Best Craven County Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

Craven County, North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on income creation, workforce readiness, or affordable housing can access funding through Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Neighborhood Builders Program. Selected organizations receive a two-year leadership development experience plus capacity-building support to advance economic opportunity and stable housing in eligible local markets.

501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored programs in Craven County, North Carolina can apply for Camber Foundation’s Camber Foundation Grant, awarding US $25,000 - US $50,000 for health, education, and economic development efforts. Eligible organizations may request general operating or project support for healthcare access, mental health, postsecondary attainment, workforce development, entrepreneurship, or digital opportunity.

Graduate students based in North Carolina conducting applied estuarine research in Craven County and the broader Albemarle-Pamlico region can apply for North Carolina Sea Grant and APNEP’s fellowship, which awards US $10,000 for hypothesis-driven projects. Funding supports work on estuary spatial planning, submerged aquatic vegetation, coastal water quality, ecological flows, and wetlands.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities in Craven County, North Carolina can seek up to US $20,000 for workforce development, K–12 energy education, climate resiliency, and inclusion programs. With a mission to strengthen communities, Duke Energy Foundation provides rolling grants for projects that demonstrate measurable impact in the communities it serves.

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.

Craven County, North Carolina public school districts and county governments can access funding through the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund to construct, repair, or renovate K–12 school facilities, with awards ranging from US $30,000,000 - US $50,000,000. Administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, this program prioritizes high-need counties and requires a local match based on state guidelines.

The Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund provides grants to support communities in the U.S. and Canada where the company operates. Focused on affordable housing, education, environmental stewardship, and more, the fund emphasizes projects that meet local needs and demonstrate community support. Eligible organizations include nonprofits and educational institutions. Applications are accepted year-round with a deadline for 2025 on September 30. National initiatives related to working forests are funded by invitation only.

K–12 teachers in Craven County, North Carolina can receive funding for innovative classroom projects that directly involve students and enhance instruction across subjects like science, technology, math, reading, art, and music. North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives award Bright Ideas Education Grants for creative, measurable learning initiatives approved by school principals or supervisors.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting organizations that empower communities through basic needs, income creation, and stable housing. By investing in health and job opportunities, they aim to enhance economic mobility for low- and moderate-income families. Their partnerships target vulnerable populations, ensuring equitable access to resources that foster community vitality and resilience. This initiative emphasizes the importance of stable housing as a foundation for personal and communal growth.

Grants from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation help Craven County, North Carolina conservation organizations voluntarily restore, enhance, and conserve longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood forests. Eligible projects within the historical longleaf pine range can receive US $250,000 - US $3,000,000 for on-the-ground forestry and habitat restoration work through the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund Grant.

The Community Foundation of NC East supports nonprofit organizations by providing grants to tax-exempt entities including 501(c)(3)s and government agencies. Since 1977, the foundation has been a catalyst for vibrant communities in eastern North Carolina, facilitating strategic grantmaking to address complex issues. They encourage innovative solutions and are committed to serving their region. Organizations can apply for funding, with support available for multi-year projects, but grants are not awarded to individuals.

What We Do

At the North Carolina Community Foundation, we bring together generous people and connect them to causes and organizations they care about.

Our mission is to inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.

Our Philanthropic Network

We believe in the power of permanent philanthropy to strengthen our communities and people. By stewarding and growing donors’ gifts, our philanthropic network makes a powerful impact through robust grants and scholarships programs.

New Bern Breakfast Rotary Todd Denson Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Criteria

Graduates of high schools in Craven County, North Carolina, or Craven County, North Carolina residents graduating from high school.

With a mission to strengthen local charitable work, North Carolina Community Foundation provides Craven County, North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local governments, and fire and rescue departments with competitive grants of US $500 - US $15,000. Funding can support general operations or specific projects in areas like education, health, social and environmental justice, youth, seniors, and community services.

Craven County, North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local government units, and eligible fire and rescue departments can seek $1,000 - $5,000 for general operating or project support that benefits local residents. This unrestricted endowment program from North Carolina Community Foundation can also assist organizations working on housing, health, conservation, education, and historic preservation across its affiliate counties.

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.

Craven County, North Carolina health nonprofits can access funding through CarolinaEast Foundation to address healthcare access and delivery needs in the region. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations must be located in Craven, Jones, Pamlico, Carteret, or Onslow counties, and funds cannot be used for salaries, events, indirect, or promotional expenses.

Nonprofits, public schools, local governments, and eligible fire and rescue departments serving women and girls in Craven County, North Carolina can access funding for general operating or program support. Grants from North Carolina Community Foundation help organizations within its affiliate network, with awards typically ranging from US $1,500 - US $5,000 and preference for women-of-color-led initiatives and leadership development.

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.

The ZSRF Community Progress Fund Grant supports local organizations in North Carolina's rural counties by providing short-term funding to address community needs, enhance projects, and foster innovative ideas. The grant aims to empower groups such as food banks and shelters, emphasizing community-driven solutions and inclusivity. With funding between $20,000 and $30,000 annually for one or two years, it encourages applicants to demonstrate existing momentum and align with the foundation's core values.

Focused on financial literacy and housing, 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Craven County, North Carolina can seek Union Home Foundation grants to equip families for economic self-sufficiency. Eligible organizations with programs in financial education, equitable and affordable housing, or supportive housing and shelters can apply for awards of more than US $1,000, offered on a one-year basis with quarterly deadlines.

Focused on early childhood education, PNC Foundation invites Craven County, North Carolina nonprofits to seek funding for programs that improve school readiness for children from birth to age five. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations may propose initiatives in vocabulary, social-emotional learning, math, science, the arts, family engagement, and related supports.

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 NC Pumpout Program, managed by the Division of Coastal Management, aims to protect North Carolina's waters by ensuring easy access to sewage pumpout services for boaters. Established under the Clean Vessel Act of 1992, the program provides grants up to $20,000 to marinas and docking facilities for installing and upgrading pumpout stations. This initiative enhances public health and environmental safety by promoting responsible sewage disposal among boat users.

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.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities in Craven County, North Carolina can seek up to US $20,000 for community programs in workforce development, climate resiliency, environmental projects, and opportunity and inclusion. With a mission to strengthen and uplift communities, The Duke Energy Foundation provides rolling Local Impact Grants for measurable projects serving areas where Duke Energy operates.

The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) offers funding for projects focused on community engagement and stewardship aimed at enhancing environmental literacy and volunteerism in the Albemarle-Pamlico region. Grants typically range from $40,000 to $80,000, supporting initiatives that foster stewardship, promote outdoor experiences, and address environmental inequities, ensuring diverse community involvement in protecting local ecosystems.

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.