$10 million latest gift from David and Nicole Tepper delivers lifeline to area food banks
David and Nicole Tepper have announced a landmark $10 million donation through their foundation to support food banks across North and South Carolina, marking the largest single charitable gift in the foundation’s history.
The funds will be distributed across ten regional food banks at a time when hunger relief organizations are seeing record demand and facing declines in both public and private funding.
This latest contribution underscores the Teppers’ deepening commitment to combating food insecurity in the Carolinas, where their philanthropic presence has grown steadily since David Tepper acquired the Carolina Panthers in 2018.
The $10 million grant will benefit food banks including the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Lowcountry Food Bank, and others, covering both urban and rural regions.
According to the Foundation, the grant was made in response to urgent appeals from hunger relief partners facing supply shortages, higher food costs, and an uptick in need among working families. In a joint statement, David and Nicole Tepper said it was critical to act swiftly:
“We learned of the growing strain on our partner food banks—it was important for us to respond quickly. Our communities are facing a food crisis, and we want to ensure they have resources to serve those in need every day.”
This isn’t the first time the Teppers have backed food banks with significant support. Earlier this year, the Foundation increased its annual grants by 15%, awarding $1.3 million to the same network of food banks, with additional increases already committed for 2026. In recent years, they have also supported infrastructure projects like the $3 million “Hunger Hub” in Charlotte, a 90,000-square-foot facility set to transform food distribution in Mecklenburg County.
Other past initiatives include funding smart food lockers with the Lowcountry Food Bank to provide 24/7 access in underserved communities, and the donation of 100 garden boxes and a new irrigation system in partnership with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to support long-term community nutrition.
Since launching the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation in 2020, the couple has steadily expanded their philanthropic reach, targeting issues such as food insecurity, education, health equity, and disaster response. They have also supported literacy and learning, including a $10 million donation in 2022 to fund the new Charlotte Mecklenburg Main Library.
But food insecurity has remained a consistent, hands-on priority. During COVID and after hurricanes, the foundation responded with emergency grants to keep food lines open and shelves stocked.
This most recent $10 million gift is more than a generous donation—it is a strategic response to a crisis, crafted in close collaboration with regional food bank leaders and intended to deliver both immediate relief and long-term impact.
It solidifies the Teppers’ place among the most impactful regional philanthropists in the southeastern U.S., blending vision, urgency, and follow-through in their giving.
With more support already pledged for 2026, it’s clear that this is not a one-time gesture but a sustained commitment to helping neighbors in need.