If you were wandering lost in the forest near Hot Springs, NC about 4,000 years ago, where would you locate a guide to help you find your way? Painted Rock would have been the best place to start, with its 5,000 year old, incredibly beautiful pictographs. Need help reading them? Hmm, that’s a whole different challenge!
Feel the same way about searching for grants in the world today? No problem, we’re here to guide you! Where to start that search? Right here! Several impressive lists and web-links are located directly below.
These contacts represent a wonderful variety of funding opportunities. As you prepare to approach them, you might ask: Do they all have the same application requirements? Unfortunately, no. The reality is that each funder has a different set of criteria that they apply to potential applicants. You have to find the best match with the specific funders who support your type of organization, and then learn how to approach them. That’s why grant proposal writing and research instruction is so important.
Who leads the field in teaching those writing and research skills? We do! With guidance from our top-notch trainers, you practice concepts as you learn them. Using our trademarked Listen & Discuss, Do & Review®️ curriculum, you get results! This active classroom experience is why our alumni claim remarkable success. Our 5-day Grantsmanship Training Program is the industry-leading workshop. Pressed for time? Our webinars may be just what you’re looking for. Check out our schedule to find something that suits you.
But that’s not all! “Read more” below for additional online training resources, along with three important steps to develop a new, grant-winning strategy.
Below are links to elected officials, funding sources and other useful agencies for grant-seeking groups in North Carolina. Please let us know about others that you feel would be helpful so that we can continue to improve this listing. Thanks!
Government offices:
Governor Roy Cooper - (919) 814-2000, Raleigh
Senator Richard Burr - (202) 224-3154 , Washington, DC
Senator Thom Tillis - (202) 224-6342, Washington, DC
Attorney General Josh Stein - (919) 716-6400, Raleigh
If you’d like to know the names and addresses of other elected officials that represent you and your area, click here to locate them: North Carolina Elected Officials.
North Carolina Arts Council - Our grants are one of the many ways we invest in sustaining and advancing the most diverse and widespread networks of arts organizations in the country. In fact, 80-percent of our funds flow directly to arts organizations and artists across North Carolina. Our work reaches into all 100 North Carolina counties with more than 2,500 arts and culture nonprofit organizations creating and sustaining innovative arts programs that contribute to quality of life and to community vitality.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - The Department of Health and Human Services manages the delivery of health- and human-related services for all North Carolinians, especially our most vulnerable citizens – children, elderly, disabled and low-income families. The Department works closely with health care professionals, community leaders and advocacy groups; local, state and federal entities; and many other stakeholders to make this happen. Click here for the Department’s Current Grant Opportunities.
State Library of North Carolina - Established in 1812, the State Library of North Carolina is the catalyst for exceptional library services in North Carolina. We are the principal library of state government; we build the capacity of all libraries; and we develop and support access to specialized collections for the people of North Carolina. Are you writing a needs statement for a proposal benefitting your community? Could be some helpful data here: State Library Resources.
Other helpful organizations:
The Association of Fundraising Professionals empowers individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy. The four chapters in North Carolina include:
AFP NC, North Carolina Cape Fear Region Chapter - Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Bladen, Columbus and Duplin counties.
AFP NC, Triad Chapter - Based in High Point, and serving fundraising professionals in the cities of Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Burlington, Asheboro and Thomasville.
AFP NC, Triangle North Carolina Chapter - Based in Raleigh, and also serving the cities of Chapel Hill, Durham and many additional cities and townships in the counties of Wake, Durham, Orange and others.
AFP NC, Western North Carolina Chapter - Based in Asheville, and also serving the cities of Boone, Hendersonville, Hickory, Shelby, Kings Mountain, Lenoir, Morganton, Mount Airy, Newton and others.
Executive Service Corps of the Triangle - Based in Durham and serving nonprofits in Orange, Wake, Durham and Chatham counties, ESC provides affordable consulting and capacity building services to Triangle nonprofits to help them achieve their missions.
Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, Greensboro - The Consortium is a collaborative of nonprofit organizations, large and small, in Guilford County, North Carolina that fosters mutual assistance and support. The Consortium strives to reach these objectives by providing opportunities for education, collaboration, networking, and celebration.
HandsOn Northwest North Carolina - Based in Winston-Salem, HandsOn NWNC mobilizes the people and organizations that inspire community change in Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties. Our goals and programs include the following: EQUIP our community to meet the challenges it faces by providing nonprofits with the resources they need to effectively, impactfully, and sustainably achieve their missions; ENGAGE the people and organizations that want to make a difference through a variety of programs and volunteer opportunities; and INSPIRE our community by unlocking the potential of our neighbors and local organizations and celebrating the role that nonprofits and volunteers play in making our community a better place to live, work and serve.
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits - Based in Raleigh, our mission is to educate, connect, and advocate for North Carolina's Nonprofits. Services include: Advocacy on state and federal policy issues that affect all 501(c)(3) nonprofits in NC, legal and tax compliance checklists of laws and regulations that nonprofits must follow, and extensive updates for our affiliated organizations and individuals; Principles & Practices: Best Practices for North Carolina Nonprofits, a guide of specific benchmarks to be effective and accountable; The statewide Conference for North Carolina’s Nonprofit Sector, where 500-600 nonprofit leaders connect, share and learn annually; Pro Bono Volunteer program where experts apply to help our nonprofit Members with legal, accounting, human resources, marketing, and professional coaching issues; and NC Nonprofit Careers, an online jobs board to recruit talent to the nonprofit sector.
Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations - QENO is a partnership between The University of North Carolina Wilmington, funders, civic leaders and other community organizations created to help build the capacity of nonprofit organizations and increase philanthropy in southeastern North Carolina. Affordable trainings and workshops are provided on the following topics: Responsible Board Governance, Financial Accountability, Successful Board Chair, Leading Together (for board chair and executive director as a team), Get On Board!, and Executive Director Academy. Registration fees are subsidized by grants making the trainings affordable for even the smallest nonprofit. Customized trainings for your organization can be provided on a fee-for-service basis.
SCORE - (National website) is a uniquely American organization that synthesizes two historic national ideas: entrepreneurial spirit and volunteerism. We are passionate about using our knowledge and expertise to assist and support local business owners, entrepreneurs and nonprofits during every phase of business. Listed below are the local SCORE organizations in North Carolina:
Asheville SCORE - Asheville, (828) 271-4786
Chapel Hill SCORE - Chapel Hill, (919) 240-7765
Charlotte SCORE - Charlotte, (704) 344-6576
Coastal Carolina SCORE - Morehead City, (252) 222-6126
Greensboro/Triad SCORE - Greensboro, (336) 333-5399
Western North Carolina Nonprofit Pathways - Based in Asheville, WNCNP’s mission is YOU. Nonprofit organizations form the backbone of communities across the mountains of Western North Carolina. We are here to help your organization become stronger and sustainable so that you can fulfill your mission.
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of the Triangle, North Carolina - YNPN-TNC, an affiliate chapter of YNPN National, is dedicated to representing nonprofit professionals in the greater Triangle region of North Carolina. Whether you call Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, or another surrounding Triangle community home, we are here to support you. The birth of our chapter took place at a local bar in Raleigh back in 2009 (surprise, surprise). Over the years, our programs have expanded to offering socials, a conference, professional development workshops, and other networking opportunities. We host in-person events each month; highlight job and volunteer opportunities through our website and listserv; and create space for emerging leaders to get involved with the organization by serving on one of our committees or on our Board of Directors.
North Carolina Community Foundations:
Have you checked out your local Community Foundation yet? These are potential funders who know the needs of your community in great detail, and who will want to learn how your organization fits within the local service network. Each Community Foundation is entirely unique, but their general goal is to recruit donors and their contributions, then help distribute those dollars to local nonprofits, schools, artists, churches and other groups. Click here on North Carolina Community Foundations to see a list of them and the geographic areas they serve, or simply click on the specific Foundation names below.
Want to learn more about Community Foundations before approaching your nearest one for funding, or learn about their other resources? Click here on What’s a Community Foundation? Remember, research and insight are key to developing a successful Letter of Intent (LOI) and a grant proposal with impact.
Capital Community Foundation - CCF was established in Raleigh in 1995, by R. Donavon Munford, Jr., with the help of a number of philanthropists, business and community leaders and professionals in the nonprofit world. Currently, Mr. Munford serves as the Chairman of the CCF Board of Directors. The founders had the vision that the CCF would be committed to assisting donors and their families in accomplishing their charitable goals. Charitable giving that is multi-generational and part of a thoughtful process creates legacies in families, leading to charitable and more involved lives.
Community Foundation of Burke County, Inc. - Based in Morganton, CFBC receives gifts, endowments and bequests from individuals, families, businesses and organizations. The Foundation uses distributions from these funds to make grants to qualified charitable agencies and institutions primarily serving the residents of Burke County, North Carolina.
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro - CFGG is a tax-exempt public charity that believes we can do more working together than any of us can accomplish separately. To that end, we help individuals, families and organizations establish charitable funds and make annual gifts from the earnings to support worthy causes. We currently manage over $200 million in assets in 670 charitable funds and distribute more than $25 million in gifts annually to worthy organizations across the community.
Community Foundation of Henderson County - Based in Hendersonville, the Foundation’s mission is to help individuals, families, organizations and businesses establish funds at CFGG to carry out their charitable giving now and in the future. This past fiscal year, the Foundation distributed more than $3.5 million to nonprofit organizations and scholarship recipients through grants and scholarships.
Community Foundation of NC East - Based in Greenville in Pitt County, our Donor base is represented in various cities and counties throughout the entire eastern region of North Carolina. We distribute nearly a million dollars annually in grants to more than 75 charities and over a quarter of a million dollars annually in scholarships to colleges and universities throughout North Carolina and the US. Like all community foundations, we are overseen by a volunteer board of leading citizens and run by professionals with expertise in knowing our community's needs. This allows us to go beyond simply making grants that advance charitable activities; we also identify current and emerging issues, stimulate resources to address those needs and help the communities we serve prepare for the future.
Community Foundation of Western North Carolina - Based in Asheville, we work with individuals, families and corporations to create and manage charitable funds and make grants to nonprofits or public agencies in our region. In partnership with our fundholders, the Foundation has awarded more than $254 million in scholarships to students and grants to nonprofit organizations and public institutions in the counties of Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey and beyond. Watch a short video about CFWNC.
Community Foundation of the Dan River Region - Based in Danville, VA, CFDRR is an independent, public charity established in September 1996 by a steering committee of local civic leaders to gather permanent funds to support our area. This area includes a region in Virginia from Martinsville/Henry County through Danville/Pittsylvania County to South Boston/Halifax County, including Caswell County in North Carolina and other neighboring counties in North Carolina. Our mission is to improve and enrich the lives of people in our community by encouraging the generosity of donors; by receiving, managing and distributing important resources; and by meeting a variety of charitable purposes in our community.
Cumberland Community Foundation - Based in Fayetteville, CCF provides essential funding to programs that enhance quality of life in every corner of Cumberland County. We have an in-depth understanding of the community’s challenges and needs, and we know the groups and individuals addressing them. We are dedicated to improving life in this community for future generations.
Danville Regional Foundation - Based in Danville and serving communities in the City of Danville, VA, Pittsylvania County, VA, and Caswell County, NC, The Foundation is committed to development, promotion, and support of activities, programs, and organizations that address the health, education, and well-being of the region′s residents.
Davie Community Foundation - Based in Mocksville, DCF is a nonprofit corporation established to improve the lives of residents in the Davie County community. Together, we are living our tag-line of “Growing our future NOW!” by: Managing Endowments established by generous donors to benefit Davie County people and organizations, both today and always; Administering a Grants Program with Competitive, Designated and Advised Grants; Administering a Scholarship Program that invests in Davie students; Sponsoring the SURF Board Youth Grantmakers to engage high school youth in philanthropy – giving of their Time, Talent and Treasure to make the community better; and Supporting women’s giving through Pearls of Empowerment, a women’s giving circle of more than 400 women who give and grant to improve the lives of women and children in Davie County.
Foundation for the Carolinas - Based in Charlotte, FFTC is a driver for major civic efforts and a catalyst for philanthropic activity in our 13-county region, including Cabarrus, Cleveland, Iredell, Lincoln, Lexington, Mecklenburg, Richmond, Salisbury, Stanly and Union Counties in North Carolina; and Cherokee, Lancaster, and York Counties in South Carolina. With more than $2.4 billion in charitable assets across 2,600 charitable funds established by families, nonprofits and businesses, we are one of the largest community foundations in the U.S. FFTC supports personal and corporate philanthropy through a range of innovative fund and giving options. We also drive nonprofit sustainability through endowment management, customized solutions and grantmaking. FFTC is headquartered in the Luski-Gorelick Center for Philanthropy. With art throughout and multiple conference rooms available at no charge to area nonprofits, our home serves as a civic hub for our community.
Fund for Southern Communities - Based in Decatur, GA, FSC is a public foundation that supports and unites organizations and donors working to create just and sustainable communities that are free of oppression and that embrace and celebrate all people. Through grant-making and related activities, the Fund for Southern Communities fosters social change initiated by community-based groups in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. FSC supports small community groups working for environmental justice, anti-racism, women's rights, youth development, LGBTQ rights, workers’ rights, civil rights and disability rights and other varied issues that address social change through community organizing. Grantees not only benefit from financial support, but they are also given technical assistance.
Gaston Community Foundation - Based in Gastonia, GCF’s Mission is to be the leading steward of philanthropic giving by connecting donors with community needs to enhance the lives of present and future generations in Gaston County.
Golden LEAF Foundation - Based in Rocky Mount, our mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation. The Foundation was established in 1999 to administer one half of the tobacco settlement agreement monies back into North Carolina's rural and economically distressed communities.
High Point Community Foundation - Based in High Point, our Annual Grants Program impacts High Point through two types of Grants: Community Impact Grants provide money to new or existing non-profit organizations that address community opportunities or needs that can make a significant impact in Education, Safe Communities, and Justice and Equality; Strategic Leadership Grants provide up to $100,000 over a timeframe of one to three years to make a significant and sustainable impact within our community.
North Carolina Community Foundation - Based in Raleigh, The NCCF is the single statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has made more than $145 million in grants since its inception in 1988. With more than $270 million in assets, NCCF sustains 1,300 endowments established to provide long-term support of a broad range of community needs, nonprofit organizations, institutions and scholarships.
Outer Banks Community Foundation - Based in Southern Shores, OBCF was organized in 1982 as a public charity to help meet local needs in Dare County and across all Outer Banks communities, from Corolla to Ocracoke Island. The Community Foundation accomplishes its mission by increasing charitable giving in the area, by managing charitable funds for individuals and agencies, and by targeting grants toward the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities.
Polk County Community Foundation - Based in Tryon, PCCF is dedicated to advancing philanthropy and improving the quality of life for all citizens in the community centered in and around Polk County. The Foundation receives charitable donations of all sizes from community members and then distributes grants to area nonprofits, awards scholarships to local students, manages endowment funds for local nonprofits, and administers other funds tailored to the specific charitable wishes of individual donors.
Winston-Salem Foundation - Based in Winston-Salem and serving communities in
Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Surry, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin counties, we provide the following support: Community Leadership -- We collaborate with nonprofits, funders, and community leaders to build a more equitable community for all; Community Grants -- We support charitable organizations and programs that benefit Forsyth County in many program areas; Philanthropic Services -- We educate and assist individuals and organizations in their charitable giving; and Student Aid -- We provide scholarships to local students in their quest for higher education.
Thomasville Community Foundation - Operating under the umbrella of the Foundation for the Carolinas, TCF supports our community through the following funds: Thomasville Community Foundation Fund -- This fund is used to help promote the mission of the Thomasville Community Foundation by making grants to local organizations or for other activities that address community need; Coy Copple Scholarship Fund for Davidson County Community College -- Established by Coy Copple in 1989, this fund provides an annual gift to Davidson County Community College for scholarships for Thomasville residents; Crawford-Spinnett Fund -- Established in memory of two Thomasville Police Officers, this fund provides grants to support scholarships for members of the Thomasville Police Department to pursue an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice or to study Administration/Management; Thomasville Jaycees Fund For The Thomasville Community -- Spendable amounts from this fund are used to strengthen the capacity of local nonprofit organizations to serve the community by addressing current and emerging needs; and Thomasville Jaycee Scholarship Fund --This fund provides scholarships to students from Thomasville High School and East Davidson High School.
Triangle Community Foundation - Based in Durham. Since 2013, the Foundation has invested more than $3 million to more than 200 organizations in the following focus areas: Community Development, Youth Literacy, Cultural Arts, and Environmental Conservation. In the fall of 2017, our Board of Directors approved a new strategic roadmap for the Foundation. Standing on the shoulders of those who built this organization, we recognize that there is an urgency for more – a stronger commitment to digging deeper and working with donors, nonprofits, and the community to make our region great, and we can’t afford to ignore this urgency. Our community needs us, and we are here to answer the call. To view our 2018-2023 Strategic Roadmap in its entirety, click here.
United Ways of North Carolina:
All United Way organizations around the country are dedicated to supporting projects within the four main areas of Health, Education, Financial Stability and Disaster Recovery of Individuals. While they share this common focus, each UW chapter also provides funding and support for programs customized to the needs of its home area. To find out more about a specific UW and its resources and nonprofit funding opportunities, please click on the links below:
But first, you might want to check out this wonderful feature that serves each community in North Carolina! The NC 211 Counts is a FREE online resource that provides current, searchable, visual representations of state-based needs identified by United Way of North Carolina's 2-1-1 helpline. Click here on North Carolina 211 Find Help to find and connect with human service programs that address those needs in your community.
Albemarle Area United Way, Inc. - Based in Elizabeth City and serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, Perquimans counties.
Beaufort County United Way - Washington
Burke County United Way - Morganton
Catawba County United Way - Hickory
Davie County United Way, Inc. - Mocksville
Granville County United Way - Oxford
High Country United Way - Boone
Lenoir/Greene United Way - Kinston
McDowell County United Fund - Marion
Person County United Way - Roxboro
Roanoke Valley United Way, Inc. - Roanoke Rapids
Rowan County United Way - Salisbury
United Fund of Surry - Mount Airy
United Way of Alamance County, Inc. - Burlington
United Way of Alexander County - Taylorsville
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County - Asheville
United Way of Bladen County - Elizabethtown
United Way of Caldwell County - Lenoir
United Way of Caswell County - Yanceyville
United Way of Central Carolinas, Inc. - Charlotte
United Way of Chatham County, Inc. - Pittsboro
United Way of Cherokee and Clay Counties - Murphy
United Way of Cleveland County, Inc. - Shelby
United Way of Coastal Carolina, Inc. - New Bern
United Way of Cumberland County - Fayetteville
United Way of Davidson County, Inc. - Lexington
United Way of Forsyth County - Winston-Salem
United Way of Franklin County, Inc. - Louisburg
United Way of Gaston County, Inc. - Gastonia
United Way of Greater Greensboro - Greensboro
United Way of Greater High Point, Inc. - High Point
United Way of Harnett County - Dunn
United Way of Haywood County, Inc. - Waynesville
United Way of Henderson County, Inc. - Hendersonville
United Way of Iredell County - Statesville
United Way of Lee County, Inc. - Sanford
United Way of Lincoln County - Lincolnton
United Way of Moore County - Southern Pines
United Way of Onslow County, Inc. - Jacksonville
United Way of Pitt County - Greenville
United Way of Randolph County, Inc. - Asheboro
United Way of Richmond County - Rockingham
United Way of Robeson County - Lumberton
United Way of Rockingham County - Wentworth
United Way of Rutherford County, Inc. - Spindale
United Way of Sampson County, Inc. - Clinton
United Way of Scotland County, Inc. - Laurinburg
United Way of Stanly County, Inc. - Albemarle
United Way of the Cape Fear Area - Wilmington
United Way of the Greater Triangle, Inc. - Morrisville
United Way of Transylvania County - Brevard
United Way of Vance County - Henderson
United Way of Wayne County - Goldsboro
United Way of Wilkes County, Inc. - North Wilkesboro
United Way of Wilson County, Inc. - Wilson
United Way Tar River Region - Rocky Mount
Yadkin County United Fund - Yadkinville
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