Search Through Grants for Youth Programs in North Carolina in the U.S.

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League, as a member club of the league's National Football Conference South division. 

Ticket Donation Requests

The Carolina Panthers make complimentary tickets available to non-profit organizations that serve youth and troops in the Carolinas through the generous donations of Carolina Panthers PSL Owners. Occasionally, PSL Owners who are unable to attend home games donate their tickets to the team's community relations department. Tickets are then distributed to non-profit organizations that serve underprivileged youth and troops in our community.

PSL tickets are typically donated on very short notice. The Panthers do not control the number of tickets that are donated by PSL Owners or the location of the seats in the stadium.

Go Outside (GO) Grants

Go Outside 'GO' Grants provide North Carolina's students opportunities for outdoor experiences and to learn by doing. North Carolina educators are encouraged to apply for grant funding for outdoor field trips, visiting programs, and educational structures.

Applications are considered for structures/field trips/visiting programs that further outdoor education and recreation opportunities for North Carolina’s youth.

Field Trips

Up to $3,000 for single-day field trips or up to $5,000 for overnight field trips. An extra $1,000 is available per additional day up to the $5,000 cap. Field trips must include an outdoor learning component/activity and may include visits to National/State Parks, city/county parks, outdoor recreation areas, outdoor activity/education centers, and historical sites. 

Go Outside (GO) Grants

Go Outside 'GO' Grants provide North Carolina's students opportunities for outdoor experiences and to learn by doing. North Carolina educators are encouraged to apply for grant funding for outdoor field trips, visiting programs, and educational structures.

Applications are considered for structures/field trips/visiting programs that further outdoor education and recreation opportunities for North Carolina’s youth.

Standard On-Campus Structures

Up to $15,000 is available for the construction of standard outdoor learning facilities, to include outdoor classrooms, greenhouses, pollinator gardens, and vegetable gardens.

Go Outside (GO) Grants

Go Outside 'GO' Grants provide North Carolina's students opportunities for outdoor experiences and to learn by doing. North Carolina educators are encouraged to apply for grant funding for outdoor field trips, visiting programs, and educational structures.

Applications are considered for structures/field trips/visiting programs that further outdoor education and recreation opportunities for North Carolina’s youth.

Visiting Programs

Up to $2,500 for outdoor on-campus programs. Visiting programs must include an outdoor learning component/activity and may include visits from aquarium/zoos, museums, gardening organizations, and other STEM organizations. 

Background

Pentair believes it is our responsibility to make a positive impact on people and the planet – through our solutions, communities, and operations - as reflected in our Win Right Values. Since 1998, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation have contributed more than $80 million to philanthropic causes strengthening the communities in which we operate. The mission of the Pentair Foundation is to support and advance inclusive and sustainable communities by investing in the availability, quality, and enjoyment of water and by increasing the participation of youth and young adults in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

Program Areas

In support of this mission, Pentair and the Pentair Foundation engage in giving across these key program areas:

Water

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to help the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water by reducing water stress and building ecological resilience; improving the quality of drinking water; improving access to cleaner and safer water; and increasing water-related safety and well-being.

The Pentair Foundation focuses on programs that help to:

• Move: Reduce water stress and build ecological resilience
• Improve: Improve water quality and reduce single use plastic water bottles
• Enjoy: Increase swim safety and promote water-related well-being

Education

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to help build the workforce of the future by investing in or supporting STEM career pathways, with a particular focus on engineering and manufacturing for youth and young adults.

Community

Pentair and the Pentair Foundation seek to advance vibrant, inclusive communities where we live and work by encouraging employee volunteerism and matching Pentair employee donations.

If you have an initiative you would like Pentair to consider, please contact Pentair. 

History

Established and endowed by William and Jeanne Pratt in 1999, the PFF's work reflects the interests and principals of the Pratt family. In addition to community efforts, the PFF gives special consideration to promoting excellence in schools as well as advancements in healthcare and medical technology.

The PFF actively engages and supports a number of cornerstone organizations though a rigorous assessment-based initiative that provides core program grants. The PFF strives to support a variety of organizations that bring innovation to the stewardship of these causes.

Activities Supported Include the Following

• Housing Assistance
• Support and Assistance for Abused and Battered Women and Their Dependants
• Educational Assistance
• General Education Institutional Assistance (Public and Private schools and Universities)
• Disaster Relief
• Aid for Women in Crisis Pregnancies
• Disadvantaged Youth Programs
• Healthcare for Children

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A Womack, Sr., established the Womack Foundation in 1963 in order to provide financial assistance to improve educational and recreational opportunities for citizens of Caswell County, North Carolina and Danville and Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The stated mission of the foundation remains:

• To provide non-interest bearing loans to area individuals who wish to further their post-secondary education and/or training and who might not otherwise be able to undertake such education or training due to financial constraints; and,
• To provide grants to organizations for the planning, implementation, and/or development of programs which enhance and improve the educational and recreational opportunities for area youth who would not otherwise be able to engage in such activities or programs due to financial constraints.
• To provide funding for organizations that are not normally funded by other people and agencies.

Youth Sports Grant

Youth Sports Grants are our newest grant offering providing funding for nonprofessional youth sports teams and events.

Host Funding

Up to $25,000 to attract State, regional, area, and national sporting events, tournaments, and programs for nonprofessional sporting participants in programs administered by city, county, and local school administrative units, or appropriate 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations. Host funding requests may include bid/event rights fees and costs for sports equipment, venues, administration, structures (permanent and temporary), marketing, etc.

The county cap does not apply to host funding requests.

Glass Foundation Grant

The Glass Foundation is a private family foundation based in Asheville, NC and was created in 2000 by Kenneth E. and Nancy J. Glass. The Foundation believes in helping the Western North Carolina region thrive as a whole community educationally, environmentally, and culturally and offer a distinctive quality of life.

The overall vision of the Foundation is to enable Western North Carolina to realize a vision of itself as a premier place to both live and work by making the region a center of high quality educational opportunity; helping to preserve a diverse array of natural resources; and by maintaining a rich cultural and historical heritage.

The Foundation also provides philanthropic support on behalf of the TECT Family of Businesses owned by Kenneth E. Glass and family. 

What We Will Fund

• Capital Campaigns (Requests up to $200,000)
• Construction and Renovation Expenses (Requests up to $100,000)
• Program Supplies or Equipment (Requests up to $50,000)

Only projects in the Western North Carolina region of the United States are considered. Charlotte and the surrounding counties are not considered Western North Carolina.

Program Area: Child & Family Well-being

We fund implementation support for public and private child- and family-serving agencies to adopt and sustain evidence-based and evidence-informed programs shown to prevent or treat child maltreatment.

Challenge

Several programs in the United States regularly gather and share evidence of their positive impact and outcomes for children. Historically, replication of these evidence-based programs in communities has failed to reproduce the outcomes or local capacity to sustain the programs. We believe that failure often can be traced to inadequate implementation support and inattention to continuous improvement.

Approach

Child and Family Well-Being has adopted the implementation framework developed by the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) to sustain and scale evidence-based programs for preventing and treating child abuse and neglect. Implementation support consists of activities designed to help put defined programs into practice.

Strategies

Support Implementation for Tested Programs: We fund implementation support for projects that adopt and sustain evidence-based or ‑informed models shown to prevent or treat child abuse and neglect and enhance well-being. ​“Implementation” refers to activities that are designed to put defined programs into practice. An active implementation framework answers the questions of what needs to be done (effective interventions), how to establish what needs to be done in practice, who will do the work to accomplish positive outcomes and where will effective interventions and implementation thrive. Rather than letting change happen, we work with organizations and agencies to make change happen for children and families of all races and ethnicities.

Commit to Innovation: We recognize the lack of evidence-based or ‑informed models for the range of issues children and families face and the diverse populations served. If we did not commit to innovation, we would miss opportunities to identify programs that improve outcomes. We support grantees in developing and testing innovative, tailored, data-driven approaches. We encourage models that specifically look at risks and solutions through the lens of race.

Advocate for Improvement: Many dedicated, knowledgeable professionals work in the child welfare system, but systemic challenges can inhibit their effectiveness. We use our resources and relationships to support advocacy and communications strategies that speed improvement of the prevention, early intervention and foster care systems. We believe that by working closely with government agencies and nonprofit organizations that reflect the communities served, we can enhance the spread of information and facilitate conversations within communities.

The J. Bulow Campbell Foundation was established in 1940 through the estate of J. Bulow Campbell, an Atlanta businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist. Mr. Campbell was modest and frugal and did not seek recognition for his good works. He was skilled in business and also a deeply committed Christian. The Foundation is guided by Mr. Campbell’s instructions and seeks to reflect his philosophy of giving, his legacy of careful stewardship, and his Christian faith.

The Campbell Foundation began with $7 million in 1940 and, since then, has awarded over $800 million in grants. The Foundation awards grants without public recognition, and is governed by a board of seven trustees who serve without compensation. 

Focus Areas

The Foundation focuses on organizations in Atlanta and Georgia, but it also can consider grants to those in the five surrounding states. It meets quarterly and awards most of its grants for capital purposes within the areas of education, youth development, human services, public spaces, and cultural institutions.

John Deere FIRST

John Deere and FIRST are together committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion which encourages teams to be more innovation, creative, and make better decisions. We encourage your team to support and encourage diversity within your team.

John Deere grants are focused on increasing the participation and positive outcomes for students in John Deere home communities who historically have been underserved and underrepresented in STEM (Engineering, Computer Science/IT, and Manufacturing). This focus is supporting John Deere’s Bold Commitment of reaching at least one million underserved/underrepresented youth by 2030.

Current U.S. & Canada John Deere Inspire Home Communities

United States:

• California - Torrance
• Georgia - Augusta
• Illinois - Champaign & Quad Cities
• Iowa - Des Moines, Dubuque, Paton, Ottumwa, Quad Cities, & Waterloo
• Kansas - Coffeyville
• Louisiana - Thibodaux
• Missouri - Springfield
• North Carolina - Raleigh-Durham
• North Dakota - Fargo & Valley City
• Tennessee - Greeneville
• Wisconsin – Horicon

Canada:

• Alberta - Edmonton 
• Manitoba - Altona
• Ontario - Grimsby
• Ontario - Oakville
• Saskatchewan - Regina

About Third Wave Fund

​​Third Wave Fund is the only national fund that supports youth-led Gender Justice activism to advance the political power, well-being, and self determination of communities of color and low-income communities in the United States.

We hold the following beliefs:

• People directly impacted by an issue are best positioned to design and lead solutions.
• The leadership of young women of color, trans, intersex, queer and gender non-conforming youth brings critical analysis and power to all social justice movements.
• We will only achieve deep and lasting change if we address the root cause of an issue.

Mobilize Power Fund

The Mobilize Power Fund is a rapid response fund that resources gender justice organizations to adapt or pivot their work when met with unanticipated, time-sensitive opportunities or threats to their movement building work and organizing conditions. ​The Mobilize Power Fund prioritizes organizations that are responding to specific incidents or changes of circumstances that have occurred in the last six months. This can include rapid response mobilizations, healing justice work, conflict resolution/conflict transformation, community accountability, mutual aid, direct actions, emergency safety, security, and defense needs, and more. This fund prioritizes groups and organizations who are experiencing an unanticipated incident. Because of this, organizations applying on behalf of a budget shortfall or preplanned events or ongoing programming will not be prioritized.

History

We launched the Mobilize Power Fund because powerful movements need the ability to respond to and heal from immediate threats and opportunities with flexible and responsive funding. Mobilize Power Fund’s first iteration was to support organizers against HB2, the transphobic “Bathroom Bill” proposed in North Carolina in 2016.

Who is the fund for?

The Mobilize Power Fund prioritizes organizations that are led by young women of color (transgender and cisgender), and trans, queer, gender non conforming and intersex young people of color under 35, led by and for communities directly impacted by the issues they focus on, have an intersectional gender justice lens, and have a total organizational budget under $500k​. Groups do not need 501c3 of fiscal sponsor status to apply.

What kind of work do the funds support?

The fund covers unanticipated and time-sensitive community organizing or direct action, Participatory Action Research, healing justice work, conflict mediation/resolution, legal or bail fees, marches or rallies, leadership training & skills building, mutual aid, unanticipated legislative or ballot initiative campaigns.

How much are the grants for?

Grants can be made for up to $10,000 USD. Larger grants may be made on a case-by-case basis. Partnership or coalitions of two or more groups can request up to $20,000 USD.

About Us

At Camber Foundation, we know that solutions come from within community. Where we can contribute to those solutions by sharing the load, we will.

That’s what “camber” means to us – “a positive, upward curve built into the beam of a bridge, intended to distribute the load”. That’s why we chose it for our name, and we will work every day to live up to this meaning.

Bridge-builders across Eastern North Carolina are leading their communities towards a future where all can flourish. Every day, they are generating ideas, making connections, and gathering resources to bring their visions to life, and we believe they should not have to do it alone.

With philanthropic roots in the region, we stand ready as a willing and committed partner – to enhance, to strengthen, to uplift by adding “camber” to community-driven solutions.

The Camber Foundation team is united by a motivation to uplift communities in Eastern North Carolina.

Our Focus Areas

Camber Foundation funding will focus on three areas.

Health & Wellness

Improving access to the broad spectrum of resources that promote optimal health and well-being for communities, individuals, and families so that all can thrive.

Education

Advancing educational opportunities so that all students have what they need to learn and develop the knowledge and skills that drive them toward achieving their full potential and excelling in their future endeavors.

Economic Development

Strengthening elements of the economic fiber of communities in order to boost the quality of life and prosperity of the individuals and families within them.

Within these areas, we have identified funding priorities that we have heightened interest in learning more about and supporting through grantmaking.

• Access to healthcare
• Mental health services and programs
• Postsecondary education attainment
• Workforce development
• Entrepreneurship
• Youth development programming
• Digital inclusion
• Capacity building for nonprofits and nonprofit leaders

Panthers Charities Grants

Carolina Panthers Charities was established in 1994 through Foundation for the Carolinas. Our mission is to assess the needs of communities within North and South Carolina and to provide financial resources to assist in creating programs that make measurable and sustainable change for youth and families in our region.

Carolina Panthers Charities Funding is available to non-profit agencies whose missions address the educational, athletic and human services needs of communities throughout North and South Carolina. Resources are also made available to arts, science and civic organizations in the Carolinas. 

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.

Game Changer Grants

Grassroots Grants

Grants are awarded annually at one of three levels of funding: $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The number of grants provided at each level will be evaluated annually, based on available funds. Game Changer Grants are intended to assist organizations make a positive impact in our community on the grassroots level.

Please note:

• Organizations can only apply for grant funding at one level per grant cycle
• Organizations cannot receive funding for the same program for more than two consecutive grant cycles. Previous GOAL Grant recipients must wait one grant cycle, after their third year of funding, to apply for a Game Changer Grant
• Please note, many organizations apply for grants each cycle, and the overall amount of funding requested far exceeds the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation's resources. Declined applications in no way reflect the importance of an organization's mission or programming. Groups that do not receive funding are encouraged to apply again next year and find other creative ways to partner with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation.

State Grants

The NC Council for Women & Youth Involvement provides grants and certification to qualifying NC agencies which provide domestic violence, sexual assault, or family violence prevention and services. Grantees must report regularly on client services and expenditures. 

Domestic Violence Program

Introduction

The North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement (CFWYI) is the state’s leading voice on key issues impacting women. CFWYI is an advocacy division within the Department of Administration (DOA) that provides funding, consultation, and technical assistance to domestic violence centers statewide. CFWYI has region offices that provide consultation and technical assistance to programs and that help with program and board development. The region office staff conduct monitoring assessments for all funded domestic violence centers to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws, and other criteria established by CFWYI considering evidence-based best practices in service delivery. CFWYI Grant Administrators provide fiscal and financial guidance to programs. Domestic Violence Centers provide immediate safety and supportive services to improve the long-term social and emotional well-being of those seeking safety.

Purpose

The purpose of these Domestic Violence Program Guidelines is to provide all recipients that receive funding from CFWYI with information about administrative, programmatic, and fiscal requirements.

Our Mission

To promote wellness and access to opportunities so that individuals and communities can thrive.

Grounded in our work in Connecticut and New York, we support visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations that serve historically marginalized populations, help individuals contribute to their communities, and champion advancements and experiences that make it possible for all people to live healthy and joyous lives.

Innovation Fund

The Tow Foundation is pleased to announce a new grant opportunity for nonprofit organizations innovatively expanding access to the care and support that youth need to thrive.

The Innovation Fund intends to make grants, ranging from $300,000 to $1 million over three years, to up to 10 organizations that are improving youth mental health and well-being and serving young people between the ages of 0-25.

Through the Innovation Fund, the Foundation hopes to inspire and invest in bold approaches, and to learn from exploring questions like: What are the most challenging barriers youth and their families face in accessing support for mental health and well-being? What emerging innovations exist to address these barriers? What is the resulting impact of these innovations on youth and their families?

The Innovation Fund takes a broad and inclusive approach when imagining the kinds of care and support that may have a positive impact on youth mental health and well-being. This includes interventions across the prevention to treatment continuum. We welcome submissions from a diverse array of organizations working in a variety of community, school, and clinical settings. For the purpose of this initiative, the word “innovation” could mean scaling proven efforts, attempting to apply existing efforts to new populations or geographies, or experimenting with a novel approach altogether. By not defining “innovation,” we hope to encourage creative thinking.

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.

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

The Currituck-Dare Community Foundation joins more than 650 community foundations in transforming our nation and our neighborhoods through the power of philanthropy. 

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.

About the Hughes Memorial Foundation

Hughes Memorial Foundation was established by John Edward Hughes who built his fortune in the tobacco industry and upon his death in 1922 left most of his estate to build Hughes Memorial Home, an orphanage located in Danville, Virginia. He established a trust fund, which was governed by a Board that was elected and approved by the church, to financially assist with the needs of the facility. The orphanage was self-sufficient in that the staff and children raised vegetables and animals to assist with the cost of food. The agricultural program also served as a training program for the residents. Many of the individuals that were raised at the orphanage still consider it their "home". The alumnae of Hughes Memorial Home meet annually. Being a non-profit organization, Hughes Memorial also received charitable contributions from individuals wishing to help financial support the orphanage and the children. In the mid 1970's because of the reduction in need for the orphanage, Hughes Memorial became a residential treatment facility for abused and neglected adolescents. The residential treatment program was discontinued in 1999 and the Board of Hughes Memorial Home made the decision to become a private foundation that kept as its focus the example of Jesus Christ and the legacy of Mr. Hughes' original wishes which was to help children "most in harm's way" ... they chose to do this by awarding grants and scholarships that were targeted for the benefit of children. The first awards were made by the Board in November of 2000. Since then, the Hughes Memorial Foundation has awarded $5.1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations for programs benefiting children, and educational scholarships.

Our Mission

The Hughes Memorial Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization that seeks to aid deserving children in Virginia and North Carolina, and linear offspring of Hughes Memorial Home alumnae. Guided by the example of Jesus Christ and continuing the legacy of John E. Hughes, the Foundation will be prudent stewards of the resources entrusted to us and will provide scholarships and grants, support projects, and initiate programs which will provide care, training, and nurture.

Overview:

Each year, WCMA members complete a survey of funding priorities to guide the WCMA Board in allocating available grant funds, which are raised through membership dues and donations to WCMA’s annual fundraising event. Applications submitted by the deadline and meeting all eligibility requirements are given in-depth review by a committee of WCMA members, carefully considering the application’s measurable impact on WNC residents. Available funding varies each year, and the award process is competitive.

Focus Areas

Social or healthcare services:

Programs that offer food, clothing, shelter or basic needs to underserved individuals or that provide services or support to those in need. Grant requests in this category will provide programs or services to help address the health care, food or shelter needs of low-income individuals. 

Education:

Programs that enhance the educational success and academic achievement of students. Grant requests in this category will address youth education and development or family and parental support services such as after-school programs. Educational programs including summer camps or outdoor/environmental education should be multi-week with defined activities or curriculum and measurable objectives. Programs that are short term “experiences” for the participants, will be afforded less weight in terms of funding.

Natural or Cultural Resources or Animal Welfare:

Programs that support the region’s rich environmental or cultural resources. Animal welfare programs that assist low-income households with costly veterinary expenses such as spay/neuter or similar type programs. Grant requests in this category will address animal welfare, arts and cultural development and enrichment, or developing/enhancing outdoor recreational resources. 

Grant requests may not exceed $25K per organization. Focus area funding caps for 2025:

• Social and Healthcare Services - $25K
• Education - $15K
• Natural or Cultural Resources of Animal Welfare - $10K

John Deere FIRST

John Deere and FIRST are together committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion which encourages teams to be more innovation, creative, and make better decisions. We encourage your team to support and encourage diversity within your team.

John Deere grants are focused on increasing the participation and positive outcomes for students in John Deere home communities who historically have been underserved and underrepresented in STEM (Engineering, Computer Science/IT, and Manufacturing). This focus is supporting John Deere’s Bold Commitment of reaching at least one million underserved/underrepresented youth by 2030.

Current U.S. & Canada John Deere Inspire Home Communities

United States:

• California - Torrance
• Georgia - Augusta
• Illinois - Champaign & Quad Cities
• Iowa - Des Moines, Dubuque, Paton, Ottumwa, Quad Cities, & Waterloo
• Kansas - Coffeyville
• Louisiana - Thibodaux
• Missouri - Springfield
• North Carolina - Raleigh-Durham
• North Dakota - Fargo & Valley City
• Tennessee - Greeneville
• Wisconsin – Horicon

Canada:

• Alberta - Edmonton 
• Manitoba - Altona
• Ontario - Grimsby
• Ontario - Oakville
• Saskatchewan - Regina

ABOUT ROOTED IN JUSTICE

“Rooted in Justice” is a funding program designed to help amplify youth voices and actions in the environmental and food justice movements.  Rooted in Justice supports community-based organizations and groups that manage established, youth-led, urban greening programs within a justice framework as a core part of their work, with two-year grants of $25,000/year.  

Rooted in Justice recognizes the importance and undeniable right of every young person to have the ability to develop their own relationship with the environment, be it through growing food, spending time with nature, creating community green spaces, or becoming environmental stewards. Rooted in Justice also honors the power and possibilities that arise when young people collectively work to be change-makers in their communities.

Rooted in Justice supports organizations, groups, collectives, and programs that work with young people between the ages of 12 to 20 in youth-led programming for communities or cultures which have historically or currently experience:

• A lack of access to land or nature;
• Agricultural oppression and/or neglect;
• Food apartheid; and/or
• Other forms of injustice based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics and disability.

Rooted in Justice awards a small number of grants each year with applications due in the fall and decisions made the following spring. Final grant decisions are recommended to the Cedar Tree board via a participatory grantmaking process with outside reviewers who have experience in youth-led urban greening, as well as food or climate justice programming. So far the program has awarded multi-year grants to 21 organizations and one-time grants to 10 additional organizations since 2021. 

Definitions

Rooted in Justice grants support organizations or programs that include all four of the elements described below: social justice, youth-led, urban greening, and cohort-based youth work. We articulate our understanding of those terms below in an effort to provide a guide for prospective organizations to use in determining whether their program is a good fit. However as we continue our work towards questioning and dismantling some of our preconceived notions, we recognize that these are not finite definitions and encourage prospective applicants who still feel their work may be a good fit to describe in their proposals why this is the case.  

Social Justice-Based Programs

Programs dedicated to creating equitable outcomes for communities directly affected by different aspects of injustice by:

• Sharing and redistributing power and resources;
• Amplifying voices and leadership;
• Tackling root problems through ongoing engagement and collaboration to find solutions, organize against oppression of all kinds and create mechanisms for change; and
• Developing a critical analysis with youth and community members.

Youth-Led

The development of youth leadership skills is a core part of programs funded by Rooted in Justice. Young people have the opportunity to play a role in the planning and decision-making for their program and may help shape the internal workings of the organization. Examples of youth-led programs include programs where participants: 

• Managing a portion of their programming budget;
• Co-facilitating program activities, meetings and gatherings;
• Shape their own programming and/or organizational strategic planning;
• Have regular and end-of-program opportunities to provide program feedback and evaluation; and
• Have opportunities for personal and/or professional growth within the program and organization.

Urban Greening

For the purpose of this grant we define “urban greening” as any activity that creates a mutually beneficial relationship between city dwellers and their environments. Programs that are a strong fit for Rooted in Justice will have many opportunities for youth to be outdoors.  Project settings can include, but are not limited to: 

• Urban and aquaponic farms
• Greenhouses and rooftop gardens
• Community gardens, green spaces, and rain gardens
• Composting sites
• Land conservation efforts
• Urban forests
• River or other water restoration  

Cohort-Based Youth Works

Rooted in Justice looks to fund organizations that build community with cohorts of youth through intentional, recurring programming. This grant is intended to support programs that offer youth significant learning and leadership opportunities as a group and as individuals. Priority will be given to organizations that have program infrastructure that supports a cohort of youth over time.  Drop-in programming, one-time conferences, or individual internships are not a good fit for Rooted in Justice.  

Youth Budgeting

As part of grant proposal, all Rooted in Justice grantees must share a plan to allocate a portion of the grant funds for youth participants to manage. What do we mean by this? We ask applicants to specifically set aside some amount of grant funds for youth to allocate to priorities of their choosing.  For example, youth participants can use their allocated funding to:

• Fund an entrepreneurial endeavor;
• Design the brand or swag for their group;
• Hire a speaker or outside expert to teach a new skill;
• Purchase supplies for a community-based art project;
• Host a celebration for their families, friends and neighbors;
• Pay for transportation to programming, special events, or conferences; and/or
• Any other youth-led activity the group may find beneficial.

Use of Funds

Rooted in Justice funding must be used for project support of existing youth led, urban greening, social justice work and associated general operating expenses. Operating expenses can include anything from program costs like staff salaries and youth stipends to organizational sustainability needs like major equipment purchases and leadership/staff training. If your organization’s entire mission is youth led, urban greening, social justice work, the Rooted in Justice grant can be general support. 

Funding

Two Year Grant

• Rooted in Justice Grant awards are two-year grants of $25,000 per year.
• After the initial two year grant, grantees may be eligible for a third year of funding at the same or lower level through a simple renewal process.
• In the 2025-2026 grant cycle, the Cedar Tree Foundation expects to support 4 organizations with multi-year grant awards.

Funding for Professional Development

• Each Rooted in Justice grantee organization also has access to an additional $6,000 to support professional development opportunities identified by each organization.  Half of these funds must be used to directly support the professional development of youth. 
• Rooted in Justice grantees can request reimbursement from this professional development fund to attend conferences, hire consultants, purchase equipment or software that increases organizational capacity, or participate in any activities that strengthen youth programming or justice practice of program providers in support of their youth development programming. The funds set aside for youth professional development can be used for youth exchanges or youth participation in conferences and other professional development opportunities directly for youth.  

Community Professional Development Calls

• Cedar Tree works with grantee partners to assess their professional development interests and facilitates on-line gatherings of staff or youth for skill shares, trainings, and networking opportunities.
• These network calls will likely happen 2-3 times per year. 

What We Do

Triangle Community Foundation is building a stronger Triangle for all. By working with dedicated donors and strong nonprofits, we are able to guide gifts in a strategic way to fill in gaps, reduce inequities, and solve the region’s most pressing challenges.

We work tirelessly in the Triangle region of North Carolina to help build a more vibrant community for everyone. By taking a broad view, we are uniquely positioned to identify gaps, support the most important needs, and shape a brighter future for generations to come.

Send A Kid To Camp

Overview

Since 1984, the Foundation has offered a grant to support students during the summer months. However, during COVID, we know that the learning needs of our students have drastically changed. For this cycle, Send A Kid To Camp will expand beyond the summer months to meet that need, and will focus on unfinished academic learning. We recognize the significant barriers many students have faced, including school closures and unequal access to technology, in finishing learning they began during the last three academic years. We also recognize the strength of our community, including children and their families, and want to partner with local nonprofits to build on successes, address needs, and help students work towards being on grade-level academically.

Grantmaking Criteria

Send A Kid To Camp grants will be $10,000 per year for two years (calendar years 2023 and 2024). Funds may be used to support needs related to helping students complete unfinished learning resulting from extended pandemic-related disruptions of school and afterschool programming including supplies and staff time.

Funding is intended to support K-12 students residing in Triangle Community Foundation’s service area: Chatham, Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties.