Funding Opportunities
Featured Grants
2009 Rural Partners Forum was held in Raleigh November 5-6th. This year’s forum was entitled “Funding Our Rural Future – Growing the Resources We Need…to Create the Communities We Want”. Copies of the North Carolina Rural Funding Directory were shared with forum participants. The North Carolina Rural Funding Directory is a new Rural Center guide to more than 100 sources of state and national funding. To view a complete copy of the Directory, click HERE.
Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) Grants may be used for planning activities and for working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy.Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. Applications are due November, 30, 2009. For more information visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm
Farmland Preservation Grants
County governments and nonprofit groups pursuing farmland preservation projects can apply for funding assistance from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Applications and guidelines for the 2010 funding cycle are available online at www.ncadfp.org or by calling (919) 733-7125.
Applications are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 4, 2009.
Western N.C. Farmers’ Diversifying Operations Grants
Farmers in western North Carolina who are diversifying or expanding their operations are eligible for
grants of up to $9,000 from WNC Agricultural Options, a program sponsored by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and managed by N.C. Cooperative Extension county centers. Approximately 45 farmers in 17 counties and the Cherokee Reservation will receive a total of $225,000 in grants to increase sales and promote the long-term sustainability of their businesses. Interested applicants should see the agricultural agents at their local extension centers by Nov. 23, 2009. Applications, which are due Jan. 8, are available for download online.
Golden LEAF Foundation: Open Grants Program
The Golden LEAF Foundation is committed to using the funds entrusted to it for projects that show the most potential for strengthening North Carolina’s long-term economy, especially in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities. In the Open Grants Program, Golden LEAF’s grantsmaking is focused in the areas of agriculture, job creation and retention, and workforce preparedness. For more information, visit http://www.goldenleaf.org/opengrants.html
Adopt-a-Trail Grant Program (AAT)
Awards $108,000 annually to government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private trail groups for trails projects. The funds can be used for trail building, trail signage and facilities, trail maintenance, trail brochures and maps, and other related uses. Requires no local match or in-kind services. Application deadline is January 13, 2009. [read more]
Recreational Trails Program (RTP)
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a $1.3 million grant program funded by Congress with money from the federal gas taxes paid on fuel used by off-highway vehicles. This program's intent is to meet the trail and trail-related recreational needs identified by the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Grant applicants must be able contribute 20% of the project cost with cash or in-kind contributions. Application deadline is January 31, 2009. For more information, click HERE.
Arts and Education
Arts Council – North Carolina
The N.C. Arts Council provides various grants for artistic fields. http://www.ncarts.org
Community College Encore Career Grants MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures
Civic Ventures will provide up to 10 grants of $25,000 each to community colleges that are finding ways to unleash the power of baby boomers as a workforce for social good. Colleges that receive grants will be leaders in the effort to help people over 50 transition from midlife careers to encore careers. Learn more at http://www.civicventures.org/
North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund
N.C. Natural Heritage Trust Fund announces grants to state agencies. To find out more about the NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund, including future grants, visit http://www.ncnhtf.org/.
State Farm Companies Foundation
Grants will support elementary and secondary schools in creating service-learning programs and projects to improve teacher quality. Grants also made to colleges and universities to establish scholarships, leadership training, and coursework in insurance fields. Visit their website for more information. http://www.statefarm.com/foundati/foundati.htm
Community Development
Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program
Rural Cooperative Development grants are made for establishing and operating centers for cooperative development for the primary purpose of improving the economic condition of rural areas through the development of new cooperatives and improving operations of existing cooperatives. The U.S. Department of Agriculture desires to encourage and stimulate the development of effective cooperative organizations in rural America as a part of its total package of rural development efforts. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm
Rural Center Community Economic Development grants
The Community Economic Development Grants Program, one of the Rural Center's longest-running programs, provides financial assistance to minority community development corporations to help them improve the economic well-being and quality of life in their communities. The application should be posted on the Rural Center’s website the last week in August. http://www.ncruralcenter.org/grants/cdc.htm
Rural Housing and Economic Development Grant
Capacity Building and Support involves the enhancement of existing organizations to carry out new functions and/or perform more effectively existing functions. Innovative Housing Economic Development activities include: preparation of plans, architectural drawings, acquisition of land and buildings, demolition, provision of infrastructure, purchase of materials and construction costs, use of local labor markets, job training and counseling for beneficiaries and financial services such as revolving loan funds and Individual Development Accounts or IDA’s. http://www.hud.gov/grants/index.cfm
Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Bank of America Charitable Foundation
In each of BOA’s 40 markets, two organizations, five local heroes, and five student leaders will receive grants totaling $450,000. Within each market, two grants of $200,000 each will be awarded to local
nonprofits that work toward neighborhood revitalization; five grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to community leaders whose neighborhoods have been positively affected by their achievement; five high school students will be offered paid summer internships with a community development group.
Visit their website for more information. http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation/index.cfm?template=fd_neighborexcel
Grants.gov
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services the managing partner for Grants.gov, an initiative that is having an impact on the grant community. Over 1,000 grant programs offered by all Federal grant making agencies. http://www.grants.gov/
USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
Available or anticipated competitive grants or cooperative agreements are found at
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm
Miscellaneous
BASF: The Chemical Company Grants
BASF Corporation makes donations to non-profit organizations in the United States in line with its commitment to sustainable development. They focus their donations in areas that leverage our expertise in science.
http://www.basf.com/corporate/index.html
Brookdale Foundation Group National Respite
Grants of up to $7,500 will help up to 15 groups develop respite daycare programs for people with Alzheimer1s disease and their family caregivers. Visit their website for more information. http://www.brookdalefoundation.org/
Brownfields Center
The Environmental Law Institute's Brownfields Center provides essential information on Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment with a focus on the concerns and needs of community groups across the country. The Center's goal is to encourage and support effective citizen participation in the redevelopment of Brownfields. More info at http://www.brownfieldscenter.org/big/about.shtml.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Funding ($500 - $5,000) is available for small grassroots organizations working on justice issues through the local grants program of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. One of their important criteria is that the people being targeted/ served be involved in the effort. http://www.usccb.org/cchd/grant.shtml
Golden Leaf Foundation
The Foundation was established by the State of North Carolina in 1999 for the purposes of receipt and distribution of a portion of the funds North Carolina receives as a result of the tobacco settlement in North Carolina. Grant information is found at www.goldenleaf.org.
The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundations mission is to strengthen nonprofit organizations that advance the well-being of humanity. The Kresge Foundation is a $3 billion national foundation that builds stronger nonprofit organizations; catalyzing their growth, helping them connect with their stakeholders, and challenging them with grants that leverage greater support. The Foundation concentrates its programming on capital campaigns as a key opportunity for nonprofit growth.
http://www.kresge.org/content/displaycontent.aspx?CID=24
Local Initiative Funding Partners Grants Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Three- or four-year grants of up to $500,000 each will be awarded to community projects that team up with local grant makers to improve health care for under served people. Visit their website for more information. http://www.rwjf.org/cfp/lifp
Planet Dog Foundation
Awards of up to $5,000 will support programs that bring together people and dogs for service-oriented activities such as therapy, search and rescue, or policing. Open to nonprofits. Visit their website for more information. http://www.planetdogfoundation.org/
Progress Energy
Corporate and foundation grants identify opportunities that will have a lasting impact. The grants are primarily focused in the areas of education, economic development, and environment and employee involvement. progress-energy.com/community/foundation/index.asp
Tony Hawk Foundation
The primary mission of the Tony Hawk Foundation is to promote high-quality, public skate parks in low-income areas throughout the United States. They realize that not every area can afford to build big, expensive skate parks; they feel strongly that public skate parks should be designed and constructed by experienced contractors. For more information about this foundation, visit http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/index.asp
North Carolina Construction Grants and Loans
In 1987, the NC General Assembly created the North Carolina Revolving Loan and Grant Program to provide state financing for the construction of wastewater facilities. Funding for this program is dependent upon legislative appropriations and may not be available at all times. As with the CWSRF program, eligible applicants are limited to units of local government who may apply for funding.
http://www.nccgl.net/fap/stategrants/index.html
Project for Public Spaces
Over the past three years, PPS has been working with the Ford Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to develop a national funding initiative around public markets and farmers markets. Funding for these grants is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The grants are part of a $3 million grant-making program, which began in 2005. For more information, check out http://www.pps.org/markets/info/regranting/.
Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
SARE provides grants and information to improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life. These include the Research and Education Grant, as well as the Professional Development Program. For additional information go to http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grants (SARE)
SARE is a competitive grants program providing grants to researchers, agricultural educators, farmers and ranchers, and students in the United States.
http://www.sare.org/index.htm
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
CWMTF will fund projects that (1) enhance or restore degraded waters, (2) protect unpolluted waters, and/or (3) contribute toward a network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational benefits. More information can be found at www.cwmtf.net.
Five-Star Restoration Matching Grants Program
The Five-Star Restoration Program (sponsored by The National Association of Counties, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Wildlife Habitat Council, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Southern Company) provides modest financial assistance on a competitive basis to support community-based wetland, riparian, and coastal habitat restoration projects that build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. For more information, please visit EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star/
Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a $1.3 million grant program funded by Congress with money from the federal gas taxes paid on fuel used by off-highway vehicles. This program's intent is to meet the trail and trail-related recreational needs identified by the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Grant applicants must be able contribute 20% of the project cost with cash or in-kind contributions. Grant Application Package as a Microsoft Word document at http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/trails/grant.html.
Fit Community Designations and Grants Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
Available to NC Towns and Counties. Fit Together, a partnership of the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a second phase of its Fit Community designation and grants program. For more information about the Fit Community program, visit www.healthwellnc.com.
Tourism Matching Funds Program
The Tourism Matching Funds grant program provides aid to local communities and non-profit tourism organizations with their local and regional tourism marketing and development projects. Contact the NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development at 919-733-4171 for questions or check the following website: http://www.nccommerce.com/tourism/grants/
North Carolina Trails Program – The State Trails Program is a section of the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. The program is dedicated to helping citizens, organizations and agencies plan, develop and manage all types of trails. For grant information, visit their website at http://www.ncparks.gov/About/grants/trails_main.php.
