Wake County Community Foundation Grant

The Wake County Community Foundation (WCCF), an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF), serves as a philanthropic resource for Wake County. Established in 1991, WCCF is led by a local volunteer advisory board and has developed a robust presence in the community through the creation of permanent endowments, targeted grantmaking, and by leveraging community leadership. The foundation functions as a grantmaker for local initiatives and offers a platform for donors seeking to make lasting impacts in Wake County. WCCF awards grants annually through a competitive process designed to support qualified charitable organizations that provide services to the local community. For the 2025 grant cycle, applications are accepted from June 27, 2025, through noon Eastern Time on July 29, 2025. Late submissions, including those caused by technical difficulties, will not be considered. Applications must be submitted through NCCF’s online grant portal, and first-time applicants must follow the instructions provided in Training Module I to create a profile before proceeding to Training Module II for application submission. Grants typically range between $500 and $1,000. However, two exceptional organizations may receive Impact Grants of up to $2,500. In 2024, WCCF disbursed $16,800 in total grants. Funding is drawn from both the community grantmaking fund and the Friends of BOMA Charitable Endowment. These resources support charitable work in both Wake and Durham counties and prioritize projects that strengthen communities, support families, enhance educational access, and assist veterans, active military members, and their families. To be eligible, applying organizations must be recognized charitable entities with annual operating budgets under $500,000. Only those serving Wake County communities are considered, and adherence to grant guidelines is essential for consideration. Failure to follow these guidelines results in automatic disqualification. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed, board members often consult an annual Community Needs Assessment to guide their decisions. Applicants are encouraged to review the Community Needs Assessment, located at the bottom of the WCCF webpage, to align proposals with identified local priorities. Grant decisions are typically announced within two months following the close of the application cycle. This allows applicants to plan programmatic activities accordingly, assuming awards are granted within the expected window. For more information or specific questions, applicants may contact the foundation’s Program Officer via the main NCCF office. The physical office is located at 3737 Glenwood Ave, Suite 460, Raleigh, NC 27612. Contact numbers include 919-828-4387 and 800-532-1349, with a fax line at 919-827-0749. Additional support, including training materials and application system guidance, is provided through the NCCF grant application portal.

Applications that do not adhere to guidelines will be ineligible for funding.