An unusual grant for a south Charlotte dance studio
A local company that supports nonprofits provided a grant for a project thought to be 'unfundable'
The following article appeared in the Feb. 12, 2024, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
A charity’s ‘unfundable’ project wins $10,000: paying off credit card debt for mold remediation
A south Charlotte nonprofit dance studio won $10,000 last week in an unusual competition that sought to support projects that are the least likely to be funded by traditional philanthropy.
The winning charity, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center, said the money would be used to pay off credit card debt stemming from its efforts to fix damage caused by mold under its dance floor. A dance floor, as you might imagine, is pretty crucial for a dance studio, yet paying off credit card debt for such an expense wouldn’t interest typical funders, whose money tends to go toward scholarships, performances or tickets for low-income families.
The project was described as a “retroactive grant request to fund the sealing and sprung dance floor repair that is needed for our studio to fulfill its programming,” according to the application.
“It’s the most unsexy project, period,” said Caroline Calouche, the director of the dance center on Monroe Road near Matthews. “It’s also retroactive. Nobody wants to fund things that happened in the past. … Problems pop up. Stuff happens. It’s super helpful to have somebody just trust your mission and trust what you’re doing.”
Caroline Calouche of the nonprofit Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center accepted the $10,000 award from Next Stage CEO Josh Jacobson at a celebration Thursday in Plaza Midwood. (Photo by Daniel Coston Photography)
The grant was awarded by Next Stage, a Charlotte-based social impact consulting firm that works with nonprofits. It was part of an initiative by Next Stage called “The UnFundable Project,” which seeks to raise awareness of a trend called “trust-based philanthropy.” The movement encourages nonprofit funders to support charities with no strings attached, which gives nonprofit leaders more freedom in figuring out how to fulfill their missions.
The Ledger served as a media partner of The UnFundable Project because we believe local nonprofits play a vital role in improving the quality of life in the Charlotte region.
Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center’s proposal was chosen out of more than 40 applications. —Tony Mecia
Related Ledger article and podcast:
“New twist on charitable giving: trust” (Nov. 27, 2023)
🎧 “Strengthening Charlotte's nonprofit sector, with Josh Jacobson of Next Stage” (Jan. 12, 2024)
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman