The Cemala Foundation Inc
Historical FunderGreensboro, North Carolina · EIN 56-1528982 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$1.6M
Organizations funded55
Typical grant$15,000
Total assets$34.5M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $10,000 and $25,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | SUSAN S SCHWARTZ |
|---|---|
| Address | 1175 REVOLUTION MILL DR STE 14, GREENSBORO NC 27405 |
| Phone | 3362743541 |
| Form and materials | SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS: WWW.CEMALA.ORG/FUNDING-POLICY |
| Deadlines | APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY 3/1 AND 9/1 FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE REGULAR BOARD MEETINGS. |
| Restrictions | CURRENTLY LIMITED TO GUILFORD COUNTY OR FOR STATEWIDE (NC) PROJECTS. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
3% of grants went outside North Carolina.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready for School Ready for Life | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $210,294 |
| Action Greenbsoro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $138,500 |
| Miriam P Brenner Children's Museum | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $135,000 |
| Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $125,000 |
| Unc Greensboro Excellence Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $75,000 |
| Unc Greensboro College of Visual & Performing Arts | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $70,000 |
| Greensboro Symphony Orchestra | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $62,500 |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Uncg-Center for Youth Family and Community Partnership | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $44,000 |
| Guilford Education Alliance | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $40,000 |
| YMCA Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $40,000 |
| Arts Council of Greater Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $35,000 |
| Carolina Theatre of Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Community Foundation of Western North Carolina | Asheville, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Forge Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Invest Early Nc | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| North Carolina for Community and Justice | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Reach Out and Read | Boston, MA | General operating support | $25,000 |
| She Built This City | Charlotte, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Backpack Beginnings | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $20,000 |
| Greensboro Urban Ministry | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $20,000 |
| Nc Folk & Heritage Festivals | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $20,000 |
| Salvation Army | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $20,000 |
| Step Up Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $20,000 |
| Black Child Development Insitute of Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Horsepower | High Point, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Junior Achievement of the Triad | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Teach for America | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Triangle Sports Commission | Morrisville, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Unc Greensboro Master of Public Affairs | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Women's Resource Center of Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| East Market Street Development | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $12,500 |
| Eastern Musical Festival | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $12,500 |
| Beyond Sports Nc | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Crossroads Pathway to Success | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Downtown Greensboro Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Friends of John Coltrane | High Point, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Greensboro Cerebral Palsey Association | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Greensboro Literary Organization | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Nc A&t State University Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Parents As Teachers | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Reading Connections | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Unc Greensboro Equipdhdfs | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Greensboro Opera Company | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $7,500 |
| Music for a Great Space | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $6,800 |
| Nc Institute of Political Leadership | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Nc Partnership for Children | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Oak Ridge Military Academy | Oak Ridge, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| One Step Further | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Prevent Blindness North Carolina | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Strange Fruit Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| 18 Reasons | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $2,500 |
| Appleseed Early Childhood Education | Salisbury, NC | General operating support | $2,500 |
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready for School Ready for Life | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $312,500 |
| Action Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $300,000 |
| Greensboro Chamber Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $300,000 |
| YMCA of Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $160,000 |
| Unc Greensboro Excellence Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $150,000 |
| Unc Greensboro College of Visual and Performing Arts | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $140,000 |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Triangle Sports Commission | Morrisville, NC | General operating support | $45,000 |
| Backpack Beginnings | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $40,000 |
| Beyond Sports | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Invest Early Nc | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| North Carolina for Community and Justice | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Tiny House Community Development | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $25,000 |
| Greensboro Urban Ministry | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $21,000 |
| Salvation Army in Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $20,000 |
| North Carolina Holocaust Foundation | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $16,250 |
| Guilford Education Alliance | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Reading Connections | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Unc Greensboro Master of Public Affairs | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Women's Resource Center of Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $15,000 |
| Eastern Music Festival | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $12,500 |
| Greensboro Symphony Orchestra | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $12,500 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Downtown Greensboro Foundation | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Parents As Teachers Guilford County | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Uncg - Center for Youth Family and Community Partnerships | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Greensboro Opera Company | Greensboro, NC | General operating support | $7,500 |
| Nc Partnership for Children | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Prevent Blindness North Carolina | Raleigh, NC | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Bikers Against Child Abuse - Camel City Temp Charter | Winstonsalem, NC | General operating support | $3,100 |
| Community Foundation of Western North Carolina | Asheville, NC | General operating support | $1,500 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,599,594 | 88 |
| 2023 | $1,256,450 | 83 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 16, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513209349100456
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 56-1528982
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.