Lenoir County Community Foundation Grants

The Lenoir County Community Foundation (LCCF), an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF), was established in 1996 to serve the local community through philanthropy, strategic leadership, and grantmaking. Guided by a volunteer advisory board composed of local community members, LCCF manages a family of philanthropic funds and supports a range of local nonprofit organizations. The foundation’s goal is to build permanent endowments that enhance community assets and support initiatives in education, youth development, health, human services, food and nutrition, and the arts, among other sectors. LCCF’s annual competitive grants program is designed to assist qualified charitable organizations that serve Lenoir County, North Carolina. Funding is provided through LCCF’s community grantmaking fund and board-advised funds such as the Warren and Barbara Perry Fund and the Oakland Fund, which prioritizes education and youth-related programs. In 2025, the foundation awarded a total of $14,910 to local organizations, with individual grant amounts ranging from $500 to $3,000. These grants support specific programs and projects that align with local needs and priorities, as informed by an annual Community Needs Assessment. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, local governments, fire and rescue departments, and faith-based organizations offering charitable services to the broader community. Religious entities may not use grants for general operating support or religious activities but may receive funding for social outreach benefiting the wider public. Organizations must provide services without discrimination and may apply to multiple NCCF affiliates if they operate in more than one county. Fiscal sponsorships are permitted if the sponsor is a qualified 501(c)(3). Applications must be submitted via NCCF’s Grant Application Portal, and new users are required to follow a two-step training module to create a profile and add an application. Returning users may log in with their existing credentials. Applications that do not comply with the provided guidelines will be deemed ineligible. The portal opens for applications on June 19, 2026, and closes at noon Eastern Time on July 21, 2026. Late applications, including those affected by technical issues, will not be accepted. Following the submission deadline, grant decisions are typically announced within two months. Applicants are encouraged to review the Community Needs Assessment, which is used by the board to guide decision-making. For questions, applicants may contact Josh Littlejohn, the Community Leadership Officer for Eastern NC, by email or phone. The program does not fund capital campaigns, political or religious doctrinal activities, loans, reimbursements for prior expenses, or individual benefit requests. Only forward-looking expenses are permitted, and regranting of awarded funds is not allowed. Grant programs supported by LCCF recur annually. Based on the known application period, the next expected cycle is anticipated to open in June 2027, with internal planning and updates recommended by May 2027.

Ensure adherence to guidelines and complete the required modules before applying; late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.