Our readers' picks: favorite local charities
For Giving Tuesday, a list of 50+ Charlotte-area organizations making our community better: building housing, supporting students, feeding the hungry, aiding families in hard times
Charlotte is filled with charities doing incredible things to make our region a better place, and often those good works happen quietly.
So to honor the season of giving and to mark Giving Tuesday, The Charlotte Ledger is publishing our fourth annual Charity Shout-Out today.
Earlier this month, we invited our community of paying members to write about the charities they most admire. Some 1/3 of all charitable giving happens in December, so why not spread the word about worthy causes that might benefit from some holiday donations?
Readers this year wrote in about 52 charities, and we divided them into categories to make the list more manageable. You can find our previous lists here: 2020, 2021, 2022.
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Below, you’ll find links to the charity websites and brief descriptions from our members. Of course, it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re comfortable with how charities use your donations by looking them up on websites like GuideStar, ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer or Charity Navigator.
You might also check out Share Charlotte, a clearinghouse that helps organize support of more than 600 Charlotte-area charities.
And feel free to share this post with friends who may be on the hunt for a charity to help this holiday season — or to let your favorite charity know that it’s on the list.
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ARTS
The Musical Dramatic Arts Foundation
“Like The Musical Dramatic Arts Foundation states in its mission statement, I believe that love heals, hope matters and the stories we tell have power. MDAF promotes musical-dramatic arts as a means for self-expression, advocacy, and healing, and it aims to bring more works like Douglas Tappin’s ‘I Dream’ to Charlotte to drive meaningful community engagement and impact.” —Mary Tabor Engel
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Boy Scouts of America — Mecklenburg County Council
“They do the best with the least.” —Ivan Mothershead
The Center for Community Transitions
“I believe in second chances! CCT provides people with criminal records and their families with tools and resources to rebuild their lives. This reduces recidivism and strengthens our community. The programs work! This organization is changing individual lives and at the same time making our overall community a better place for all of us. And it’s been quietly doing this work for 50 years.” —Melissa Treadaway
“Through their various programming, CCT provides support to women who have been incarcerated or have been impacted by incarceration: ‘Our work centers on helping clients identify healthy and productive ways of living and successful reentry through employment and transition services, financial stability, alternatives to incarceration, restoring and supporting family bonds and advocacy.’” —Laura Meier
Farmers Market Management Services
“FMMS operates 4 local farmers markets. We bring farmers into the city to feed everyone. We provide a community space of connection and placemaking as well as economic development for small and upcoming businesses.” —Samantha DeRosa
Habitat for Humanity Charlotte Region
“Opportunity for low-income families to buy an affordable home or have an existing home repaired plus financial counseling. Advocate for all types of affordable housing across the income spectrum. Adjusts to changing times and situations. Very well managed and good steward of resources.” —John Baxter
“Habitat is one of the few organizations working on homeownership. Aside from building houses, I’m really impressed by the Critical Home Repair program. It’s preserving homes and neighborhoods by helping people stay in their homes. It prevents teardowns and lets elderly homeowners stay in place. I also love that the ReStores keep so many things out of landfills.” —Rachel Eldridge
“Having lived in a large city with plentiful public transit, walking and biking options, I’ve seen the quality of life and economic benefits of sustainable urban development. Sustain Charlotte’s mission will enhance Charlotte’s efforts to improve housing affordability, mobility, quality of life and carbon output.” —Jahan Mohiuddin
EDUCATION
“ANSWER Scholarship provides college scholarships, mentoring and professional development to moms in Mecklenburg and 10 surrounding counties in the Carolinas. It boosts economic mobility by helping strong, determined women advance their education. The results? Graduates have the confidence and skills to pursue professional careers or master’s degrees.” —Andrea Cooper
“Tutor one child. Change two lives. That is the Augustine Literacy Project motto. It proved true for me. I tutored one boy for 18 months — that’s 58 tutoring sessions. We grew to love each other as we learned from each other. I can count to 10 in Arabic, and he can read the words ‘impressive’ and ‘important.’ —Lisa Saunders
Central Piedmont Community College Foundation
“There’s no institution of higher education that opens doors for North Carolina’s youth more effectively than Central Piedmont Community College, and its impact on the vitality of our city, region and state is profound. The college’s foundation is the catalyst to make this stepping-stone to lifelong careers and economic opportunity more affordable, and to expand and strengthen the programs that directly support our community’s economy and quality of life.” —Greg Efthimiou
“They support Spanish-speaking children, families and workforce development to prepare them for success in school and in life. They are a 5-star-ranked school by the N.C. Division of Child Development.” —Tom MacLennan
“Such an amazing place for families in Matthews. This child care center supports families with an emphasis on single parents. They offer mentoring for the children who may need a little more attention, budgeting classes for parents and resources for the families that need a little extra help. It’s a community effort so we all can find a place to participate with our time and talents. A loving place to be for everyone!” —Susie Verrill
“GenOne partners with high-achieving first-generation students from under-served communities to cultivate academic, social and emotional growth starting in 7th grade. In addition, they walk alongside the students to ensure high school and even college graduation. GenOne provides a cohort setting with the tools and resources needed to ensure their success through college and beyond.” —Sara Reid
“Construction and trade skills for women. Filling this jobs pipeline with an alternative to formal education. Big money can be had with hands-on and apprentice-style learning. Transition into facilities management careers. Go get it!” —Ben Smith
“All donations to Swim Across America stay in Charlotte to fund early-stage cancer research at Levine Children’s and Levine Cancer Institute. The grants are currently funding a firefighter and patients who relapse with leukemia. The charity swim at YMCA Camp Thunderbird encourages the community to volunteer.” —Rob Butcher
“I support the Teaching Fellows Institute with my time and money. I love this charity because I feel that our school teachers are grossly underpaid and underappreciated. TFI works to inspire, honor and engage these wonderful leaders of our future generation. They have been doing this for our local teachers for over 15 years with a very lean budget. The teachers come from a cross-section of Charlotte area schools — different grades, public and private, different religions, different geographies, etc.” —Kelly Graves
“I support TFI because of the amazing work that our excellent Mecklenburg County teachers do in the classroom to shape the direction of our youth and, indeed, our community. TFI works to honor, engage and inspire those who do the same for our most precious resource — our children.” —Ariana Shahinfar
“TGI offers high school graduates of color a year of intensive training to successfully apply to theatre programs at colleges across the country. These students will become the Next Gen of Black and Brown American theatre professionals.” —Lisa Gray
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
“This charity has done amazing work over the years. When Hurricane Katrina hit south of us, they took all sorts of animals in because of the natural disaster.” —Robin Caltagirone
“Carolina Waterfowl Rescue provides sanctuary, rescue and rehabilitation for wildlife, farm and exotic animals. (Some are available for adoption.) They care for so many creatures who would be ignored otherwise. CWR also proactively educates its readers about rescue, caring for wildlife and so much more. Please consider supporting them.” —Lesley O’Connor
Citizens’ Climate Lobby - Charlotte Chapter
“We empower everyday people to work together with N.C. members of Congress in Washington for national bipartisan solutions to climate change. Last year, we helped pass the largest package in history to support climate resilience and the transition to clean energy. We find common ground by respecting people across the political spectrum.” —Jean Ritok
HEALTHCARE
“I am proud to give a shout-out to 24 Foundation. In addition to working with the organization, my daughters and I fundraise and ride in 24 Hours of Booty. As my husband Sander’s caregiver when he fought cancer last year (he is now cancer-free), I know firsthand the incredible impact that 24 Foundation has on our cancer community.” —Jenni Walker
“ALA focuses on defeating lung cancer, championing clean air and creating a tobacco-free future. I’m involved because N.C.’s rate of new lung cancer cases is significantly higher than the national rate, N.C. earned an ‘F’ in ALA’s State of Tobacco Control Report, and Mecklenburg County’s ozone grade is an ‘F.’” —Jessica Graham
Carolina Breast Friends: Pink House
“As a recently diagnosed patient with breast cancer, I’ve found comfort, support and resources from the Pink House here in Charlotte. They are supportive of the whole patient and their caregiver, not just focusing on the cancer.” —Samantha Bonk
“Charlotte Clubhouse facilitates mental wellness, happiness, a sense of achievement and a stable quality of life through meaningful work, supportive community and creative endeavors for individuals impacted by mental illness. It provides a place to interact with others, learn new skills and become a part of a thriving community of people living with mental health challenges, making a large difference in the lives of many!” —Larry Clark
Cook Community Clinic, formerly known as Lake Norman Community Health Clinic
“Everyone deserves access to healthcare. Everyone deserves hope. Cook Community Clinic provides both. CCC is a trusted resource for low-income uninsured individuals in north Mecklenburg County who would otherwise have gone without healthcare. With volunteer physicians and a paid clinical staff of four, 1,605 patients received care last year.” —Sarah Porter
“Holy Angels is a home of loving, living and learning for the differently able. For 70 years, this organization has cared for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and medically fragile. Help create ‘Mercy Moments’ with your gift.” —Shawn Flynn
“This nonprofit medical practice cares for patients with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. More than that, it cares for and counsels caregivers who take care of those dealing with these terrible diseases. The practice offers support groups, podcasts, seminars and one-on-one support.” —Ken Garfield
NAMI Charlotte, National Alliance on Mental Illness
“Our son suffered from mental illness his whole life. It wasn’t until he passed away that we were introduced to NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness. I was blown away by the services that could have been available to me had just one of the professionals pointed me in their direction. It has a dedicated group of volunteers offering programs on Ending the Silence, Parent/Caregiver, Peer-to-Peer and Family-to-Family Support groups, workshops, rallies and events to spread the word about ending the stigma of mental health. I am an active volunteer at NAMI Charlotte, and we are working tirelessly to get the word out and End the Silence.” —Linda Romano
“OliviaStrong Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit foundation that the founders formed to support their daughter. The mission is to bring awareness and to find a cure to end childhood cancer. In less than two years, OSF has raised and donated over $400,000 locally and nationally to support their mission.” —Curtis Oliver
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic
“PPSAT is a resource for women, men and teens in Charlotte to access honest information and care without judgment in a comfortable safe setting. They provide reproductive health and education to the Charlotte community, including abortion care.” —Marcie Shealy
“THC provides physical and mental health services to teens, parent and community education, and teen leadership development and research. All medical and mental health professionals are specifically trained in the unique needs of teens and their families. Requests for mental health services have doubled in the last three years, making THC’s services even more critical.” —Sandy DuPuy
HUMAN RIGHTS
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
“Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy pursues justice for those in need. From securing healthcare coverage for those with severe illnesses, to preventing foreclosures for homeowners, to helping disabled veterans access their rightful benefits, and protecting immigrants from exploitation, they do so by providing comprehensive civil legal services for low-income residents.” —Kelly Lynn
HUMAN SERVICES
“TAEP works to break the unhealthy cycles of violence and trauma in at-risk Charlotte youth by using art opportunities they might otherwise never have access to.” —Samantha Bonk
Assistance League of Charlotte
“From providing food to school uniforms to staffing teen courts, the Assistance League of Charlotte is the one non-profit that just works behind the scenes, steadily helping our children and filling in the gaps. Proceeds from a thrift shop fund the projects.” —Kim Brattain
“Block Love Charlotte does a great job providing direct help to our neighbors without housing. They bring together a wide array of supporters to provide meals and more. They have been branching out beyond meals. They are scrappy and resourceful using social media to connect supporters to needs that need to be filled.” —Rachel Eldridge
“Braveworks empowers women in transition through teaching skills and goal-setting, along with connecting them with community resources to support the critical next steps in their journey. I love seeing the practical outcomes of the love and support shown to these women as they are in the process of creating new lives for themselves and their families — and buying the beautiful jewelry they make!” —Michele Juliana
“Adults with developmental disabilities are often forgotten in our fast-paced world. I support Camp Blue Skies as a volunteer, board member and donor because Camp Blue Skies provides life-changing experiences for adults with developmental disabilities through traditional overnight camps. Change a camper’s life at www.CampBlueSkies.org.” —Jonathan Beall
“Community Link helps individuals and families obtain safe, affordable housing — not an easy task in our region. The agency serves everyone across the housing spectrum, from people who are homeless or insecurely housed to those interested in becoming first-time homeowners. Their staff is compassionate, resourceful and effective.” —Andrea Cooper
“I volunteer with Community Link’s income tax assistance program (VITA). Anyone can complete their two-day training in January and volunteer to prepare taxes or greet clients. Without volunteers like us, clients might not receive their full tax refunds or have the necessary paperwork to qualify for other income-based services.” —Michele Juliana
“Dress for Success Charlotte empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help them thrive in work and life. Through our services, we build lasting confidence in the women we serve; that’s why I’ve stayed passionately involved for nine years!” —Jessica Graham
“FEEDNC offers a free pantry, garden, food-services workforce development and a lovely community dining experience that invites everyone in our community to eat for free.” —Lisa Gray
“My husband and I have been foster parents for 10 years and currently have an aged-out foster daughter who is a part of our family! We’ve experienced how lonely and difficult it is to navigate the system. We love and support their mission to support foster and kinship families!” —Christina Emmons
“Hellfighters of Concord is a Christian-based motorcycle club that operates a homeless center in Concord called the Mission at the Cross. While they do not shelter individuals, they provide meals multiple times a week, a clothing closet, a shower for the homeless to use — and it’s all run by volunteers. They partner with churches and others to provide tents, meals and ready-to-eat food. They also help connect homeless people to resources. All of our homeless community needs help, and that is what this dedicated team of volunteers does every week.” —Kevin Johnson
“Every day, you experience the joy of a place to call home. Every day, more than 3,000 people in the Charlotte area experience homelessness. The HIF was created as a way for those benefiting from homeownership to collectively give their support to those experiencing homelessness in an ongoing and sustainable way. The goal is for everyone in our community to have a place to call home, and this can be achieved through the power of collective giving.” —Sarah Szczodrowski
“The HIF is a collective giving fund to help those experiencing homelessness in our local community. I believe everyone deserves a roof over their head, and I like the idea of being able to give to an organization like this to help those in need.” —Celeste Horton
“I support this remarkable 49-year-old organization that assists persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their own goals for a satisfying, productive life! Serving over 1,000 individuals and their families yearly, InReach engages individuals in community activities, lifelong learning, volunteer and job opportunities and safe, affordable housing.” —Sandy DuPuy
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
“The Jewish Federation does amazing work in this community — raising funds to support a thriving Jewish community, raising awareness of issues that affect the Jewish community and advocating to ensure the safety, security and inclusion of Jewish individuals and families in Charlotte.” —Glenda Bernhardt
“Julia’s is an arm of Habitat Charlotte, which is doing vital work to address the affordable housing shortage in our region both in terms of physical builds and advocacy. Julia’s raises money by selling local coffee, baked goods and donated books.” —Bobby Brandon, III
“This is a charity that people hope they will never have to use — but if it happens, they are wonderful, compassionate, caring and have wonderful services for grieving families.” —Elizabeth Jones
“This all-volunteer organization aims to provide life skills and other help to 12- to 18-year-olds so they will develop into responsible adults. They provide comprehensive and preventive health educational programs, enrichment experiences and resources necessary for appropriate manhood development.” —Kim Brattain
“Motherhood can be scary, especially if you weren’t planning on embarking on that journey just yet. MiraVia is a fantastic resource to help support women as they prepare for a child while building a life for their family.” —Andrew Dunn
“I have just learned about this charity, which was founded by Brenda McElroy, the wife of one of my long-time clients (before my retirement in 2018), Mike McElroy, president of the Charlotte division of M/I Homes. I talked to Brenda today and learned about the wonderful work they are doing.” —Nancy Haynes
“Roof Above provides day services like lunch, laundry, showers, restrooms, phone charging, street outreach, transportation, phone, mail, connections to community resources and the first steps to emergency shelter and housing. They also provide assistance with employment, housing services and health support. They coordinate overnight shelter and winter overflow shelter. They are a comprehensive homeless service provider to over 1,200 people a day, always with compassion and understanding.” —Catherine Connor
“This charity provides shelter to the homeless and works hard to eliminate homelessness by providing access to low-cost housing and counseling.” —Peggy Peterson
“Safe Alliance provides care, counseling and hope for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. They also run the domestic violence shelter and hotline for people seeking safety.” —Marcie Shealy
“Safe Alliance does tremendously important work aiding victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and trafficking. SA provides a spectrum of services for clients to choose from as they recover from trauma. Leadership and staff do life-changing work for clients.” —Mark Wilson
Stand for Animals Veterinary Clinic
“Stand for Animals is a nonprofit veterinary service that, in the past 10 years, has prevented over 1 million unwanted litters through their low-cost spay/neuter services. They provide affordable, high-quality veterinary care such as annual vaccines, checkups, sick visits, x-rays, ultrasounds and meds. They are committed to accessible, affordable veterinary care for all.” —Catherine Connor
“The Umbrella Center (Family Justice Center) will be a one-stop shop for survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and sex trafficking once it opens in 2025. It will provide the most transformative care to help survivors become thrivers in a unique private/public partnership with the county, city, police, DA and hospital all in one place. The lead agencies are Safe Alliance and Pat’s Place.” —Marcie Shealy
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