CLT Nonprofits
Charlotte has over 5,000 registered non-profits (um, what?!), and we consider the work they do to be supremely creative. They bring innovative approaches to community challenges new and old, and its our job as Charlotte citizens to support their efforts, attend their events and donate to their causes. We know you want to get involved, and these pieces will help you discover your philanthropic spirit animals. 
‘Behind The Ink’ – Every Tattoo Tells A Story
CLT Creatives, CLT Nonprofits | April 27, 2021Joseph Johnson came to nonprofit Creating Exposure Through the Arts (CEA) as a 15-year-old. At 27, he’s still involved. And he was the impetus for Behind The Ink, one of the nonprofit’s most enduring programs. Johnson’s mother died when he was just t… read more »
A Creative Key to Brain Health: Making Junk Mail Collages
CLT Creatives, CLT Nonprofits | March 23, 2021“You should see the participants let their guard down while they play with their food. This from a generation of people who demanded that their children ‘stop playing with their food!’”– Kelly Adams, Life Enrichment Coordinator at The Ivey Tucked awa… read more »
We’re Huggers (and Our Hugs Just Got Bigger)
CLT Nonprofits, Creative News, HUG Micro-Grants | January 26, 2021“Many creative people are finding that creativity doesn’t grow in abundance; it grows from scarcity. The more Lego bricks you have doesn’t mean you’re going to be more creative; you can be very creative with very few Lego bricks.” – Jorgen Vig Knudst… read more »
The Panthers Match Philanthropic Passion with Creative Prowess
CLT Nonprofits, Creative News | December 22, 2020“Our experience working with local artists … was truly eye-opening. Each artist brought their own flavor to the collaboration and took to heart the passion behind the highlighted cause of each player.” – Jill Cole, Community Relations Assistant for… read more »
Liz Clasen-Kelly is Finding Creative Ways to End Homelessness
3 Biggest Challenges, CLT Nonprofits | December 10, 2020“There is only one Liz-Clasen Kelly. Her voice is one of knowledge, love, courage to do hard things and an unwavering belief that we can end homelessness. She makes us all believe; and that’s exactly what it will take.” – Lou Solomon, Interact Studio… read more »
Making Miracles on Monroe Road with Community Culinary School of Charlotte
CLT Nonprofits, Creative News, Happenings | December 3, 2020Miracles on Monroe: If there’s a recipe for putting people to work, Chef Ron Alhert and the Community Culinary School of Charlotte have it. This fall, despite the very real challenges of 2020, the school saw the graduation of its 1,000th student. T… read more »
5 Ridiculous Questions with Todd Smith
5 Ridiculous Questions, CLT Creatives, CLT Nonprofits | November 20, 2020Todd Smith Executive Director Bechtler Museum of Modern Art When Todd Smith became the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s executive director in early September, it was a homecoming of sorts. Smith lived in Charlotte early in his career – when he worked… read more »
Greg Jackson Builds Others. Who Built Him?
CLT Nonprofits, Podcasts, Who Built Me | November 19, 2020 Greg Jackson, founder of Heal Charlotte and recipient of November’s Bolt of Inspiration, presented by The Savage Way and OrthoCarolina, is working to provide affordable housing for families of need in Charlotte. In the course of his work, he’s fou… read more »
SHARE Charlotte Teams Up with 10 Charlotte Artists
CLT Creatives, CLT Nonprofits | November 12, 2020Ricky Singh is at it again. Over the past few months, we’ve shared Ricky’s work to use art to create community pride along the Beatties Ford Road corridor, paint a #CountOnMeCLT mural to promote COVID-19 safety and launch the “Rise Up” video series o… read more »
The Hope Tank
CLT Nonprofits, Where Are We in CLT? | November 5, 2020Where Are We in CLT? Okay. This one is a bit of a cheat. In the case of the Hope Tank, the question is more “Where ISN’T it?” than where it is. You’ll find the Tank exactly where it’s needed, where Charlotte’s homeless are living. After more than a… read more »
‘No shame in asking for help’
CLT Creatives, CLT Nonprofits | October 29, 202025% of individuals requesting help from Crisis Assistance Ministry since COVID have been brand new to the agency, compared with 1% during the same time last year. Liana Humphrey, the nonprofit’s chief marketing officer, says they’re coming from areas… read more »
3 Biggest Challenges: Charlotte Shapers
CLT Nonprofits, Exploring Charlotte, For Newcomers | October 29, 2020“We do our best to make our Zoom meetings fun, but nothing beats an in-person connection. We’re looking forward to our in-person meetings and the beers that usually follow. We know we won’t ever take that for granted again.” – Gillian Small, Charlott… read more »
Healing Trauma, Building Wealth
CLT Nonprofits | October 22, 2020“Trauma affects the brain and decision-making. If you’re exposed to trauma from any source, including poverty, the healthy enzymes in your brain that help you make decisions decrease. Most low-income earners aren’t poor because they make bad decision… read more »
Who Built Me: Henry Rock of City Startup Labs
CLT Creatives, CLT Nonprofits, Podcasts | September 18, 2020Henry Rock, founder of City Startup Labs, works to help aspiring young entrepreneurs, so it makes sense that he knows a thing or two about the value of a mentor in building social capital. It’s no surprise then, that he himself had several influentia… read more »
PODCAST: Molly Shaw Looks Back at Communities in Schools
CLT Nonprofits, Podcasts | September 18, 2020For almost a decade, Molly Shaw has served as the President and CEO of Communities in Schools, a vital position of leadership where her work directly impacted students across Mecklenburg County. This summer, however, Molly left her position to explor… read more »
New Fund Established to Invest in Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Creatives
CLT Nonprofits, Creative News, How To/Resources | September 17, 2020Charlotte is Creative, Hue House, Arts & Science Council (ASC) and Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC) are pleased to announce the Charlotte-Mecklenburg CARES for Arts, Culture & Creativity Fund with a mission to directly invest in and impact… read more »
EDITORIAL: The State of Nonprofit Pay
CLT Nonprofits, Editorials | September 16, 2020What should someone who leads a Charlotte-based nonprofit organization earn as a salary? As you contemplate that question, what thoughts are coming to mind? For some, there is some sort of threshold of what seems “appropriate” for a nonprofit leader…. read more »
Glenda Bernhardt Cares About the Long-Term Success of Children
CLT Creatives, CLT Nonprofits | August 20, 2020“There is a Charlotte that you do not know exists … but, I have also experienced things that would make your heart swell like you wouldn’t believe.” – Glenda Bernhardt, Freedom School Partners This summer was not exactly what Glenda Bernhardt had i… read more »
The LACCC is Small, But Mighty
CLT Nonprofits | July 14, 2020“We invested our resources to help our members during the current [COVID-19] crisis,” Gonzalez said, “even though we were struggling ourselves.” – Rocio Gonzalez Rocio Gonzalez and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce do an outsized amount of good…. read more »
This Air Stream Needs A Name
CLT Nonprofits | July 7, 2020She Built This City is committed to giving young women the tools to build Charlotte’s future… literally. After 20 years in the construction industry and often being the only woman in the room, Demi Knight Clark founded the non-profit organizat… read more »
