2025 Community Investment

Today, we are excited to announce our 2025 investment of $17.9 million in communities across greater Charlotte. 

We are proud to invest in solutions that address the evolving needs of our community, ensuring every dollar supports meaningful change. 

The $17.9 million investment includes: 

• $9 million in grants to 134 organizations working to lift families out of poverty and improve economic mobility; 

• $5.3 million from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to advance A Home For All, a community-wide effort to address homelessness and housing instability; and 

• $3.6 million includes additional United Way community investments and donor-directed funding for nonprofits. 

This year, we had 63 residents representing neighborhoods and 107 community volunteers participate in the Unite Charlotte, United Neighborhoods and regional grant panels to determine funding decisions.  

We continue to advance our United Neighborhoods initiative with an investment of $4.9 million serving neighborhoods across the City of Charlotte’s six Corridors of Opportunity, North Mecklenburg and United Neighborhoods’ original neighborhoods – Grier Heights, Lakeview and Renaissance West. Funding will support 66 nonprofit organizations, some serving multiple geographies, that residents believe can best deliver services needed to help achieve their vision for their neighborhoods.  

In each United Neighborhoods geography, residents and Community Quarterback organizations invited more than 75% of these place-based nonprofits funded in 2024 to continue their services into 2025, reflecting a strong alignment between community needs and agency expertise.  

Both agencies and residents agree on the right fit based on neighborhood priorities, while United Way supports these efforts through funding and technical assistance, underscoring our dedication to creating lasting community impact.  

The Unite Charlotte program, supported by continued funding from Mecklenburg County and other private foundations, will invest over $3 million in 55 agencies. Unite Charlotte provides grants and capacity-building support to grassroots organizations whose leadership is highly reflective of the community they serve. The funding helps amplify their mission and work, increase their impact and grow a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of nonprofit leaders in Charlotte.   

Our Regional Investments totaling more than $847,000 will fund 20 nonprofits across Anson, Cabarrus, and Union Counties. In Cabarrus County, funding supports six nonprofits that, together, form the Mental Wellness Collaborative. The Collaborative welcomes the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County as its newest partner. In Anson County, funding supports four nonprofits focusing on housing stability, food security, childhood literacy and mentoring. Additionally, 12 nonprofits in Union County will receive funding to address housing stability, food security, the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, childhood literacy, mentoring programs, and access to affordable, quality healthcare.  

The $5.3 million investment in A Home For All reflects a community-wide commitment to address homelessness and housing instability by centering individuals with lived expertise in the planning and developing of solutions for each initiative.  

A Home For All funding will support three key initiatives:  

• Property Provider Recruitment and Retention, led by Housing Collaborative, to expand affordable housing through a large-scale campaign with recruitment and retention incentives;  

• an Upstream Rental Assistance pilot program launching in early 2025 to prevent evictions and address housing instability for at-risk households; and  

• a Critical Home Repair initiative to expand efforts to meet the growing demand of low-income homeowners. 

Read the full announcement and view the full list of funded partners. 

Thank you to our donors, corporate and agency partners, residents, and the entire community for your relentless dedication to United Way’s mission. Your unwavering commitment to strengthening neighborhoods and creating opportunities for all is the foundation of our collective success. Together, we are blazing new paths forward and breaking down barriers for all.  

Sincerely, 

Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, Interim President & CEO 

United Way of Greater Charlotte