Best Cary Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

The PLTW Engineering program, in collaboration with Pentair, offers grants to schools for the 2026-2027 academic year, providing $30,000 to implement at least one engineering course. Eligible schools include public and charter institutions in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Funds may cover participation fees, training, and necessary equipment. However, expenses such as salaries, infrastructure, and optional supplies are not allowed. This initiative aims to enhance engineering education in targeted regions.

The PLTW Engineering Program Expansion, in partnership with Pentair, aims to support schools in enhancing their engineering curriculum for the 2026-2027 academic year. This grant, totaling $15,000, is designated for expanding existing PLTW Engineering courses, training additional educators, or introducing new courses. Eligible schools include public and charter institutions located in key areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Milwaukee, ensuring broader access to quality engineering education.

The HealthLit4Wake Mini-Grant, funded by Wake County, aims to enhance health equity by addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving health literacy among historically marginalized communities in Wake County. This initiative encourages partnerships among local non-profits, businesses, and health agencies to promote accurate health information and increase vaccination rates among Black and Hispanic populations. By fostering trust and collaboration, the grant seeks to eliminate health disparities and improve community health outcomes.

The Game On-Community Places to Play Initiative, led by The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation and LISC, offers grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 for community organizations to enhance youth sports facilities in under-resourced areas. This initiative focuses on improving safety, accessibility, and quality of athletic spaces for youth aged 6-24. Eligible applicants must have a proven track record in real estate development and ensure community access to the facilities.

The PLTW Computer Science grant, in partnership with Pentair, supports schools in implementing the PLTW Computer Science program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Schools must offer at least one PLTW Computer Science course and report on their progress for one year. The total award amount is $20,000, aimed at covering fees for participation, training, and necessary equipment, ensuring that students gain essential skills in the field of computer science.

The JetBlue Foundation is dedicated to enhancing aviation-related education and STEM initiatives, aiming to inspire future aviation leaders. Offering grants up to $50,000, it supports educational organizations that focus on aviation technology, engineering, operations, and maintenance. The foundation prioritizes programs benefiting under-represented communities in aviation, including veterans, women, and diverse groups, ensuring a broader range of voices in the industry.

The Erie Insurance Giving Network Grant supports organizations focused on community building, safety, and environmental responsibility. Grants under $10,000 can be submitted at any time, while larger requests follow specific deadlines. Priority is given to organizations with community representation in their governing bodies. Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations, accredited educational institutions, and municipalities. The initiative emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion, aligning with ERIE's corporate values.

Insperity's Corporate Contributions program emphasizes community involvement and corporate citizenship, providing philanthropic grants and event sponsorships to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Eligible organizations must engage Insperity employees or contribute to the communities where they operate. The program aims to support nonprofits in achieving their service goals and enhancing community welfare. Applications must be submitted 90 days prior to events, and funding requests can be made once a year.

Cox Enterprises Scholarship Program

A need-based scholarship for students attending UNCF member institutions with preference given to students majoring in STEM.

Individual Award

• Up to $5,000

The Raymond J. and Mary C. Reisert Foundation Grant aims to enhance community well-being by supporting local 501(c)(3) organizations in education, healthcare, and housing initiatives. Grants typically range from $500 to $15,000, with an emphasis on projects in Eastern North Carolina, Long Island, NY, and Central Maine. The foundation has awarded over 300 grants since its inception, reflecting its commitment to impactful community partnerships and ongoing evaluation of funded projects.

The NC Sea Grant-Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership Fellowship offers funding for graduate students in North Carolina to conduct applied research in estuarine management. Supporting focus areas include estuary spatial planning, submerged aquatic vegetation, coastal water quality, ecological flows, and wetlands. The program encourages proposals from students at Historically Black Colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, and those who can demonstrate outreach benefits to underserved communities, aligning with the goals of the North Carolina Sea Grant and APNEP.

Established 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on organizational growth and development in Cary, North Carolina and the broader Triangle may be eligible for scenario-planning support and general operating grants up to US $10,000. With a mission to strengthen resilient nonprofits, Paul Green Foundation offers virtual workshops and coaching to help leaders navigate change and sustain core services.

The Pentair Foundation, a corporate philanthropy initiative, focuses on creating sustainable communities through water solutions and STEM education. With over $80 million in contributions since 1998, the foundation emphasizes ecological resilience, water quality improvement, and youth engagement in science and technology. They prioritize grantmaking in specific U.S. states and international regions, fostering vibrant communities and encouraging employee volunteerism. Initiatives are invitation-only, ensuring a targeted approach to impactful philanthropy.

The Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund Grant, managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), provides funding for projects aimed at restoring and conserving longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood forests. With approximately $30 million available for 2024, grants range from $250,000 to $3,000,000. This initiative, supported by various federal and private entities, emphasizes the importance of ecological preservation and sustainable land management practices.

Wake County Solid Waste Management offers Waste Prevention Grants to schools, nonprofits, and businesses aiming to reduce landfill waste. Since 2004, grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 have supported innovative projects such as recycling, composting, and repair events. Eligible applicants must operate in Wake County and complete projects within 12 months, with possible extensions. This program emphasizes measurable impacts and educational strategies, excluding projects solely focused on awareness.

The Send A Kid To Camp Grant, offered by Triangle Community Foundation, aims to support K-12 students in North Carolina's Triangle region by addressing unfinished academic learning due to pandemic-related disruptions. With grants of $10,000 per year for two years, this initiative focuses on collaborating with local nonprofits to enhance educational opportunities for students facing significant barriers. The program is designed to engage families and provide necessary resources to ensure students meet grade-level expectations.

Community Foundation of Henderson County

Community Foundation of Henderson County was incorporated in 1982 by a group of fourteen dedicated and compassionate local leaders with the immediate need to manage two funds - the William C. Armstrong Scholarship Fund and the Charlie Renfrow Scholarship Fund, in addition to providing a permanent vehicle for citizens to give back to their community.

Our Mission is to help people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter. The Community Foundation of Henderson County is a highly visible, philanthropic leader directed by an engaged and committed board, staffed by qualified employees, empowering donors at all levels to invest in professionally managed charitable funds that address community needs.

John T. Coates IV Civil Engineering Scholarship

The applicant must be a graduate of any public Henderson County high school, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. The applicant must be planning to pursue a career engineering at North Carolina State University.

The Colon Cancer Coalition offers the Get Your Rear in Gear Grants to support local programs aimed at improving colon cancer screening and awareness. Open year-round, applications are reviewed biannually in February and August. Grants fund initiatives that educate the public about colon cancer and alleviate the financial burden on patients. By applying, organizations commit to promoting local events that raise funds for these important community programs.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education and college preparation may be eligible for the Ellen Koonce Parker Scholarship in Cary, North Carolina. With a mission to support access to college, Cumberland Community Foundation provides renewable awards for students from eligible Cumberland or Hoke County high schools attending NC State University or Appalachian State University.

The Duke Energy Foundation provides Local Impact Grants to strengthen communities in North Carolina, offering up to $20,000 for various initiatives. These include workforce development, climate resiliency projects, and promoting inclusivity. Eligible organizations must have 501(c)(3) status, serve Duke Energy communities, and demonstrate measurable impacts. The Foundation prioritizes grants that support economic recovery, environmental conservation, and equitable access to opportunities, thus fostering sustainable growth and resilience across the state.

The PNC Foundation's Grow Up Great Grant is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for children from birth to age 5. With a commitment of $500 million, this program focuses on improving school readiness through support in vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, and the arts. By partnering with community-based nonprofits, PNC aims to foster stronger, smarter, and healthier communities, ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

Student Academic Success

What We Fund

As detailed in Our Approach, MDBF's goal for its grantmaking is to support nonprofits to strengthen their effectiveness as organizations in ways that lead to long-term sustainability. We strongly encourage you to read Our Grantmaking Approach for essential information regarding how we make funding decisions and to prepare you for the information we ask for in the application.

Early Learning Programs: We support PreK organizations whose primary purpose is kindergarten readiness. Evidence-based programs are a plus.

Academic Achievement: We support organizations whose primary purpose is to support K-12 students' academic achievement. These include organizations that build academic skills through structured academic learning opportunities and/or structured tutoring and professional training for teachers and tutors that align with the standard NC curriculum. Evidence-based programs are a plus.

MDBF's multiyear grant application will open January 16 with a February 15 deadline, and the one-year application will open in August 2026. For more information, including application timeline and eligibility requirements, please visit our Multiyear Grantmaking Guidelines webpage.

Student Academic Success: Multiyear Grant

Organizations that focus on academic achievement AND have received funding from MDBF in the previous 5 years are eligible to apply for a 3-year grant.

Each year, we will award 5-7 general operating support grants to nonprofit organizations that further our grantmaking goals. Grant amounts range from $15,000 - $50,000 a year for each organization. MDBF has a finite budget and may not be able to fund the full amount requested. If your application moves forward, MDBF staff will work with your organization to determine the actual requested amount. Please know that there is no penalty for requesting the maximum amount at the LOI stage.

Both developing nonprofits and established organizations are eligible for these grants. All organizations must have a primary focus on the Student Academic Success. Organizations must be located in and main programming must take place in Chatham, Durham, Orange, and/or Wake Counties, NC.

Joe Williams Music Scholarship Program

The Joe Williams Music Scholarship Program was created to help provide funding to students who desire to major in the study of music.

Individual Award

• Up to $6,000

This scholarship will be disbursed for the current 2025-2026 school year. 

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

The Morrisville Community Fund Grant, established by the North Carolina Community Foundation in 2011, supports qualified charitable organizations that address community needs in Morrisville. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local governments, and faith-based organizations for outreach programs. The grant does not fund political activities, general operating support for religious entities, or individual benefits. This initiative emphasizes inclusivity and aims to foster lasting contributions to the community.

NBA Foundation San Francisco Bay Area Scholarship

The NBA Foundation has partnered with UNCF to provide a grant opportunity for eligible residents of the San Francisco Bay Area for up to an amount of $5,000. 

The Women's Fund of North Carolina, a program of the North Carolina Community Foundation, aims to enhance the lives of women and girls across the state through grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. This fund prioritizes organizations that address diverse needs and challenges faced by women, especially those led by marginalized populations. Grant decisions are made by a committee, and applicants are notified within 90 days after the application deadline.