CLT Alliance Foundation
CLT Alliance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports Charlotte-region small business owners through education, mentorship, capital access, wellness, and digital resources, operating programs including Scale Up CLT, the Small Business Growth Fund, RISE, and AALAC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CLT Alliance Foundation does
CLT Alliance Foundation (legally Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 330 South Tryon Street in Charlotte, NC, that operates as a comprehensive support platform for small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Charlotte region. It runs a portfolio of independent programs covering the full business lifecycle: Office Hours (one-on-one coaching via Business Navigators), Scale Up CLT (a business accelerator in partnership with EO Charlotte targeting businesses scaling from $250K to $1M+ in revenue), the Small Business Growth Fund (a $40 million access-to-capital initiative delivering loans of $1K–$250K at 9%–12% through six CDFI partners and Scale Link), ACE (subsidized CPA support for bookkeeping and tax), Catch Your Breath (a six-month wellness program co-developed with Hooky Wellness), AALAC (an executive development program for Black professionals using a Korn Ferry curriculum), and the forthcoming Supplier Marketplace (a contracting platform connecting large buyers such as Albemarle Corporation with regional small businesses).
Its most notable technology asset is RISE (Regional Innovation & Support for Entrepreneurs), an AI-powered digital resource hub co-developed with the Center for Digital Equity that aggregates Charlotte-region business resources, events, and connections into a single perpetually updated directory. The hub had reached 3,200+ unique users as of the most recent reporting.
The foundation is funded primarily through donations and grants from corporate partners (Bank of America, Truist, Atrium Health, Ally Charitable Foundation, Lowe's, Wells Fargo, Nucor, Trane Technologies, Albemarle), municipal partners (City of Charlotte), and foundations (NC IDEA Foundation awarded a $1.7M ECOSYSTEM grant on 2025-03-12). Program-level revenue is limited: Scale Up CLT charges participants a $1,000 personal investment against a scholarship valued at over $10,000; Small Business Growth Fund loans carry 3%–5% origination fees; most other programs are free or subsidized. The foundation is governed by a board of directors, led by President Nate Hogan, with Tya Bolton (Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, named to the Charlotte Business Journal Power 100) and Jonathan Evans (Program Manager) on the lean 1–10 person operating team.
CLT Alliance Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CLT Alliance Foundation
- Legal name
- Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Foundation
- Website
- https://cltalliancefoundation.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CLT Alliance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports Charlotte-region small business owners through education, mentorship, capital access, wellness, and digital resources, operating programs including Scale Up CLT, the Small Business Growth Fund, RISE, and AALAC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CLT Alliance Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Support Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)
Keywords
Where CLT Alliance Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CLT Alliance Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax Id # 56-2227354), the CLT Alliance Foundation is funded through donations, charitable contributions, and grants from corporate partners, foundations, and government entities. The foundation's website accepts one-time and recurring donations.
- Program Fees and Scholarships: Revenue includes program participation contributions. Scale Up CLT participants make a personal investment of $1,000. Most programs (ACE, Catch Your Breath, Office Hours) are free or made affordable through CLT Alliance Foundation funding.
- Loan Origination (Small Business Growth Fund): The Small Business Growth Fund charges origination and application fees ranging from 3% to 5% on loans originated through participating CDFIs, generating operational revenue for the fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Scale Up CLT — partial scholarship with $1,000 participant investment |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Small Business Growth Fund loans — $1,000 to $250,000 |
| Freemium | Monthly | ACE (Accounting for Charlotte Entrepreneurs) — free or subsidized |
| Freemium | Monthly | Office Hours — free one-on-one coaching |
| Freemium | Monthly | Catch Your Breath — free community events, subsidized cohort |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
CLT Alliance Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CLT Alliance Foundation delivers end-to-end programs and services for small business owners and leaders in the Charlotte region, including a business accelerator (Scale Up CLT), a $40 million small business loan fund ($1,000–$250,000 at 9%–12%), an AI-powered digital resource hub (RISE), executive leadership development (AALAC), accounting support (ACE), wellness programming (Catch Your Breath), and one-on-one coaching (Office Hours). Most programs are free or subsidized through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
The CLT Alliance Foundation operates as a non-profit support organization offering multiple distinct programs rather than a unified technology product. Its portfolio includes Scale Up CLT (business accelerator), the Small Business Growth Fund (access-to-capital initiative), RISE (AI-powered digital resource hub), AALAC (executive leadership development), ACE (accounting support), Catch Your Breath (wellness program), Office Hours (coaching), and the upcoming Supplier Marketplace. These programs are offered independently rather than as modules of a single platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scale Up CLT A collaborative business accelerator designed to help small business owners scale from $250,000 to $1 million in revenue, offered in partnership with EO Charlotte and the City of Charlotte. Provides coaching, mentorship, learning content, partial scholarship benefits worth over $10,000 (including partial EO Accelerator dues), and social capital opportunities. Participants must invest $1,000 personally.
- Small Business Growth Fund A $40 million access-to-capital initiative offering competitive loans ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 at fixed rates of 9%–12% over 48-month terms for early and mid-size businesses, delivered through six CDFI partners (Ascendus, ASPIRE Community Capital, BEFCOR, Carolina Small Business Development Fund, DreamSpring, and Scale Link operating the loan platform).
- RISE (Regional Innovation & Support for Entrepreneurs) An AI-powered digital resource hub that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners navigate the Charlotte region's entrepreneurial ecosystem, offering a perpetually updated resource directory for discovering tools, resources, events, jobs, and community connections throughout the business lifecycle. Co-developed with the Center for Digital Equity. 3,200+ unique users have accessed the platform.
- African American Leadership Academy of Charlotte (AALAC) An executive development program for African American professionals that uses a Korn Ferry research-based curriculum, monthly workshops, executive coaching, peer accountability, and C-suite mentorship to prepare Black leaders for senior roles across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Administered by One Catalyst Consulting (Elizabeth Carter Trotman) with the Harvey B. Gantt Center as event partner.
- Accounting for Charlotte Entrepreneurs (ACE) A program providing access to Certified Professional Accountants (CPAs) for financial education, bookkeeping, and tax filing assistance for qualified small businesses, with services free or made affordable through CLT Alliance Foundation funding.
- Catch Your Breath A six-month wellness program for entrepreneurs providing education, accountability, and peer support to combat burnout, including free community events, a 12-week wellness cohort with a wellness stipend and stress-management workshops, and a culminating retreat. Co-developed with Hooky Wellness. 209 business owners supported.
- Office Hours & Technical Assistance Free one-on-one coaching sessions with Business Navigators to help entrepreneurs navigate challenges in business strategy, planning, financial support, marketing, procurement, and certifications. 75+ businesses have completed sessions.
- The Supplier Marketplace A marketplace connecting large businesses with contracting opportunities for regional small businesses, including supplier diversity initiatives, facilitating connections between corporate buyers and regional small vendors. Announced as coming in late 2024.
Quantifiable outcome
- 39% average annual revenue growth for Scale Up CLT participants
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use CLT Alliance Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CLT Alliance Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CLT Alliance Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- NC IDEA FoundationmajorNC IDEA Foundation awarded the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Foundation (CLT Alliance Foundation) an ECOSYSTEM grant as part of an $1.7 million statewide grant initiative to support entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations. CLT Alliance Foundation was one of 18 ECOSYSTEM grant recipients selected from 79 applicants.
- Scale LinkcoreScale Link is the CDFI that manages and operates the Small Business Growth Fund, leveraging its secondary market model to purchase and sell loans made by CDFIs through the fund, expanding liquidity for community lenders.
- AscenduscoreAscendus is one of six participating CDFIs in the Small Business Growth Fund, providing direct lending and advising to help entrepreneurs qualify for and access Growth Fund loans.
- ASPIRE Community CapitalcoreASPIRE Community Capital is a participating CDFI in the Small Business Growth Fund, delivering direct lending and technical assistance to underserved small business owners in the Charlotte region.
- Business Expansion Funding Corporation (BEFCOR)coreBEFCOR is a participating CDFI partner in the Small Business Growth Fund, providing direct lending services and advising to help entrepreneurs access capital for growth.
- Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF)coreCSBDF is a participating CDFI in the Small Business Growth Fund, offering direct lending and financial guidance to help underserved entrepreneurs access growth capital.
- DreamSpringcoreDreamSpring is a CDFI partner in the Small Business Growth Fund, providing direct lending and advising services to support small business access to capital.
- Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) CharlottecoreEO Charlotte is a core strategic partner in delivering Scale Up CLT. The EO Accelerator program provides the curriculum, peer learning sessions, and accountability structure, while CLT Alliance Foundation provides scholarships and administers the program. EO Charlotte Chapter President Bryan Delaney was instrumental in creating Scale Up CLT.
- Hooky WellnessmajorHooky Wellness is the co-developer of the Catch Your Breath wellness program, providing burnout relief expertise, wellness curriculum, and facilitation of community events and the 12-week wellness cohort for Charlotte entrepreneurs.
- Center for Digital EquitymajorThe Center for Digital Equity partnered with the CLT Alliance Foundation to develop and introduce the RISE AI-powered digital resource hub, supporting the foundation's mission to empower small businesses with digital tools and resources.
- Korn FerrycoreKorn Ferry provides the efficacy-based curriculum for the African American Leadership Academy of Charlotte, including leadership assessments, executive coaching content, and digital assets developed through their global organizational consultancy expertise.
- One Catalyst ConsultingcoreOne Catalyst Consulting, led by program director Elizabeth Carter Trotman, administers the AALAC program in partnership with the Harvey B. Gantt Center as event partner.
- Albemarle CorporationmajorAlbemarle Corporation is committed to supporting diversity in the CLT Alliance Foundation's Supplier Marketplace. As a global manufacturer, Albemarle has an established global supplier diversity initiative and seeks to create opportunities for underrepresented groups near its Charlotte and Kings Mountain locations.
- YesForMeck (Transportation Task Force)minorThe CLT Alliance Foundation convened the Transportation Task Force — a coalition of community leaders, support organizations, and public officials — to prepare small businesses for a historic $19.4 billion, 30-year transportation investment, including workforce readiness and contract opportunities.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CLT Alliance Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused entrepreneurship hubs providing co-working, programming, and community for mission-driven entrepreneurs. Comparable role as a community convener and resource curator for entrepreneurs, with analogous resource-navigation intent as CLT Alliance's RISE platform.
- Village Capital: Impact-focused venture support organization running entrepreneur development programs and investor readiness curriculum for underrepresented founders. Comparable emphasis on underserved entrepreneurs and peer-based learning, though operates investment readiness programs rather than direct lending.
Direct peers
- NC IDEA Foundation: North Carolina-based nonprofit that awards grants and supports entrepreneurial ecosystems statewide, including the ECOSYSTEM grant program that recently awarded CLT Alliance Foundation. Closely comparable mission around building and supporting entrepreneur ecosystems in NC.
- Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Global peer network of entrepreneurs and the provider of the EO Accelerator curriculum used in CLT Alliance's Scale Up CLT program. Directly comparable as a peer-learning and scaling platform for founders, though operating globally rather than regionally.
- Carolina Small Business Development Fund: North Carolina CDFI providing capital, advising and technical assistance to underserved small businesses, and a participating CDFI in CLT Alliance's Small Business Growth Fund. Directly comparable mission of providing capital access and advising to minority and underserved SMBs.
- Foundation For The Carolinas: Large regional community foundation serving the Carolinas, including administering Wells Fargo's $20M Beyond Open small business grant program that CLT Alliance Foundation supports. Comparable role as a regional philanthropy convener for SMB and community initiatives.
Broad incumbents
- SCORE: Largest national network of volunteer business mentors providing free small business mentoring, workshops, and resources. Comparable service offering (coaching, mentoring, Office Hours-style guidance) but operates nationally and does not focus on capital deployment or underserved segments specifically.
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: Major national philanthropic foundation focused on entrepreneurship education and small business growth. Comparable mission around entrepreneur development but operates at national/policy level rather than as a regional direct-service operator.
Regional players
- JumpStart Inc. Cleveland-based nonprofit venture development organization supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses through capital, advising, and ecosystem building. Comparable regional nonprofit role in convening resources for SMBs and connecting them to capital, though operating in Cleveland/Northeast Ohio.
- Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative: Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on building wealth in low- and moderate-income communities through entrepreneurship and small business support. Comparable mission of supporting minority entrepreneurs and addressing the small business capital gap, but serving Atlanta rather than Charlotte.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CLT Alliance Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceCLT Alliance Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CLT Alliance Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
CLT Alliance Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CLT Alliance Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CLT Alliance Foundation
What does CLT Alliance Foundation do?
CLT Alliance Foundation delivers end-to-end programs and services for small business owners and leaders in the Charlotte region, including a business accelerator (Scale Up CLT), a $40 million small business loan fund ($1,000–$250,000 at 9%–12%), an AI-powered digital resource hub (RISE), executive leadership development (AALAC), accounting support (ACE), wellness programming (Catch Your Breath), and one-on-one coaching (Office Hours). Most programs are free or subsidized through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.
Is CLT Alliance Foundation a public or private company?
CLT Alliance Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CLT Alliance Foundation founded?
CLT Alliance Foundation was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CLT Alliance Foundation based?
CLT Alliance Foundation is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does CLT Alliance Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are program Fees and Scholarships and loan Origination (Small Business Growth Fund).
Who are CLT Alliance Foundation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Impact Hub and Village Capital. Direct peers are NC IDEA Foundation, Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), Carolina Small Business Development Fund and Foundation For The Carolinas. Broad incumbents are SCORE and Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Regional players are JumpStart Inc. and Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative.
Does CLT Alliance Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for CLT Alliance Foundation.
What industry is CLT Alliance Foundation in?
CLT Alliance Foundation's product category is Small Business Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAJ, Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building). Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8300.