Up to $500,000 in Grant Funding: 13 Opportunities to Put on Your Radar
Updated: 7 days ago
If your nonprofit is looking for funding, now is the time to prepare.
Several foundations and corporations are accepting applications this fall, including opportunities supporting economic development, health care, education, workforce development, youth programs, the arts, capacity building and community-based initiatives.
And one opportunity offers funding of up to $500,000!
At Faith + Funding Consulting, I always remind nonprofit leaders that securing grants begins long before you submit an application. Take time to review each funder’s eligibility requirements, funding priorities and deadlines to determine whether your organization is truly a good fit.
Reminder: Join the Two-Day Grant Writing Intensive Boot Camp (Oct. 12-13)
Price Starting at $50
Here are 13 grant and funding opportunities to put on your radar.
1. Golden LEAF Foundation – Open Grants
Award Amount: Up to $500,000
Upcoming Deadlines: Oct. 22, 2026; Dec. 24, 2026; and Feb. 18, 2027
Geographic Focus: North Carolina
The Golden LEAF Foundation’s Open Grants Program supports economic development projects throughout North Carolina, particularly in tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and rural communities.
Eligible applicants include governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
Priority funding areas include:
Job creation and economic investment
Workforce preparedness
Agriculture
Community competitiveness
The program uses a two-stage application process. Organizations first submit a Stage 1 application, and selected applicants are invited to complete Stage 2.
2. The Duke Endowment – Health Care Program Grants
Award Amount: Not specified
Pre-Application Deadline: Nov. 15, 2026
Full Application Deadline, if invited: Dec. 15, 2026
Geographic Focus: North Carolina and South Carolina
The Duke Endowment Health Care Program supports priority health care organizations in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Funding priorities include:
Improving access to care for vulnerable populations
Maternal and infant health
Mental health, particularly pediatric mental health
Oral health access
Population health
Health care workforce development
Eligible organizations may include nonprofit hospitals, academic health centers, Area Health Education Centers, certain organizations serving counties without an eligible hospital and nonprofit inpatient facilities.
Organizations whose pre-applications align with current priorities may be invited to submit a full proposal.
Learn more: https://obcf.org/grants/
3. Truist Foundation – Building Career Pathways to Economic Mobility
Minimum Grant: $15,000
Deadline: Nov. 30, 2026
The Truist Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations creating innovative solutions for adults through two primary focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses.
Eligible projects may include:
New program launches
Curriculum development or expansion
Equipment needed to deliver programming
Capital needs
Applicants must generally be qualifying 501(c)(3) or 509(a) organizations.
The foundation does not provide general operating support through this funding pillar.
4. Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
Typical Grant Amount: $1,000-$20,000
Deadline: Nov. 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Geographic Focus: United States
The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation supports community-based nonprofit organizations throughout the United States where a relatively modest grant can make a meaningful difference.
Past areas of interest include:
Arts and culture
Education
Youth programs
Older adults
People with disabilities
Schools
Hospitals
Environmental initiatives
Wildlife protection
Community programs
Applications submitted by Nov. 10 will be considered for the foundation’s Spring 2027 funding round.
Learn more: https://www.mvdreyfusfoundation.org/
5. Find Your Light Foundation
Typical First-Time Grant: $2,500-$5,000
Application Window: Sept. 1 through approximately Oct. 30, 2026
Geographic Focus: United States
Founded by singer Josh Groban, the Find Your Light Foundation supports organizations providing high-quality arts education to K-12 students.
Eligible programs may focus on:
Music
Theater
Dance
Film
Photography
Visual arts
Spoken word
Creative writing
Programs should provide meaningful, hands-on arts education while helping remove financial or other barriers that prevent young people from participating.
Applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofits or work through an eligible fiscal sponsor.
Learn more: https://fylf.org/apply-for-grants/
6. Piedmont Electric Cooperative – Helping Hand Foundation
Award Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Oct. 31, 2026
Geographic Focus: Select North Carolina counties
Piedmont Electric Cooperative’s Helping Hand Foundation supports the communities served by the cooperative.
Funding may support local nonprofits and other community initiatives. Organizations must operate within the foundation’s service area and serve beneficiaries living in:
Alamance County
Caswell County
Durham County
Granville County
Orange County
Person County
The foundation does not support certain activities, including religious activities, lobbying or political activities, fundraising campaigns and national fund drives.
Applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed quarterly.
Learn more: https://pemc.coop/grant-request-form/
7. J.B. Hunt – Company Giving
Award Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Dec. 31, 2026
J.B. Hunt provides charitable support across four primary areas:
Health care
Veterans' support
Education
Crisis management
Eligible organizations may include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, religious organizations, government agencies and certain civic, youth and veterans' groups.
J.B. Hunt supports organizations at both the national and local levels.
Funding requests and proposals are accepted during December for consideration during the following calendar year.
8. ChildTrust Foundation – Program Grants
Award Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Rolling
Geographic Focus: North Carolina, particularly Wake County and eastern North Carolina
The ChildTrust Foundation supports early childhood education organizations serving children from birth through age 8, their families and early childhood educators.
Eligible applicants are generally 501(c)(3) organizations operating in North Carolina.
Organizations should contact the foundation first to determine whether their work aligns with its priorities. Qualified applicants may then be asked to submit a short proposal and financial documentation.
There are no fixed grant cycles, and awards are made throughout the year.
9. Fidelity Foundation – Capacity Building Grants
Award Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Rolling
The Fidelity Foundation supports established nonprofits undertaking major strategic and transformative projects designed to strengthen organizational capacity and increase impact.
Projects may involve:
Capital investments
Strategic planning
Technology projects
Applicants generally must be 501(c)(3) public charities with operating budgets of at least $1 million, and proposed projects should typically have budgets of at least $100,000.
Priority sectors include:
Arts and culture
Conservation
Education
Health
Social and economic mobility
Raleigh and Durham are among the foundation’s geographic areas of focus.
Organizations generally begin the process by submitting a Letter of Inquiry.
10. Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation – Grants
Award Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Rolling
Geographic Focus: Southern United States, including North Carolina
The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation supports organizations working to advance racial equity and social and economic justice throughout the South.
The foundation seeks organizations with a track record of helping communities move out of poverty and achieve greater economic and social justice.
Funding may support:
General operations
Projects
Networks of grassroots and partner organizations
Organizational development
Prospective partners may submit an organizational summary throughout the year. Organizations whose work aligns with foundation priorities may be invited to submit a full proposal.
Learn more: https://mrbf.org/grants-info/
11. Cannon Charitable Interests – Grant Inquiries
Award Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Rolling inquiry process with quarterly grant cycles
Geographic Focus: North Carolina
Cannon Charitable Interests supports nonprofit organizations with significant operations in North Carolina.
Organizations generally must have at least five years of operating history.
Funding is limited primarily to capital and equipment projects.
Organizations begin by submitting an online Inquiry Form at least 90 days before the applicable grant cycle deadline. If the project aligns with the foundation’s priorities, the organization may be invited to submit a complete application.
Grant cycles generally occur in March, June, September and December.
Learn more: https://cannonfoundation.org/apply/
12. Oriental Trading Company – Corporate Giving
Award Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Rolling
Oriental Trading Company’s Corporate Giving Program focuses primarily on improving the lives of children.
Priority areas include:
Education
Youth programming
Health care
Human services
Eligible organizations generally must have current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or be a public school, college or university operated exclusively for public purposes.
Learn more: https://orientaltrading.requestitem.com/
13. Goldman Sachs – 10,000 Small Businesses
Program Cost: $0 to selected participants
Deadline: Rolling
This one is a little different from a traditional nonprofit grant, but it may be valuable for entrepreneurs and small-business owners in your network.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses provides entrepreneurs with access to business education, capital resources and professional support.
The program is fully funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation.
Applicants generally must:
Own or co-own their business
Have operated the business for at least two years
Have generated at least $75,000 in revenue during one of the previous two fiscal years
Have at least two employees, including the owner
Learn more: https://10ksbapply.com/
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