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AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER INC

EIN 56-1152286 CHARLOTTE, NC

Revenue 2023
$3,266,941
Expenses 2023
$4,189,203

Program services were 78.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A230
Classification
1200
Street
551 S TRYON ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE HARVEY B. GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTS AND CULTURE (FORMERLY THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURAL AND SERVICE CENTER) EXISTS TO PRESENT, PRESERVE AND PROMOTE AFRICAN AMERICAN ART, CULTURE AND HISTORY FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF ALL.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE HARVEY B. GANTT CENTER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTS AND CULTURE (FORMERLY THE CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG AFRO-AMERICAN CULTURAL AND SERVICE CENTER) PRESENTS EXCEPTIONAL EXHIBITS AND ENGAGING, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN STORY.

  • Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

    Expenses $3,295,710 · Revenue $284,326

  • INITIATIVE FOR EQUITY + INNOVATIONIN THE FALL OF 2018, THE GANTT CENTER LAUNCHED ITS INITIATIVE FOR EQUITY AND INNOVATION, OR IEI, AS A STRATEGIC AND PERMANENT RESPONSE TO THE NATIONALLY VIEWED RIOTS THAT ENSUED IN 2016 AS A RESULT OF THE SHOOTING OF KEITH LAMONT SCOTT, A BLACK MAN KILLED BY CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG POLICE. OUR STRATEGY IS TO BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE IN OUR APPROACHES TO EFFECT CHANGE. THROUGH IEI, WE CREATE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN CONVERSATIONS THAT BUILD AWARENESS AND AFFECTS CHANGE. HARVARD'S CHETTY STUDY FURTHER SHAPED OUR STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT THE INITIATIVE, WHICH RANKED CHARLOTTE 50 OUT OF 50 IN ECONOMIC MOBILITY AMONG THE NATION'S LARGEST CITIES. THE CHETTY STUDY, ALONG WITH THE 2016 "UPRISING," PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON LONGSTANDING RACIAL DIVIDES AND UNDENIABLE BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY, QUALITY EDUCATION, AND FAIR ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITY.WE ARE CHARLOTTE'S LARGEST AND MOST PROMINENT BLACK-LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND ONE OF THE REGION'S FOREMOST ARTS INSTITUTIONS. THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT (35%) OF OUR CITY'S POPULATION IDENTIFIES AS BLACK, AND THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY BEAR THE INTERGENERATIONAL IMPACT OF INEQUITIES. OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A PERMANENT INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGY THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO ADAPT TO THE SYSTEMIC NEEDS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THE INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES ALL OF US TO ANSWER THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE A MORE JUST SOCIETY FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA. IEI IS, THEREFORE, BUILT UPON SIX PILLARS:1. LEVERAGE THE ARTS TO EXPLORE SOCIAL ISSUES, DIFFUSE TENSIONS, AND INTRODUCE CREATIVE RESPONSES2. HEIGHTEN PUBLIC AWARENESS ON ISSUES OF OPPORTUNITY, FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE;3. ENGAGE THE PUBLIC ON TIMELY TOPICS AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS4. DEEPEN CAPACITY FOR UNDERSTANDING AND NAVIGATING DIFFERENCE5. EQUIP THE NEXT GENERATION WITH KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS6. EMPOWER A BROAD RANGE OF PARTNERS ACROSS DISCIPLINES TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AS ALLIESCHANGE IS UNACHIEVABLE IF MEMBERS OF THE CHARLOTTE COMMUNITY ARE ILL-INFORMED OR UNEDUCATED ABOUT 1) THE SOCIETAL PROBLEMS THAT THWART MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND 2) THE RESOURCES AND APPROACHES THAT CAN EFFECT CHANGE. WITH IEI, THE GANTT CENTER IS BOLDLY STEPPING UP TO ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY ISSUES THROUGH VARIOUS AFRICAN-AMERICAN ART FORMS AND WITH CREATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT EDUCATE BY CHALLENGING BIASES, REGRESSIVE IDEAS, AND RIGID MINDSETS. IEI HAS PRODUCED MANY OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CONNECT WITH DIVERSE AUDIENCES REGIONALLY IN A MORE PROFOUND WAY. WITH THE LAUNCH OF IEI, WE CONTINUE TO OFFER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SESSIONS TO CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ROOTED IN OUR EXHIBITIONS AND FOCUSED ON EQUITY AND UNCONSCIOUS BIASES. THESE LEARNING SESSIONS INCLUDE INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES, GUIDED TOURS, AND Q&A SESSIONS. AN ARRAY OF PROFESSIONAL, COMMUNITY, AND CORPORATE GROUPS SUCH AS NASCAR, LEADERSHIP CHARLOTTE, TURNER CONSTRUCTION, YMCA, CRVA, CHARLOTTE RESCUE MISSION, AND THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE'S CITIZEN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY HAVE PARTICIPATED.

  • EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMMINGEXHIBITIONSTHE GANTT CENTER'S ARTISTIC VISION EXEMPLIFIES THE USE OF "ARTS AS ACTIVISM" WHILE EMBRACING INNOVATION AND INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT, ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS TO FULFILLING THE CRITICAL NEED FOR A MORE VIBRANT CHARLOTTE. AS AN INNOVATIVE INSTITUTION THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON THE QUALITY OF ARTISTIC WORKS AND PROGRAMS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY, THE FOUNDATION OF OUR VISION LIES ON THE PREMISE THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE, ALTHOUGH UNDER-REPRESENTED AND UNDERFUNDED, MUST CLAIM AND OWN ITS PLACE AMONG MAINSTREAM CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. THE GANTT'S IEI FOCUS HAS SERVED TO HEIGHTEN OUR AWARENESS INTERNALLY AND SHIFTED OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES. WE ENSURE THAT OUR EXHIBITIONS ALIGN WITH THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR EDUCATION THROUGH THE LENS OF ARTISTS, AS SEEN IN EXHIBITIONS SUCH AS CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON, VISUAL VANGUARD, WELCOME TO BROOKHILL, JAMEL SHABAZZ: REFLECTIONS OF A PEOPLE AND VISIBLE MAN: ART AND BLACK MALE SUBJECTIVITY.MODAIN MAY 2023, THE GANTT CENTER OPENED THE MECCA OF DIGITAL ARTS (MODA) DIGITAL ARTS STUDIO, WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY CULTIVATED AND ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO SUPPORT MENTORSHIP, CAREER CHOICES, AND EXPOSURE TO EXISTING AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR LOCAL YOUTH. THIS INITIATIVE SERVED AS A VALUABLE COMMUNITY ASSET, FOSTERING THE EXPLORATION OF DIGITAL ARTS FOR EMERGING ARTISTS. THE STUDIO SPACE WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THREE KEY PROGRAMMING AREAS: PHOTOGRAPHY, FILM/VIDEOGRAPHY, AND OTHER RELATED DIGITAL ARTS DISCIPLINES SUCH AS ANIMATION, ILLUSTRATION, CHARACTER DESIGN, AND AR/VR. A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER IS ASSIGNED TO MANAGE THE DIGITAL ARTS STUDIO, SUPPORTING THE CREATIVE FACULTY COLLECTIVE, TEACHING ARTISTS, AND DEVELOPING RELEVANT AND SUBSTANTIVE PROGRAMMING CURRICULA TO ENSURE EQUITABLE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO DIGITAL ART INSTRUCTION AND RESOURCES.FAMILY FIRSTTHE GANTT CENTER OFFERS EDUCATIONAL AND ARTISTIC PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND SCHOOLCHILDREN OF ALL AGES. OUR FAMILY FIRST PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY NOVANT HEALTH, HAS ALLOWED US TO DESIGN PROGRAMS PRIMARILY FOR STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 13. ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN ENGAGE IN ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS THAT MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE. PAST FAMILY-FIRST ACTIVITIES HAVE INCLUDED THEATRE ARTS, DANCE, MASK-MAKING, MUSIC-MAKING, SPOKEN WORD, POETRY, PAINTING, COLLAGE-MAKING, AND VARIOUS OTHER ART FORMS.K-12 STUDENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMINGAT THE CORE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IS THE NEWLY DEVELOPED ENVISION ME PROGRAM, LAUNCHED IN THE FALL OF 2020 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS. ENVISION ME AIMS TO REACH MORE STUDENTS AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CREATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR TITLE 1 SCHOOL STUDENTS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO VALUABLE EXPERIENCES WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT THAT UTILIZES THE ARTS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING, AND IGNITE STUDENTS' PASSION FOR LEARNING ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBJECT AREAS. STUDENTS ENGAGE IN SEMESTER-LONG WORKSHOPS WITH A SELECTED ARTIST IN RESIDENCE.GANTT TEACHER INSTITUTE: BUILDING EQUITABLE CLASSROOMSIN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS, THE GANTT CENTER'S TEACHER INSTITUTE IS A ONE-DAY EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO HELP TEACHERS BUILD MORE EQUITABLE CLASSROOMS. AS A FOUNDATION FOR CULTURAL PROFICIENCY LEARNING, THE GANTT COMMISSIONED WORKS BY PHOTOGRAPHER AND IMAGE ACTIVIST ALVIN C. JACOBS CALLED WELCOME TO BROOKHILL. THROUGH THIS AND OTHER THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXHIBITION PROJECTS LIKE QUESTION BRIDGE, TEACHERS EXPLORE THEMES SUCH AS RACISM, GENTRIFICATION, HEALTH, WEALTH, AND EDUCATION TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY THEIR OWN BIASES. THIS PROCESS OF SELF-DISCOVERY SUPPORTS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES MARGINALIZED STUDENTS OF COLOR COPE WITH OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AND HOW THOSE ISSUES CAN IMPACT LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR WITHIN THE CLASSROOM. GANTT TEACHER INSTITUTE SESSIONS LEVERAGE EXHIBITIONS TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT AND DISCOURSE BETWEEN EDUCATORS TO DEEPEN THEIR CAPACITY FOR UNDERSTANDING AND NAVIGATING DIFFERENCES IN THE CLASSROOM.

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • BRANDON LANE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ANN CAULKINS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RODNEY MCKENZIE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DARREL WILLIAMS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JANET HANSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JONTE' HARRELL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LOUIS HAWKINS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MICHELLE LEE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JIM DUNN

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JONI Y DAVIS

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RICHARD CARTER

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DAVID R TAYLOR

    PRESIDENT & CEO(THROUGH 12/31/23)

    Total calculated
    $391,893
    From this org
    $375,285
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,608
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $190,685
    Bonus
    $184,600
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,220
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,388
    Filer's total
    $391,893

  • BONITA BUFORD

    COO

    Total calculated
    $176,649
    From this org
    $162,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,149
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,100
    Bonus
    $14,400
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,443
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,706
    Filer's total
    $176,649

  • CHANEL DAVIS

    CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $147,612
    From this org
    $134,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,112
    Hours/week
    40

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, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2023
    Revenue
    $3,266,941
    Expenses
    $4,189,203
    Contributions
    $2,990,664
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $3,103,194
    Expenses
    $3,182,261
    Contributions
    $2,751,275
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2023 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2022 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,392,870
    Expenses
    $2,137,288
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,961,615

  • 2021 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,926,817
    Expenses
    $1,722,175
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,610,750

  • 2020 · 990-T

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    not reported
    Assets (EOY)
    not reported

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,099,643
    Expenses
    $1,787,815
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,625,196

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,828,509
    Expenses
    $2,043,076
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,212,566

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,005,479
    Expenses
    $1,864,818
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,284,458

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,083,242
    Expenses
    $1,942,059
    Assets (EOY)
    $6,771,562

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

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

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 23 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2023, the newest we have parsed for this organization.