North Carolina Natural Resources Grants

This program provides financial assistance to marinas and boat docking facilities in North Carolina's coastal counties for installing or upgrading sewage pumpout stations to improve water quality.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit conservation organizations and county governments in North Carolina to develop and implement agricultural plans that help preserve farmland and strengthen the agricultural economy.

This program provides competitive funding to nonprofit conservation organizations and county governments in North Carolina to secure agricultural conservation easements on privately owned working lands, ensuring their preservation for agricultural use.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. states, territories, and eligible Indian tribes for implementing approved plans to prevent and manage invasive aquatic species.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects in the Appalachian region that protect wildlife habitats and enhance ecological connectivity, targeting community organizations, municipalities, and tribal nations.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit conservation organizations and county governments in North Carolina to assist farmers with projects that enhance agricultural production, sustainability, and economic development.

This funding program provides financial support to current grantees for purchasing conservation easements on agricultural and forest lands in North Carolina, helping to combat farmland loss.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state and local governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofits for projects aimed at managing and controlling invasive and noxious plant species on public lands across the U.S.

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

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SSARE) Education Grants program is designed to fund education and outreach activities that benefit the sustainable agriculture community. This grant directly aligns with SSARE's mission to promote efforts in farmer innovations, community resilience, business success, agricultural diversification, and best management practices. The core objective is to support projects that develop sustainable agriculture systems or move existing systems towards sustainability. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are farmers and farming communities, including those involved in indigenous agriculture producing for community food systems. Academic institutions, non-profits, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 1890 land-grant university faculty/extension cooperators, 1862 land-grant universities, other colleges and universities, and government agencies are eligible to apply, acting as facilitators for these educational initiatives. The impact goals are centered on fostering a more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable agricultural sector through knowledge dissemination and practical application. Education Grants prioritize projects that clearly articulate what is being taught, to whom, and how the goals will be accomplished. Focus areas include experiential learning (demonstrations, on-farm tours, field days, workshops), integrative approaches (conferences, seminars, course curriculum), and reinforcement methods (fact sheets, bulletins, videos, online technologies). SSARE also encourages proposals on quality of life topics, such as heirs property, farmers’ markets, food hubs, local/regional processing, and urban agriculture systems, emphasizing the social health of farming systems. Expected outcomes include the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, enhanced farmer innovation, increased community resilience, improved business success for agricultural enterprises, and greater agricultural diversification. Projects should yield results that are realistic, acceptable to farmers, logical, and capable of leading to tangible actions and benefits described in the proposal. The grant projects are strictly focused on education and outreach, with no research component, and are paid by reimbursement of allowable expenses. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in the grant requirements, which mandate that project outcomes focus on sustainable agriculture systems and clearly demonstrate how education and outreach efforts will be implemented and evaluated. The theory of change underpinning this program is that by providing targeted education and outreach, knowledge and best practices will be transferred to farmers and communities, leading to the development and widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural methods and improved quality of life within farming systems. Project maximums are $50,000, with a duration limited to two years. Applicants from the Southern region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, are eligible. Farmers involved in these projects must have farming/ranching as their primary occupation or part-time farming with at least $1,000 of documented annual income from their operation, with exceptions for indigenous agriculture.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.

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 Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is offering its Cultural Vibrancy Grant Program to support a community where all residents have access to diverse cultural, educational, and natural resources. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to foster a vibrant culture built upon inclusive community dialogue and civic engagement. The program specifically seeks to bolster cultural vibrancy through strategic funding, aiming to create a more equitable and enriched environment for all residents of Guilford County. The grant program targets students and residents at or below the federal poverty line in Guilford County as primary beneficiaries, with a focus on increasing their access to and appreciation for the arts, cultural opportunities, and natural assets like parks. Beyond this, the program also aims to engage diverse and multi-generational audiences in Guilford County through cultural education and events. The broader impact goal is to deepen understanding and facilitate community engagement among Greensboro's diverse communities and cultures. Key priorities for the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro include investing in cultural education and events that resonate with a wide array of audiences. Furthermore, the foundation emphasizes facilitating dialogue and community engagement to foster deeper understanding among and between the city's diverse communities. The program also prioritizes proposals that demonstrate long-term strategies for advancing and sustaining cultural vibrancy within Guilford County, highlighting a commitment to lasting impact. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in or serving the specified areas, and priority is given to those with long-term strategies. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the expected outcomes involve increased participation in cultural and natural resource activities, enhanced cultural education, and strengthened community cohesion. The foundation's strategic priority is to achieve equity in its grantmaking process, considering board and staff diversity and total operating budget in its review process to ensure broad and inclusive support, regardless of the applicant's budget size.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation is offering a grant program aimed at expanding access to mental and behavioral health services and resources for youth. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians by focusing on critical health needs. The program seeks to support models that are effective in the short term (1-3 years) and leverage a trained workforce beyond traditional specialty-trained clinical roles. This strategic approach emphasizes immediate impact and sustainable community engagement, reflecting a theory of change that posits empowering a broader range of professionals will lead to more accessible and responsive mental health support for young people. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are youth in North Carolina, particularly those in communities facing significant barriers to accessing care. The program aims to address the critical need for mental and behavioral health support by increasing the availability of resources and services. Impact goals include fostering early identification of distress, trauma, mental health changes, or substance use among youth, and facilitating their connection to appropriate resources. The foundation prioritizes approaches that engage diverse communities and can operate in various settings, such as communities, schools, health systems, and faith-based organizations. The program's priorities include strengthening organizational capacity and infrastructure, connecting care across different settings, increasing access to training opportunities for a diverse workforce, and enhancing the availability of culturally and linguistically relevant resources and materials. The focus is on a trained workforce that can identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, providing initial support and resource connection. This strategy aims to create a more integrated and accessible support system for youth mental and behavioral health. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the number of youth accessing mental and behavioral health services, improved early intervention for mental health concerns, and a more robust network of trained professionals capable of supporting youth. The grant allows for proposals ranging from $75,000 to $500,000 per year for up to three years, indicating a commitment to significant, multi-year projects. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, fiscally sponsored programs, government entities (including schools and tribal governments), and coalitions, fostering a broad and inclusive approach to addressing youth mental health needs across all counties in North Carolina.

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

This funding opportunity is designed for organizations in specific regions to conduct research and monitoring of wood stork reproduction in the Everglades, focusing on the impacts of hydrological changes on their populations.

This program recognizes and rewards individuals, organizations, and students in Raleigh for their outstanding efforts in environmental stewardship, sustainability, and climate action.

The Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) is offering its 2024 Infrastructure Grant Program, which aligns with its mission to support the viability and sustainability of historically underserved farmers and ranchers. This program aims to foster projects that enhance farm viability, create new markets for local agricultural products and services, develop innovative uses for existing farm infrastructure, add value to farm products through processing, packaging, or marketing, and optimize the use of on-farm and natural resources. Additionally, the grant supports cultural and heritage projects dedicated to preserving and continuing specific agrarian traditions, reflecting RAFI's broader commitment to a resilient and equitable food system. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are historically underserved farmers and ranchers, as defined by NRCS, who are in at least their fourth full growing season and have operated their current farm for at least two years. The program specifically targets "livelihood" farmers and ranchers who depend on agriculture for their financial support or are pursuing a long-term career in farming. Eligibility extends to individual farmer owners/co-owners or farm cooperatives, provided at least 50% of the cooperative members meet the individual eligibility criteria. The grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 and are available to farms located in specific states: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, or VA. Funding priorities are given to proposals demonstrating a high expected impact on farm viability and sustainability, strong project feasibility, and comprehensive planning, including a clear plan, detailed budget, timeline, and all necessary supporting documentation. RAFI also prioritizes farmers who derive a significant portion of their household income from farm operations, individuals with financial need, or those located in economically disadvantaged areas. Projects that tangibly benefit the surrounding community and farms utilizing agroecological and/or ancestral farming practices are also highly favored, reflecting RAFI's strategic priorities for holistic agricultural development and community engagement. The expected outcomes of the Infrastructure Grant Program include increased farm viability and sustainability for historically underserved farmers, the establishment of new and diversified markets for local products, and the preservation of valuable agricultural traditions. Through these grants, RAFI aims to support projects that lead to concrete improvements in farm infrastructure, expanded income streams for farmers, and a stronger connection between agricultural practices and community well-being. By focusing on these outcomes, RAFI reinforces its theory of change, which posits that targeted financial support and capacity building for underserved farmers will lead to a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable agricultural landscape.

This funding opportunity supports North Carolina-based universities and nonprofit research organizations in advancing early-stage life sciences projects focused on sleep, hibernation, and the effects of space travel.

This program provides financial assistance to marinas and boat docking facilities in North Carolina's coastal counties for installing or upgrading sewage pumpout stations to improve water quality by reducing sewage discharge from recreational vessels.