The Leon Levine Foundation (TLLF), one of the Southeast’s leading philanthropic institutions , recently announced a major milestone: its assets are now $2 billion, nearly tripling in size since 2023.
This extraordinary growth is a direct result of the profound generosity of Leon Levine (OBM), the Family Dollar Stores founder, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who made significant financial commitments to his foundation before his passing. TLLF is now the second-largest private foundation in North Carolina, among the top 10 in the Southeast, and in the top 75 in the country, according to the most recent filings available.
“The sun is rising on a new era for The Leon Levine Foundation: one marked by legacy with urgency,” Tom Lawrence, TLLF president and CEO, said. “To meet this moment, we have expanded our board and built the preeminent team. Leon Levine charged us with the opportunity and responsibility to lead boldly, act with urgency, and drive transformational change.”
Over the past two years, TLLF has significantly increased its grantmaking across the Carolinas . With more than 400 grantee partners in North and South Carolina, TLLF awarded a record $101 million in grants in FY25. This brings the total to $590 million awarded since the Foundation’s creation in 1980.
Those numbers will increase exponentially in the coming years. TLLF is now launching an ambitious new chapter of strategic grantmaking designed to empower underserved Carolinians to be self-sufficient and strengthen the Jewish community .
TLLF has played a pivotal role in strengthening the Charlotte Jewish community over the years. “The Jewish communities throughout the Carolinas have experienced significant growth in recent years,” said Jen Rosen, TLLF Jewish values senior program officer. “We are proud of the ways Jewish leadership has developed, the expanded communal infrastructure, and the Jewish identity building that is happening throughout the two states. Especially in this moment, we are excited to partner with our organizational and philanthropic partners to continue building on that momentum, to ensure the Jewish community in the Carolinas is one of the most thriving in the country.”
“Leon Levine had a long history of supporting Charlotte’s Jewish community through his leadership, philanthropy, and investments in Shalom Park, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte and dozens of other community building and identity building efforts,” Justin Steinschriber, TLLF senior vice president, said. “Mr. Levine had a profound impact on Jewish Carolinians and we are committed to carrying that legacy forward.”
Grants will be strategically tied to the Foundation’s four mission areas: healthcare, human services, education, and Jewish values, with a goal of funding bold, innovative ideas from new and existing partners to solve challenges on a greater scale.
The Foundation is also transitioning its investment portfolio to a model where every dollar works twice: once through financial return and again through measurable social impact.
"Leon Levine was committed to giving back to to the Family Dollar customers who gave so much to him," Michael Tarwater, TLLF board chair said. "We honor his life and legacy by focusing our philanthropy in the place he proudly called home, and we are now poised to make a significant impact across North and South Carolina for generations to come.
With this momentum comes a bold strategic committment: The Leon Levine Foundation will intentionally spend down all its assets, ultimately sunsetting its operations within the next 50 years. This decision reflects Mr. Levine's core belief that urgency in giving can drive lasting impact, and that true permanence lies not in the Foundation's continued existence, but in the enduring change it catalyzes in people, institutions, and communitites across the Carolinas.
As the Leon Levine Foundation embarks on this next chapter, it's $2 billion commitment is more than a number - it is a declaration of purpose. With an eye toward impact over perpetuity, the Foundation is investing boldly in the future of the Carolinas. The next 50 years will not be about preserving an institution, but about empowering systems, and ensuring that Leon Levine's legacy lives on through meaningful, measurable change.