Grants and Foundations
For more detailed information about the funds and eligibility, please go to the websites. Please let us know what grants or foundations we've missed.
A.J. Fletcher Foundation - This foundation's mission is to support nonprofit organizations in their endeavors to enrich the lives and well-being of people in North Carolina. Its focus is on human services, using grants and partnerships with others to give voice to North Carolinians who have no voice, and to affect policy change at the state level.
Biofuels Center of North Carolina - The Biofuels Center allocates funds for innovative projects that will accelerate development of a statewide biofuels industry. It awards funds to academic institutions, economic development organizations, nonprofit corporations and other entities across the state through a competitive awards process. Go to "Grants and Contracts."
Burroughs Wellcome Fund - This is an independent private foundation dedicated to advancing the medical sciences by supporting research and other scientific and educational activities. Its science education program is dedicated to serving North Carolina only.
The Cannon Foundation - Healthcare, higher education, and human service are the primary fields of interest, receiving about 90% of the Foundation's funding. Other more limited areas of interest are arts, culture, historic preservation, religion and the environment.
Capital Development Services - Since 1984, this full service fundraising consulting and search services firm has served nonprofits across the Southeast.
College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) - CFNC helps students prepare successfully for college and find the best financial aid alternatives. They provide a complete and comprehensive source of information and solutions for students and their families. Check out their scholarships and grants. You should also check with your high school, college or university for additional tuition grants or funds.
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro - This community foundations helps individuals, families and organizations establish charitable funds and make annual gifts from the earnings to support worthy causes. They provide grants and scholarships.
Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) - CFWNC promotes and expands regional philanthropy and develops local funds that address changing needs and opportunities in the 18 counties of Western North Carolina. It works with donors to create charitable funds according to their specific interests, and informs donors about critical needs and matches them with giving opportunities. It makes grants and provides support to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and public agencies.
The Duke Endowment - Started by James B. Duke in 1924, the Duke Endowment today is one of the nation's largest 501(c)(3) private foundations. Their funding program areas include child care, health care, higher education, and rural Methodist churches.
Foundation Center - This is a must-go-to site to find foundations throughout N.C. as well as the country. Under "Find Funder," put in at least the state and zip code to find foundations in your area. The site also has a lot of other good resources.
Foundation for the Carolinas - This community foundation is a nonprofit corporation created by and for the people of the Carolinas. It works with individuals, families, nonprofits and corporations to make a positive impact on their communities. As a public charity, the Foundation offers favorable tax treatment for gifts and a variety of giving methods to help people achieve their charitable goals. It provides various grants and scholarships.
Golden Leaf Foundation - The purpose of Golden LEAF is to fund projects that promise to bring significant economic improvement to the tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities of North Carolina. It's grantsmaking focuses on three priorities: agriculture, job creation and retention, and workforce preparedness. Projects that focus on other opportunities to support and develop economic strength in these communities are also welcomed.
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust - As a trust, its goal is to fulfill Mrs. Reynolds’ vision of improving quality of life and quality of health for future generations of North Carolinians. To do that, it invests in the best and most effective initiatives, organizations, and partnerships for helping low-income North Carolinians achieve an acceptable quality of life and health.
The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation - The primary purpose of this foundation is to further and extend Mrs.Biddle's life-long interests in religious, educational, and charitable activities in New York City and the state of North Carolina. Only tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations in NY and NC may apply.
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation - This foundation's mission is to help people and places in the Southeastern US move out of poverty and achieve greater social and economic justice. It supports organizations and networks that work across race, ethnic, economic and political differences to make possible a brighter future for all. It makes grants to local, statewide and regional nonprofits in the Southeast that have track records of helping low-wealth people build assets and transform economic conditions in their communities.
NC Idea - The mission of NC IDEA is to foster economic development in North Carolina by helping young and innovative N.C. high-tech start-up companies commercialize their innovations. Grants are made to N.C. businesses in the areas of Information Technology, Medical Diagnostics and Devices, Material Sciences and Green Technologies.
North Carolina Arts Council Arts Grants and Resources - The Arts Council provides grants for organizations and individual artists. Organizations must be nonprofit and have been producing quality arts programs for at least 2 consecutive years. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident alien status, a year-round resident of North Carolina, and not enrolled in an academic or degree-granting program. Go to this site for additional eligibility details.
North Carolina Biotechnology Center - (Gateway to Funding Resources) - This is a must-go-to site, and great resource for finding all types of funding sources. It also provides assistance to North Carolina educators, researchers and businesses in identifying grant opportunities and preparing successful grant proposals.
North Carolina Board of Science and Technology - The Board of Science and Technology administers 2 grant program - One North Carolina Small Business Program and North Carolina Green Business Fund.
N.C. Department of Commerce - This is a must-go-to site. The following resources are available through the N.C. Dept. of Commerce:
Small Businesses - Sources of Capital
Small Businesses - Key Partners
Community Development Grants
Community - Business Incentives/Financial Aid
N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Grants - N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) provides matching grants to local governments for parks and recreational projects to serve the public. N.C. Trails Program provides governmental agencies and non-profit organizations grants for trail construction and maintenance projects, for trail side facilities and land acquisition projects. Since 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program has built a permanent park legacy in N.C. The program has provided more than $75 million in matching grants to protect land and support more than 875 state and local park projects.
North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation - This foundation supports activities that help meet the educational and health needs of today's society and future generations. Focused primarily in North Carolina, the Foundation funds programs for the advancement of education, science, and health. It only makes grants to non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and institutions.
North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center - The Rural Center has been making sound investments in North Carolina's rural communities for over 10 years. It puts public and private dollars to work by investing in new ideas, expanding rural infrastructure and supporting community-based organizations.
North Carolina Sea Grant - North Carolina Sea Grant facilitates funding for millions of dollars of research, outreach and education programs relating to current issues affecting the N.C. coast and its communities. Initiatives and projects include a broad range of topics such as fisheries, seafood science and technology, water quality, aquaculture, law and policy, community development, and coastal hazards.
North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office - This state office provides information on historic preservation grants. Go to "Grants and Assistance."
North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission - The Tobacco Trust Fund issues annual grants designed to revitalize and foster a strong agricultural economy in North Carolina. The Commission thus far has awarded grants to a variety of farm organizations, local and state government agencies, commodity groups, non-profits and others.
Progress Energy Foundation - Progress Energy's giving is primarily focused in the areas of education, economic development, the environment and employee involvement. Grants are limited to organizations that serve Progress Energy customers in Florida, North Carolina or South Carolina.
The Triangle Community Foundation - This nonprofit foundation manages nearly 700 funds established by individuals, businesses and families. It administers a variety of programs for the community's benefit, providing various grants and scholarships. The primary counties served are Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham.
The Women's Fund of Winston-Salem - The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem seeks to improve the lives of women and girls by building a community of female philanthropists who provide grants to local programs and initiatives that address the root causes of social issues impacting women and girls in Forsyth County.
Weaver Foundation - Its mission is to help the Greater Greensboro community enhance and improve the quality of life and economic environment for its citizens while developing a sense of philanthropy, civic education and commitment in current and future generations of the founders' families. Grants are exclusively for nonprofits serving the Greater Greensboro area.
The Winston-Salem Foundation - The Winston-Salem Foundation is an 89-year-old community foundation comprised of over 1,150 funds created by individuals and organizations. Grants made from these funds support a wide range of issues in the community and elsewhere in the U.S. Student aid scholarships and loans are also available.
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation - This foundation makes grants to nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and institutions, and governmental units. It makes grants to projects in North Carolina with the purpose of benefiting residents of North Carolina. Currently, its focus areas are Community Economic Development, Democracy and Civic Engagement, the Environment, Pre-Collegiate Education, and Social Justice and Equity. Go to this site for additional eligibility details.