Impact Grants

The Impact Grants program is administered by the Outer Banks Community Foundation, a community-based philanthropic organization dedicated to addressing local needs across Dare County and the broader Outer Banks region of North Carolina. The Foundation manages charitable funds from donors and distributes grants to nonprofit organizations in order to improve quality of life and respond to pressing community challenges. Through its structured grantmaking programs, including Community Enrichment, Focus, and Impact Grants, the organization aims to support a wide range of charitable activities that benefit residents and strengthen the regional nonprofit ecosystem. The Impact Grants program is designed to support larger-scale charitable projects that require funding exceeding ten thousand dollars. Unlike other targeted funding opportunities offered by the Foundation, this program is open to all types of projects without restrictions on scope or focus, provided they serve the Outer Banks community. Eligible projects may span a wide variety of sectors, including but not limited to education, health, environmental protection, arts and culture, housing, disaster mitigation, and human services. The overarching objective is to fund initiatives that generate meaningful and measurable impact within the local community. Funding provided through Impact Grants is generally intended to support direct project costs rather than general operating expenses. According to the Foundation’s grantmaking policies, priority is given to projects that demonstrate broad community benefit, innovative approaches to addressing local needs, and the ability to leverage additional funding sources. Projects that fill service gaps, respond to urgent needs, or enhance organizational capacity in a sustainable way are particularly competitive. The Foundation also values collaboration among organizations and encourages proposals that promote inclusion, equity, and accessibility. Certain expenses are typically not funded, including routine operational overhead, lobbying activities, and projects already supported by other funding sources unless a clear funding gap is demonstrated. Eligibility for Impact Grants is primarily limited to nonprofit organizations recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as other qualifying tax exempt entities conducting charitable activities that align with IRS guidelines. In some cases, schools, government agencies, and faith-based organizations may be considered if they demonstrate that their proposed projects address broader community needs and are not primarily religious in nature. Grants are not awarded to individuals under any circumstances. Applicants must also meet additional criteria related to financial stability, prior funding history, and the absence of outstanding grant obligations with the Foundation. The application process is managed through an online portal and follows a structured sequence. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the Foundation’s grant guidelines in detail, determine the most appropriate grant type, and contact Foundation staff prior to submission to discuss project ideas and funding needs. Applications are reviewed by the Grants Committee on a quarterly basis, and applicants may receive feedback or be asked to address specific concerns before final recommendations are made. The evaluation process is competitive and based on established criteria that assess community impact, feasibility, innovation, and alignment with funding priorities. For the 2026 funding cycle, the application deadline for Impact Grants is Friday, October 30, 2026. While the Foundation operates on a quarterly review schedule, this program has a defined annual deadline for submission. Following review and approval by the Grants Committee and Board of Directors, successful applicants are notified and awarded funding. Grant recipients are required to complete a final report documenting project outcomes and impact as a condition of finalizing their award. Although the Foundation offers multiple grant cycles annually across different programs, the Impact Grants program itself appears to recur on an annual basis aligned with its established deadline. Applicants seeking assistance or additional information are encouraged to contact the Outer Banks Community Foundation directly by phone at 252-423-3003. The Foundation also welcomes feedback from nonprofit organizations throughout the grant process and provides opportunities for anonymous input to improve its programs. Through the Impact Grants initiative, the Foundation continues its mission to foster a resilient, vibrant community by investing in high-impact projects that address both immediate needs and long-term opportunities.

Emphasize broad community benefit innovation collaboration and ability to leverage additional funding sources