Philanthropy runs through Charlotte’s veins. For decades, the city’s culture of giving has left its fingerprints on some of the most robust and meaningful institutions in the Queen City.

Billions of philanthropic dollars are pumped through the greater Charlotte region each year from households wanting to curb food insecurity, invest in their churches, address homelessness, support afterschool education, fund the arts and much more.

Hundreds of private and family foundations call the city home and focus on uplifting the community in a variety of ways. The namesake of one such foundation, Leon Levine, is etched on buildings all across Charlotte — a testament to the impact of the philanthropic powerhouse.

But over the years, and increasingly in recent months, the playing field has shifted. The nonprofit industry, which some consider to be the lifeblood of Charlotte, has become inundated with increased competition and shifting donor priorities, changing the landscape of Charlotte's philanthropy.

This shift has crept up on the industry for at least the past decade, one state expert said. But recent cuts to nonprofits’ government funding have complicated an already precarious situation.

Since January, Charlotte has seen long-standing nonprofits like MeckEd, Council for Children’s Rights, Community Link and others cease operations after suddenly losing state and federal dollars.

It’s a hard moment for nonprofits, says Ivan Canada, the CEO of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits.

“One of the things I’ve been trying to get funders to get in this moment is people are scrambling to try to find dollars,” he said.

While state and federal cuts have resulted in the shuttering of decades-old nonprofit organizations, experts say these closures are part of a larger evolution of philanthropy in Charlotte and beyond. Donors have become more intentional and selective in their giving. And in a city where the number of nonprofits grows as the population swells, competition for dollars intensifies.

Experts agree that philanthropy alone can’t fill the funding gaps nonprofits are experiencing. Community needs are greatly outpacing the funds available. This calls for collaboration and innovation from funders and nonprofits alike.

Read the full article about Charlotte's philanthropy by Briah Lumpkins and Catherine Muccigrosso at The Charlotte Observer.