Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS.

Totals

Total revenue
$761,389,623
Total expenses
$849,185,395
Contributions and grants received
$656,082,748
Grants paid
$804,486,974
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$839,821,536
Management and general expenses
$8,741,442
Fundraising expenses
$622,417
Program service expenses (Part III)
$839,821,536

Program services were 98.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Listed in Part VII

  • ARRINGTON MIXON

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MARIAN STEELE CLARK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • KIETH COCKRELL

    CHAIR ELECT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • MALCOMB COLEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • SHARYN ELLISON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • BETSY FLEMING

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • LYNN GOOD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • TODD GORELICK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • JADA GRANDY-MOCK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • KELLY KATTERHAGEN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • SUSAN KLUTTZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • RALPH LOPEZ-MASSAS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • TROPZIE MCCLUNEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • GENE MCLAURIN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • TOM NELSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • EDWARD SERNA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • FRED WHITFIELD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • BILL MARTIN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • ASHA RODRIGUEZ

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • CATHY BESSANT

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $737,104
    From this org
    $571,104
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $166,000
    Hours/week
    50 + 2 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $568,363
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,741
    Deferred
    $166,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $737,104

  • DOUGLAS W BENSON

    CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE AND CHIEF RISK OFFICER (SECRE

    Total calculated
    $305,316
    From this org
    $258,355
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,961
    Hours/week
    50 + 2 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $257,320
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,035
    Deferred
    $41,400
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,561
    Filer's total
    $305,316

  • ALYSSA FEDERICO

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (TREASURER)

    Total calculated
    $274,535
    From this org
    $228,615
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,920
    Hours/week
    50 + 2 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $227,580
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,035
    Deferred
    $41,004
    Nontaxable benefits
    $4,916
    Filer's total
    $274,535

  • EVAN N WOLKOFSKY

    GENERAL COUNSEL (ASST SECRETARY)

    Total calculated
    $270,575
    From this org
    $213,325
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $57,250
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $212,290
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,035
    Deferred
    $39,380
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,870
    Filer's total
    $270,575

  • LAURA YATES CLARK

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $234,479
    From this org
    $234,479
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $234,220
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $259
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $234,479

  • TARA KEENER

    CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER (ASST SECRETARY)

    Total calculated
    $205,179
    From this org
    $171,869
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,310
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,194
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $675
    Deferred
    $20,943
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,367
    Filer's total
    $205,179

  • BLAIR STANFORD

    CELC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $333,692
    From this org
    $267,230
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $66,462
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $265,295
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,935
    Deferred
    $46,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,462
    Filer's total
    $333,692

  • ELIZABETH KISER

    CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $259,934
    From this org
    $202,221
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $57,713
    Hours/week
    50 + 2 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $201,186
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,035
    Deferred
    $37,296
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,417
    Filer's total
    $259,934

  • SEAN SEIFERT

    CAROLINA THEATRE EXECUTIVE

    Total calculated
    $190,559
    From this org
    $150,154
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,405
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,148
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,006
    Deferred
    $27,176
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,229
    Filer's total
    $190,559

  • NIKHIL SAWANT

    CIO (THRU 3/1/24)

    Total calculated
    $270,775
    From this org
    $245,614
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,161
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $244,929
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $685
    Deferred
    $12,239
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,922
    Filer's total
    $270,775

  • MUNRO C RICHARDSON

    READ CHARLOTTE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $262,315
    From this org
    $199,175
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $63,140
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,140
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,035
    Deferred
    $38,700
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,440
    Filer's total
    $262,315

  • FEDERICO G RIOS

    SVP, CIVIC LEADERSHIP

    Total calculated
    $261,583
    From this org
    $216,270
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,313
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $215,820
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $450
    Deferred
    $18,609
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,704
    Filer's total
    $261,583

  • SHERRI S CHISHOLM

    LOO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $230,333
    From this org
    $195,493
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,840
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,088
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $405
    Deferred
    $17,077
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,763
    Filer's total
    $230,333

  • ROBIN BAREFOOT

    ASSOCIATE COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $180,671
    From this org
    $139,084
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,587
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $135,410
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $3,674
    Deferred
    $24,696
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,891
    Filer's total
    $180,671

  • LAURA SMITH

    FORMER COO

    Total calculated
    $440,043
    From this org
    $436,231
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,812
    Hours/week
    50 + 2 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $436,117
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $114
    Deferred
    $3,669
    Nontaxable benefits
    $143
    Filer's total
    $440,043

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE FOUNDATION PAYS FOR A CHARLOTTE CITY CLUB MEMBERSHIP IN THE PRESIDENT'S NAME TO FACILITATE CLIENT MEETINGS. A CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CHARLOTTE CITY CLUB. ALL EXPENSES RELATED TO MEETINGS AT THE CHARLOTTE CITY CLUB MUST BE APPROVED UNDER THE ESTABLISHED REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES OF THE FOUNDATION.
PART I, LINE 4B
THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A 457(B) PLAN FOR TOP EXECUTIVES. THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN DURING 2024 FOR PERSONS LISTED IN PART VII WERE AS FOLLOWS: DOUGLAS BENSON $4,986 BLAIR STANFORD $3,500 THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A 457(F) PLAN FOR TOP EXECUTIVES. NO CONTRIBUTIONS WERE MADE TO THE PLAN DURING 2024.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
15 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202543219349306689

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.