Best Stokes County Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

The North Carolina Appalachian Regional Commission Funds support economic development across 13 states, focusing on infrastructure, workforce, and community resilience. Administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the program prioritizes projects that enhance local economies, particularly in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Funding caps are set at $700,000 for construction and $300,000 for non-construction projects, with special considerations for distressed counties and workforce development initiatives.

The NCAC: Folklife Apprenticeship Program offers 12-month apprenticeships in folk and traditional arts within North Carolina's Appalachian communities. Designed to preserve endangered folklife traditions, this program supports mentor-apprentice pairs, fostering the transmission of cultural practices. Eligible applicants must be 18 and reside within designated ARC counties. Funding includes $7,000 for mentors and $3,000 for apprentices, encouraging community engagement through public presentations of learned skills. This initiative strengthens cultural identity and heritage in the region.

The Truliant Mini Grants program offers $1,500 grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Truliant member communities. These grants support capacity building through staff training and development, along with materials for programs aligned with Truliant's focus areas: Social Mobility, Financial Wellness, and Workforce Education. Eligible organizations must have an operating budget under $500,000, be tax-exempt, and have been operating for at least three years, ensuring community engagement and sustainability.

Our Mission

Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

STEM and CTE Grants for Your School

PLTW provides STEM and CTE-aligned curriculum grants for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to implement or expand PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science STEM programs.

We work with companies and foundations across the U.S. to make these grants possible.

PLTW Gateway

Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world. Investments in workforce readiness and STEM aim to create human infrastructure through an empowered, prepared and skilled workforce. 

Caterpillar Foundation has worked with PLTW to expand access to STEM education. Through this collaboration, Caterpillar Foundation is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.

PLTW Gateway

New Program

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 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) supports 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks by providing federal funding for security enhancements. Administered by the North Carolina Emergency Management, this competitive grant allows eligible organizations to apply for up to $150,000 per site, focusing on target hardening, planning, and training. The program aims to integrate nonprofit preparedness with local efforts, enhancing community safety and resilience against threats.

The Bright Ideas Education Grants program, supported by North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, empowers K-12 teachers to implement innovative projects in classrooms. With applications open from April to September, educators can seek funding for creative learning initiatives. Annually, around 600 grants are awarded, enhancing educational experiences across diverse disciplines. This initiative not only enriches classroom instruction but also strengthens community ties, demonstrating the cooperatives' commitment to improving quality of life for local students.

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

The Enbridge Safe Community First Responder Program is designed to support emergency response organizations across Canada and the U.S. by providing grants for safety equipment, training, and educational programs. Launched in 2002, it has invested over $22 million in enhancing community safety. Eligible organizations include fire departments and medical services located near Enbridge operations. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000, helping improve the capabilities of first responders in rural and underserved areas.

The NRA Foundation: North Carolina – West NCW Grants provide funding to support charitable purposes as defined by the IRS under section 501(c)(3). Eligible applicants include recognized nonprofits, government entities, and organizations that can demonstrate a public benefit. The grants aim to promote firearms safety, educate the public about firearms, and support competitive shooting activities. Ineligible organizations include labor groups and private businesses, and the funding cannot be used for deficit financing or administrative costs.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program - North Carolina

The Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program provides supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach
• Historical education

Grant funding must be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials.

Our Mission

Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

STEM and CTE Grants for Your School

PLTW provides STEM and CTE-aligned curriculum grants for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to implement or expand PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science STEM programs.

We work with companies and foundations across the U.S. to make these grants possible.

PLTW Gateway

Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world. Investments in workforce readiness and STEM aim to create human infrastructure through an empowered, prepared and skilled workforce. 

Caterpillar Foundation has worked with PLTW to expand access to STEM education. Through this collaboration, Caterpillar Foundation is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.

PLTW Gateway

Program Expansion

Our Mission

Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

STEM and CTE Grants for Your School

PLTW provides STEM and CTE-aligned curriculum grants for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to implement or expand PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science STEM programs.

We work with companies and foundations across the U.S. to make these grants possible.

PLTW Launch

Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world. Investments in workforce readiness and STEM aim to create human infrastructure through an empowered, prepared and skilled workforce. 

Caterpillar Foundation has worked with PLTW to expand access to STEM education. Through this collaboration, Caterpillar Foundation is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.

PLTW Launch

Program Expansion

The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative aims to revitalize communities impacted by coal industry transitions. This initiative provides funding for projects that diversify local economies, enhance job training, and create new employment opportunities. By fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, the POWER Initiative supports strategic investments that align with regional economic development plans, ensuring a more resilient future for coal-affected areas.

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.

Our Mission

Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

STEM and CTE Grants for Your School

PLTW provides STEM and CTE-aligned curriculum grants for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to implement or expand PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science STEM programs.

We work with companies and foundations across the U.S. to make these grants possible.

PLTW Launch

Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world. Investments in workforce readiness and STEM aim to create human infrastructure through an empowered, prepared and skilled workforce. 

Caterpillar Foundation has worked with PLTW to expand access to STEM education. Through this collaboration, Caterpillar Foundation is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.

: PLTW Launch

: New Program

The Jean Griswold Foundation

The Jean Griswold Foundation (JGF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Caregivers through educational opportunities and scholarships. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Jean Griswold Foundation is to support Caregivers by providing educational scholarships* to enable them to further their training, enhance their careers, and better assist the clients they serve.

By offering educational scholarships*, our Foundation will not only make a positive impact on the Caregivers themselves, but also the clients they assist and the home healthcare agencies where they are employed, as well as help advance the overarching home-care industry.

Scholarships will be paid directly to the federally accredited educational institutions of the winning Scholars’ choosing.

Empowering Caregivers Through Education

The Jean Griswold Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships to deserving Caregivers who wish to further their education in a care-related field. Applicants do not have to be associated with Griswold in any way, and the funds will be paid directly to the institution where the caregiver will be receiving education.  

Our Winter 2026 Scholarship Application period is now open! Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm ET August 31, 2026. Join our email list to get the first notice of all Scholarship happenings.  

Where would we be without Caregivers? 

Their selflessness is astounding, yet they are often overlooked and underappreciated. 

The Jean Griswold Foundation is dedicated to supporting Caregivers, the backbone of the care industry. We provide educational scholarships so Care Professionals can further their training, enhance their skills, elevate their careers, and better assist the people they serve.

About Us

The Department connects businesses with the site locations, workforce and infrastructure they need to succeed in one of the nation's top states for business. We also connect local communities with the grants and funding they need to attract new business and ensure future prosperity.

Additionally, our executive branch agency administers the state’s economic incentives program and publishes data, statistics, information and reports for those interested in our state’s economy.

Marketing North Carolina as a business and visitor destination is another function of the Department, and to handle this work we contract services from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), a public-private organization established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2014.

North Carolina Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) - Demolition Program

Local governments can apply for funding to support demolition projects that result in industrial or commercial sites, using grant funds under the Community Development Block Grant program's Economic Development (ED) category.

Our department holds administrative responsibility for the CDBG program in North Carolina. Our Rural Economic Development Division (REDD) administers the CDBG-ED funds. State rules related to the CDBG program can be found in the North Carolina Administrative Code 4 NCAC 19L and specific ED rules are found at 4 NCAC 1K. Federal funds are made available annually through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Purpose

Under the authority of Title I of the U. S. Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (as amended), the CDBG demolition program in North Carolina is designed to demolish vacant dilapidated industrial buildings and properties under the elimination of slums and blight national objective. The demolition activity is expected to create a site at which it can reasonably be expected new jobs and private sector investment will locate. Since the demolition activity is qualified under the slums and blight national objective, new job creation with a private employer does not require a legally binding contract. Jobs creation during the demolition phase of the grant should be collected for CDBG reporting purposes.

GRANT PERIOD AN

North Carolina Department of Commerce

Our mission is to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians.

To do that, the North Carolina Department of Commerce works closely with local, regional, national and international organizations to propel economic, community and workforce development for the state.

Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization Program (CDBG-NR)

The Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization Program (CDBG-NR) will offer a non-entitlement municipality or county the opportunity to tailor a project to meet the housing and community development needs specific and most critical to their locality. The CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Program incorporates several previous Rural Economic Development Division (REDD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs and activities such as Scattered Site Housing and Supportive Housing.

The CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Program will support the three livability principles that help guide sustainability and resiliency throughout areas that receive funding. Regardless of the program activity or activities local governments pursue, CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Program projects must incorporate at least one of the following three livability principles as an area of focus:

NC Neighborhood Revitalization 3 Livability Principles

• Promote equitable, affordable housing. Expand location and energy-efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races, and ethnicities to increase mobility and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.

• Support existing communities. Target federal funding toward existing communities - through strategies like transit-oriented, mixed-use development, and land recycling - to increase community revitalization and the efficiency of public works investments and safeguard rural landscapes.

• Value communities and neighborhoods. Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods - rural, urban, or suburban.

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

The Enbridge Community Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in North American communities through strategic donations and sponsorships. With funding ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the grant supports organizations focused on safety, education, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous culture. Enbridge encourages early applications, with decisions typically made within eight weeks. The grant seeks to empower local initiatives that foster community strength, vibrancy, and sustainability.

The Corning Nonprofit Grants program supports community-based initiatives in education, human services, and culture. Eligible nonprofits that align with our criteria may apply for funding on a rolling basis. The application window for invited organizations runs from February 10 to September 15. We emphasize local impact within a 20-mile radius of Corning, NY, ensuring that our contributions foster collective growth and engagement in the community.

The L.B. Research and Education Foundation Grant Program supports U.S.-based nonprofits focusing on innovative education and health solutions for underserved populations. Eligible organizations can apply by submitting a 400-word concept paper, and selected applicants may receive funding ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. The Foundation prioritizes projects that foster critical thinking and creativity, address health disparities, and encourage collaboration. There are no application deadlines, promoting year-round engagement.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

The Area Development Grant Program, managed by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), supports economic growth in Appalachia through investments in critical infrastructure and workforce development. Targeting 423 counties across 13 states, the program encourages local communities to collaborate with state governments to identify and implement impactful projects. Key focus areas include enhancing utilities, promoting entrepreneurship, and strengthening local leadership. This initiative aims to uplift the 26 million residents of Appalachia, fostering sustainable economic opportunities.

The Piedmont Natural Gas Company Grant Program, part of the Duke Energy Foundation, supports community vitality through grants of $20,000 or less. Focus areas include vibrant economies, climate resiliency, and promoting opportunity and inclusion. Eligible organizations must have tax-exempt status and serve communities without discrimination. The foundation prioritizes measurable community impact and does not fund certain entities, including for-profits and religious organizations. Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis.

The Hughes Memorial Foundation, established by John Edward Hughes, focuses on aiding children and youth in Virginia and North Carolina. Originally created as an orphanage, it now awards grants and scholarships to support projects that benefit children in need. Since 2000, it has distributed over $5.1 million to nonprofit organizations, emphasizing prudent stewardship and a commitment to helping those "most in harm's way". The Foundation also encourages matching funds from organizations to amplify their impact.