goodyear Arts to support local artists who depend upon the organization and help the organization shift to innovative virtual programming.
- $10,000 to Que-Os to support artists and expand online resources for the community.
- $7,000 to The Arts Empowerment Project to design and deliver virtual culinary sessions for children at Thompson Child & Family Focus, Safe Alliance and Nazareth Child & Family Connection.
- $10,000 to Tosco Music to help support local musicians through a reformatted and streaming Tosco Music Party.
Grant applications for the next cycle of funding – which is open to all Mecklenburg County 501(c)3 nonprofits providing assistance to individuals and families through education, health and mental health, food security, workforce development, shelter, financial security or other related services – are now being accepted through June 10 at noon. Visit uwcentralcarolinas.org/grants/
“Thanks to a tremendous community response, we have been able to assist nonprofits across the board in getting assistance to those who need it the most,” said Laura Yates Clark, United Way of Central Carolinas President and CEO. “Every aspect of our community has been touched by the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s essential that the COVID-19 Response Fund looks at all ways in which we can provide help.”
The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Since the fund was launched on March 16, the more than $19 million raised has come from corporations, foundations, individuals and local government.
Donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund have ranged from a two-dollar commitment from an anonymous online donor to $1.3 million from Mecklenburg County. Other major gifts include $100,000 each from the Charlotte Hornets Foundation, the Springsteen Foundation, the Philip L. Van Every Foundation, Kim and Johnny Belk, and Alfred and Amy Levine Dawson; $150,000 each from Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Championship and Sean & Andrea Smith; $200,000 each from Allstate Insurance and Vanguard; $250,000 each from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation, the Weisiger Fleming Family Fund, EY, PwC/The PwC Charitable Foundation, and The Hearst Foundations; $270,000 from BlackArch Partners/The Regions Foundation; $500,000 each from Ally Financial, the Duke Energy Foundation, The Humana Foundation and the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation; and $1 million each from LendingTree, the City of Charlotte, the Howard R. Levine Foundation, Truist Financial Corporation, Bank of America, the David A. Tepper Charitable Foundation, Lowe’s, the C.D. Spangler Foundation/National Gypsum, Coca-Cola Consolidated, the John M. Belk Endowment and Pamlico Capital.
To contribute to the COVID-19 Response Fund, visit HelpCharMeck.org.