Community Impact Micro-Award Program

The Community Impact Micro-Award Program FY 2026–2027 is a local funding initiative administered by Cumberland County, North Carolina. This program provides targeted, short-term financial support to nonprofit organizations serving low-to-moderate income individuals within the county. Its primary objective is to reinforce and expand the capacity of eligible organizations delivering essential services to vulnerable populations. With a reimbursement-based structure, each award can provide up to $3,500 per organization to supplement and enhance their broader mission-related efforts. The program is grounded in North Carolina General Statute § 160D-1311(a)(2), which supports funding initiatives that advance a clearly defined public purpose. Eligible applicants must demonstrate that their services directly benefit Cumberland County residents. The funds are not intended for general organizational operating costs but must support specific programmatic activities that align with the fund’s public-serving objectives. The program is especially well-suited for grassroots organizations or small nonprofits with a focused impact and limited access to larger-scale funding sources. Funding may be used for initiatives that fall into five designated program categories: Health and Human Services, Religious and Faith-Based Services, Public Safety and Emergency Response, Educational and Youth Development, and Arts, Culture, and Community Development. Examples include food assistance, mental health services, after-school programming, mentorship, domestic violence shelters, disaster preparedness efforts, cultural preservation, and economic revitalization projects. Religious and faith-based organizations may apply, provided the funded activities serve a secular public purpose such as emergency relief or community food distribution. The application process began on March 2, 2026, with a public webinar that outlined eligibility criteria, application instructions, and key deadlines. This recorded webinar remains available as a resource for applicants. Applications opened on March 2, 2026, at 7:30 PM Eastern Time and will close on March 27, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The application process is designed to be accessible to smaller organizations and requires online submission through a designated county platform. Award decisions are expected to be made after the close of the application window. Since this is a reimbursement-based grant, recipients must incur and document eligible expenses before requesting payment. There is no mention of matching requirements, and the program does not specify whether it will recur in future years, suggesting a one-time funding opportunity unless otherwise updated. For questions or assistance with the application process, organizations may contact the Community Impact Grant Nonprofit Team (CIGN) by phone at 910-678-7776 or via email at [email protected]. The team is available to provide both programmatic guidance and technical support. Cumberland County encourages all eligible local nonprofits to consider applying and help advance community well-being across its service areas.