Through using the structure of trust-based philanthropy as our guide, we embraced relational philanthropy versus transactional. We learned that we could move the needle by treating our nonprofit partners as businesses and teaching them capacity building skills to grow their impact.
This year we continued our $125,000 giving pledge per year for three years to each of the members of the LendaHand Alliance Cohort. We continued to learn that a collaborative cohort model and capacity building services are key to long term growth of emerging nonprofit organizations. We provided support through collaboration space, fundraising training, and threw our first Pitch Party. The 2022 Pitch Party gave the cohort an opportunity to pitch their organization’s mission and fundraising goals to over 30 funders face-to-face in the hopes of making mutually beneficial connections.
Our Community Impact Grants are small, one-time grants made to innovative non-profits that are on their way to making a big difference in the community. It’s our hope that these grants provide the stepping-stones for our future LendaHand Alliance Cohort members. This year, we donated $175,000 total to six local Charlotte-area nonprofits.
With Dollars for Doers, The LendingTree Foundation donates $25 for every hour an employee spends volunteering at a nonnprofit of their choice.
With Bright Funds, LendingTree employees can apply for a match to almost any nonprofit they choose, stretching their charitable dollars even further.
Two members of the LendaHand Alliance Cohort — Charlotte Rescue Mission and Common Wealth Charlotte — teamed up to support those who have struggled with addiction. After completing a 120-day recovery program with Charlotte Rescue Mission, graduates start planning for their future with Common Wealth Charlotte’s financial learning program.
In support of The LendingTree Foundation’s $2.5 M investment in the Housing Impact Fund (HIF), The Foundation engaged LendingTree Corporate Philanthropy to support the community of Lake Mist Apartments through corporate donations of needed supplies such as diapers, wipes, formula, and food, donating full backpacks for children at the beginning of the school year, and a holiday festival in December.
Through our three-year pledge of $750,000 to the Charlotte Arts Infusion Grant, the Foundation made a long-term commitment to supporting artistic learning, growth, and expression in our community. In addition to our Foundation’s investment, in 2022, LendingTree Corporate Philanthropy continued supporting local artists through corporate funding of initiatives such as, I am Queen Charlotte, Brooklyn Collective, and Stories in Color through Children’s Theatre.
We can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together!