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David And Nicole Tepper Charitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$13.1M
Grant Range
$25K - $3.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.1 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $60.7 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely (estimated $25,000 - $3,000,000+)
  • Number of Grants: 51 awards (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: The Carolinas (North Carolina and South Carolina), with national reach
  • Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

The foundation does not maintain a public website or application portal. The foundation is administratively managed through The Tepper Foundation infrastructure:

Administrative Address: Short Hills, NJ

Related Entity: The Tepper Foundation (separate but related entity) Website: https://tepperfoundation.org

Overview

The David and Nicole Tepper Charitable Foundation Inc was established in 2020 by billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper and his wife Nicole Tepper, receiving tax-exempt status in September 2021. With assets of $60.7 million and annual giving of $13.1 million in 2024, the foundation represents a focused philanthropic vehicle dedicated to addressing critical needs in the Carolinas region. The foundation shares similar charitable goals with The Tepper Foundation (the Teppers' older foundation established in 1996), but maintains a special focus on community-based projects in North and South Carolina, where the Teppers own the NFL's Carolina Panthers and MLS's Charlotte FC. The foundation has shown rapid growth, scaling from 37 awards in 2023 to 51 awards in 2024. The foundation allocates over 98% of its expenses directly to charitable disbursements, demonstrating strong operational efficiency.

Funding Priorities

Focus Areas

Based on documented grant activities, the foundation prioritizes:

Food Security & Basic Needs

  • Food banks and hunger relief organizations throughout the Carolinas
  • Organizations addressing nutrition insecurity and food access
  • Infrastructure projects for food distribution (e.g., Smart Lockers, Hunger Hubs)

Education

  • School supply distribution programs
  • Scholarship programs (particularly USC with over $6.5 million committed since 2020)
  • Youth development and educational access

Health & Emergency Preparedness

  • CPR training and cardiac emergency response ($600,000 commitment to Charlotte youth sports)
  • Healthcare access and community health initiatives

Community Development

  • Organizations serving the Carolinas region
  • Community-based projects addressing local needs
  • Infrastructure and capacity building for nonprofits

Geographic Priorities

The foundation maintains a strong regional focus on North Carolina and South Carolina, with documented support for:

  • Charlotte metro area
  • All 10 food banks serving the Carolinas
  • Smaller communities throughout both states

Notable Grant Examples

  • $10+ million commitment to all 10 food banks across North and South Carolina (largest single commitment in foundation history, 2025)
  • $3 million to Nourish Up for the "Hunger Hub" facility in Charlotte
  • $1.5 million in annual food bank donations throughout the Carolinas (2025)
  • $600,000 to American Heart Association for CPR education in Charlotte youth sports
  • $6.5+ million to USC scholarships (since 2020)

Governance and Leadership

David Tepper - President & Director

  • Founder of Appaloosa Management (1993)
  • Owner of NFL's Carolina Panthers and MLS's Charlotte FC
  • Described by Forbes as "arguably the greatest hedge fund manager of his generation"
  • Founded The Tepper Foundation in 1996
  • Motivated by Jewish heritage concept of "tzedakah" (moral obligation to give back)

Nicole Tepper - Vice President & Director

  • Co-chair of The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation
  • Chief Administrative Officer of the Carolina Panthers
  • Active in philanthropic initiatives across the Carolinas

Larry Rogers - Secretary & Treasurer

  • Also serves as Treasurer of The Tepper Foundation

Note: None of the key personnel receive compensation for their roles.

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with streamlined governance. While it is a separate legal entity from The Tepper Foundation, it shares administrative infrastructure and leadership with that organization.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. All grantmaking is by invitation only. The foundation proactively identifies organizations and projects that align with its mission and geographic focus, rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.

The foundation evaluates potential grantees based on:

  • Solution and Impact: Evidence of measurable impact and credible pathway to scaling
  • Critical Needs Gap: Addressing service or infrastructure gaps in communities
  • Leadership and Capacity: Strong organizational leadership and operational capacity
  • Financial Health and Sustainability: Clear funding model and effective resource use
  • Stakeholder Support: Centering community and staff voices in decision-making

Decision Timeline

Funding proposals are approved on a rolling basis to enable nimble response to grantee and community needs. No specific timeline is publicly documented.

Funding Types

The foundation provides both general operating support and programmatic funding, with the goal of strengthening grantee partners by understanding their specific needs.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates by invitation only, organizations cannot directly apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can help organizations position themselves strategically:

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation's approach emphasizes:

  • Responsiveness and nimbleness: Quick deployment of resources during crises while maintaining long-term giving relationships
  • Partnership orientation: Working hand-in-hand with grantees rather than maintaining distance
  • Capacity building: Focus on increasing grantee partners' operational capacity
  • Community focus: Supporting community-based projects addressing local needs

Alignment Factors

Organizations most likely to be considered share these characteristics:

  • Geographic alignment: Based in or serving the Carolinas region
  • Focus area alignment: Working on food security, basic needs, education, health, or community development
  • Demonstrated impact: Evidence of measurable outcomes and community benefit
  • Strong infrastructure: Operational capacity to effectively deploy funding
  • Community connection: Deep roots in the communities served

Connection Points

Given the foundation's ties to the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, organizations connected to:

  • Youth sports and athletics in the Carolinas
  • Charlotte metro area community development
  • Regional networks serving North and South Carolina

may have natural connection points to the foundation's existing work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; they proactively identify and invite organizations to submit proposals
  • Regional focus: Strong preference for organizations serving the Carolinas, particularly North and South Carolina
  • Food security priority: The foundation has made historic commitments to hunger relief, with over $10 million to food banks representing their largest single commitment
  • Rapid growth trajectory: The foundation scaled from 37 grants (2023) to 51 grants (2024), suggesting expanding capacity and reach
  • Flexible funding: Provides both general operating support and programmatic funding based on grantee needs
  • Connection to sports entities: The foundation's ties to Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC create natural pathways for youth development and community organizations in those networks
  • Relationship with The Tepper Foundation: While separate entities, the foundations share leadership and administrative infrastructure; organizations already working with The Tepper Foundation may have advantage for consideration

References

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