Best Richmond County Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

U.S. Writers Aid Initiative

PEN America is an organization of writers and their allies, and that solidarity is never more important than when members of our literary community face crises. PEN America’s U.S. Writers Aid Initiative, part of the PEN America Writers Emergency Fund, offers grants for writers in the United States facing acute financial need following an emergency situation.

The U.S. Writers Aid Initiative is intended to assist fiction and nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, translators, and journalists in addressing short-term financial emergencies. To be eligible, applicants must be professional writers based in the United States, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping address a short-term emergency situation. The fund is limited, and not every application can be supported.

Grant decisions are made on a quarterly basis by a volunteer committee of literary peers in consultation with PEN America staff, using the following guidelines to evaluate professional credentials:

• Publication of one or more books. (Writers who are only self-published or published by a press that charges for publication are not eligible.)
• Multiple essays, short stories, or poems appearing in literary anthologies or literary journals (either online or in print) in the last two years.
• A full-length play, performed in a theater by a professional theater company. Productions in academic settings qualify if the author is not a student at the time of the production.
• Employment as a full-time professional journalist, columnist, or critic, or a record of consistent publication on a freelance basis in a range of outlets during the last two years.
• Contracted forthcoming books, essays, short stories, poems, or articles for which the name of the publisher can be provided.
• Other qualifications that support the applicant’s professional identity as a writer.

The AGA-Bern Schwartz Family Fund Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer provides $100,000 annually for three years to early-career faculty in digestive disease research. This award aims to support independent careers in pancreatic cancer research by protecting a significant portion of the recipient's time for research activities. Eligible applicants must hold an MD, PhD, or equivalent and work at a North American institution, with AGA membership required. Strong encouragement is given to underrepresented groups.

The AGA-Bern Schwartz Family Fund Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer provides $100,000 annually for three years to early-career faculty focused on independent research in pancreatic cancer. This award aims to protect at least 50% of the recipient's time for research activities. Eligible applicants must hold an MD or PhD and be classified as early-career. The award encourages physician-scientists and underrepresented groups in biomedical research to apply, supporting innovative research that can lead to significant advancements in understanding pancreatic cancer.

The AGA-Gastric Cancer Foundation Ben Feinstein Memorial Research Scholar Award provides $100,000 annually for three years to early-career faculty dedicated to gastric cancer research. Eligible candidates must have an MD, PhD, or equivalent and a full-time faculty position in North America. The award supports research in various areas related to gastric cancer, ensuring a minimum of 50% time commitment to the project, thus fostering independent careers in digestive diseases.

The American Diabetes Association's Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards aim to foster emerging leaders in diabetes research. With a focus on innovative research, these fellowships provide up to three years of funding, including a stipend and allowances. Eligible applicants must hold a recent advanced degree and conduct research at U.S. affiliated institutions. This initiative not only supports career development but also contributes significantly to the mission of preventing and curing diabetes.

The Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholars Program fosters collaboration between leading scientific institutions in the U.S. and Israel by attracting top postdoctoral researchers. With a focus on STEM leadership, this program offers a unique two-year scholarship, allowing scholars to conduct research at participating Israeli universities and North American institutions. The initiative aims to strengthen academic ties, enhance research capabilities, and support the return of talented Israeli scholars to their home institutions, ultimately enriching the global scientific community.

The Tides Stronger Together Fund, under the Tides Foundation, provides essential support grants to fiscally sponsored partners focused on historically underserved communities. By building organizational capacity and leadership, the fund empowers community changemakers to address inequities and enhance sustainability. With a pooled funding model, it directly responds to the needs of over 120 partners, ensuring resources are effectively allocated where they are most impactful, ultimately fostering long-term community resilience.

The Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, established in 1992, supports charitable organizations that enhance society, focusing on democracy and civil liberties. The fund prioritizes projects that ensure equal citizen participation in the democratic process and protect civil liberties, especially those implemented nationally or across multiple states. It operates by invitation only and emphasizes flexible, informed grantmaking to qualified projects that align with its mission and values.

The HEAL Initiative aims to identify new druggable targets for pain within the understudied proteome. This funding opportunity invites applications for pilot projects that generate preliminary data and tools for exploring these targets. The initiative seeks to enhance research on understudied proteins related to pain management, providing essential funding for biochemical and biological work. This NOFO is part of the NIH's broader effort to develop novel medications that address various aspects of opioid addiction and its consequences.

The Limited Competition: Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program's Collaborative and Innovative Acceleration Award aims to enhance translational research by fostering collaboration in developing and implementing innovative solutions. This funding opportunity invites applications focused on new approaches and technologies that will improve research impact across various diseases and expedite treatment availability. Eligible applicants include organizations with active CTSA hub prime or partnering awards.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a competitive grant initiative by the National Park Service, aimed at enhancing parks and recreational opportunities in urban, underserved communities. This program supports the acquisition, development, and renovation of outdoor recreation areas through federal funding, addressing the needs of community organizations, local governments, and recognized tribes. Applications are accepted twice a year, before June 1 and November 1.

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 Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Funding Announcement aims to enhance methods for conducting patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. This initiative seeks to address critical methodological gaps, focusing on improving the use of artificial intelligence in clinical research, study design, data research networks, and ethical protections in patient-centered CER. With a budget of up to $750,000, successful proposals will contribute to the quality and strength of evidence generated in CER studies.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is offering funding up to $750,000 for studies aimed at addressing critical methodological gaps in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. This initiative focuses on enhancing the quality of evidence in clinical research by prioritizing areas such as artificial intelligence, study design improvements, support for data research networks, and ethical considerations. Successful proposals will contribute to advancing research methodologies and improving patient outcomes.

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for Winter Sports awards up to 126 scholarships of $10,000 annually to outstanding student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically. Eligible candidates are in their final year of NCAA competition and must have a minimum GPA of 3.2. The scholarships are available for men and women in various winter sports and are intended for use in accredited graduate programs, emphasizing the importance of academic achievement and community involvement.

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for Spring Sports is awarded to exceptional student-athletes who are in their final year of competition and have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.2. Each year, 126 scholarships of $10,000 are provided, split equally between male and female athletes across various sports. This initiative, established in 1964, aims to promote graduate education and recognizes not just athletic excellence, but also academic achievements and community involvement.

The NCAA Division II Degree Completion Award provides financial assistance to student-athletes who have exhausted their athletics eligibility, enabling them to complete their first undergraduate degree. Since its inception in 2001, nearly $9 million has supported approximately 1,875 athletes, with a remarkable 90 percent graduation rate among recipients. The award covers tuition costs up to $15,000 for remaining credits and may be used in the summer term or short terms surrounding the final undergraduate year.

Junior Ranger Angler Grant

The Junior Ranger Angler program, where anyone young at heart can earn their Junior Ranger Angler badge, inspires young people to catch their first fish and encourages families and communities to enjoy the vast outdoor experiences and opportunities of the national park system. Today, neighbouring communities of nearly 200 national parks—both urban and rural— can participate in fishing in some capacity. Whether it be through engaging communities through recreational fishing or ensuring the continuation of traditional subsistence fishing practices among Indigenous Tribes in ancestral waters, through education, skill building, and community connections, fishing presents a valuable opportunity to both educate and engage the next generation of park stewards through meaningful experiences.

This grant opportunity specifically supports connecting children and families in their local communities with fishing activities in their national parks through inclusive and authentic engagement, community co-creation, and shared leadership and vision of programmatic activities. Funds can be used to support programs that encourage and engage a wide variety of audiences such as fishing clinics, gear libraries, intergenerational programming, community engagement programs, fishing focused Junior Ranger Day activities, and more.

Funding

Applicants may request up to $25,000. Please round your request amount to the nearest dollar.

The NIAID Career Transition Award (K22) supports postdoctoral fellows transitioning to independent research positions, fostering their development into successful biomedical scientists. Key deadlines for applications span from February 2025 to June 2027, including specific dates for standard, renewal, and AIDS-related grants. This initiative, funded by the NIH, aims to enhance the career trajectory of emerging researchers in clinical and biomedical fields, ensuring a robust pipeline of innovative scientific talent.

This funding opportunity aims to address the urgent mental health crisis in the U.S. by promoting research that enhances access to evidence-based practices for youth. It encourages applications focusing on interventions for underserved populations, including those facing housing and food insecurities. Researchers are invited to explore strategies for improving service delivery, overcoming workforce challenges, and integrating care into accessible settings, ultimately striving for equitable mental health services for all youth.

This initiative aims to support research interventions targeting disparities in liver diseases and liver cancer among underserved populations in the U.S. It encourages innovative approaches to reduce health inequities and improve health outcomes. The funding opportunity is available through various deadlines for both standard and renewal applications, promoting multi-level strategies to address these critical health issues effectively.

The NIMH Career Transition Award (K22) supports tenure-track intramural investigators at NIMH in their transition to independent research faculty positions. This program aims to foster innovative research in mental health, encouraging applicants with a strong record of research excellence. Key deadlines for applications vary, including those for standard and renewal submissions, emphasizing the importance of timely applications to secure funding and advance mental health research initiatives.

The Interventions to Reduce Sleep Health Disparities (R01) grant aims to fund non-pharmacological strategies that enhance sleep health and address disparities in sleep among affected populations. The program emphasizes innovative approaches to examine sleep as a crucial element in mitigating health disparities across various health outcomes. Deadlines for applications range from February 2025 to June 2027, supporting both standard and renewal submissions under the National Institutes of Health.

The Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) aims to boost basic and clinical research at health professional and graduate schools that have historically received limited NIH funding. By supporting small-scale research projects led by faculty, REAP fosters student engagement in significant research endeavors, enhancing their educational experience. Eligible institutions must grant advanced degrees in health professions and have received under $6 million in NIH support in four of the last seven years, promoting broader participation in the nation's biomedical research efforts.

The Tribal Agriculture Fellowship supports career and technical education students in agriculture, focusing on Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals. This last-dollar fellowship aims to fill financial gaps, allowing students to prioritize their education while participating in developmental activities. Eligible students must maintain academic progress and engage in community support initiatives. The fellowship provides resources for tuition, housing, and professional development over up to four years, promoting agricultural knowledge in tribal communities.

The Truliant Foundation offers the Fred J. Sarda Scholarships, providing $1,500 each to qualified applicants. Established in 1996, this program has awarded over $265,000 to more than 250 high school seniors who are members of a North or South Carolina credit union. Eligible candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be first-time college students enrolled full-time for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The Truliant Foundation Scholarships, established in 1996, have awarded over $265,000 to more than 250 high school seniors pursuing higher education. The Clyde Padgett Scholarship specifically offers $2,500 to eligible applicants who are members of a North or South Carolina credit union, maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and enroll as full-time students in the 2025-2026 academic year. This initiative supports first-time college students, including dependents of Truliant employees.