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Crosland Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.8M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.1M

Crosland Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $847,985 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Varies by recipient
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Charlotte, NC region
  • Total Assets: $116.2 million (2023)

Contact Details

  • Address: 220 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
  • Phone: (704) 973-4557
  • EIN: 56-6557259
  • Administrative Support: Foundation For The Carolinas

Overview

The Crosland Foundation was established in 2000-2001 by John Crosland Jr. as a supporting organization at Foundation For The Carolinas. With total assets of $116.2 million and annual grantmaking of approximately $848,000, the foundation reflects John Crosland Jr.'s lifelong passions shaped by his personal experiences with dyslexia and his family's legacy in real estate development. Since inception, the foundation's generosity has resulted in more than $7.8 million in grants. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation (NTEE code T20/T30) and functions administratively under Foundation For The Carolinas' umbrella. John Crosland Jr. founded Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte in 1983 and personally contributed more than $1 million to establish The John Crosland School, Charlotte's first school solely for children with learning disabilities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Crosland Foundation operates through a supporting organization structure rather than open grant programs. Grants are distributed based on the founder's established priorities and trustee discretion.

Primary Beneficiaries (2023 grants):

  • Episcopal High School: $127,198 (support for students with learning differences through the Crosland Academic Support Center)
  • Davidson College: $84,798 (support for the John Crosland Jr. Center for Teaching and Learning)
  • Foundation for the Carolinas: $84,798
  • Additional grants totaling $847,985

Priority Areas

  1. Learning Disabilities and Educational Support: Helping children with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders, with particular emphasis on students with dyslexia and other learning differences
  2. Affordable Housing: Supporting initiatives that help those less fortunate break the cycle of poverty through stable housing, continuing the founder's legacy with Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte
  3. Urban Policy Research and Education: Supporting research and educational initiatives related to urban development and policy
  4. Higher Education: Supporting alma maters (Episcopal High School and Davidson College) in their work with students with learning differences

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation maintains a narrow focus aligned with the founder's three core passions: learning disabilities support, affordable housing, and urban policy/education.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (as of 2024)

Compensated Trustees:

  • James C. Burbank: $4,500
  • Courtauld Young: $4,500
  • Adelaide Belk Martin: $4,500
  • Boris Henderson: $3,000

Non-compensated Trustees:

  • John Crosland III (family continuity)
  • Dr. Hunter Dyer
  • Jamie McLawhorn
  • Douglas W. Ey Jr. (Principal Officer)
  • Robert E. Mason IV

Key Staff:

  • Elizabeth Kiser: Related compensation $208,235 (2024)

The foundation operates with 0 full-time employees, relying on Foundation For The Carolinas for administrative support.

Leadership Philosophy

John Crosland Jr.'s personal experience shaped the foundation's mission. According to Foundation For The Carolinas: "Due to his struggles with dyslexia as a child, he cared deeply about offering quality educational opportunities to children with learning differences." He believed in "the power of the home within the community and devoted the later years of his life to addressing the need for more affordable housing."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Crosland Foundation operates as a supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas and makes grants based on trustee discretion aligned with the founder's established priorities rather than through an open application process.

According to Foundation For The Carolinas: "The majority of FFTC's grantmaking is recommended by advisors of the charitable funds established by generous donors, and there is no application process for these grants. Rather, the fund advisor selects eligible IRS-approved nonprofit recipients and FFTC facilitates the grants."

The foundation's primary beneficiaries are pre-established institutions:

  • Episcopal High School (founder's alma mater)
  • Davidson College (founder's alma mater)
  • The John Crosland School
  • Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte (founded by John Crosland Jr.)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded by trustee discretion rather than through application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that align with the foundation's core mission areas may benefit from understanding what the foundation values:

Mission Alignment: The foundation has maintained consistent focus on three areas for over two decades:

  1. Supporting children with learning disabilities, particularly dyslexia and attention deficit disorders
  2. Providing affordable housing and breaking cycles of poverty
  3. Supporting urban policy research and education

Demonstrated Impact with Learning Differences: The foundation's flagship recipient, The John Crosland School, demonstrates the preferred approach - 28 percent of students receive financial aid, ensuring access for students with financial needs. Similarly, the Crosland Academic Support Center at Episcopal High School "works directly with students and teachers to educate about learning differences and promote dialogue that will enhance learning."

Geographic Focus: Strong preference for Charlotte, NC region institutions, reflecting the founder's deep roots in the community.

Long-term Relationships: The foundation supports institutions with which the founder had personal connections, particularly his alma maters and organizations he founded or helped establish.

Financial Accessibility: Projects that ensure access for students or families with financial constraints align with the foundation's values, as evidenced by financial aid support at The John Crosland School.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to pre-established beneficiaries aligned with the founder's mission.
  • Narrow Focus Areas: Three core areas have remained consistent since founding: learning disabilities support, affordable housing, and urban policy/education research.
  • Significant Assets: With $116.2 million in assets and conservative grantmaking ($848K annually), the foundation maintains substantial resources focused on a limited number of recipients.
  • Personal Legacy Foundation: The foundation reflects John Crosland Jr.'s personal experiences with dyslexia and his family's real estate development legacy, making it highly specific in its interests.
  • Primary Beneficiaries Established: Episcopal High School, Davidson College, The John Crosland School, and Foundation for the Carolinas receive recurring support.
  • Administrative Structure: As a supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas, administrative decisions are coordinated through that larger community foundation.
  • Charlotte-Centric: Strong geographic focus on Charlotte, NC region reflecting the founder's community ties.

References

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