Smithville Community Coalition

What Smithville Community Coalition does

Smithville Community Coalition (SCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in North Carolina (TAX ID 46-1055584), was founded in 1968 to serve the historic Smithville community — the largest intact historic African American community in Mecklenburg County, located in Cornelius, North Carolina. Its mission is the creation and execution of a neighborhood-led, comprehensive Historic Smithville revitalization plan that preserves land and legacy, prevents displacement, and expands affordable and workforce housing. Core programs include the Cornelius Jazz Festival (annual fundraiser since 2012), the Cornelius Community Garden (70 plots established 2013, leased from the Town of Cornelius), the Black History Month Program, Splashville Park (1,300 sq ft ADA-accessible splash pad, opened 2016), historic preservation of Potts Barbershop (landmark designation 2022), and a volunteer network. The flagship initiative is the Smithville Revitalization Plan covering approximately 38.5 acres and proposing 240 housing units (100 new single-family/townhouse, 55 existing single-family, 85 new multi-family), serving households with incomes from approximately $19,000 to $100,000.

SCC generates revenue through charitable donations from corporations and individuals, foundation grants (Canopy Housing Foundation, EnergyUnited Foundation, United Way of Greater Charlotte), corporate sponsorships (Wells Fargo, Bank of America), event fundraising (Jazz Festival), in-kind donations, and a nominal $50 annual community garden plot rental. The 2022 grant and fundraising cycle totaled $35,968, funding 28 youth for up to 10 weeks of summer camp at Cornelius YMCA and a $5,000 donation to Neighborhood C.A.R.E Center for 400 back-to-school backpacks. The Lake Norman Kiwanis partnership raised $150,000 for Splashville Park. Operationally, SCC is led by Executive Director Lisa Mayhew-Jones (since 2011) and Executive Director Assistant Fredricka Allen, supported by a 7-person staff and a board/advisory structure that includes descendants of original Smithville settlers and former Fortune 500 executives.

Distribution occurs through direct community programs, municipal partnerships with the Town of Cornelius, Mecklenburg County, and the State of North Carolina, and nonprofit partners including Habitat for Humanity, Lake Norman YMCA, Cain Center for the Arts, and Davidson College. Marketing is conducted via the SCC website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, email newsletter, and earned media (Charlotte Observer, WBTV, Lake Norman Publications, Cornelius Today, WSOC TV, WFAE). Customer segments are residents and descendants of historic Smithville, Town of Cornelius government and residents, youth and families, and senior residents requiring home repair and preservation assistance.

Name

Smithville Community Coalition

Legal name

Smithville Community Coalition, Inc.

Website

https://smithvillecommunitycoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Smithville Community Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1968 that leads neighborhood-driven revitalization of the historic Smithville African American community in Cornelius, North Carolina, delivering affordable housing, cultural preservation, and community programs through donations, grants, and partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development & Historic Preservation Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community revitalization
• Affordable housing development
• Historic preservation services
• Community garden programs
• Nonprofit charitable fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Cornelius

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations from corporations, small businesses, and individuals. Smithville Community Coalition is a 501(c)(3) qualified charity (TAX ID# 46-1055584). Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual Cornelius Jazz Festival generates proceeds that support community programs. SCC raised $35,968 in 2022 through grants and fundraising. Event sponsorships and in-kind donations are also welcomed.
3. Grant Funding: The organization receives grants from foundations and government entities including Canopy Housing Foundation ($80,000 community grant), EnergyUnited Foundation ($10,000), and state/county funding for revitalization projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Smithville Community Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and executes a neighborhood-led Historic Smithville revitalization plan covering approximately 38.5 acres and 240 planned homes, while operating community programs including the Cornelius Community Garden, Cornelius Jazz Festival, Black History Month programming, Splashville Park splash pad, volunteer initiatives, and historic preservation of sites such as Potts Barbershop. The organization raises and deploys donated funds, foundation grants, and event proceeds to support affordable housing, cultural heritage, youth programs, and senior services for the historic Smithville community in Cornelius, North Carolina.

Product overview

Smithville Community Coalition is a nonprofit organization offering community programs and services, not a technology product company. The organization operates a portfolio of community programs including a comprehensive Smithville Revitalization Plan (38.5 acres with 240 homes), Cornelius Community Garden (70 plots), Cornelius Jazz Festival (annual event), Black History Month Program, Splashville Park (splash pad), volunteer programs, and historic preservation initiatives including Potts Barbershop. The organization also accepts donations through online and mail processing. These are community service programs, not technology products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smithville Revitalization Plan A neighborhood-led comprehensive revitalization plan covering approximately 38.5 acres, planning 240 total homes including 100 single-family and townhouse ownership units, 55 existing single-family homes, and 85 new multi-family homes, paired with park expansion, a community garden, and historic preservation for residents of Cornelius, NC.
• Cornelius Community Garden A community garden with 70 8x4 foot plots rented to Cornelius residents at $50 per year, plus community plots for shareable produce, located near Interstate 77 on town-leased land.
• Cornelius Jazz Festival An annual jazz festival started in 2012 with local jazz bands, food trucks, craft beer, and children's activities. Proceeds support the Cornelius YMCA Summer Camp Scholarship Program.
• Black History Month Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 240 total homes planned including 100 single-family and townhouse ownership units, 55 existing single-family homes, and 85 new multi-family homes on 38.5 acres
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Town of CorneliuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner for the Historic Smithville revitalization plan. Collaborates on Smithville Park expansion, neighborhood development, and annual Cornelius Jazz Festival. Event partner for community programs.
• Mecklenburg County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner supporting revitalization efforts and community development initiatives in Smithville.
• State of North CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing funding and support for the Smithville revitalization plan. NC Rep. Bradford requested $3 million for Smithville revitalization in 2022.
• Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing development partner supporting affordable homeownership and home repair programs. Lisa Mayhew-Jones was a board member of Our Towns Habitat for Humanity.
• Lake Norman YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for summer camp scholarship programs funded by Jazz Festival proceeds. Lisa Mayhew-Jones was a board member.
• Lake Norman CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development corporation partner supporting economic development in the Lake Norman region.
• Davidson CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner supporting community initiatives and engagement.
• Bella Love / Bella Creative GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent partner for the Cornelius Jazz Festival since its founding in 2012.
• Cain Center for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner collaborating on Black History Month celebrations and arts programming.
• Lake Norman KiwaniscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService organization that raised $150,000 for Splashville Park splash pad in partnership with Town of Cornelius and SCC. Former Huntersville Mayor John Anarella helped lead the fundraising effort.
• Ada-JenkinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner supporting programs and services in the region.
• Unity in CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner working on unity and community initiatives in north Mecklenburg.
• True HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome builder partner potentially involved in the revitalization plan housing development.
• Davidson United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner supporting community initiatives and programs.
• Cornelius Cultural Arts GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in funding the Splash Pad at Smithville Park alongside Lake Norman Kiwanis and Town of Cornelius.
• Psi Mu Zeta Chapter of CharlotteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSorority chapter that assisted with Black History Program as volunteers.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Self-Help Credit Union: Self-Help is a North Carolina-based community development credit union historically focused on financing affordable housing and serving underserved communities; it is comparable to SCC in mission (community ownership, equitable development) though operating through consumer banking rather than nonprofit programming.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is a major national CDFI and community development intermediary financing affordable housing, small business, and neighborhood revitalization; it is comparable to SCC on the community-development and affordable-housing mission and is active in the Charlotte region, though at much greater scale.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The National Trust is the principal U.S. nonprofit for historic preservation, supporting landmark designations and revitalization of culturally significant places; SCC's landmark work (e.g., Potts Barbershop) and Rosenwald School preservation align with this peer on cultural-heritage protection and reuse.
• Enterprise Community Partners: Enterprise is one of the largest national community-development nonprofits, investing in affordable housing and revitalization in markets including North Carolina; it is comparable to SCC on the affordable-housing and equitable-revitalization axis but operates at far greater scale and geographic breadth.

Regional players

• United Way of Greater Charlotte: United Way of Greater Charlotte is a confirmed financial partner of SCC and serves as a regional fundraising intermediary for community programs; as a comparable Mecklenburg-area human-services funder it is geographically and mission-overlapping, though significantly larger in scope.
• Charlotte Area Fund / Ada Jenkins Center: Ada Jenkins Center is an explicit community partner of SCC providing human-services programs in north Mecklenburg; it is comparable as a small community-services nonprofit in the same service area addressing housing, food, and family stability for similar populations.

Direct peers

• Neighborhood C.A.R.E. Center: The Neighborhood C.A.R.E. Center is a Smithville-based social-services nonprofit partner of SCC (SCC's board member Rayford Miller volunteers there and SCC donated $5,000 for its 2022 Back-to-School event); it is the most directly comparable grassroots peer in the same community delivering social services to overlapping residents.
• Lake Norman Community Development Corporation (CDC): Lake Norman CDC is an explicit strategic partner of SCC focused on economic development in the Lake Norman region; both organizations operate as small community development entities serving overlapping populations and geographies in Cornelius and surrounding towns.
• Habitat for Humanity (Our Towns): Our Towns Habitat for Humanity is the local Habitat affiliate building affordable homeownership in north Mecklenburg County; SCC's ED Lisa Mayhew-Jones has served on its board, and Habitat is a core housing-development partner to SCC, making it the most directly comparable peer on mission and geography.

Emerging players

• Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH): CSH is a national nonprofit focused on supportive housing for vulnerable populations, blending real-estate financing with human services; it shares SCC's affordable-housing mission and community-development orientation but specializes in supportive housing rather than heritage-rooted community revitalization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@smithvillecommunitycoalition
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smithville-community-coalition
• Instagraminstagram.com/smithvillecommunitycoalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smithville Community Coalition