Charlotte

Scaling innovation to advance economic mobility and racial equity

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Overview

A community that moves forward together

When ranked last among the 50 largest US cities for upward mobility, Charlotte created the Opportunity Task Force Report to address the history of racial and economic segregation that has deepened the opportunity gap. Despite progress toward a more inclusive community, many long standing barriers remain, exacerbating the divide in Charlotte.

 

This is where GreenLight comes in. We facilitate our community-driven process to match the most pressing needs in Charlotte with the country’s best social innovations.

Portfolio

Investing in proven organizations to bring to Charlotte to address community-identified needs

We identify, invite in and launch evidence-based organizations, providing support so they quickly become embedded in the community and deliver measurable change.

See All Organizations

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ParentChild+ logo

Making an Impact in Charlotte

18,479

individuals and families reached in 2023-24

$2.1M

invested in portfolio organizations to date

$8.1M

additional leveraged dollars raised by portfolio organizations

In Charlotte
90%

of families enrolled in ParentChild+ improved in demonstrating school readiness

Read Austin's Story

In Charlotte
14%

increase in CEO participants’ average job placement wage from 2021 to 2022. Jalisa shares her second chance story.

Read the Story

GreenLight Charlotte ATV
In Charlotte
3,234

key individuals engaged

Read the Story

Charlotte Team & Partners

Alternatives to Violence

Alternatives to Violence

Center for Employment Opportunities

Center for Employment Opportunities

Inner Explorer

Inner Explorer

ParentChild+

ParentChild+

Delivering measurable results in Charlotte

We invest multiyear funding along with on-the-ground support to ensure portfolio organizations quickly take root in the local community and are positioned for growth, measurable impact and sustainability. We are proud to highlight the work, results and meaningful stories of our portfolio organizations locally.

Read our latest Impact Report

Charlotte
GreenLight Charlotte ATV

With demonstrated impact, ATV plans expansion to two additional corridors to increase community safety across Charlotte.

Charlotte

CEO Charlotte has paid $306,000 in transitional work crew wages, providing immediate employment to people formerly incarcerated.

Charlotte

ParentChild+ is closing the achievement gap with 90% of enrolled families improving in demonstrating school readiness.

Making an Impact in Charlotte

18,479

individuals and families reached in 2023-24

$2.1M

invested in portfolio organizations to date

$8.1M

additional leveraged dollars raised by portfolio organizations

Team

Ashley Gibbons

Ashley Gibbons

Program Associate, GreenLight Charlotte

Sam Smith, Jr.

Sam Smith, Jr.

Executive Director, GreenLight Charlotte

Advisory Council

Reginald Bean

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated

Enovia Bedford

Carolinas Small Business Development Fund

Gemini Boyd

Project BOLT

Steve Bradway

Enterprise Holdings

Chris Byron

Strategic Staffing Solutions

Dena Diorio

Mecklenburg County

Bobby Drakeford

The Drakeford Company

Damiko Faulkner

Community Leader

Sil Ganzo

ourBRIDGE for KIDS

Jess George

Google Fiber

Jada Grandy-Mock

Fifth Third Bank

Lise Hain

Community Leader

LaTarzja Henry

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

Kristin Hills Bradberry

Community Leader

Chris Jackson

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Dominique Johnson

Duke Energy

Stephanie Kripa Cooper-Lewter

Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust

Deborah Majewski

Leon Levine Foundation

Wendy Mateo

Crossways Consulting

Linda Mendez

Community Leader

Howard Olshansky

Jewish Family Services

Pen Peery

First Presbyterian Charlotte

Anne Perper

Perper Family Foundation

Jack Purcell

Ridgemont Equity Partners

Phillip Redmond

The Duke Endowment

Terik Tidwell

Foundation For Black Philanthropy

Pamela Wideman

City of Charlotte

Founding Investors

Anonymous Family

Tim and Sarah Belk

Doug and Laura Bollermann

Steve and Athena Bradway

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TDE-logo
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Duke_Energy_logo.svg

Porter and Vicki Durham

Rob and Leigh Edwards

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Lise and Travis Hain

Cammie and Barnes Hauptfuhrer

Jane and Tommy Hunter

Kathy and Charlie Izard

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David Jones

Howard R. Levine Foundation Fund – Howard and Julie Levine

George McClendon and Carol Quillen

Anne and Scott Perper

PVE

Walker and Anne Poole

Jack Purcell

Drew and Beth Quartapella

Sally and Russell Robinson

Kevin and Peggy Roche

Matt and Jeannie Salisbury

Liz and Walker Simmons

John and Susan Simon

David and Barbara Singer

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uw-ccarolinas

Type

More US schools are taking breaks for meditation. Teachers say it helps students’ mental health
Inner Explorer in Atlanta

Media Mention

Associated Press

More US schools are taking breaks for meditation. Teachers say it helps students’ mental health

Aug 5, 2024

Atlanta, Charlotte, National

GreenLight Fund Names Ali Knight as Chief Executive Officer
Ali Knight

Announcement, News, Press Release

GreenLight Fund Names Ali Knight as Chief Executive Officer

Apr 16, 2024

GreenLight Fund Annual Impact Report July 2022 – June 2023
Annual Impact Report Cover photo

Insights

GreenLight Fund Annual Impact Report July 2022 – June 2023

Oct 20, 2023

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Greater Newark, Kansas City, National, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Twin Cities

GreenLight Fund Brings Inner Explorer to Charlotte to Improve Youth Mental Well-being

Announcement, Press Release

GreenLight Fund Brings Inner Explorer to Charlotte to Improve Youth Mental Well-being

Sep 7, 2023

Charlotte

GreenLight Announces Charlotte Executive Director
Sam-Smith-Jr

Announcement, News, Press Release

GreenLight Announces Charlotte Executive Director

Oct 10, 2022

Charlotte

Building Enduring Partnerships for Regional Transformation

Insights, News

Building Enduring Partnerships for Regional Transformation

Jul 15, 2022

Charlotte

A Reflection: My GreenLight Fund Charlotte Internship

News

A Reflection: My GreenLight Fund Charlotte Internship

Jun 30, 2021

Charlotte

GreenLight Brings Center for Employment Opportunities to Charlotte

Announcement, News, Press Release

GreenLight Brings Center for Employment Opportunities to Charlotte

Sep 24, 2020

Charlotte

Join our work in Charlotte

We rely on champions and supporters who believe in the power and potential of community-driven change.