Financial Partner Program
The City of Charlotte does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We will provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to persons with disabilities upon request. To make a request, please contact Cherie Smith at Cherie.Smith@charlottenc.gov
Financial Partners
Financial partners are agencies with which the City of Charlotte contracts on an annual basis to provide specific services. These partnerships extend the city's capacity to advance City Council's strategic priorities and programs that address concerns within the community, such as:
- Partnerships due to special legislation (such as tax allocations.)
- Partnerships that support and advance Charlotte City Council's strategic priorities of Workforce and Business Development; Safe Communities; Well-managed Government; Great Neighborhoods; and Transportation and Planning.
- Partnerships that contribute to community enrichment.
Program Overview
- Organizations funded through the Financial Partner Program must be active non-profit organizations as designated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Organizations that are actively seeking non-profit status can also apply (contracts will not be finalized unless non-profit status is active).
- Organizations can request funding for specific programs or the organization's overall operating budget.
- All organizations will be required to submit an overall organization budget.
- If requesting program funding, the program budget will need to be submitted in addition to the overall organization budget.
- Requested funding should not exceed 30 percent (30%) of the organization's operating budget.
- Requested funding should support one-time expenses such as programming, staffing, technology investments, etc.
- Organizations are required to provide performance and equity measures during the application process.
- If funded, these measures will be incorporated into the annual contract and reported to city leadership.
- All required application attachments must be provided for an application to be considered complete.
Please email FinancialPartners@charlottenc.gov if you have questions.
Program Meetings
The following meetings will be offered to ensure organizations are fully equipped to fulfill the requirements of the Financial Partner Program.
Mandatory - Virtual Financial Partner Information Session
Date: Friday, October 17, 2025
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Registration Link
Identifying Impactful Performance Measures
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Registration Link
Non-profit Financial Reporting
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Registration Link
Fiscal Year 2027 Application Materials
Program Overview
The following overview provides pertinent program information. Please review prior to submitting application.
Program Overview(PDF, 176KB)
Application
Please ensure all required forms and documents are uploaded prior to submitting. You will not be able to access the form once submitted. You are also not able to save the application as a draft to return to later.
Application Link
Application Deadline - December 19, 2025.
Late applications will not be accepted.
Budget Template
- All organizations are required to provide the overall agency budget. If you are applying for funding for a specific program, please also include the program budget.
- File is provided in Excel format with tabs for agency budget and program budget. Please attach a copy of completed template in excel format.
Budget Template(XLSX, 21KB)
Performance Measures
Performance measures serve as data confirmation of your organization's impact within the community. While your organization may track multiple measures, we ask that performance measures used for the Financial Partner Program:
- Connect directly to City Council's Strategic Priorities.
- Are limited to no more than five (5) measures for tracking; Organizations in subsequent years of participation will utilize the same performance measures to show year over year outcomes. In some instances, for returning organizations, new performance measures might be utilized.
- Measures should be specific, measurable, attainable, and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T.).
Performance Measures(PDF, 1MB)
Access Measures(PDF, 1MB)
FY 2026 Financial Partners
Additional information specific to current year funding can be found in the latest City of Charlotte Adopted Budget book under Summary of Financial Partners.