North Carolina Employment Labor and Training Grants

This funding opportunity is designed to support nonprofit organizations and community-based entities in Fayetteville, North Carolina, that are working to reduce opioid overdoses and improve health outcomes through various evidence-based programs and services.

The Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust offers grants for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes in selected counties of North Carolina, covering areas like arts, culture, education, health, and more, with the condition that funds must not be used for political activities or for redistributing to other organizations.

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.

The Artist Support Grant, funded by Dare Arts in North Carolina, offers $500 to $1,000 to individual artists and small artist groups for professional development, completion of new work, career promotion, training, travel, and artist fees, with eligibility limited to residents of selected counties who are not full-time students or recipients of other FY 2024-2025 N.C. Arts Council funding.

This grant provides funding to recycling businesses and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina to enhance their capacity and efficiency in diverting materials from the waste stream and creating jobs.

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

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.

This grant provides financial support to individual artists and small groups in North Carolina for projects that enhance their artistic skills, promote their work, or create new art.

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.

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.

The Watauga Arts Council is seeking applications for its Grassroots Grants to provide support for high-quality programming in the performing, visual, literary, and traditional arts. Donor Name: Watauga Arts Council State: North Carolina County: Watauga County (NC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Programming choices are responsive to community needs and demonstrate improvement and innovation. Programming choices also engage constituents across geographic, cultural, social, and economic strata. Fosters collaborative relationships with and provide services and support to county arts organizations and other arts resources. Supports individual artists in the county through services and opportunities and compensates artists appropriately. Funding Priorities The directive is to prioritize funding for the following: Provide program or operating support to qualified arts organizations. Provide funds to support arts learning and arts-in-education programs conducted by qualified artists. These can be artist residencies in schools, after-school programs, summer camps, or adult arts learning classes. To support other community, civic, and municipal organizations that provide high-quality experiences for the greater community. These programs must be conducted by qualified artists. Funding Information Typical requests range from $800 – $4,000. Uses of Funds The three primary uses of Grassroots funds are as follows: Provide program or operating support through subgrants to arts organizations that do not receive operating support from the North Carolina Arts Council. Grassroots partners located in counties with 50,000 or more residents are required to subgrant at least 50 percent of their Grassroots allocation to other organizations in their counties to conduct arts programs. Grassroots partners located in counties with fewer than 50,000 residents must use 50 percent of their funds for arts programs that they conduct OR for subgrants to other organizations for arts programs using qualified artists. In either case, Grassroots partners are expected to provide support to qualified arts organizations in their counties that consistently present high-quality arts programs and that are not already receiving operating support from the N.C. Arts Council. Support high-quality arts programs that reach and impact a broad cross-section of the county’s citizens and youth. Eligibility Criteria Organizations must have been in operation for at least one year. While nonprofit 501(c)(3) status is preferred, organizations that are nonprofit in nature may also receive Grassroots Arts Program subgrants. Unincorporated nonprofits may have a fiscal agent or sponsor to receive the funds on their behalf. Watauga County nonprofit arts organizations such as, qualified arts organizations (where they exist), such as theaters, symphonies, galleries, art guilds, choral societies, dance companies, folk arts, societies, writer’s groups, and arts festivals. Applicant/organization must not be late on tax payments. Subgrants of Grassroots funds may not be awarded to arts organizations that already receive operating support directly from the N.C. Arts Council. For more information, visit Watauga Arts Council.

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.

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.

The Golden LEAF Foundation is currently accepting applications for the Open Grants Program. Donor Name: Golden LEAF Foundation State: North Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/20/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Priority Areas This program is for economic development projects aligned with the Golden LEAF priority areas. Job Creation and Economic Investment Workforce Preparedness Agriculture The Golden LEAF Foundation is committed to using the funds entrusted to it for projects that show the most potential for strengthening North Carolina’s economy, especially in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. Funding Information The Golden LEAF Board has indicated that most awards in the Open Grants Program will be for $200,000 or less. For projects that have certain characteristics, Golden LEAF will make awards of up to $500,000 from this program. Competitive Projects Competitive applications for projects include requests for funds to: Develop and implement a new workforce training program to meet demand from local employers Implement a career pathway at a high school for a high demand field Extend water, sewer, or road infrastructure to a site to enable industrial development that will create full-time jobs Support the development of new crops, expand markets for agriculture products, or provide training for farmers. Characteristics of Open Grants Projects Eligible for Funding of More Than $200,000 Golden LEAF expects that most grants in the Open Grants Program will be for $200,000 or less, and grants of more than $200,000 will be infrequent. To determine which projects will be eligible for consideration for an award of more than $200,000, Golden LEAF requires that the project include one or more of these characteristics: The applicant can clearly demonstrate and explain how the applicant would be able to achieve additional outcomes as a direct result of receiving more than $200,000 in funding, and the additional outcomes are commensurate with the additional funding. The project results from a planning process involving multiple organizations and members of the community that the project will serve, e.g., employers, and those organizations and individuals continue to be engaged in and will provide support to the project. The additional funding will build on a history of success and allow the applicant to scale a project to significantly increase the outcomes the project can achieve. The project is collaborative and includes some features that make the collaboration particularly compelling, such as the following characteristics: The collaboration is uncommon and includes innovative approaches. Golden LEAF funding will enable or encourage the collaboration. The project is regional, i.e., involves organizations in more than one county. A Golden LEAF award would leverage significant funding from other organizations, i.e., Golden LEAF is a small but important part of a larger project. The applicant has limited resources and has made efforts to secure funding from other sources. Implementing the project in phases would compromise its outcomes. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible applicants are governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit Golden LEAF Foundation.

The Gaston Community Foundation is currently accepting applications for 2024 Harold T. Sumner Professional Education Grants to improve the quality of life in Gaston County. Donor Name: Gaston Community Foundation State: North Carolina County: Gaston County (NC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/10/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Harold Townsend Sumner demonstrated in words and actions his belief that good citizens working together through independent charitable organizations are critical to improving quality of life in Gaston County.                                                     The Foundation sees this plan as a permanent tribute to Mr. Sumner’s service that is consistent with his vision for the community and the Foundation’s own mission. Requirements The Program: Annual grants by the Foundation to an independent charitable, cultural, or educational organization in Gaston County, earmarked for special professional training / educational opportunity for a key professional staff member with at least one year of service in the nominating organization. Preference is giving for training that is local / in-state. The maximum amount awarded in this year will be $5,000. The Foundation may grant either one or more grants from that total amount. However, no grant will be made if, in the Foundation’s sole discretion, no deserving applications are received. Awards will be based on direct nomination by a tax-exempt community organization meeting normal Foundation standards for grants from its unrestricted Funds on behalf of one of its staff members. An organization receiving a grant in one year will not be eligible to apply for the following year. Governmental agencies are not eligible for grants. Neither churches nor private schools can apply unless the duties of the individual applicant are clearly and totally in community programs as opposed to internal programs of the church or school. (These exclusions are consistent with Mr. Sumner’s belief that churches and governmental agencies are important – but should have their own sources of funding not overlapping with public charity.) The Foundation will establish a committee to select recipients in a fair and competitive manner. Key criteria will include the non-profit staff member’s professional record and the potential for positive results to benefit the nominating organization. For more information, visit Gaston Community Foundation.

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.

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.

The Asheville Area Arts Council is seeking applications for its Arts for Schools to provide in school arts programming for students attending economically disadvantaged schools. Donor Name: Asheville Area Arts Council State: North Carolina County: Buncombe County (NC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The Arts for Schools grant program helps Buncombe County nonprofit arts organizations and teaching artists provide arts focused performances, workshops, residencies, field trips for students attending Buncombe County and City of Asheville K-12 public schools. For a limited time, this grant will also include support for arts focused afterschool and camp programs. Funding Information Grants for in school programs range from $500-$2,000, and grants for out of school programs range from $500-$5,000. Program must take place between July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be located in Buncombe County for at least 1 year. Applicants must be a 501c3 nonprofit arts organization OR a qualified teaching artist. Qualified Teaching Artist- To be considered a qualified teaching artist, you must have either a BA or BFA in their specific art form, or an equivalent in training and experience. Must have at least 5 years of experience working in arts education. Programs must serve students in Buncombe County or City of Asheville K-12 public schools. Programs must be free for students and schools (this could include providing a specific number of scholarships). Align with North Carolina’s Common Core curriculum and Essential Standards For in school programs: A school partnership agreement form is required as part of your application. For out of school programs: Applicants are ineligible to apply if they already receive funding for the proposed arts-focused program from Dogwood Health Trust’s WNC After 3pm initiative. For camps: Only 501c3 nonprofit arts organizations may apply for funding for camps, and the camp must be a program of that arts nonprofit. For more information, visit ArtsAVL.

The Pigeon River Fund (PRF) exists to improve the streams and rivers of Haywood, Buncombe and Madison counties. Donor Name: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina State: North Carolina County: Buncombe County (NC), Haywood County (NC), Madison County (NC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: It supports projects and activities that provide direct benefits in at least one of the following focus areas: Improved surface water quality Enhanced fish and wildlife management and habitats Expanded public access Increased citizens’ awareness about their roles in protecting these resources Grant requests may address any of the four focus areas listed above. Listed below are additional expectations for grant applications. Grants are typically for one year and generally range from $5,000 to $35,000. Some grant requests may exceed $35,000 with prior approval of CFWNC staff. Conservation easement requests for transaction or acquisition costs should not exceed $30,000. PRF grants should leverage other funds or in-kind resources toward total project costs. PRF awards may be contingent on receipt of additional funds. In such cases, other necessary funds must be secured within 18 months of a PRF grant award. If the project is or will be ongoing, PRF funds should be allocated for a specific time period. Operating support is only considered for select organizations chosen by the PRF Advisory Committee. Operating support requests may not exceed $50,000. Grant funds may be used to support administrative costs, including a share of staff costs, when essential to the project. Higher priority projects: Support efforts to address water quality issues in streams or watersheds identified as priorities in county (or other authority) watershed action plans. A copy of the watershed plan should be uploaded with the application. Promote collaborative or coordinated projects that address comprehensive issues and that will have a long-term benefit. Encourage education and awareness of water quality issues, preferably focused on helping individuals understand how their actions relate to the overall health of the river basin. Install water quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) or other stream improvements that are part of a coordinated multi-faceted effort and that will result in significant water quality improvement. Lower priority projects: Scattered projects (including demonstration BMPs or other projects) not related to a coordinated effort to improve priority streams/watershed in the relevant community. Government agency operating support, especially staffing. Projects related to regulation enforcement that is the responsibility of government. Eligibility Criteria Tax-exempt organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and governmental entities serving Buncombe, Haywood or Madison counties are eligible to apply. For more information, visit CFWNC.

The Dr. Richard W. Adams Charitable Foundation supports a variety of charitable causes with a preference for supporting education in medical science, promoting agriculture and conservation, and preserving wildlife. Donor Name: Dr. Richard W. Adams Charitable Foundation State: North Carolina County: Davidson County (NC), Davie County (NC), Forsyth County (NC), Gaston County (NC), Iredell County (NC), Orange County (NC), Rockingham County (NC), Stokes County (NC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Areas Education Environment, animals Types of support Preference will be given to requests for the following: Requests from Wake Forest University School of Medicine with a strong preference for supporting long-time residents of the Piedmont region of North Carolina whose intent is to practice medicine in such region. Organizations to provide scholarships or other funding to help employees of Davis Regional Medical Center (Statesville, NC) or their family members pursue training in medical science. Organizations and programs promoting agriculture and conservation. Organizations and programs focused on preserving wildlife. Requirements To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt governmental units or charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users. Limitations There are no geographic limitations; however, the foundation primarily supports the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The foundation does not make grants directly to individuals. For more information, visit Wells Fargo.