Best Grants for Environmental Projects in North Carolina

The Cannon Foundation Grants support capital and equipment projects in North Carolina, focusing on healthcare, higher education, human services, and community initiatives. Established in 1943, the foundation prioritizes established organizations and encourages collaboration with other funding sources. Grants are not available for operational expenses or start-up funding, and applicants must demonstrate a clear funding plan for ongoing operations. This foundation seeks to empower communities while avoiding dependency on funding.

The Carolina Youth Power Fund, a project of the Carolina Youth Partnership, offers grants of $500-$1,000 to support organizing projects led by youth aged 13-25 in North Carolina. Focused on empowering underrepresented groups, including Black, Muslim, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ youth, the fund prioritizes projects that engage young people in civic issues and community organizing, fostering leadership and skills development for sustainable change.

The Community Possible Grant Program by U.S. Bank aims to foster economic and workforce advancement, as well as safe and affordable housing. By partnering with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, the program seeks to drive lasting change within communities through collaborative grantmaking. Priority is given to organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and that address multiple pillars of work, home, and play. This initiative reflects U.S. Bank's commitment to creating a more equitable society.

The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation provides grants to early-stage social entrepreneurs working on scalable solutions to pressing social and environmental issues. By supporting organizations with innovative approaches and proven impact, they aim to uplift underserved communities globally. The foundation offers operational support, funding of up to $300,000 over three years, and fosters a collaborative community among its portfolio organizations. They focus on candidates demonstrating measurable impact and sustainable growth potential.

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

The Global Impact Cash Grants by Cisco Systems Foundation support innovative early-stage solutions aimed at addressing significant social problems. Targeting nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, these grants focus on four key sectors: crisis response, education, economic empowerment, and climate regeneration. Eligible organizations must demonstrate alignment with these areas, particularly serving underserved communities. The foundation seeks to leverage technology for impactful solutions, ensuring sustainability and community resilience through strategic investments.

The Harris and Frances Block Foundation, established in 2001, supports small grassroots organizations focused on social and environmental justice. They prioritize equitable solutions and sustainable community development, funding initiatives related to environmental education, justice, and food security. Grants are available to non-profit, tax-exempt organizations in specific geographical areas including Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia, and New York City, excluding funding for lobbying, land acquisition, and scholarships.

Roche Corporate Donations and Philanthropy (CDP) focuses on impactful projects that foster sustainable development, engage employees, and leverage Roche's expertise. Their philanthropic efforts prioritize humanitarian, educational, environmental, and cultural initiatives, aiming to build stronger communities and support innovative projects. Eligibility is limited to local organizations, while ineligible projects include those with political or religious ties. The foundation strives to create a positive societal impact through collaboration and strategic partnerships.

The Southern Partners Fund's Discretionary Fund Grant aims to support grassroots community organizing for social, economic, and environmental justice in the Southeastern United States. It provides financial resources and technical assistance to rural organizations and leaders focused on transformative change. Eligible applicants include self-governed rural groups engaging in advocacy and community development. The fund prioritizes education reform, immigration rights, and voter engagement, allowing up to two requests per year, with a maximum award of $3,500.

The Walnut Cove Members Association Grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations serving Western North Carolina. The grant focuses on social services, education, and cultural resources, with funding caps of $25K, $15K, and $10K respectively. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations sponsored by WCMA members. The award process is competitive, emphasizing measurable impact on local residents. Applications must adhere to specific guidelines, ensuring funds directly support community needs.

The Impact Fund provides recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits and small law firms working on social, environmental, and economic justice issues. With over $10 million awarded since 1992, the fund supports impactful litigation addressing systemic injustices. Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 and prioritize cases directly involving affected communities. Recipients must repay the grant amount with interest if they recover fees or costs, ensuring sustainability for future funding.

The Laura Jane Musser Fund was established by the estate of Laura Jane Musser of Little Falls, Minnesota to continue the personal philanthropy, which she practiced in her lifetime.

Environmental Initiative Program

The Laura Jane Musser Fund assists public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects that enhance the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces, while encouraging compatible human activities. The Fund’s goal is to promote public use of open space that improves a community’s quality of life and public health, while also ensuring the protection of healthy, viable and sustainable ecosystems by protecting or restoring habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species.

Projects must..

• Focus on protecting/restoring a sustainable ecosystem that is a defined, public open space.
• Promote public access to and use of the defined open space.
• Involve active participation of local community members, with a particular appreciation for volunteer and youth engagement and stakeholder contributions.
• Contain measurable outcomes within the first 12-18 months.
• Include a plan for the long term financial and environmental sustainability of the proposed program.

Projects during any one grant period will be eligible for either:

• implementation grants or 
• planning grants

Environmental Initiative - Implementation Grant Program

Implementation grant applications must demonstrate clear evidence of local community active participation and support.

Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period.

The Environmental Initiative Grant Program by the Laura Jane Musser Fund aims to support public and nonprofit entities in enhancing the ecological integrity of open spaces. It promotes community involvement in planning and implementing projects that improve quality of life and public health while protecting ecosystems. Grants range from $8,000 for planning to $35,000 for implementation, targeting projects in specific states, fostering sustainability, and ensuring active local participation.

The Aquatic Weed Control Program in North Carolina aims to assist local governments and residents in managing noxious aquatic weed infestations. By promoting education and partnerships, the program seeks to mitigate economic and environmental impacts from these invasive species. It offers resources for both public and private lands, including technical assistance and financial support for effective management strategies. Through these efforts, the program strives to enhance the health of North Carolina's waterways.

Golden LEAF Foundation

Golden LEAF’s mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation. For more than 25 years, the Foundation has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state.

SITE Program

Golden LEAF recognizes that rural and economically distressed communities must have industrial sites and shell buildings available for development to attract new businesses and create opportunities for existing businesses to expand. To address this need, Golden LEAF created the SITE Program. Through this program, Golden LEAF provides support to communities to identify potential industrial sites for economic development, enable completion of due diligence on industrial sites already identified, extend public utilities to or conduct grading and clearing of industrial sites for which due diligence has been completed, and to construct industrial shell buildings. Golden LEAF accepts applications from organizations in all counties but prioritizes awards within counties that have been persistently economically distressed (as demonstrated by County Tier status determined by the N.C. Department of Commerce) and in economically distressed, rural, and tobacco-dependent communities. Funding in the SITE Program is limited and the application process is expected to be competitive.

The SITE Program consists of four phases: SITE Program – Identification; SITE Program – Due Diligence; SITE Program – Development; and SITE Program – Shell Building.

Communities are able to participate in the program in any of the four phases, and a site may progress from Identification through Due Diligence, Development, and Shell Building over time.

Golden LEAF intends for the SITE Program to complement other site readiness and site development programs existing in North Carolina and has coordinated its program requirements with those other programs. See the SITE Program Resources page for information on other site readiness programs.

SITE Program – Shell Building

SITE Program – Shell Building provides funding for clearing and grading, site preparation, and construction of industrial shell buildings on publicly owned sites. May be combined with SITE Program – Development funding in a single project.

Golden LEAF offers an opportunity to seek funding for construction of industrial shell building as part of the SITE Program. This funding complements other funding available in the SITE Program, including for SITE Identification, SITE Due Diligence, and SITE Development. Funding available in the SITE Shell Building phase is in addition to funding available in other phases of the SITE Program.

Use of Funds

Grantees will use Golden LEAF funds to hire third-party professionals to complete eligible site development and building construction activities. The building and site must be owned by a governmental entity or 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit. Golden LEAF funds can be used for:

• Extension of public utilities (typically water and sewer) to the site
• Remediation of environmental conditions to enable industrial development
• Grading, clearing, and other site preparation activities
• Due diligence, planning, design, engineering, pre-construction, and construction activities for a shell building and required utilities

The grantee will procure the contractors for the project. 

The Glass Foundation Grant supports initiatives that enhance the quality of life in Western North Carolina. Established in 2000, the foundation provides funding for capital campaigns, construction, and program supplies, focusing on environmental education and youth development. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations operating in specified WNC counties. The foundation prioritizes projects that foster educational and cultural opportunities while preserving natural resources, aiming to create a thriving community.

The Clabough Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations in North Carolina and Oregon that promote environmental stewardship and regional arts. The foundation prioritizes projects that provide community benefits in areas such as social services, education, and cultural initiatives. Grants are available to established, tax-exempt organizations that align with the foundation's mission. For detailed application guidelines and eligibility criteria, please refer to the foundation's official website.

The Jandy Ammons Foundation, established in 2012, is committed to enhancing local communities through innovative, project-driven initiatives. Focused on 'shovel ready' projects, it supports wildlife conservation, educational efforts, artistic installations, and Christian mission endeavors. By providing resources to IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charities, the foundation aims to inspire community engagement and sustainable growth. The foundation reflects the collaborative spirit of its founders, Andy and Jan Ammons, who believe in hard work, integrity, and maximizing available resources.

The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program, offered by The Nature Conservancy, provides up to $100,000 for projects that acquire land and easements throughout the Appalachian region. This program emphasizes equitable conservation, aiming to support historically marginalized communities and enhance access to nature while addressing climate change impacts. Projects must demonstrate community engagement and align with the program's goals to protect vital habitats and foster resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation supports tax-exempt organizations under IRS Section 501(c)(3) in four key areas: human needs, environmental stewardship, education, and community vitality. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $15,000, with two application cycles each year. Notably, funding is unavailable for organizations without 501(c)(3) status or those located outside Dominion's service areas. This foundation aims to enhance community welfare through targeted support for impactful programs.

The North Carolina Land and Water Fund provides grants to support local governments, state agencies, and conservation non-profits in addressing water pollution issues. This initiative aims to enhance and restore degraded waters, protect unpolluted waters, and contribute to ecological diversity. Projects may include land acquisition, stream restoration, and innovative stormwater management practices. By fostering community involvement, the fund seeks to develop effective solutions that safeguard North Carolina's natural resources for future generations.

NC DEQ 319 Grant Program

Through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides states with funding to reduce nonpoint source pollution. North Carolina typically receives around $1 million for competitive funding of watershed restoration projects. Funds may be used to conduct watershed restoration projects such as stormwater and agricultural best management practices and restoration of impaired streams. Section 319 grant projects must be used to help restore waterbodies currently impaired by nonpoint source pollution in areas with approved watershed restoration plans. (map) (list)

State and local governments, interstate and intrastate agencies, public and private nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions are all eligible to apply for 319 funding. An interagency workgroup reviews the proposals and selects those of merit to be funded. 

The O'Reilly Automotive Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community welfare through philanthropic initiatives that support economic stability, workforce development, health services, and disaster relief. Established in 2020, the Foundation seeks to empower underrepresented individuals and organizations in the U.S. by addressing vital community needs. It particularly aims to provide assistance to nonprofits that foster positive change and improve quality of life for those in need, ensuring a lasting impact in local communities.

The True Inspiration Awards, established by Chick-fil-A in 2015, recognizes nonprofit organizations that significantly impact their communities. In 2025, the program will distribute $6 million in grants, ranging from $30,000 to $350,000, to sixteen selected organizations. Categories include Caring for People, Caring through Food, Community, and Caring for our Planet, with a focus on educational initiatives, food security, housing services, and environmental stewardship, honoring the legacy of founder S. Truett Cathy.

The Hubert E. Sapp Regular Grant Cycle, by Southern Partners Fund, aims to empower rural communities in the Southeastern U.S. through grassroots leadership and organizing. The fund provides support to nonprofit organizations focused on social, economic, and environmental justice. Eligible applicants are community-based organizations with budgets under $350,000. The initiative honors Hubert E. Sapp's legacy, promoting equitable relationships that drive real transformation and community decision-making.

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation invites eligible organizations to apply for the State-Level Systemic Change Grant. This grant supports initiatives aimed at creating lasting, systemic improvements across North Carolina. Emphasizing equity and inclusion, the Foundation seeks to address barriers faced by historically marginalized communities, ensuring access to quality education, a healthy environment, and economic opportunities. This grant aligns with the Foundation's mission to foster a thriving, equitable society for all North Carolinians.

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grant, administered by the North Carolina State Parks, supports trail-related projects across the state. Funded through federal gas taxes, this initiative aims to enhance public access to safe and managed recreational trails. Eligible applicants include governmental and non-profit organizations, with a minimum match requirement of 25%. Projects must provide public access and remain open for at least ten years. The RTP promotes sustainable economic development through natural resource tourism.