The Leon Levine Foundation made headlines in July 2025 when it announced it’s tripling the amount it gives away each year — from about $30 million to $100 million. But what does that really mean for Charlotte and the Carolinas?
In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, we go deeper with Tom Lawrence, CEO of the foundation, and Michael Tarwater, the foundation’s board chair, to understand the impact behind the numbers — and how this shift could shape the region for decades.
Ledger editor Tony Mecia talked with Lawrence and Tarwater at the foundation’s headquarters on July 8, 2025, where they discussed:
Why now: How the foundation’s increased giving connects to Leon Levine’s long-term plan to give away the bulk of his wealth.
Who benefits: Which communities and causes are expected to see the biggest gains, including education, health care, human services and support for Jewish life.
How Charlotte fits in: Why the city where Levine launched Family Dollar remains central to the foundation’s mission.
How decisions get made: Insight into how the foundation chooses which organizations to fund and what it looks for in grant applications.
Balancing growth and focus: How the foundation is thinking about staying true to its mission while managing a much larger pool of resources.
Lawrence says Levine would be most proud of the continued focus on helping underserved communities—and that this expansion ensures his resources “are going to go to help our neighbors who need it the most for decades to come.”
This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Tony Mecia.
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