2025 Artist Opportunity Grants

The Golden LEAF Foundation's Open Grants Program is designed to strengthen North Carolina's economy, particularly in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. This program aligns directly with the foundation's mission to use its entrusted funds for projects with the highest potential for economic impact. The grants, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, are available to governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations across all North Carolina counties. The program targets communities and organizations capable of driving economic development in three priority areas: Job Creation and Economic Investment, Workforce Preparedness, and Agriculture. The impact goals are to foster economic growth and create opportunities in these specific sectors, ultimately benefiting the residents and businesses within the designated communities. The foundation's strategic priority is to invest in projects that demonstrate a clear potential for strengthening the state's economy. Competitive projects are those that seek funds to develop new workforce training programs, implement career pathways in high schools for high-demand fields, extend infrastructure to enable industrial development and job creation, or support new crops, expand agricultural markets, and provide farmer training. These focuses reflect the foundation's theory of change, which posits that targeted investments in these areas will lead to measurable economic improvements. While most awards are expected to be $200,000 or less, projects eligible for grants over $200,000 must demonstrate additional outcomes commensurate with the increased funding, result from multi-organizational planning with continued community engagement, build on a history of success to scale projects, be collaborative with innovative or regional features, leverage significant funding from other organizations, or be from applicants with limited resources where phased implementation would compromise outcomes. The expected outcomes are the creation of full-time jobs, enhanced workforce skills, improved agricultural practices, and overall economic revitalization in North Carolina.