North Carolina Education Grants

The 2024 Women in Motion Grant is a capacity-building grant offering operational funding to an organization serving women in the greater High Point community, including Archdale, Trinity, Thomasville, and Jamestown. Eligible organizations must have existed for five years or less or have an operational budget of $100,000 or less. The grant focuses on enabling women in the workforce to achieve economic and professional growth, with areas of focus including education, mentorship, resources, and wellness. The maximum grant request amount is $10,000. Women in Motion seeks to partner with community organizations to create solutions that support women's economic and professional growth, leading to increased leadership roles. The grant supports organizations that help women negotiate and advocate for themselves, provide networking and growth opportunities, tap into community resources for professional success, and balance personal wellness with professional demands.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based nonprofit projects that promote civic pride, historical education, environmental stewardship, and veteran assistance in areas served by Duke Energy, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

This grant provides funding to governmental entities and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina for projects that promote economic development, job creation, and workforce training, particularly in rural and tobacco-dependent communities.

This funding opportunity provides $7,000 to community-based organizations in North Carolina to implement health-promoting programs for historically marginalized populations, focusing on chronic disease prevention and management.

The Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Grant, offered by Orange County Animal Services in North Carolina, provides up to $500 for individuals, groups, or organizations to fund animal welfare initiatives in Orange County, honoring the legacy of former Animal Protection Society Executive Director, Pat Sanford.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that help families experiencing homelessness access quality child care and educational programs.

Grant Opportunity: Burke Youth Organized Philanthropists Program and Intent: The Burke Youth Organized Philanthropists (BYOP) is a program operating under the Community Foundation of Burke County. It was created in 2016 with the aim of engaging and empowering youth to strengthen the community. BYOP consists of high school students from Burke County and recognized homeschools who develop philanthropy skills and gain a better understanding of the needs in the county. They conduct an annual grant cycle to evaluate applications from nonprofits serving children (ages 0-18) and their families. Funder: Community Foundation of Burke County Award Details: Funding guidelines for the 2024 Grant Cycle will be announced in February 2024. Specific award details are not provided. Eligibility: Nonprofits serving children (ages 0-18) and their families are eligible to apply for grants through BYOP. For more information on becoming a member of BYOP or becoming a donor, contact the Foundation Office at (828) 437-7105.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments, recycling businesses, nonprofits, multifamily property owners, public housing authorities, and colleges for developing or improving recycling programs in multifamily residences across North Carolina.

This funding opportunity supports North Carolina nonprofit organizations in addressing community-defined oral health needs and reducing disparities through advocacy and educational outreach.

This funding opportunity supports schools and organizations in providing long-term artist residencies that enhance students' arts education through hands-on learning experiences.

This competition provides financial support to young artists in Catawba County, North Carolina, to help them further their education and development in visual and literary arts.

This funding initiative provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to enhance essential services for low-to-moderate income individuals and vulnerable populations.

This program provides financial support to non-profit and municipal science museums in North Carolina, particularly those in economically distressed areas, to enhance science education and literacy through diverse learning experiences.

The Harnett County Community Foundation (HCCF) is actively seeking grant applications from qualified charitable organizations dedicated to serving the local community. This grant program is designed to address a broad spectrum of local needs, aligning with the HCCF's mission to foster community well-being and development. By supporting a diverse range of purposes, the foundation aims to strengthen the social fabric and improve the quality of life within Harnett County. The grantmaking funds are primarily directed towards areas such as human services, education, youth development, health, food/nutrition, and arts. The target beneficiaries are individuals and groups within Harnett County who benefit from these essential services and programs. The impact goal is to create a healthier, more educated, and enriched community, addressing critical needs and fostering sustainable growth in various sectors. The HCCF's strategic priorities and theory of change are centered on empowering local organizations that can deliver tangible benefits to the community. The foundation believes that by investing in these diverse areas, it can create a ripple effect of positive change. While specific expected outcomes and measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the general intent is to support programs that demonstrate a clear capacity to meet local needs and contribute to the overall welfare of Harnett County residents. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $3,000, with a broader size of $1,000 to $10,000 possible, indicating a flexible approach to funding based on the scope and impact of proposed projects. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) public charity nonprofits, organizations with a fiscal agent, local governments, fire and rescue departments, and religious entities focusing on social outreach. This inclusive eligibility criteria ensures that a wide array of community-serving bodies can apply, further broadening the potential impact of the grants.

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation's 2024 Legacy Grant program is designed to honor Mrs. Sewall's enduring interests and philanthropic legacy. The foundation's mission alignment is rooted in supporting a select group of organizations with whom Mrs. Sewall had personal relationships and affinity, and who continue to advance the work she funded during her lifetime. This reflects a strategic priority to sustain and perpetuate the impact of her personal philanthropy, acting as a direct extension of her lifelong commitment. The primary target beneficiaries for this grant are organizations that align with Mrs. Sewall's historical funding priorities. These include 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organizations, public schools, public agencies working for the State of Maine, and Indian tribal governments (and their political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior. The impact goal is to ensure the continued vitality and effectiveness of these established partnerships, allowing them to further their work in areas important to Mrs. Sewall. The program's priorities and focuses are centered on maintaining the integrity of Mrs. Sewall's philanthropic vision. The grant specifically seeks to support organizations that demonstrate a continued commitment to the types of initiatives she championed. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the continuation of existing work, the expected outcomes revolve around sustaining the impact of these organizations over the grant duration, which can be 12, 24, or 36 months. The theory of change implicit in this program is that by providing consistent, multi-year funding to trusted partners, the foundation can ensure the long-term success and stability of programs that align with its founder's values. The foundation's strategic priorities are to honor its founder's legacy by supporting organizations that were meaningful to her, ensuring that her lifetime of philanthropy continues to resonate within the community. The Legacy Grant embodies this by providing stable support, allowing these organizations to focus on their core missions. This approach emphasizes continuity and relationship-building as key drivers for achieving sustained impact and honoring the philanthropic vision of Elmina B. Sewall.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Burke County, North Carolina, to support programs that improve mental health and well-being for children and families.

The Pigeon River Fund (PRF), managed by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), aims to enhance the streams and rivers within Haywood, Buncombe, and Madison counties. This mission directly aligns with CFWNC's strategic priority of improving regional environmental health and quality of life. The fund primarily targets projects that provide direct benefits in areas such as improved surface water quality, enhanced fish and wildlife management and habitats, expanded public access to waterways, and increased citizen awareness regarding their roles in protecting these vital resources. This aligns with a theory of change that by investing in direct improvements and community engagement, the overall health and sustainability of local aquatic ecosystems will be uplifted. The PRF supports a range of projects with specific focuses and priorities. Higher priority is given to efforts that address water quality issues in streams or watersheds identified as priorities in county action plans, especially those promoting collaborative or coordinated projects with long-term benefits. Education and awareness initiatives, particularly those helping individuals understand their impact on the river basin's health, are also highly valued. Furthermore, the installation of water quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) or other stream improvements that are part of a coordinated, multi-faceted effort and result in significant water quality improvement are considered high priority. Conversely, scattered projects, government agency operating support (especially staffing), and projects related to regulation enforcement are generally lower priority. The grant program seeks to achieve measurable results and expected outcomes. Projects are anticipated to lead to tangible improvements in surface water quality, as well as an increase in the health and diversity of fish and wildlife populations. Expanded public access to rivers and streams is another key outcome, fostering greater community engagement with these natural resources. Additionally, the program aims to increase citizens' awareness and understanding of water quality issues, empowering them to take more active roles in environmental protection. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $35,000 for one year, with some exceptions, and are contingent on the leveraging of other funds or in-kind resources to maximize impact. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and governmental entities serving Buncombe, Haywood, or Madison counties. The grant requests are expected to demonstrate how they will address at least one of the four focus areas, contributing to the fund's overall impact goals. The emphasis on coordinated, long-term, and educational projects reflects CFWNC's strategic approach to fostering sustainable environmental improvements and building a more engaged and knowledgeable community in Western North Carolina.

The Cashiers Community Fund, managed by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), aims to enhance the quality of life for residents in Cashiers, North Carolina. This grant program directly aligns with CFWNC's mission to support projects that benefit local communities. The fund provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for a variety of charitable purposes, including programmatic needs, capital campaigns, and operating expenses, demonstrating a commitment to comprehensive community development. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, governmental, educational, and religious organizations with a documented history of substantial work in Cashiers. The impact goal is to support initiatives that yield significant community benefits, fostering a stronger and more vibrant Cashiers. Organizations that can demonstrate the greatest community impact through their proposed projects are given the highest consideration. The fund prioritizes projects that address direct community needs and offer sustainable benefits. While the grant details don't explicitly outline CFWNC's overarching strategic priorities or theory of change, the focus on community benefit and supporting established local organizations suggests a strategy of empowering existing infrastructure and initiatives to achieve local impact. The grants generally do not support annual giving campaigns, scholarships, sectarian religious purposes, partisan political purposes, endowment funds, deficit funding, debt retirement, one-time events, or private primary and secondary schools (unless the project directly addresses community needs outside the school's students or staff). Expected outcomes include improved services, enhanced community resources, and strengthened local organizations in Cashiers. The grant duration of one year, with funds to be expended within that timeframe, implies an expectation of timely implementation and measurable progress. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on "greatest community benefit" suggests that successful applicants will be able to articulate and demonstrate the positive changes their projects will bring to the Cashiers community. For more information, interested organizations are directed to visit the CFWNC website.

The Women's Fund of Winston-Salem offers annual grants up to $15,000 to organizations in Forsyth County, North Carolina, that are dedicated to building economic security for women and girls. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to address systemic barriers contributing to gender and racial disparities within the community. The grants are designed to support programs that enhance economic, educational, physical health, and emotional well-being, ultimately improving the overall quality of life for women and girls in the region. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are women and girls in Forsyth County, NC, particularly those served by smaller, newer, or women of color-led organizations. The program aims to increase economic security and mobility for these target groups. Impact goals include fostering opportunities that lead to improved economic, educational, physical health, and emotional well-being. The Women's Fund prioritizes funding for organizations with an annual revenue of $250,000 or less, those led by women of color (with more than 50% of decision-makers identifying as such), and organizations that actively involve women or girls in the design or implementation of their programs. These priorities reflect the foundation's strategic approach to addressing the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in securing funding. Eligible grant proposals must focus on increasing economic security and/or mobility for women and girls, benefit and positively impact women and girls, and be implemented in Forsyth County, NC. The grants are open to 501(c)(3) organizations, government or public agencies, and faith-based organizations, with provisions for fiscal agents for organizations without 501(c)(3) status. This framework reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by supporting these specific types of organizations and focus areas, they can create measurable positive outcomes for women and girls in the community.

This grant provides funding to K–12 public schools and nonprofit arts organizations in North Carolina to deliver high-quality arts performances and residencies that promote student resilience and emotional well-being.