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Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Foundation

EIN 56-2227354 · Charlotte, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SMALL BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS LEADERS THRIVE.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$252,455, president,clt alliance fdt

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $108,413 spent. CHARLOTTE SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH FUND IS AN INNOVATIVE FUND FOCUSED ON GIVING SMALL BUSINESSES-INCLUDING THOSE THAT MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR FUNDING ELSEWHERE-ACCESS TO CAPITAL AT COMPETITIVE RATES. FUNDING FLOWS THROUGH MISSION BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT STAY ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE LOAN, PROVIDING COACHING, MENTORING, ACCELERATORS AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
  2. $62,405 spent. RISE (REGIONAL INNOVATION AND SUPPORT FOR ENTREPRENEURS) IS AN INNOVATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POWERED TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT HELPS ENTREPRENEURS NAVIGATE RESOUCES AVAILABLE TO START, RUN AND GROW BUSINESSES. HIGHLIGHTING THE ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ENTREPRENEURS, IN A SINGLE PLATFORM, WHILE KEEPING THOSE RESOURCES PERPETUALLY UP TO DATE, SAVES ENTREPRENEURS PRECIOUS TIME, ALLOWING THEM TO FOCUS ON THE FUNDAMENTAL OF GROWING THEIR BUSINESSES. THE PLATFORM ALSO PROVIDES USEFUL DATA AND INSIGHT INTO THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER AND LEVERAGED RESOURCES IN THE SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM.
  3. $268,383 spent. SCALE UP CLT IS A BUSINESS ACCELERATOR FOCUSED ON HELPING ENTREPRENEURS WITH BUSINESSES BETWEEN $250,000 AND $999,999 IN REVENUE, EXCEED $1,000,000. ENTERING OUR SIXTH COHORT, OVER 26% OF SCALE UP CLT PARTICIPANTS HAVE GROWN THEIR BUSINESSES BEYOND $1,000,000, AS COMPARED TO UNDER 4% OF ALL BUSINESSES NATIONALLY. ADDITIONALLY, PARTICIPANTS HAVE SEEN AN AVERAGE YEAR OVER YEAR REVENUE GROWTH OF 33%.
  4. $880,504 spent. LEADERSHIP ACADEMY OF CHARLOTTE IS A 10 MONTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WHICH HAS GIVEN MORE THAN 300 LEADERS ACROSS THE NATION THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS INTO SENIOR EXECUTIVE AND C-SUITE ROLES. EXECUTIVE LEADERS EXCEL IN THEIR PROFESSIONS AND GROW THEIR CAREERS. GUIDED BY A RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM, PARTICIPANTS GO THROUGH EXTENSIVE COACHING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.DIGITAL MARKETPLACE FOR PURCHASING AND SUPPLIER ORGANIZATIONS: THE FOUNDATION HELPS INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF MID-MARKET COMPANIES THAT ARE SEEKING TO OFFER CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES TO SMALL BUSINESS.ACE: ACCOUNTING FOR CHARLOTTE ENTREPRENEURS SUPPLEMENTS THE ONGOING NEED FOR ACCOUNTING, MARKETING AND LEGAL SERVICES, THE FOUNDATION WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONSWHICH PROVIDES SERVICES TO ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.WELLNESS: THIS 6-MONTH PROGRAM SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS' WELL-BEING THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION, RELAXATION WORKSHOPS, AND A COHORT EXPERIENCE WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN BUILD A SELF CARE PLAN WITH ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS. CATCH YOUR BREATH IS DESIGNED TO COMBAT BURNOUT AND CHRONIC STRESS.REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION: PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL LEADERS ON A REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT WILL BE UNIFYING TO THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS OF CHARLOTTE AND MECKLENBURG COUNTY AND THE STATE TO ENHANCE THE GROWTH OF ALL BUSINESSES IN THE CHARLOTTE REGION.NC GRANT: NORTH CAROLINA STATE GRANT TO STUDY THE DOWNTOWN OFFICE CONVERSION AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.