Search Through Grants for Nonprofit Human Services in North Carolina in the U.S.

First Horizon Foundation invests in communities in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The Foundation is the private charitable foundation established by First Horizon National Corp., the parent company of Capital Bank and First Tennessee Bank. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $90 million to meet needs and enrich lives of people in the communities we serve.

Contributions from the Foundation include the following areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Education & Leadership
• Environment
• Financial Literacy
• Health & Human Services

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Culture Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

Leon Levine Foundation

Established in 1980, The Leon Levine Foundation supports programs and organizations that improve the human condition through investments in education, healthcare, human services and Jewish values. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the Foundation invests in nonprofits across North Carolina and South Carolina with strong leadership, a track record of success, and a plan for financial sustainability. Through its investments, the Foundation intends to create pathways to self-sufficiency, champion strategies for permanent change, and facilitate opportunities for growth.

About Amgen

Amgen is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. Amgen is a values-based company, deeply rooted in science and innovation to transform new ideas and discoveries into medicines for patients with serious illnesses.

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Our belief—and the core of our strategy—is that innovative, highly differentiated medicines that provide large clinical benefits in addressing serious diseases are medicines that will not only help patients, but also will help reduce the social and economic burden of disease in society today.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology innovator since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

Non-Healthcare Donations and Sponsorships

Amgen Charitable Donations and Sponsorships are focused on humanitarian, social, education and community programs.

SECU Foundation Grant

Thank you for your interest in the SECU Foundation Grant Program. Grants are directed toward non-profits and governmental organizations that demonstrate the Credit Union philosophy of people helping people.

The SECU Foundation will promote local and community development by primarily funding high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services. The State Employees’ Credit Union Board of Directors chartered the SECU Foundation to help identify and address community issues that are beyond the normal scope of State Employees’ Credit Union. While individual members may not have a large impact, collectively and cooperatively the Foundation can go a long way toward helping solve problems in our neighborhoods, schools and our community at large.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Vision

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, "A Foundation for All", was established in 2002. It was begun in order to give a clear voice for those who wish to be a part of the many, worthy, forces for change in our world.

We are a foundation whose purpose is to look ahead towards the future, giving the past its due by remembering where we came from, and how much we can all accomplish together. We aim to make the critical difference on our planet by recognizing and having respect for our ever changing world. We respect all Life, the Environment, and all People, no matter who they are.

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice. Since our founding in 1992, the Impact Fund has made more than 800 recoverable grants totaling more than $10 million for impact litigation. We award grants four times per year, most within the range of US$10,000 to US$50,000.

Social Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants and legal support to assist in human and civil rights cases. We have helped to change dozens of laws and win cases to improve the rights of thousands. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Texas and North Carolina, incarcerated people with mental health disabilities are forced to remain in jail despite being found not guilty and unable to proceed with a criminal trial.
• In Orange County, California there are currently 13 gang injunctions under effect, which disproportionately affect young men of color.
• In Chicago, Illinois, the city’s homeless shelter program is inaccessible to people with disabilities.
• In Springfield, Oregon, the city and its police department used excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters.
• In West Virginia, the state fails to protect children in foster care from abuse and neglect. 
• In Montana, voter suppression laws disadvantage young adults and give priority to gun owners.
• In Gary, Indiana, a gun manufacturer negligently marketed and distributed its guns, leading to an epidemic of gun violence in the city. 
• In Vancouver, British Columbia, the police perpetuate systemic discrimination against Indigenous people through bureaucratic measures.

Environmental Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants to support local litigation for environmental justice. These grants are for cases aiming to help people or communities who are affected by environmental harm or who lack access to basic environmental needs, such as clean water, clean air, adequate waste treatment, and green spaces. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Centreville, Illinois, the city’s failure to maintain its sewer system has caused raw sewage to flood peoples’ homes, endangering the property and health of a predominantly Black community.
• In Fresno County, California, the California Department of Transportation approved a highway expansion project that would increase air pollution and traffic in one of the state’s most environmentally burdened communities.
• In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the proposed expansion of a highway would divide the region's Black, Asian, and Latine neighborhoods and cause pollution and ill health.
• In North Dakota, the five-month closure of a highway in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests disproportionately affected the livelihoods and health of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe members.
• In Ontario, Canada, mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon river system causes catastrophic environmental and health impacts for the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
• In Sacramento, California, the county government and Sacramento Area Sewer District violated the Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage into nearby rivers.
• In the Eastern Coachella Valley in California, 1,900 residents of the Oasis Mobile Home Park suffer from arsenic-laced drinking water, wastewater contamination, and overcharging for utilities.

Economic Justice

The Impact Fund provides financial and other forms of support to cases fighting for economic justice. From workers' rights to consumer protection for vulnerable populations, impact litigation is a powerful tool to hold corporationss and the government accountable. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Brooklyn, New York, a prominent mortgage lender engaged in predatory practices, leaving homeowners of color at risk of losing their homes. 
• In Washington, live-in caregivers are unconstitutionally excluded from the state’s wage-and-hour protections.
• In Ravalli County, Montana, the county has created a “modern-day debtors’ prison” by incarcerating people unable to afford pre-trial fees. 
• In San Diego, California, vehicle ordinances target unhoused vehicle owners even when no adequate housing alternative exists.
• In New York, a federal immigration detention facility is violating minimum wage and forced labor laws by forcing detainees to work for just a dollar a day. 
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city and county destroy the property of unhoused individuals and conduct forced evictions from public spaces. 
• In Miami, Florida, insurance companies discriminate against a nonprofit community development corporation renting to tenants with Section 8 rental subsidies.

Grants Overview

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation supports the vision and legacy of Mr. Van Every by making meaningful gifts to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in North and South Carolina which strengthen our communities, demonstrate fiscal responsibility, exhibit strength in leadership and have a proven track record of success.

Human and Community Service, Education, Healthcare and Rehabilitation and Arts, Culture and History are the Foundation’s primary areas of focus. A very limited portion of our funding supports organizations that fall outside these perimeters.

Areas of Focus

Education

As Americans, we find ourselves living in an increasingly competitive global economy. Students are entering a highly competitive job market. The unemployed and underemployed are seeking new career opportunities that require enhanced skills.

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation is addressing these issues by supporting colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations that provide quality affordable education and job re-training programs for individuals seeking degrees or certificates. We believe that education is critical to the future success of our children, families, communities, state, and nation.

Healthcare/Rehabilitation

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation is committed to improving the health and quality of life for individuals residing in North and South Carolina.

We respond to our commitment by investing in programs and services that focus on medical innovation, research, education, rehabilitative care, prevention, wellness and substance abuse.

Human & Community Service

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation is committed to improving lives and strengthening communities in North and South Carolina.

We support organizations that address the underlying causes of a myriad of social issues, meet the critical needs of people in their service area and focus on creating financially stable and healthy families.

Arts, Culture, History

Arts, culture and history promote creativity, innovation, exploration and diversity while improving the quality of life for residents of our communities. Dynamic performances and museums as well as other cultural and historic venues engage and inspire audiences, building bridges throughout our region. Arts education plays a pivotal role in enriching the lives of children and provides them with a well-rounded education and the creativity they will need to lead in a global economy.

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation recognizes the important role that arts, cultural and historic organizations play in our communities and supports select organizations that provide quality experiences for residents of North and South Carolina.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Melvin R. Lane Fund

The mission of the Melvin R. Lane Fund is to empower and strengthen organizations dedicated to providing essential support services for individuals in need, youth, the elderly, and those facing mental and/or physical challenges. 

This program may award up to seven grants of $90,000 to $180,000 over three years ($30,000 to $60,000 per year) to help human service organizations improve existing operations and programs, develop or expand partnerships, and maintain financial stability. Organizations should request an amount that is relative to and appropriate for their operating budget.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

Foundation Mission & Philosophy

“Self-reliance, self-confidence, and integrity are the keys to success. Endurance is also critical, and the responsibility for success lies on the shoulders of the individual,” said the late entrepreneur and philanthropist John William Pope.

John William Pope inherently understood those values. He entered the family business running his father’s five discount-variety stores after World War II. With ‘American dream’ ambition, he built those holdings into Variety Wholesalers Inc. — the parent company of Roses and Maxway stores (among others), serving hundreds of communities and providing employment for thousands. The success of Variety Wholesalers enabled the Pope family to create the Pope Foundation in 1986.

With the goal to improve the well being of North Carolinians, the John William Pope Foundation makes grants to support public policy groups, educational institutions, humanitarian efforts, and the arts. The Foundation’s mission is to ensure future generations have the same opportunities as John William Pope: the freedom to live, work, pursue individual interests, sustain family, and prosper.

From its first grant in 1986 to the present, the Foundation’s giving has totaled over $100 million, primarily to charities and organizations in North Carolina. John William Pope’s son, Art, shares his father’s passion for our free-market system. Art (www.artpope.com) is the current Chairman of the Foundation.

Education

Too many students graduate — whether from high schools, colleges, or universities — without the job skills needed to compete in our knowledge-based economy. Worse, many students lack basic information on the foundations of our free and civil society, the very concepts that allow our republican form of government to function and our nation to flourish.

The John William Pope Foundation believes that Americans have a duty to teach the next generation about the West’s rich tradition of liberty. We support Carolinas-focused educational institutions, academic centers, student groups, and national organizations that achieve those ends including programs at private schools and independent nonprofits.

But ensuring that future generations are taught about the blessings of freedom isn’t enough. The Pope Foundation also believes in impacting education for the current generation — creating educational excellence for today. That’s why we support student societies and policy groups that research education issues.

A key way that the Foundation meets its goal of impacting current students, and future generations of learners, is through academic centers at UNC-Chapel Hill; N.C. State University; Duke University; Clemson University, College of Charleston, and Wake Forest University.

These centers provide a needed freedom-centric perspective that is often overlooked in the classrooms of higher learning.

Principles

• The primary goal of educational institutions is to encourage critical thinking, scholarly inquiry, and responsible teaching, not to indoctrinate students in a particular worldview.
• Schools, colleges, and universities should be strongholds of intellectual diversity, including the philosophies of economic freedom and prosperity.
• Educational institutions have a duty to provide value to their customers, the students.
• Philanthropists and alumni ought to be keenly interested in supporting our nation’s academic institutions.

Annual Grants

The John William Pope Foundation’s philanthropic vision is rooted in improving the well-being of North Carolinians through the advancement of individual freedom and personal responsibility. To achieve this the Foundation’s giving is directed to four grant priorities:

• Public policy – The foundation prioritizes organizations that advance free-market principles and organizations that are based in North Carolina and/or doing work that directly impacts North Carolina public policy.
• Education – The foundation prioritizes institutions that encourage intellectual diversity and critical thinking and are based in North Carolina and/or doing work that directly impacts North Carolina higher education and K-12 education.
• Human Services – The foundation prioritizes organizations that encourage opportunity and personal responsibility and are based in Wake and Vance Counties and/or doing work that benefits residents of Wake and Vance Counties.
• The Arts – The foundation prioritizes organizations that create and promote the arts through performance and education and are based in Wake and Vance Counties and/or doing work that benefits residents of Wake and Vance Counties.

The Foundation accepts requests for general operating and project-specific grants in all of the four priority areas on a rolling basis. However grants are issued only twice a year — in the spring (public policy and higher education) and the fall (K-12 education, human services, and the arts). Urgent needs and projects that fall between meeting times may be considered at the discretion of the board.

Typical Request Amount

There is no magic number or ideal request. If you have a question regarding the suitability of your application, we highly encourage you to review our past year’s grantees. This will give you an idea of the types of organizations we typically fund.

Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation

The Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation, Inc. is a private foundation that limits the scope of its activities to projects and programs benefitting residents of Guilford County, North Carolina. The Foundation considers grants to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for support of education, human relations, human services, cultural arts, economic development, historic preservation and other charitable purposes.

What We Fund

Grants are limited to projects that benefit the residents of Guilford County, North Carolina. Grants are awarded for new initiatives, expansions of current programs and activities, capital improvements, special projects and other operating needs. Normally, grants are made for one year only; however, multi-year grants will be considered.

The mission of the Iredell County Community Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and strengthen our community by supporting initiatives that address local needs and providing quality services to donors and constituents.

The Board of Trustees supports their mission through the annual competitive grantmaking program. The Foundation is an investor in the community and is interested in creating the highest possible levels of community gain, focused on improving the lives of Iredell County citizens.

Priority 

Priority will be given to requests for projects and programs that address the following investment areas:

• Education
• Human Services
• Mental Health
• Veterans Affairs
• Workforce Development
• Youth Development

The Foundation will prioritize proposals requesting one-time funding to initiate projects and programs and will consider requests enabling the grantee to seek grant support from other funders. The most competitive proposals will clearly demonstrate collaboration and partnership with other organizations to increase impact and identify how funding will be sustained in future years.

North Carolina Community Foundation’s Community Grantmaking Program funds the work of charitable organizations that serve 67 counties within our statewide affiliate network. The Hoke County Community Foundation joins more than 650 community foundations in transforming our nation and our neighborhoods through the power of philanthropy.

The Hoke County Community Foundation is:

• A growing family of charitable funds. 
• A resource for area nonprofits.
• A source of grants for worthy local causes.
• A resource for donors.

The community grantmaking program funds a broad range of purposes to meet local needs that includes education, human services, basic needs, arts, historical preservation, health, recreation, youth development, environment and animal welfare. Additionally, the Mary Archie McNeill Endowment, which supports music and cultural arts programs in Hoke County, has $12,650 available for distribution.

North Carolina Community Foundation’s Community Grantmaking Program funds the work of charitable organizations that serve 67 counties within our statewide affiliate network.

NCCF affiliates are organized by regions, each with an assigned NCCF regional director who facilitates and supports the board’s grantmaking process. 

Onslow Caring Communities Foundation

The Foundation is seeking proposals from Onslow County nonprofit organizations in support of the following purposes:

Onslow County Unrestricted Endowment

Up to $16,000 will be distributed towards organizations in support of broad charitable purposes. Grant awards typically range from $750 to $3,000. Larger amounts will be considered for projects or initiatives with the potential to achieve significant positive impact for Onslow County. 

Dallas Fred Allen Endowment

Dallas Fred Allen Endowment which supports organizations with services and programs benefitting animalanimals humane treatment and animal welfare solely within Onslow County.

About the Foundation

Parks C. Underdown, Sr. founded Hickory Springs Manufacturing in 1944 to produce seating and coil springs for the furniture and bedding industry. Now HSM, the company has evolved into a global manufacturer of components for diversified markets including transportation, packaging, healthcare, and government. 

In 1993, Parks C. Underdown, Jr. began the Underdown Family Foundation, which strives to support religious or faith-based work, educational organizations, and health and human services. Today the 2nd and 3rd generations of the Underdown family continue the Foundation’s work to fund these charitable causes, primarily for the benefit of the Hickory, North Carolina community.

Mission

The Underdown Family Foundation is a private, family foundation that was established in 1993 by Joanne and Parks C. Underdown, Jr. The Foundation exists to provide funds to nonprofit organizations that enrich and support the greater community of Hickory, NC. 

The Underdown Family Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to help address community needs. In general, the Foundation prefers to focus its giving on education, health and human services and faith based organizations. The Foundation looks for organizations to maximize the Hickory, NC community and the individuals they serve. On a regional or national level, the Foundation also seeks to support research for important diseases and causes (see grant page). 

Program areas

• Education
• Health
• Human services
• Religion
• Public/society benefit

Mission

The Underdown Family Foundation is a private, family foundation that was established in 1993 by Joanne and Parks C. Underdown, Jr. The Foundation exists to provide funds to nonprofit organizations that enrich and support the greater community of Hickory, NC.

The Underdown Family Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to help address community needs. In general, the Foundation prefers to focus its giving on education, health and human services and faith based organizations. The Foundation looks for organizations to maximize the Hickory, NC community and the individuals they serve. On a regional or national level, the Foundation also seeks to support research for important diseases and causes.

Program areas

• Education
• Health
• Human services
• Religion
• Public/society benefit

What We Support

Schools

To assist with the financing of any educational programs maintained by a North Carolina public or private school exempt from taxation. This includes elementary, middle and high schools as well as colleges and universities. Assistance can also be provided for extra-cirricular activities such as band, choral, athletic and art programs. 

Religious 

To provide grants to any church or religious institution exempt from taxation. Monies can be used for building projects, media systems or other ministries. 

Recreational or Educational 

To augment governmental funding of, or to otherwise finance recreational or educational facilities such as museums, libraries or medical facilities open to public use within North Carolina.

Emergency Grant

On rare occasions the Board will consider emergency grant requests, although the criteria are strict. If your organization is facing an unforeseen, critical, human need that will result in a disruption of services if emergency funding is not secured, then please carefully read the emergency request instruction letter linked here.

Emergency funding is defined as critical, unplanned, short-term needs of non-profit agencies addressing critical human needs. Through this process, agencies are able to receive funding to ensure that service to their clients continues without interruption.

North Carolina Community Foundation’s Community Grantmaking Program funds the work of charitable organizations that serve 67 counties within our statewide affiliate network. The Harnett County Community Foundation joins more than 650 community foundations in transforming our nation and our neighborhoods through the power of philanthropy.

The Harnett County Community Foundation has elected to forego the traditional annual grants cycle this year in favor of directly supporting nonprofit community organizations responding to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the local community.

The Harnett County Community Foundation is:

• A growing family of charitable funds. 
• A resource for area nonprofits.
• A source of grants for worthy local causes.
• A resource for donors.

The community grantmaking program funds a broad range of purposes to meet local needs that includes education, human services, basic needs, arts, historical preservation, health, recreation, youth development, environment and animal welfare.

Please see FAQs for additional informations.

The North Carolina Community Foundation is honored to serve the people of our state by connecting our nonprofit partners that are meeting community needs with our fundholders and donors supporting that vital work. Our competitive grantmaking programs demonstrate our fundholders’ commitment to nonprofit causes strengthening our communities across the state.

Louise Oriole Burevitch Endowment

The Louise Oriole Burevitch Endowment was founded by the noted Wilmington philanthropist whose gifts are having a transformative effect on eastern North Carolina. NCCF is pleased to offer a competitive grants program from the Louise Oriole Burevitch Endowment in support of education, health and human services in eastern North Carolina.

Focus Areas

The Endowment defines these focus areas as follows:

Education

Education benefits students, teachers, school personnel within pre-K, K-12 and 4-year college and university education systems with a goal of escalating school success. 

• After-school educational programs and other educational extra-curricular activities serving students may be considered with a focus on academic achievement.
• The Endowment may consider non-academic educational opportunities for youth that offer leadership development.

Health

Health includes programs and services that yield positive impacts on the health and well-being of individuals, groups, and communities.

• Health includes physical health, mental health, and general wellness.
• The priority of the program and/or service must be to improve health outcomes directly, not indirectly.

Human Services

Human Services addresses basic human needs – food, clothing, shelter and safety.

• Job skills training and employment assistance may be considered within this category as they serve basic human needs and improve quality of life.
• Because of the fund’s preference for benefiting women, domestic violence services are included within this category as serving a basic human need for safety.

Foundation Mission & Philosophy

“Self-reliance, self-confidence, and integrity are the keys to success. Endurance is also critical, and the responsibility for success lies on the shoulders of the individual,” said the late entrepreneur and philanthropist John William Pope.

John William Pope inherently understood those values. He entered the family business running his father’s five discount-variety stores after World War II. With ‘American dream’ ambition, he built those holdings into Variety Wholesalers Inc. — the parent company of Roses and Maxway stores (among others), serving hundreds of communities and providing employment for thousands. The success of Variety Wholesalers enabled the Pope family to create the Pope Foundation in 1986.

With the goal to improve the well being of North Carolinians, the John William Pope Foundation makes grants to support public policy groups, educational institutions, humanitarian efforts, and the arts. The Foundation’s mission is to ensure future generations have the same opportunities as John William Pope: the freedom to live, work, pursue individual interests, sustain family, and prosper.

From its first grant in 1986 to the present, the Foundation’s giving has totaled over $100 million, primarily to charities and organizations in North Carolina. John William Pope’s son, Art, shares his father’s passion for our free-market system. Art (www.artpope.com) is the current Chairman of the Foundation.

The Arts

Creative expression is the hallmark of a free and civil society. A free and prosperous nation can support the arts and ultimately preserve our national heritage and legacy for future generations.

Historically, North Carolina has many unique art traditions that date back centuries. But the scope of arts in our state isn’t limited to traditional arts or distinct geographic regions. As North Carolina has continued to grow and evolve, so have the state’s art traditions. Today, North Carolinians from Murphy to Manteo celebrate, host, and create a broad spectrum of the arts in small and large venues. These arts have intrinsic value and help unify communities.

Foundation namesake John William Pope and his wife Joyce W. Pope firmly believed in supporting the arts and creative expression in the Tar Heel state. In keeping with its support of free-market causes, the Foundation believes that private resources, not government entities, should be the primary conduit for funding creativity. The Foundation prioritizes organizations that create and promote the arts through performance and education. The geographic focus is Wake and Vance Counties (or organizations who do work to benefit residents of Wake and Vance Counties).

Human Services

Families, churches, civic and community organizations, and vibrant neighborhoods are the pillars of our democracy. A strong work ethic, sense of personal responsibility, and emphasis on virtue are vital underpinnings of our nation.

To contribute to an environment of opportunity, the Pope Foundation makes grants to nonprofits addressing a full spectrum of needs, including hunger, health, housing, job training, and more. The Pope Foundation believes that independent initiatives, not government interventions, are critical to addressing the root causes of social challenges like generational poverty, underemployment, homelessness, and substance abuse. Ultimately, nonprofits that restore individuals and families in crisis are ensuring that communities flourish.

The Foundation prioritizes organizations that encourage opportunity and personal responsibility. The geographic focus is Wake and Vance Counties (or organizations who do work to benefit residents of Wake and Vance Counties).

Overview

Through the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Funds, the Foundation seeks to foster innovation and model solutions across North Carolina.

We designed the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Funds to recognize innovative projects across all spectrums of arts and human service work. However, the grants are not intended for medical research. Your proposed project could be an entirely new creation, something that changes how things are done (ex: improving processes, procedures, equipment, facilities, etc.); an endeavor that expands your scope of work (ex: reaching new populations). Regardless of your proposed project, the result should be a quantifiable gain for the organization and the people it serves.

The Arts Fund

As North Carolina continues to grow and evolve, so have the state’s art traditions. Today, North Carolinians from Murphy to Manteo celebrate, host, and create in venues of all sizes and varieties. Through the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant in the Arts, we hope to support innovative ideas and highlight the valuable contributions arts make to our communities. 

We will award up to $100,000 for our current application cycle. The process and requirements are the same for both the arts and human services grant funds.

Human Services Fund

Across North Carolina, nonprofits extend a hand up to those in need and, in doing so, directly contribute to the flourishing of self-empowered citizens. Through the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant in Human Services, we hope to support innovative ideas and highlight the creative projects that are making our communities stronger, better places to live, work, and play.

We will award up to $100,000 for our 2026 application cycle. The requirements are the same for both the arts and human services grant funds. Scroll down to learn more about the grants and start an application. 

The FFTC manages dozens of competitive grant programs that invest in communities throughout our region. Nonprofits are invited to apply for grants from these programs. Programs vary in grant size, application process and funding priorities.

Cleveland County Community Foundation Grants

The mission of the Cleveland County Community Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and strengthen our community by supporting initiatives that address local needs and providing quality services to donors and constituents. The Foundation’s Board of Advisors supports this mission through an annual competitive grantmaking program. The Foundation is an investor in the community and is interested in creating the highest possible levels of community gain, focused on improving the lives of citizens in Cleveland County, North Carolina. 

Women's Impact Fund Grant

Our grantmaking process has two purposes. First, to make high-impact grants to local nonprofit organizations. Second, to train our members as thoughtful philanthropists. We continue to lean into trust-based philanthropy principles and aim to conduct a fair, transparent grantmaking experience.

Program Areas

Women’s Impact Fund makes annual grants in five program areas. Nonprofits must choose in which program area to apply.

• Arts & Culture
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Human Services

Funding Principles

• Builds resilience and/or demonstrates the ability to adapt to changing societal and environmental circumstances
• Reduces disparities in our community
• Increases accessibility
• Responsive to, or aware of, root causes
• Considers racial and/or gender equity
• Serves populations that are underserved or not reached through other resources or organizations

Funding

Grant applications, member vote, and the grant pool size determine recipients and grant amounts. Grants for can range from $10,000 to $100,000. Unlike prior years, WIF is not asking applicants to request a specific funding amount.

Regional Child Care Health Consultative Services

Purpose

The purpose of this request for applications is to establish a statewide network of Child Care Health Consultants (CCHC) to provide technical assistance and training for early educators with the goal of creating a safe and healthy child care environment. Child Care Health Consultants have been actively providing health consultation services for more than 25 years. In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) provided more resources to support child care health initiatives to ensure children grow and learn in safe and healthy environments. Through this Request for Applications, the Division is seeking an entity to create and execute a plan for a sustainable model of CCHC provisions across North Carolina.

Description

The successful applicant will propose a detailed plan, including a timeline and budget, to establish and manage a system of practice-based and culturally inclusive technical assistance, and trainings for creating safer and healthier child care environments.

Funding

This RFA will be for a 2-year funding cycle.  Approximately $1,500,000 will be available to support the 2-year funding cycle [$500,000 year one and $1,000,000 year 2]. One award will be funded through this announcement.

DCDEE will determine the actual funding amount based on the proposed execution of the project and the utilization of funds as outlined in the successful applicant’s proposal, pending funding availability.