Best Columbus County Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public schools, and qualified local government entities in Columbus County, North Carolina can seek funding for education, environment, entrepreneurship, and community enrichment projects. Georgia-Pacific Foundation supports programs within 30 miles of its manufacturing communities that improve long-term well-being and sustainability in areas where it operates.

International Paper Grants focus on community engagement, emphasizing education, hunger relief, health & wellness, and disaster relief. They support nonprofit organizations that demonstrate good financial standing and effective management. Eligible organizations must operate in areas where International Paper has facilities. The foundation prioritizes local needs, particularly critical and environmental issues, while encouraging employee involvement. Ineligible entities include private foundations and those without a local presence. Applications are accepted through mid-September in the U.S. and Canada.

Columbus County, North Carolina nonprofits and other tax-exempt organizations can access funding through the Community Foundation of NC East for innovative, community-focused programs. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3)s, certain government agencies, schools, and religious organizations (for non-religious purposes) across eastern North Carolina, with some funds offering potential multi-year support.

Care professionals in Columbus County, North Carolina seeking to further their education in a care-related field can receive scholarship support, with awards ranging from US $500 - US $2,000. Grants from Jean Griswold Foundation help caregivers pay federally accredited institutions directly to advance training, skills, and career growth in caregiving.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations addressing food access, homelessness, or military and veterans services in Columbus County, North Carolina, can seek program support through this grant. With a mission to strengthen communities, SpartanNash Foundation provides nearby nonprofits with funding for initiatives that align with its Hunger, Heroes and Hope focus areas.

K–12 teachers in Columbus County, North Carolina can seek Bright Ideas grants for innovative classroom projects that directly benefit students across subjects like science, technology, reading, math, and the arts. North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives fund approximately 600 projects statewide each year for creative, goal-driven instruction using measurable, innovative teaching methods.

Organizations restoring or enhancing longleaf pine or bottomland hardwood forests in Columbus County, North Carolina can apply for grants ranging from US $250,000 - US $3,000,000. Grants from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation help forestry and habitat restoration projects implement on-the-ground conservation within the historical longleaf pine range.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities in Columbus County, North Carolina can seek up to US $20,000 for workforce development, K-12 energy education, climate resiliency, and economic mobility programs. With a mission to strengthen communities, Duke Energy Foundation provides rolling grants for measurable projects serving areas reached by Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program - North Carolina

The Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program provides supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach
• Historical education

Grant funding must be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials.

Nonprofit organizations providing early childhood education and school-readiness programs in Columbus County, North Carolina can access funding via PNC Foundation. Grants support work with children from birth to age five, including vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, math, science, and arts initiatives that strengthen families and communities.

Nonprofit organizations running community-based education, human services, or cultural programs in Columbus County, North Carolina may be eligible for Corning Incorporated Community Impact & Investment Philanthropy’s direct cash awards. Grants from this fund support organizations within 20 miles of a qualifying Corning business location and are invitation-only, with applications accepted once per year during the grant cycle.

Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, government, or religious entities in rural Columbus County, North Carolina can apply for Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation’s Community Progress Fund to advance community-improving ideas, projects, or organizational growth. Grants range from US $20,000 - US $60,000 over one or two years to build on existing local momentum and test or expand promising efforts.

About Us

The Department connects businesses with the site locations, workforce and infrastructure they need to succeed in one of the nation's top states for business. We also connect local communities with the grants and funding they need to attract new business and ensure future prosperity.

Additionally, our executive branch agency administers the state’s economic incentives program and publishes data, statistics, information and reports for those interested in our state’s economy.

Marketing North Carolina as a business and visitor destination is another function of the Department, and to handle this work we contract services from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), a public-private organization established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2014.

North Carolina Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) - Demolition Program

Local governments can apply for funding to support demolition projects that result in industrial or commercial sites, using grant funds under the Community Development Block Grant program's Economic Development (ED) category.

Our department holds administrative responsibility for the CDBG program in North Carolina. Our Rural Economic Development Division (REDD) administers the CDBG-ED funds. State rules related to the CDBG program can be found in the North Carolina Administrative Code 4 NCAC 19L and specific ED rules are found at 4 NCAC 1K. Federal funds are made available annually through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Purpose

Under the authority of Title I of the U. S. Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (as amended), the CDBG demolition program in North Carolina is designed to demolish vacant dilapidated industrial buildings and properties under the elimination of slums and blight national objective. The demolition activity is expected to create a site at which it can reasonably be expected new jobs and private sector investment will locate. Since the demolition activity is qualified under the slums and blight national objective, new job creation with a private employer does not require a legally binding contract. Jobs creation during the demolition phase of the grant should be collected for CDBG reporting purposes.

The Columbus County Community Foundation's Unrestricted Fund provides essential support to local nonprofit organizations in Columbus County. This fund allows the foundation to address evolving community needs through annual grants that enhance quality of life. With grant amounts typically ranging from $500 to $15,000, the foundation encourages a diverse range of projects to foster community growth and collaboration among nonprofits, aiming for impactful outcomes in literacy, food security, and human services.

The New Hanover County Community Foundation Grants aim to support local nonprofit organizations within New Hanover County. With a focus on various endowments, including those for children and food-related services, the foundation encourages proposals that address community needs. Organizations must be tax-exempt and serve without discrimination. Grants typically range from $500 to $2500, fostering collaboration and impactful initiatives for the betterment of the community.

The Cape Fear Memorial Foundation Grant supports health and wellness initiatives in southeastern North Carolina. This private, non-operating foundation prioritizes funding for not-for-profit organizations that promote health education, disease prevention, and provide essential medical services. Eligible organizations must operate in Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Pender, or New Hanover counties. Notably, grants are not awarded to individuals or for-profit entities, ensuring resources are directed towards community health improvement.

The Louise Oriole Burevitch Endowment Grant, offered by the North Carolina Community Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations focused on education, health, and human services in eastern North Carolina. This competitive grant aims to enhance community well-being by funding programs that address basic human needs, promote health outcomes, and support educational initiatives. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, with preferences for projects benefiting women, children, and the elderly in the southeastern region.

Grants from North Carolina Community Foundation help Columbus County nonprofit organizations and local government units serving women and girls fund general operations or specific programs, with awards ranging from US $1,500 - US $5,000. Preference goes to organizations led by women of color or historically marginalized women and to leadership development services for women and girls.

Eligible 501(c) organizations, government entities, and state-recognized nonprofits in Columbus County, North Carolina can apply for NRA Foundation grants to support charitable firearms safety, shooting sports, hunting safety, and marksmanship programs. Funding may also back youth education, public safety initiatives, and research that improve firearms safety and facilities while providing clear public benefit.

Professional artists in any discipline in Columbus County, North Carolina can seek funding to create new work, buy equipment or materials, or pursue professional development and travel opportunities. North Carolina Arts Council’s Artist Support Grants provide US $500 - US $1,000 for projects that advance artists’ careers, including upgraded promotional materials.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Columbus County, North Carolina that run existing digital literacy programs for families or seniors can seek US $2,500 - US $50,000 to expand broadband education and access. Charter Communications supports programs in Spectrum service areas that partner with low-income or multicultural communities and can report clear impact metrics.

Students pursuing environmental science, natural resources, biology, chemistry, or related fields at colleges in the Cape Fear River Basin may be eligible for scholarships supporting higher education costs. Focused on environmental education, Cumberland Community Foundation invites applicants with environmental extracurricular involvement from southeastern North Carolina, including Columbus County, North Carolina, to apply for the Cape Fear River Assembly Scholarship.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Columbus County, North Carolina needing physical security upgrades and preparedness activities can apply for up to US $200,000 through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program – State. North Carolina Emergency Management administers this DHS/FEMA funding for target hardening, security equipment, planning, training, and response exercises for groups at high risk of terrorist or extremist attack.

501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored programs in Columbus County, North Carolina can apply for Camber Foundation’s Camber Foundation Grant, awarding US $25,000 - US $50,000 for general operations or specific projects. Funding supports health and wellness, mental health, education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and digital opportunity, with some preference for youth-focused initiatives in Eastern North Carolina.

Columbus County public school districts and county governments can access funding through the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund to construct, expand, repair, or renovate K–12 school buildings. Administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and funded by the NC Education Lottery, this program offers US $30,000,000 - US $50,000,000 for eligible capital projects with required local matching funds.

The L.B. Research and Education Foundation Grant Program supports U.S.-based nonprofits focusing on innovative education and health solutions for underserved populations. Eligible organizations can apply by submitting a 400-word concept paper, and selected applicants may receive funding ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. The Foundation prioritizes projects that foster critical thinking and creativity, address health disparities, and encourage collaboration. There are no application deadlines, promoting year-round engagement.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities in Columbus County, North Carolina can seek up to US $20,000 for community impact programs, including workforce development, climate resiliency, and opportunity and inclusion initiatives. With a mission to strengthen local communities, The Duke Energy Foundation provides rolling Local Impact Grants for projects serving areas within its North Carolina service counties.