Community Health & Wellness Grant Program

The Wayne County ABC Community Health & Wellness Annual Grant Program offers funding to address alcohol and substance use disorder challenges through education, prevention, treatment, and research. Established under the authority of Chapter 18B-805(h) of the North Carolina General Statutes, this program is administered by the Wayne County Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board. Since 2021, the Board has distributed proceeds from distilled spirit sales back into the community through statutory allocations dedicated to alcohol education initiatives. The overarching goal of the program is to improve the health and wellness of Wayne County residents, with a particular focus on underserved populations. The program supports new and innovative initiatives or significant enhancements to existing projects that demonstrate effectiveness and sustainability. The program is open to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and governmental entities that are located in and serve Wayne County, North Carolina. Fiscal sponsorship arrangements are not accepted. Applicants must have at least three consecutive years of demonstrated organizational strength, including leadership stability, a strong track record, and sustainable outcomes. An audit or financial review conducted by a licensed CPA within the past two years (2024 or 2025) is required. For funding requests above $25,000, an independent audit is mandatory. Applications may be submitted only once per organization for each fiscal year, and only one project per application is permitted. Eligible applicants can request funding ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Projects must begin on or after July 1, 2026, and all awarded funds must be spent or encumbered by June 30, 2027. For grants of $25,000 or less, disbursement is provided in a single payment. For larger grants, 50% of the award is initially disbursed, with the remaining 50% released after submission and review of a semi-annual written goal report. Reporting obligations also include two human-interest stories with photographs to be submitted alongside the interim and final reports, as well as periodic site visits and compliance reviews. Use of grant funds is limited to direct programmatic costs related to the education, prevention, treatment, or research of substance use disorder. Prohibited uses include lobbying, political campaigning, support for faith-based exclusivity, discrimination, or unlawful activities. Sub-grants, sub-contracts, and general operating expenses (including rent and salaries not directly tied to the project) are also not permitted. Any requested changes to the scope of work or budget must be submitted in writing to the ABC Board and are subject to formal review and approval. The grant review process is carried out by a Grants Evaluation Team composed of ABC Board members and staff. Proposals are evaluated based on alignment with funding priorities, organizational capacity, project innovation, and potential for measurable impact. Only applicants who advance to the final evaluation stage are invited to present their proposal and may be required to host a site visit. Notification of award decisions will be made by May 31, 2026. Successful applicants must attend a mandatory June meeting to review grant expectations and reporting requirements.

Applicants should prioritize underserved populations and demonstrate organizational capacity and alignment with funding focus.