The Leon Levine Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: ~60 days for initial LOI review
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: North Carolina and South Carolina

Contact Details

• Website: leonlevinefoundation.org
• Address: 4600 Park Rd., Suite 500, Charlotte, NC 28209
• Application Portal: Through foundation's grantee portal (registration required)

Overview

The Leon Levine Foundation, established in 1980 by Leon Levine, founder and former Chairman of Family Dollar Stores, Inc., is a major philanthropic institution with nearly $2 billion in assets. The foundation's mission is "empowering underserved Carolinians to be self-sufficient and strengthening our Jewish community." Operating across North and South Carolina, the foundation takes a comprehensive approach to philanthropy, combining traditional grantmaking with impact investing to maximize their social impact. The foundation has evolved from its founding to become one of the Southeast's most significant private foundations, supporting nonprofits through general operating grants, program-specific funding, and capital campaign support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers three primary types of support:

• General operating grants
• Program-specific grants
• Capital campaign support

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four mission areas:

1. Education - Supporting educational opportunities and career-connected learning
2. Healthcare - Improving healthcare access and outcomes
3. Human Services - Providing essential services to underserved communities
4. Jewish Values - Strengthening Jewish communities and institutions

Current Special Initiative

• Carolina Career-Connected Learning Challenge - A multi-million-dollar effort connecting education to career opportunities

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated on their website, the foundation requires alignment with their four mission areas and geographic footprint in the Carolinas.

Governance and Leadership

Founded by Leon Levine, former Chairman of Family Dollar Stores, Inc., the foundation is governed by a Board of Directors and managed by Foundation Professionals. The foundation maintains a structured approach to grantmaking with dedicated program officers assigned to work with grantees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a structured multi-step application process:

1. Eligibility Verification

   • Take the brief online eligibility quiz
   • Confirm alignment with mission areas and geographic requirements

2. Registration

   • Register in the foundation's grantee portal

3. Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

   • Submit LOI through the portal
   • LOIs accepted year-round on a rolling basis

4. Proposal Application (if invited)

   • Complete narrative questions in portal
   • Upload required attachments
   • Submit before specified deadline

Decision Timeline

• Initial LOI Review: Approximately 60 days
• Full Proposal Review: Timeline varies (specific timeframes not disclosed)
• Organizations notified if invited to submit full proposal

Important Application Rules

• One application per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30)
• Missing deadlines may disqualify organizations from reapplying for a full year
• Renewal applications handled through the portal for eligible organizations

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can apply once per fiscal year. Missing a deadline may result in disqualification from reapplying for a full year. Previous grantees may be eligible for renewal through the portal.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's approach and priorities:

• Strong alignment with one of the four mission areas is essential
• Clear demonstration of impact on underserved Carolinians strengthens applications
• Geographic focus must be within North or South Carolina
• Thorough preparation using the TLLF Portal Toolkit improves application quality
• Communication with assigned program officers can provide valuable guidance
• During COVID-19, the foundation demonstrated flexibility by shifting restricted grants to unrestricted awards, suggesting they value organizational resilience

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation requires a structured, multi-step application process starting with an LOI
• Geographic restriction to North and South Carolina is strictly enforced
• Four mission areas (Education, Healthcare, Human Services, Jewish Values) guide all funding decisions
• The foundation combines traditional grantmaking with impact investing for comprehensive community development
• Organizations have only one opportunity per fiscal year to apply - timing is critical
• The foundation values long-term relationships, offering renewal opportunities for successful grantees
• Missing deadlines has serious consequences - potentially a full year before reapplication is allowed

References

• Leon Levine Foundation Official Website (leonlevinefoundation.org) - Accessed January 2026
• How to Apply page (leonlevinefoundation.org/how-to-apply/) - Accessed January 2026
• Foundation Impact page (leonlevinefoundation.org/impact/) - Accessed January 2026
• Foundation Grantmaking page (leonlevinefoundation.org/grantmaking/) - Accessed January 2026