Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits in North Carolina

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and eligible public institutions in North Carolina can seek Amgen Foundation support for science education programs and community-strengthening initiatives. The foundation prioritizes teacher professional development and hands-on, technology-enhanced science learning, and may also back civic engagement efforts that align with its mission in communities where Amgen operates.

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 Costco Wholesale Charitable Contributions program prioritizes support for children, education, and health services within local communities. Nonprofit organizations seeking assistance must be 501(c)(3) certified and focus on monetary requests. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, factoring in community needs and collaboration. However, Costco limits grants to 10% of the program budget and typically restricts organizations to one request per fiscal year. They do not fund individuals or direct aid for various specific purposes.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting youth health, education, and development in North Carolina can seek up to US $15,000 for direct-service programs and related training needs. The Dan Paul Foundation supports work such as early childhood development, child advocacy, homelessness and poverty services, refugee enrichment, and environmental responsibility education, which may include professional development for staff and caregivers.

State Farm's Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants aim to enhance community safety, development, and education. Focused on long-term impact, they support initiatives in auto and home safety, disaster preparedness, affordable housing, and educational programs. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. However, funding is not available for individuals, religious programs, or organizations outside the U.S. By addressing critical community needs, these grants foster safer and more resilient neighborhoods.

Nonprofit cultural institutions in North Carolina offering arts or science programming for large U.S. audiences can seek more than US $100,000 to support impactful programs, capital needs, or limited general support. William Randolph Hearst Foundation prioritizes arts education, artist development, and STEAM-focused science initiatives that demonstrate measurable, lasting benefits and organizational sustainability.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) entity, aims to enhance healthcare access and education for all. With grant opportunities focusing on food programs, healthcare services for underserved populations, and STEM initiatives, it seeks to support community health and well-being. Organizations eligible for funding must be U.S.-based and hold tax-exempt status. Requests are reviewed biannually, in March and September, to foster impactful community projects.

Focused on professional development, South Arts invites North Carolina arts nonprofits and public or tribal arts agencies with budgets under $500,000 to build organizational capacity. Eligible Southern arts organizations can receive up to US $1,000 for staff and board training, conferences, workshops, travel, and consultant fees that strengthen long-term sustainability.

North Carolina accredited charities running humanitarian, education, community, environmental, or arts projects can access funding through La Roche’s global philanthropy program. Support focuses on innovative, sustainable initiatives that may engage Roche expertise or employees and are managed locally through Roche affiliate offices in the same country where the project operates.

Semnani Family Foundation provides North Carolina nonprofits and other organizations focused on health, education, and humanitarian aid with support for programs serving marginalized and vulnerable communities. U.S.-based groups working on healthcare access, disaster relief, child welfare, or related human and social services may be eligible alongside organizations in other countries.

The Georgia-Pacific Foundation Grant supports organizations in the Metro Atlanta area, focusing on education, entrepreneurship, community enrichment, and environmental sustainability. Established in 1958, the foundation prioritizes investments that align with its mission and values, promoting long-term well-being within communities where Georgia-Pacific operates. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, and local government entities located within 30 miles of GP manufacturing sites.

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 Spark Good: Strengthening Community Local Grants program by the Wal-Mart Foundation empowers local organizations through grants ranging from $250 to $5000. This initiative aims to enhance community welfare by supporting diverse projects, including animal shelters and educational programs. Eligible organizations must have a verified Spark Good account, ensuring funds are allocated effectively to meet local needs and foster community development. Together, we can create lasting impacts through small yet significant actions.

Individual writers and literary arts nonprofits in North Carolina and the broader South Arts region can apply for South Arts’ Literary Arts Grants, awarding up to US $5,000 for creative projects and career growth. Funding supports new or in-progress literary work, community engagement activities, and professional development such as conferences, workshops, retreats, or residencies.

Child- and family-serving nonprofits in North Carolina seeking to implement or sustain evidence-based programs to prevent or treat child abuse and neglect may be eligible for this funding. Grants from The Duke Endowment help agencies strengthen implementation support, develop innovative, data-driven models, and advance advocacy to improve child and family well-being systems.

Researchers at North Carolina universities and nonprofit research institutes can apply for North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Translational Research Grant, with awards up to US $144,000 to advance life sciences technologies toward commercialization. Funding supports product-focused translational research, de-risking inventions, and building partnerships that may strengthen professional development for academic project teams.

North Carolina nonprofits supporting LGBTQ+ youth programs can access funding through Alliance for Full Acceptance for programming, organizational development, and youth-focused initiatives. Grants of US $500 - US $4,000 also serve eligible organizations in South Carolina and Georgia, including GSAs, campus resource centers, and collaborative projects that advance social justice and emotional health for LGBTQ+ youth.

Arts-focused 501(c)(3) organizations and fiscally sponsored groups in North Carolina’s Chatham, Durham, Orange, and Wake counties can seek multi-year general operating support to strengthen or expand their arts programming. Focused on arts and organizational development, the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation offers US $20,000 - US $50,000 annually to developing and established organizations, including those investing in staff and leadership capacity.

Nonprofit and community development organizations working on housing, small business, or workforce development can host an NCRC graduate fellow to advance real-world projects. National Community Reinvestment Coalition provides North Carolina and other U.S. NCRC member organizations with professional development support through mentored, in-person fellowships that bring fresh talent and help build the next generation of community development leaders.

North Carolina 501(c)(3) organizations improving the lives of children and families can receive up to US $1,000 for youth-focused programs through the Burke Youth Organized Philanthropists Grant. Community Foundation of Burke County provides funding for projects in Burke County that support children’s mental health, family well-being, and access to the arts for ages 0–18.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in North Carolina focused on workforce readiness, literacy, economic stability, or related community services can seek project, operating, or capital support. With a mission to improve quality of life for underserved people, O'Reilly Automotive Foundation provides funding in communities where O’Reilly Auto Parts has a business presence.

Nonprofit and governmental arts presenting organizations in North Carolina can receive up to US $1,000 for staff and guest artist travel, registration, and related professional development costs. South Arts supports film, visual, performing, traditional, literary, and multidisciplinary arts presenters seeking new conferences, festivals, workshops, exhibitions, or virtual training opportunities that strengthen their programming and organizational capacity.

State agencies, universities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in North Carolina can apply for approximately US $1,500,000 to design and manage a statewide child care health consultation network, emphasizing technical assistance and professional development for early educators. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services seeks one grantee with strong ECE systems expertise and experience in intensive coaching and culturally inclusive training.

Public agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in North Carolina can seek US $2,500 - US $10,000 to plan or expand efforts to preserve battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures. National Trust for Historic Preservation funding supports planning, professional expertise, capacity building, and innovative education and outreach that may strengthen staff skills and organizational effectiveness.

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award honors exemplary nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that foster collaborative partnerships across sectors. Annually, a national competition showcases numerous organizations demonstrating impactful community partnerships. Six organizations receive recognition, including the Thomas J. Moran Award, which offers $100,000, and the Frances R. Hesselbein Award, granting $75,000. Since 1996, the award has acknowledged 262 partnerships, emphasizing Mutual of America's commitment to societal improvement through collaboration.

Arts-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups in North Carolina can receive US $5,000 - US $10,000 in one-year general operating support to strengthen cultural organizations and emerging arts initiatives. The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation funds organizations centered on arts, arts education, or student academic success in Chatham, Durham, Orange, or Wake counties, including those building staff and organizational capacity.