# LendingTree Foundation Powering Big HUGs

> Source: https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/lendingtree-foundation-powering-big-hugs/
> Updated: 2022-02-15T18:29:48+00:00
> Type: Post
> Categories: Articles, Creative News | Contributors: Tim Miner

The LendingTree Foundation has announced the foundation of a new philanthropy program - the LendaHand Alliance Cohort.

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The**LendingTree Foundation** has announced the foundation of a new philanthropy program — the **LendaHand Alliance Cohort**.

LendaHand is a three-year program for Charlotte-based nonprofits designed to maximize community impact through trust-based philanthropy, collaboration and social capital. ⁣

“Our goal is for the Foundation to serve as the ‘angel funders’ of the nonprofit community by empowering emerging, founder-led nonprofits, as well as a few larger organizations that pivoted their philanthropy model to accommodate evolving needs post-pandemic,” said **April Whitlock**, executive director of the LendingTree Foundation.⁣

## Inaugural LendaHand Cohort

**Charlotte Is Creative**, the publishers of *The Biscuit*, are part of the inaugural cohort along with nine other organizations. The inaugural 2021-23 LendaHand Alliance Cohort includes:⁣

- [**ArtPop Street Gallery⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/artpopstreetgallery/)
- [**Charlotte Is Creative⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/cltiscreative/)
- [**Charlotte Rescue Mission⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/charlotterescuemission/)
- [**Common Wealth Charlotte**](https://www.instagram.com/cwclt/)
- [**⁣Digi-Bridge⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/digibridgeus/)
- [**Do Greater Charlotte⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/dogreater/)
- [**Dottie Rose Foundation⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/dottierosefoundation/)
- [**Freedom Communities⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/freedomcommunitiesclt/)
- [**The Relatives⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/the_relatives/)
- [**West Side Community Land Trust⁣**](https://www.instagram.com/westside_clt/)

Each of the organizations above will receive $125,000 per year through 2023 to support existing and new, community-facing programming.

## **HUGging more Charlotte-Based Creatives**

![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/HUG-Logo.jpg)While future initiatives will follow, Charlotte Is Creative’s is already using LendaHand funds to enhance the HUG (Helpful Unfettered Gift) Micro-Grant Program, which launched in 2017 awarding $250, unrestricted grants to creative projects in Charlotte. This program is sponsored by NoDa Brewing and Google Fiber.

LendaHand support will be used to extend the HUG program:

- **Bear HUGS:** Using COVID-19 Relief Funds, Bear HUGs launched in fall 2020, allowing existing HUG recipients to apply for a $1,000 micro-grant for a new project. It was intended to be a one-time program. With the support of the LendingTree Foundation, this program will continue indefinitely, awarding at least one Bear HUG each month. Previous HUG grantees may[**apply for a Bear HUG her**](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/anotherhug/)e.
- **HUG Partnership with Charlotte ToolBank** – Beginning Aug. 8, Charlotte-based creatives may apply for a credit worth $10,000 in market-valued tools and equipment at the ToolBank. One will be awarded each month.

## **Give a HUG. Get a HUG**.

[If you are interested in donating in any amount to the HUG program or applying for a HUG, click here.](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/hug-micro-grants/)

## **More about LendaHand**

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