ONE LEVEL UP FOUNDATION — GRANT & FUNDER PIPELINE

Applied • Relationship Outreach • Active Next Targets • Research / Watchlist | Updated August 16, 2026
2
Formal submissions sent
3
Relationship/referral outreaches sent
6
High-priority next targets
$100K
Charlotte annual training program target
48
Charlotte participants/year
Pipeline rule: “Submitted” means a formal grant/LOI was sent. “Outreach” means an introduction or relationship-building email was sent without presenting it as a formal grant application. Charlotte bank targets should be fully vetted first, then use Natalie/TAEP for a warm introduction where appropriate.
OUTREACH SENT NEXT RESEARCH P1 P2

Master Grant / Funder Matrix

Done Funder Status Type Region OLU Program / Fit Amount / Ask Deadline / Timing What We Know Docs / Requirements Warm Intro / Contact Next Action Official Link
Schumann Fund for New Jersey
P1
LOI / Grant NJ / Newark alignment Community access, training, referral, resource-center vision Submitted ask in LOI Submitted Aug. 2026 LOI was built to match Schumann's program priorities and strategy. Newark resource-center concept was included for this funder. One-page branded LOI; Dale Caldwell personal endorsement package prepared; startup financials available. Direct grantor submission Track acknowledgement / follow-up date; do not resend unless requested. Open
Ellis Foundation
P2
One-page request Not NJ-specific; giving history leans Pacific Northwest Community Access & Opportunity Initiative
Digital/workforce training + referral/navigation + community voice
$5,000 requested Submitted Aug. 2026 Ellis emphasizes community organizing, root causes of inequity, intersectionality and community-reflective leadership. HUG was referenced as a community-rooted example. One-page LOI in approved OLU full-width branded format. Sent to info@ellisfound.org Monitor for reply. Keep as lower-priority relationship because geographic fit is not strong. Open
CentiMark Foundation
P3
OUTREACH SENT Relationship Corporate / multi-state; NJ presence Transition-age youth, digital skills, workforce readiness No dollar request Relationship first Foundation appears to select/preselect organizations rather than operate a broad unsolicited grant process. Outreach was intentionally not framed as a grant application. No packet attached; short introduction only. Kathy Slencak — CentiMark contact used Wait for invitation/interest before sending a grant packet. Corporate site
Tariq & Asma Farid Foundation (TAFF)
P2
OUTREACH SENT Relationship U.S. + global; Atlanta base Food security, education, dignity, small-team/community-rooted model No dollar request yet Partner-introduction preference TAFF supports 501(c)(3)s, food security, education, dignity and smaller teams; usually does not favor cold pitches without a partner introduction. Intro email only. Full one-page overview, IRS letter and financials held until invited. Sent to taffound@gmail.com If positive response: ask how to secure partner introduction, then send formal one-page request. Open
NC Coalition to End Homelessness (NCCEH)
P2
OUTREACH SENT Referral / Network North Carolina Homelessness referrals, hygiene/basic needs, mobile showers, NC network-building Not a direct ask Relationship / future funding pathway NCCEH is an intermediary/CoC system partner rather than a conventional unrestricted private funder. Best current value is referrals, network access and future homelessness funding pathways. Intro/referral email sent; no grant packet. admin@ncceh.org Seek 15–20 minute conversation and referrals to NC providers/regional partners. Open
Truist Foundation
P1
NEXT Grant Charlotte / NC footprint Building Career Pathways to Economic Mobility
18–24 Digital + AI + Workforce Launchpad
Official minimum: $5,000
OLU planning ask: $25K–$35K
TAEP SHINE support benchmark: $15K sponsorship
Nov. 30, 2026 next grant-cycle deadline Works with adults 18+. Supports new program launch, curriculum, equipment and career coaching/wraparound pathways. No published average grant size. OLU IRS public-charity status confirmed via 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) / 509(a)(1). EIN; board list; annual operating budget; project budget; eligibility quiz. IRS status verified online. Natalie / TAEP may be a warm-intro path after collaboration is discussed. Finish criteria review → finalize $100K annual Charlotte budget → confirm TAEP partnership/space → choose request amount → apply. Open
TD Charitable Foundation
P1
NEXT Regional Grant Charlotte / NC in Mid-South region Economic mobility, community opportunity, training/resources Planning ask: $20K–$30K
Final ask TBD after criteria review
Sept. 11, 2026 Regional Grant deadline TD Charitable Foundation supports nonprofit programming in communities it serves. NC contact region is Mid-South. Current concern: confirm acceptable financial documentation for a newly formed nonprofit. Regional-grant application; budgets and financial documentation; verify startup substitute for prior audit/990. TAEP has confirmed TD support; possible warm intro after OLU fit is fully vetted.
MidSouthCharitableGiving@td.com
Read full Regional Grant guidelines + FAQ; resolve first-year financial-document question before asking Natalie for referral. Open
PNC Foundation
P1
NEXT Foundation Grant Mecklenburg County / Western Carolina Economic development + possible arts/culture component + community-based nonprofit partnership Planning ask: $15K–$25K
TAEP SHINE benchmark: $5K
Contact local rep before applying PNC Foundation priorities include early education, arts & culture and economic development. Mecklenburg is explicitly eligible. Eligibility quiz; local representative contact before application. Maddie Myers
Charlotte / Western Carolina
704-643-5578
Potential TAEP warm intro
Take eligibility quiz → decide Foundation Grant vs charitable sponsorship vs trust route → contact/seek intro. Open
Alliance Health
P2
NEXT Mecklenburg County eligible Social drivers of health, positive developmental outcomes, ongoing partnership Amount not fixed; TAEP benchmark: $1K Submit at least 60 days before event; committee meets monthly Priority to programs serving Alliance's seven-county area including Mecklenburg. 501(c)(3) preferred. One request per organization per calendar year. Online sponsorship form; supporting docs can be uploaded. SponsorshipRequests@AllianceHealthPlan.org for questions; form must be submitted online. Decide whether OLU training program has a strong social-driver-of-health framing or whether to reserve Alliance for a public program/event. Open
Ferguson Cares
P1
NEXT Grant Ferguson U.S. footprint; strong VA/Tidewater strategic fit Clean water & sanitation / mobile showers
Also skilled trades pathway
Amount not publicly fixed Reviewed quarterly Official priorities: Housing, Skilled Trades, Clean Water & Sanitation, and Hometown. Requires 501(c)(3) and location in Ferguson footprint. Purpose statement; detailed program/use of funds; volunteer opportunities; impact metrics; supporting materials if applicable. Potential employee volunteer angle Build mobile hygiene/sanitation concept budget and verify closest Ferguson market/site before submitting. Open
Publix Super Markets Charities
P1
NEXT Grant NC / VA eligible Southeast footprint Housing/shelter, homelessness, hunger, youth/education Amount varies; planning ask previously discussed: $10K–$25K Aug. 31, 2026 for housing/shelter Housing/shelter requests run July 1–Aug. 31. Hunger requests run Mar. 1–Apr. 30. Other nonprofit/sponsorship requests may be year-round. Online registration/request process; annual registration updates. No warm intro identified yet Choose NC or VA homelessness-stabilization program; submit before Aug. 31 if using housing/shelter category. Open
Ally Charitable Foundation
P2
RESEARCH Corporate Giving Charlotte is a hometown market Workforce development, financial education, economic mobility TAEP SHINE benchmark: $1K
OLU ask TBD
Open route not yet verified Ally publicly states philanthropic focus on affordable housing, financial education and workforce development; Charlotte and Detroit are hometown markets. Need to confirm whether current nonprofit applications are open, invitation-based or relationship-led. TAEP has previous Ally support — possible warm-intro value Verify application route before asking Natalie for an introduction. Giving info
Northwood / Northwood Office
P3
RESEARCH Charlotte / Ballantyne Potential space/community sponsorship / local corporate support TAEP SHINE benchmark: $5K No open grant route verified Appears connected to Charlotte/Ballantyne community activity. We have not yet confirmed a public grant application process. Need exact corporate giving/sponsorship route. TAEP has existing support history Verify entity and giving channel before asking for referral. Corporate site
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants
P1
READY AFTER VERIFICATION Local Grant Local store/service-area based Basic needs, hygiene, food/water, community distribution Previously planned ask: $5,000 2026 cycle active; exact current cycle dates should be checked in portal Open local grants through Walmart/Sam's Club facilities. Deed verification is required for grant eligibility. Deed verification + local service-area match + Spark Good account. Local facility-by-facility strategy Confirm Deed/IRS record is now fully updated, then apply to facilities matching actual service areas. Open
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
P2
WATCH / PREP Community Grant Greensboro / Guilford County Economic mobility, workforce/digital skills, health/wellness Previously identified planning range: up to $25K Previously identified Aug. 31–Sept. 30, 2026 cycle — reverify before submission Strongest only if OLU can document real Greensboro/Guilford service delivery. Local program evidence + nonprofit documentation + project budget No warm intro identified Confirm current cycle and establish local delivery/partner evidence before applying. Open

Charlotte $100K Training Funding Stack — Current Working Plan

TargetWorking AskBest Funding ComponentWarm Intro StrategyReadiness
Truist$25K–$35KLead program launch, curriculum, trainer/program-development, technology/equipmentPossible TAEP/Natalie intro after partnership discussionCriteria review underway
TD$20K–$30KEconomic mobility, access, participant pathways, program deliveryPossible TAEP/Natalie intro after startup-financial eligibility is resolvedReview now
PNC$15K–$25KEconomic development + creative/arts workforce + local community partnershipTAEP relationship + local PNC repEligibility quiz next
AllyTBDTechnology access, workforce development, economic mobilityTAEP warm introduction may be particularly usefulVerify route

Documents We Already Have / Can Reuse

Document / AssetStatusUse
IRS 501(c)(3) determination letterConfirms 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) public-charity status / 509(a)(1) eligibility.
OLU one-page branded LOI formatFull-width navy/red/gold header; standard format for one-page funder letters.
Startup financialsUseful for small grants and first-year explanations.
Dale Caldwell personal endorsementUse selectively where supporting letters are allowed/helpful.
$100K Charlotte training roadmap + budgetIN DEVELOPMENT4 cohorts × 12 participants; 48/year; 2 trainers; technology; space; licenses; admin.
TAEP partnership / space letterNOT YETOnly create after Natalie agrees to collaboration, space and role.
Board list / affiliationsVERIFY / FORMATNeeded for Truist and many institutional funders.
Charlotte project budgetBUILDINGNeeds final TAEP space cost, actual equipment quotes and final trainer hours/rates.