North Carolina Employment Labor and Training Grants

This funding supports Southern nonprofit organizations and government entities in enhancing their artistic programming and professional development through travel and training opportunities.

This program provides financial support to individual artists and small collectives in North Carolina to enhance their artistic skills and business operations, enabling them to reach new audiences.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

The Greenville Zoo Conservation Grants support and promote conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all living things. Donor Name: Greenville Zoo State: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/21/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Foundation have many values that support the mission, including promoting conservation and sustainability, actively seeking knowledge through science, and collaborating with others to maximize the impact and achieve greater goals. In fulfillment of the mission, the Greenville Zoo has established a fund for local conservation projects (those occurring in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) as well as national and international projects by utilizing funds from the “Quarters for Conservation” program.  Conservation grants are awarded to projects that focus on Field Conservation (the conservation of free-ranging wildlife or habitat), Conservation Research, or Conservation Education. Local projects receive preferred funding priority. Projects including species and habitats at risk will be receive greater weight in application review. Grant Categories Conservation Research   – Projects that involve the scientific method with a primary focus on studying questions relevant to free-ranging wildlife or habitat conservation (i.e., hypothesis or question-driven, with systematic data collection and analysis with conclusions that can be applied to conservation efforts). Examples include health/physiologic assessment of a species, collection of environmental data such as water quality, etc.) Conservation Education – Projects that raise public awareness and appreciation of wildlife conservation issues, stimulate conservation action, transfer skills and technology, and/or empower new conservation leaders, particularly those locally-based (e.g. create/print instructional materials, formal or informal education classes or curricula, capacity-building efforts, etc.) Field Conservation – Projects that directly and actively contribute to the long-term survival of species in natural ecosystems and habitats. These projects can either impact wildlife directly or the habitats within which they live (e.g. population management, breeding and reintroduction programs, human-wildlife conflict, restoration or maintenance of a natural area, reforestation/ tree-planting, field studies of free-ranging species, etc.). Certain ex-situ efforts that provide a positive impact on imperiled species and their sustainability may be eligible for this category. Funding Information New Grants Program: $300 to $1,500 Awarded to applicants whose projects they have never supported before Grant request cannot exceed $1,500 Continuing Grants Program: Up to $3,500 For applicants with whom the Greenville Zoo has an established relationship. An established relationship includes those applicants who have received funding from us in the past. (e.g., applicants who have received grant funding from us previously and have successfully fulfilled the requirements of the grant awardee, including providing regular updates on project progress). Application Requirements  Application package should include: Completed application. If available, a full proposal is encouraged to be attached for reference, but all questions in the body of the application still need to be fully answered. Answers of “See attached” or similar will cause the application to not be considered. A detailed budget (estimates are acceptable). If there is a particular line item(s) that you would like funded by this grant, please specify. Three photos, diagrams, or other images with captions related to the proposed conservation project. List a minimum of three professional references with contact information and affiliations. Letter(s) of reference can also be provided.  At least one letter of support or collaboration is required. These should originate from an academic institution with which the applicant is working (e.g. thesis project) or from an agency and/or range country within which the project is being held to indicate collaboration and/or permission for its implementation there. Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) and those of the principal investigator(s) if different than applicant If applicable: A map of the research or conservation site. If applicable (i.e., the project involves manipulation and/or handling of live animals): Please include a copy of your institution’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Policy (IACUC), your project’s IACUC submission and approval along with the full project design or proposal. Optional: Additional articles, cited literature references, and other documents that assist in project justification or description can strengthen the application. Additional details regarding your project may be requested by the Conservation and Research Committee before a decision is made. For more information, visit Greenville Zoo.

The North Carolina IOLTA is requesting applications for its Civil Legal Aid Grant Program. Donor Name: North Carolina State Bar State: North Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/30/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: NC IOLTA’s Civil Legal Aid Grant Program provides general support for a network of organizations, including both civil legal aid organizations and other agencies that provide civil legal aid, that together provide basic access to the justice system for indigent people residing in every county in North Carolina. Civil legal aid includes direct representation of eligible clients and client groups as well as related training and technical assistance. An organization or program may be providing services through staff attorneys and advocates or using volunteer lawyers on a pro bono basis. Areas of Funding Civil Legal Aid Grants  General Civil Legal Aid Grants are offered to legal aid organizations, defined as a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code whose primary purpose is to provide civil legal aid to low-income clients. General Civil Legal Aid Grants are intended to provide general programmatic support to civil legal aid organizations to broadly support legal services for eligible clients. Project Support Grants are offered to legal aid organizations or other entities that run legal aid programs (such as social service providers, advocacy organizations, and other nonprofits that provide other non-legal services in addition to the legal services provided). Project Support Grants are intended to support programs focused on particular client subgroups or particular types of client services, especially where the clients served are not being reached or the program offers services that are not otherwise available through civil legal aid organizations. Pro Bono Support Grants. Pro Bono Support Grants are offered to support the development and expansion of efforts to engage lawyers and other legal professionals in the provision of voluntary legal services. Note that a pro bono program that does not focus their efforts specifically on indigent clients is not eligible for a Pro Bono Support Grant under the Civil Legal Aid Grant Program but may apply under the Administration of Justice Grant Program. System Support Grants. System Support Grants are offered to support efforts to improve the system of the delivery of civil legal aid by increasing program efficiency, effectiveness, and collaboration. Examples of some efforts within this area of funding include training, research and evaluation, program innovations, website development or updates, online platforms or tools, and planning and sustainability efforts.  Funding Criteria Preference generally will be given to requests from applicants:  Providing direct representation of clients or client groups, including engaging in a range of services from extended representation to brief advice offered through a variety of methods, offering community legal education to clients, and supporting community economic development through services to client groups;  Who are staffed civil legal aid organizations, as the most effective and efficient means by which to deliver high quality legal assistance to the poor, including pro bono efforts as an important supplement to staffed legal services;  Who are current qualified providers over additional, separate programs except where a separate program can address client needs more effectively and efficiently;  Having diverse funding sources; Grant period January 1 – December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  In addition to meeting the stated eligibility for all NC IOLTA grants, to be eligible for funding from NC IOLTA under the Civil Legal Aid Grant Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:  Serve North Carolina residents who are indigent, defined as individuals who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or who are eligible to receive public assistance through a government program for the indigent. In addition to income, programs may consider other relevant factors in determining financial eligibility for services, including access to liquid assets, fixed debts and obligations, and family size for example.  The organization may also consider availability of income, i.e., whether the individual seeking assistance has direct and unfettered access, without having to obtain the consent or cooperation of another person over whom the individual does not have control and who does not in fact consent or cooperate.  If an organization uses a definition of indigent or low-income clients, for all or a portion of its clients that is different from the above, it must be able to show that a majority of its clients fall within the stated NC IOLTA definition.  Provide services without charge to the client. An organization will not be disqualified from receiving funds from NC IOLTA for charging nominal fees as long as the organization allows for the complete waiver of fees in cases where clients cannot pay the fee. The Board reserves the right to approve grants to an organization charging significantly reduced fees in areas of law where services are otherwise unavailable to low-income clients. Grantees that charge fees, whether nominal or reduced, are required to provide a copy of their client fee policy and schedule to NC IOLTA and include information on fees received in their regular financial reports to NC IOLTA, including information about the number of fee waivers provided to clients. For more information, visit North Carolina State Bar.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers with employment services, training, and housing solutions.

The Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP) supports diverse programs with a common goal: to enable primary and secondary students to participate in creative, hands-on STEM activities for K-12 students and pursue inquiry-based exploration in BWF’s home state of North Carolina. Donor Name: Burroughs Wellcome Fund State: North Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/11/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: These awards provide up to $60,000 per year for three years. Since the program’s inception in 1996, BWF has awarded 288 grants totaling $43.3 million to 136 organizations that reach more than 43,000 North Carolina students. Program Goals In line with the mission of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, projects that are funded under SSEP must seek to attain three goals: improving students’ competence in science and mathematics nurturing student enthusiasm for science and mathematics interesting students in pursuing careers in research or other science-related areas. Funding Information The grant provides up to $60,000 per year for three years for a maximum of $180,000. Eligibility Criteria  The Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP) is open to nonprofit organizations in North Carolina. Eligible organizations include public and private schools, colleges and universities, community groups, museums, zoos, scientific groups, and others that can provide experiential activities for K-12 North Carolina students. Individuals and nonprofit organizations that offer religious programming are not eligible for SSEP awards. Guidelines  Successful projects generally include the following examples of activities to achieve these goals: helping students learn the basic process skills in scientific inquiry—observing, comparing, measuring (using apparatus), communicating, analyzing, generating, and evaluating providing students with opportunities that will increase their insight into and appreciation of the investigative process supplying students with STEM-related career information and introducing career prospects connecting science and mathematics to students’ daily lives and providing an opportunity to use technology in project activities enabling students to interact with scientists and other STEM professionals providing students with opportunities to explain their knowledge of STEM to others providing guidance on how students may connect with other ongoing STEM-related programs involving parents in program activities For more information, visit Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state, regional, and local economic development organizations to create full-time jobs in economically distressed areas of North Carolina.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Mecklenburg County that provide essential services to residents, focusing on community connectivity, economic opportunities, health, and safety.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in western North Carolina to enhance youth mental health and resilience through collaborative, youth-led initiatives, particularly in areas affected by economic distress and natural disasters.

Mountain BizWorks in North Carolina is offering 20 micro-grants of $2,500 each to startups and emerging businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups, aiming to support their growth and contribution to the local community.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation is seeking applications to expand access to mental and behavioral health services and resources for youth through models that are effective in the short term (1-3 years), and which leverage a trained workforce that goes beyond specialty trained behavioral health care clinical and professional roles. Donor Name: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation State: North Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The trained workforce may include a variety of health and other professionals who regularly work with or on behalf of youth and are trained to identify, understand, and respond to the signs/symptoms of distress, trauma, mental health changes, or substance use and provide initial support and connection to resources for youth. Approaches should be effective at engaging communities that have significant barriers in access to care and may operate in communities, schools, health systems, faith-based settings, or other settings. Funding may support, among other things, strengthening organizational capacity or infrastructure, connecting care across settings, increasing access to training opportunities, and/or increasing access to culturally and linguistically relevant resources and materials for youth mental and behavioral health. Funding Information To support a variety of approaches, proposals can range from $75,000 to $500,000 per year, for up to three years. Grant Period Grant start date By November 1, 2024. Grant end date By November 30, 2027. Eligibility Criteria  Organization Size There are no limitations or minimum requirements with regard to an entities’ operating budget. Organizations of all sizes are eligible to apply. Organization Type Nonprofit: An organization that is exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is classified as “not a private foundation” under Section 509(a). Fiscally sponsored program: A group or project with a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization acting as a fiscal sponsor. Please note that the fiscal sponsor is considered the grantee and is responsible for all legal aspects of the project including reporting and financial management. Government entity or public instrumentality: This can include schools, tribal governments, etc. Coalitions: Applications involving more than one group or organization are welcome; however, one organization will be the recipient of the grant and must meet any of the criteria above. If a coalition applicant is invited for a finalist conversation, all coalition partners are expected to participate in the interview. Letters of support are not required for application submission. Organizations and coalitions of any size are eligible to apply if the other eligibility criteria have been met. For more information, visit BCBSNCF.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in North Carolina that create innovative programs to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems and promote economic growth.

This grant provides financial support to arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, and local schools in Rowan County to enhance access to arts and cultural opportunities.

READY Community Foundations, part of ARC's READY Appalachia initiative, offers no-cost training to community foundations in Appalachia. Participants will build skills in financial management, fundraising, grantmaking, and strategic planning. Eligible foundations can apply for up to $25,000 in funding to implement capacity-building projects post-training. Applications are due by July 5, 2024.

This program provides financial support to individual family farmers and community organizations in North Carolina for projects that enhance agricultural operations and promote local farming initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Cumberland and surrounding counties for projects that benefit children from birth to 18 years old.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers, focusing on enhancing job training, education, employment services, housing stability, and youth development initiatives.

The Artist Support Grant provides direct support to individual artists for professional and artistic development, either to enhance their skills and abilities to create work, or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring the work to audiences. Donor Name: Stokes County Arts Council State: North Carolina County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding Information $500 – $1,500 Eligibility Criteria The Artist Support Grant is intended to support a broad range of talented visual, performing, literary, and interdisciplinary artists. Emerging and established artists  Eligible candidates may be either emerging or established artists. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to spending a significant portion of their time on their work as artists. Individuals and groups  Individuals and Artist Collectives Both individual artists and small, unincorporated groups of collaborating artists are eligible to apply.  All members of a collaborating team must be North Carolina residents, live in the region where they are applying, and meet the other eligibility requirements. Résumés documenting residence from all team members should be included with the application. Residency  Artists should have lived in the region where they are applying continuously for at least one year prior to the consortium’s application deadline. An applicant must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. Proof of residence and status may be required by the consortium. Artists who live in more than one region should apply only where they spend the majority of the year. Regions Region 2: Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington  Region 10: Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin  Region 14: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell and McDowell  Region 16: Avery, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey For more information, visit Stokes County Arts Council.

The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) is currently applications for the 2024 Infrastructure Grant Program. Donor Name: Rural Advancement Foundation International State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: RAFI provides support to Historically Underserved farmers and ranchers  for projects that demonstrate an ability to increase farm viability; establish new markets for local products and services; develop new uses for existing structures and equipment; add value to existing farm products through processing, packaging or marketing; make optimal use of on-farm and natural resources; and Cultural/Heritage projects which are focused on preserving and continuing a specific agrarian tradition.  Funding priority will be given to proposals with: High expected impact on farm viability and sustainability Strong project feasibility and planning: a clear plan, detailed budget and timeline, and all supporting documentation included.  Farmers who earn a significant amount of their household income from the farm operation.  Individual financial need, or location in an economically disadvantaged area Project tangibly benefits the surrounding community Farm uses agroecological and/or or ancestral farming practices  Funding Information Applicants may request up to $10,000 in funding.  Eligibility Criteria You are a historically underserved farmer or rancher, as defined by NRCS.  You are applying as either an individual farmer owner/co-owner or as a farm cooperative If applying as a cooperative or collaborative, at least 50% of the cooperative or collaborative must meet eligibility criteria.  You are in at least your fourth full growing season of farming and have worked at least two years in your current farming operation and location.  You are a “livelihood” farmer/rancher or are seeking a long term career that financially supports you through agriculture  You complete and submit an application by the deadline. You submit only one application (as an individual or a collective). If you submit more than one application, neither will be considered. You have NOT received a RAFI infrastructure grant before (2020-2023).  Your farm is located in one of the following states AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, or VA. For more information, visit RAFI.