Community & Economic Development Manager's Notes: | |
This newsletter contains federal, state and foundation grants. The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments is committed to vetting funding for member governments throughout the region. If you have a project that does align with the opportunities listed here, please reach out to our office so that we may provide technical assistance in supporting project development. Even though our concentration is providing direct assistance to member governments, we want to keep non-profits and other businesses informed of grant opportunities as well!
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Thank you for your commitment to the Kerr-Tar region,
Desiree Brooks
| | Promotion of the Humanities Research | |
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Research Programs is accepting applications for the Scholarly Editions and Translations program. This program supports collaborative teams who are editing, annotating, and translating foundational humanities texts that are vital to generating new scholarship but are inaccessible or only available in inadequate editions or translations. NOFO
Award: $1 - $450,000
- Planning: Up to $65,000
- Implementation: Up to $100,000 per year in outright funds, plus an additional $50,000 in matching funds, for a maximum of $150,000 per year and a maximum of $450,000 per award.
Match: None
| | NC Division of Child Development and Early Education: Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Support and Supplement Study | |
A successful applicant will develop a plan to conduct and distribute pre/post surveys to a minimum of 2,500 Family Child Care Homes, CLIARs, eligible centers, and rural facilities to assess current knowledge of the three QRIS pathways, readiness to apply, and how they would use funding to support the requirements of their selected QRIS pathway, along with analyzing survey data to identify trends and patterns in participant responses. Eligible applicants are state agencies, universities, and public and private nonprofit organizations with current 501(c)(3) standing that have knowledge of North Carolina’s early childhood education mixed delivery system and expertise in developmentally and culturally appropriate practices for young children birth through age 12.
Award: Up to $955,931.00
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Region 4- Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) | |
The EPA has selected Research Triangle Institute to serve as a pass-through entity for the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) to address environmental justice and public health issues in underserved communities. They will provide subgrants to community-based nonprofits and other eligible subrecipients for assessment, planning, and project development activities. They will alleviate much of the burden that the federal grants process places on small, resource-constrained community-based organizations supporting underserved communities and marginalized populations.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ
Dates to Submit for Funding:
- October 31, 2025 (Last date for 2-year projects)
- January 31, 2026
- April 30, 2026
- July 31, 2026
- October 31, 2026 (Last date for 1-year projects)
- January 31, 2027
- April 30, 2027 (Last date for 6-month projects)
Match: No
Program Fact Sheet: One-pager
| | Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program | | |
The Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Who may apply?
This program assists qualified applicants who are not otherwise able to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms. Eligible applicants include:
What is an eligible area?
Areas that may be served include:
What kinds of funding are available?
- Long-term, low-interest loans
- If funds are available, a grant may be combined with a loan if necessary to keep user costs reasonable.
How may the funds be used?
Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of:
- Drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution
- Sewer collection, transmission, treatment and disposal
- Solid waste collection, disposal and closure
- Storm water collection, transmission and disposal
In some cases, funding may also be available for related activities such as:
- Legal and engineering fees
- Land acquisition, water and land rights, permits and equipment
- Start-up operations and maintenance
- Interest incurred during construction
- Purchase of facilities to improve service or prevent loss of service
- Other costs determined to be necessary for completion of the project
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See 7 CFR Part 1780.7 and 1780.9 for a complete list
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Agriculture Innovation Center Program
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Through the AIC program, RBCS makes grants to Centers that provide Producer Services to Agricultural Producers seeking to develop and market Value-Added Agricultural Products.
Matching Funds Requirement:
Matching Funds are required for at least one-third of the total project budget. For example, if the total project budget is $1,500,000, matching funds must be at least $500,000. Matching funds may be provided in cash by the applicant or a third party or in-kind by a third party. They must be available for use during the period of performance, and they must be used for allowable expenses.
How may funds be used?
Grant and matching funds may be used to operate an agriculture innovation center, and to provide the following services to agricultural producers:
- Business development services, such as feasibility studies and business plans..
- Market development services, such as marketing plans, branding, and customer identification.
- Organizational assistance, such as legal and technical advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business.
- Financial advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation of a business, such as assistance with obtaining credit for operating costs, training on using financial management software, and guidance on use of cash flow.
- Process development services, such as engineering services, scale production assessments, and systems development.
- Product development, such as idea generation, concept testing, feasibility and cost analysis, product taste-testing, demographic and other types of consumer analysis, production analysis, recipe development, evaluation of packaging and labeling options, and brand development for a value-added agricultural product.
- Value chain coordination, or directly working with an agricultural producer to connect that producer to a distribution system, processing facility, or commercial kitchen.
- Grants to agricultural producers for the above services, where the individual award does not exceed $5,000.
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Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program in North Carolina
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This program provides funding for the development of essential community facilities in rural areas. Eligible projects must deliver critical services that support the orderly development of local communities and cannot be private, commercial, or business-related. Funding may be used to construct, expand, or improve facilities such as healthcare centers, public safety buildings, schools, and other essential infrastructure. Eligible applicants include public bodies, community-based nonprofit corporations, and federally recognized tribes. The program is available in rural areas, including cities, villages, townships, and tribal lands with populations of 20,000 or fewer, as determined by the latest U.S. Census data.
How may funds be used?
Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.
Examples of essential community facilities include:
- Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities
- Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements
- Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing
- Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment
- Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools
- Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment
- Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses
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Asset Inventory and Assessment Grants | |
The NC Department of Environmental Quality is accepting Asset Inventory and Assessment grant applications. These grants are intended to help local governments and nonprofit water corporations to effectively manage and finance their water and wastewater utility systems. This can be done through funding projects, including asset inventories, condition assessments of infrastructure, and long-term planning. The grant is up to $150,000 over three years, sourced from the Wastewater Reserve or the Drinking Water Reserve.
For more information, contact Matthew Rushing at (919) 707-9060 or at Matthew.rushing@deq.nc.gov.
| | CBGI - North Central Prosperity Zone | | |
Counties from the North Central Prosperity Zone are invited to participate in our Community-Based Grants Initiative (CBGI). The counties in the North Central Prosperity Zone are Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Wilson.
The process is competitive, but organizations from all counties within the North Central Prosperity Zone will have an opportunity to participate.
The CBGI is designed to identify projects with the potential to have a significant impact. It is a focused process with grants targeted toward investments in the building blocks of economic growth. Funds are limited to projects that address Golden LEAF priorities of job creation and economic investment, agriculture, and workforce preparedness.
Process
County managers serve a key role in the process. Each county manager will submit projects to Golden LEAF for feedback and later endorse a slate of up to four projects for consideration. Each county will determine how to identify which projects will be endorsed for this initiative. Only projects that have been endorsed and regional projects will be eligible to submit an application for consideration by the Golden LEAF Board of Directors.
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Golden LEAF will consider applications to assist eligible state, regional and local economic development entities with grants to support permissible activities in projects in which a company will commit to create a specific number of full time jobs in a tobacco-dependent or economically distressed area. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Golden LEAF staff to discuss the potential projects and conditions that may be applicable prior to submitting an application. Applications in this program must be for projects that will lead to job creation by a company that will commit to create the jobs if Golden LEAF provides a grant for the project. An application for funding must be submitted before the project announces its decision to locate and create jobs in North Carolina.
Details
Competitive applications will include information showing that the expected job creation is AT RISK without Golden LEAF support. An applicant can demonstrate that a project is AT RISK by identifying a funding gap that exists that would significantly impair the applicant’s ability to attract the anticipated jobs if Golden LEAF does not make a grant for the project.
Examples of other factors that may be considered to determine whether a project is AT RISK without Golden LEAF support include:
· Evidence of urgency for financial assistance necessary to facilitate job creation;
· Whether local governments have provided support for the project at levels that are appropriate in light of available resources. (Golden LEAF funds will not be available to satisfy shortfalls resulting from local policies limiting local support for a project.); and
· Whether the applicant has secured or attempted to secure funding for the project from other sources such as the State of North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, EDA, ARC, and others.
Proposals for Economic Catalyst grants should be coordinated with the other economic development entities, including:
· North Carolina Department of Commerce
· The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
· Local and regional economic development organizations
Grants are available only for projects that include a specific company’s commitment to create full-time jobs in NC. Full-time jobs are defined as jobs that provide 1,600 hours or more per year of work. Companies must provide at least 50% of the cost of employee-only health insurance for full-time employees.
The Golden LEAF Foundation will consider at least the following factors when determining whether to fund a project and at what level:
· The economic distress of the community in which the jobs would be created
· The number of jobs to be created
· The quality of jobs to be created, measured by factors including wages paid and skill levels involved
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The Civic Foundation supports North Carolina charities and nonprofits focused on bridging human services gaps.
The Civic Foundation awards grants to small, local nonprofits committed to North Carolinians. They do this with the goal of making a deeper impact on community-based charities that meet specific needs of our neighbors.
- Up to $25,000 may be awarded each quarter.
- Focus is on areas of healthcare, housing, human services and hunger.
- Applicants must meet eligibility criteria.
- Applications must be submitted at least one month before funds are required.
Grants will only be made to the following types of organizations in NC and can only be used for programmatic expenses:
- Public charity, private foundation, nonprofit, or government entity that qualifies as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
- A school, hospital, or local governmental organization that holds nonprofit status as a 501(c)(3) organization (examples include hospitals with foundations, schools with charitable programs, and local government professional development associations)
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations that have been in existence 10 years or less and have an annual operating budget of less than $1 million
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The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation invites nonprofit organizations to apply for grants of $50,000 for projects furthering science, health and education in their local communities. These grants are intended to offer organizations an opportunity to develop a pilot or new initiative or to grow and expand and/or enhance an existing program.
As a matter of policy, the following is outside the scope of the Foundation's funding:
- indirect or overhead costs, and fringe benefits for new hires
- core mission support, including current staff salaries and benefits
- general operating, rent, or insurance
- construction or renovation projects, or equipment
- delivery or facilitation of access to healthcare, medical assistance, or services
Ribbon of Hope proposals will be considered that relate to the establishment and implementation of new projects or an expansion of an existing program which:
- address a critical community need that has been identified through comprehensive needs assessment
- tightly align with priorities, goals and objectives of the local community agencies
- demonstrate their sustainability after grant funds are expended
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The Truist Foundation supports innovative nonprofits working with adults in areas such as building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Funding is for sustainable needs rather than recurring expenditures, including new program launches, curriculum expansion, program delivery equipment, and capital needs. Capital campaign requests may be considered if aligned with the foundation’s priorities and at least 60% of the campaign’s fundraising goal has been achieved. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities, including churches (for secular programs), educational organizations, hospitals, and publicly supported organizations, and must comply with the USA Patriot Act and align with Truist Foundation giving pillars.
Award: More than $5,000
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WECare Foundation is now accepting 2026 1st quarter applications. Applications received after the deadline, December 12th @ 5:00 p.m., will be considered in the 2nd quarter round of grants in 2026.
Within its service territory and beyond, Wake Electric is known for its tradition of community involvement and support. Through our grant and scholarship programs, Wake Electric invests in the communities where its members and employees live and work.
As part of our efforts to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve, we offer the quarterly WECare program, a grant program awarding funds to non-profit organizations within Wake Electric’s service territory.
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The Open Grants Program allows applicants to apply for Golden LEAF funding throughout the year. Eligible applicants are governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Awards in the Open Grants Program are $500,000 or less.
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. This program is for economic development projects aligned with the Golden LEAF priority areas. More details regarding Golden LEAF’s priority areas and priority outcomes:
· Job Creation and Economic Investment
· Workforce Preparedness
· Agriculture
· Community Competitiveness and Capacity
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.
| | The Cannon Foundation Inc. | | |
**Staff recommends beginning the inquiry process at least 90 days before an application deadline** Read "How to Apply"
Areas of Focus:
· Human Services
· Higher Education
· Healthcare
· Community
Step 1: For new and returning organizations, please login to your account. You will first be prompted to update or add organization background. Next, you will then complete a brief Inquiry Form.
Step 2: Once the completed Inquiry Form is submitted, you will receive another email within 30 days to let you know the inquiry is being reviewed. Once the review is complete, your Program Officer will reach out to schedule a call to discuss the project. During the call, staff will discuss the project need, timeline, other identified funding sources and expected outcomes.
Step 3: If eligible, the application link will become available once you have spoken to a program officer.
Step 4: Submit application and all required documents. Application deadlines occur in March, June, September and December.
**Notification of grant decisions will be sent to the applicant and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director or President within 6 months from application submission.
Helpful Hints for Grant Applicants
- Qualifying organizations must be well established with at least five years of successful operations before a grant can be considered.
- Projects with a request greater than $100,000 should wait to apply until your organization has identified at least 60% of the total funding needed and when the project can be completed within 12-18 months. This does not mean that the Foundation will fund the remaining 40%.
- Projects with other funding sources or community collaboration are preferred.
- If a project will expand service capacity, then the organization should have a clear business plan for funding ongoing operations. The Foundation does not fund operational expenses such as salaries or overhead costs.
- The Foundation does not want to create dependency. Organizations should wait at least two years between grant requests.
- The Cannon Foundation is not interested in naming opportunities.
- The Foundation does not provide start-up funding, scholarships, grants to individuals or operating funds including salaries or overhead costs.
Learn
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SECU Foundation Grant Program supports nonprofits and governmental organizations focused on local and community development in North Carolina. Grants are provided for high-impact projects in housing, education, healthcare, and human services. The
Foundation funds capital projects, programmatic expansions, and mission development for capacity building. Preference is given to projects with statewide or regional impact, that improve the social and economic conditions of public employees, and those not primarily funded by government agencies.
SECU Grant Programs
· Capital – Funds projects that are tangible, permanent, and visible; Typically supporting construction or major renovation of a building or a facility.
· Programmatic – Funds pilot programs or large-scale program expansions that provide regional or statewide services.
· Mission Development Grants – supporting smaller nonprofits with capacity building through organizational assessments, goal setting, and creating pathways for expansion.
Project Selection Considerations
· Preference given to a combination of projects that have a statewide impact, or major regional impact, and may serve as a model for replication in other North Carolina communities.
· Seek projects that are tangible (permanent, visible, capital versus operational). Do not support operational budgets, nor budget shortfalls.
· Seek to fund projects through partnerships with foundations and nonprofit organizations (do not fund for-profit organizations).
· Seek projects that improve the social and economic condition of public employees in North Carolina.
· Seek projects that are not principally nor typically funded by a governmental agency.
· In cases where projects have existing appropriations only consider funding where funding would augment or enhance projects which have existing appropriations.
· Generally seek to fund projects that strengthen the partnership with North Carolina State employees.
· Seek to identify programmatic projects to solve problems and to develop partnerships with other non-profits and foundations.
| | The Duke Endowment: Child & Family Well-Being Grant | | |
The Duke Endowment funds implementation support for public and private child- and family-serving agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina to adopt and sustain evidence-based and evidence-informed programs shown to prevent or treat child maltreatment. The grant supports proven, replicable models such as Multisystemic Therapy (MST), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Strengthening Families, The Incredible Years, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Positive Parenting Program (Triple-P). Eligible applicants are accredited nonprofit organizations with two years of audited financial statements serving children, youth, and families who have experienced or are at risk of child abuse or neglect.
Learn
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Participate in Steller and Parade Magazine’s America’s Favorite Small Towns Competition
Hosted by Parade and Steller, a new competition offers small towns a chance to gain national recognition, media exposure, and a July 4th celebration. Finalists will appear in Parade’s special print issue and receive digital badges to showcase their achievement. The winning town will earn a feature on Parade’s cover and a community celebration.
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