"The good life is right in front of you, sometimes only an arm's length away. And it starts now."- Robert Waldinger
The Gambrell Foundation has long been dedicated to transforming Charlotte into a beacon of economic mobility, human flourishing, and equitable living. However, recent findings reveal that, despite tireless efforts and substantial investments by the Foundation and others, neither we nor our community have achieved this vision for all of our children. It has resulted in our belief that something is “missing,” manifesting itself as a lack of connection, anxiety, and loneliness across all social classes.
Through our grantmaking in health, education, social welfare, community vibrancy, and racial equity, the Foundation’s mission is to help create a community where everyone – natives and newcomers alike – can forge powerful bonds with the community and achieve greater success.
WE IMAGINE A CITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE TOOLS NEEDED TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A GREAT LIFE.
Through our innovative approach to the standard philanthropic “Theory of Change,” as a more ambitious “Theory of Great” – focusing on what constitutes a great life, childhood, young adulthood, and lifetime for our citizens, we strive to identify promising initiatives and policies in health, education, social welfare, and relief of the impoverished while prioritizing the historical, cultural, and shared narratives that shape our interactions and solutions.
By contemplating the necessary conditions that nurture greatness, we aim to create fertile ground for growth and prosperity in our beloved city of Charlotte. Together, we hope to cultivate the soil and plant the seeds for a brighter, more connected future. We are investing in ideas worth trying.
