Charlotte nonprofits working on economic mobility have a new opportunity to consider.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation announced the 2026 Groundwork Grants opportunity in September 2026.

Eligible 501(c)(3) publicly supported charities can apply for up to $200,000 over two years.

Applications open October 5, 2026 and close October 30, 2026.

The application will be handled through the Foundation For The Carolinas Online Grants Center.

This is not a small, one-time program grant.

Groundwork Grants are designed to support broader community work, including efforts that strengthen neighborhoods, connect residents to opportunity and build long-term local capacity.

For nonprofits serving Mecklenburg County, this could be a meaningful chance to support work that is already happening on the ground.

What Groundwork Grants are

Groundwork Grants are a new Foundation funding opportunity focused on economic mobility.

The program is built for organizations working on comprehensive, community-centered strategies.

That can include efforts that bring residents, partners and resources together around shared neighborhood priorities.

The Foundation is looking for work that goes beyond a single event or short-term service.

The goal is to support stronger community ecosystems and help neighborhoods adapt, respond and thrive.

That focus matters in a place as varied as Mecklenburg County.

The needs and opportunities in west Charlotte, east Charlotte, the University City area, South End, north Mecklenburg and other communities are not all the same.

Groundwork Grants are intended to give local organizations the flexibility and time to respond to the priorities identified by the residents they serve.

Here is what the opportunity offers.

Awards of up to $200,000 and a two-year grant commitment.

Support for organizations working on economic mobility, with a focus on resident-driven and place-based approaches.

The Foundation's preferred approach is general operating support.

That means organizations may have room to use funding where it can strengthen their work and respond to changing community needs.

Who can apply

The opportunity is open to 501(c)(3) publicly supported charities serving Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

An organization should review the full application toolkit before deciding whether to apply.

The toolkit includes eligibility information, application guidance, frequently asked questions and a sample application.

Groundwork Grants are intended for organizations with work grounded in a specific neighborhood, corridor or community within Mecklenburg County.

That means applicants should be ready to explain where they work, who they serve and how their approach reflects local priorities.

A strong application will likely make the connection between the organization's mission and the economic mobility needs of the community clear.

Applicants should also be prepared to describe the organization's mission and core services, its geographic focus area and its role in the community.

They should explain how residents help guide the work, which partnerships support community priorities and how the funding would strengthen the organization.

They should also say what they hope will change in the community.

Organizations can apply for one Groundwork Grant during the cycle.

Previous funding from the Foundation does not automatically prevent an organization from applying, as long as it meets the eligibility requirements.

The timeline you need to know

Here are the key dates for the 2026 Groundwork Grants opportunity.

The Foundation announced the opportunity in September 2026.

Applications open October 5, 2026 and close October 30, 2026.

Award decisions are expected by December 31, 2026.

The first payment is expected on January 8, 2027 for organizations receiving an award.

Do not wait until the final day to create an account, review the questions or gather the required materials.

The application asks for detailed information about the organization, its finances, its community role and its proposed use of funds.

What economic mobility funders are looking for

The Groundwork Grants materials point to a clear theme: local leadership matters.

The Foundation is looking for organizations that understand their communities and work with residents to identify priorities.

That could include nonprofit work connected to employment, education, housing stability, financial security, neighborhood investment or other parts of a broader economic mobility strategy.

The application is not simply asking what program you run.

It is asking applicants to show how their organization fits into the larger community picture.

First, explain how residents shape the work.

Show how resident knowledge and experience inform programs, priorities or decisions.

This does not have to be complicated, because the important point is how the organization listens to residents and turns that insight into action.

Second, explain how the work connects across issues.

Economic mobility rarely fits into one neat box.

A resident may be navigating work, transportation, housing, education, child care or access to services at the same time.

Organizations should explain how their work responds to connected needs instead of treating each challenge as completely separate.

Third, explain how partnerships help.

Community work often depends on coordination.

The strongest examples will likely be specific about each partner's role and the difference that coordination makes for residents.

Fourth, explain how funding creates capacity.

Groundwork Grants can support more than direct services.

Organizations should consider how funding could improve operations, strengthen staff capacity, support planning or help the nonprofit respond to an opportunity.

The application asks what would be different in the organization and community because of the grant.

That is a good place to connect the funding request to realistic, measurable progress.

How to apply

Start with the Foundation For The Carolinas Online Grants Center.

The application will be available beginning October 5, 2026, and the deadline is October 30, 2026.

Before opening the application, gather the information and documents the toolkit identifies.

That includes organizational information, the IRS determination letter, the EIN, a current board list and current and prior fiscal year budgets with income and expenses.

It is also smart to prepare short, clear answers about your mission, the community you serve, your core programs and services, how residents guide your priorities, your partnerships, your current organizational needs and how up to $200,000 over two years could support your work.

Keep the writing practical and use plain language.

Explain the local issue, the organization's role and the change the funding could help create.

The CMCF Grant Application Toolkit should be your main guide, so review it before the application window opens and then use the Online Grants Center to submit the final application.

Why this matters for Charlotte

Charlotte's nonprofit network is part of how communities connect residents to opportunity.

Across Mecklenburg County, local organizations often understand neighborhood needs in ways that larger systems cannot.

They may already have trusted relationships, local partnerships and a clear view of what residents are asking for.

Groundwork Grants are designed to support that kind of work.

The opportunity is especially relevant for nonprofits thinking beyond a single program and looking at how to strengthen the larger community around residents.

That could mean better coordination, more local leadership, stronger services or a clearer path to long-term economic opportunity.

The funding is competitive, and an application does not guarantee an award.

Still, eligible organizations can apply for up to $200,000 over two years, making this an opportunity worth serious preparation.

The takeaway

The 2026 Groundwork Grants opportunity gives eligible 501(c)(3) publicly supported charities serving Mecklenburg County a chance to seek larger, longer-term support for economic mobility work.

If your organization is rooted in a Mecklenburg County neighborhood, corridor or community, start reviewing the toolkit now.

Get your documents together, outline your local impact and be ready to apply through the Foundation For The Carolinas Online Grants Center.

Apply: Foundation For The Carolinas Online Grants Center

Read first: CMCF Grant Application Toolkit

Official announcement: Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation Groundwork Grants