Grants of up to $55,000 and in-kind support to North Carolina nonprofit organizations for assistance during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis. Funding is intended to help local nonprofits that face financial hardship and increased demand due to the pandemic.
The Foundation will focus its efforts on marginalized communities that have been disproportionately affected by the virus and have been underserved by other sources of financial assistance – specifically, communities of lower wealth, communities of color, mostly rural communities, and where English may not be the primary language. Grants are intended for operational support, not necessarily for program expenses or services related to COVID-19.
Grants from the NC Healing Communities Fund are intended for nonprofits that are meeting needs that have emerged, expanded, or increased as a result of the pandemic and/or that are recovering from losses of their own due to the impacts of the virus.
As part of this grant program, some grantees will receive capacity-building services, provided by Rural Forward NC, in addition to grant funding. Rural Forward NC seeks to build capacity and develop resources that amplify the impact of rural leaders, organizations, and coalitions. For the grantees selected for this opportunity, a member of the Rural Forward NC team will be assigned to deliver capacity-building services using a coaching model, such that this additional support is highly customized and specifically designed just for the needs of the organization.
Applicant organizations must:
- Be nonprofit organizations in North Carolina that are qualified as tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) public charity. Applicant organizations fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) public charity must include a letter from the sponsoring organization in their application that verifies the relationship, describes the nature of the relationship, and includes when the relationship was established.
- Offer programs and services without discrimination of any kind.
- Be embedded within or primarily serving a marginalized community, including but not limited to communities of lower wealth, communities of color, mostly rural communities, and where English may not be the primary language.
- Have demonstrated revenue loss and/or increased demand directly due to impacts of COVID-19.
Within this eligibility criteria, preferences will be given to organizations:
- With a total operating budget of less than $1 million prior to March 1, 2020
- That have received minimal assistance through lending or other grant programs since March 1, 2020
- Located in and serving counties identified as receiving minimal philanthropic support
- Located within the community being served
- With leadership (board and staff) who are representative of the community being served.
Grants will not support:
- Nonprofit foundation arms of organizations, even if classified as 501(c)(3) public charities (ex. in relation to government entities, schools, hospitals, churches)
- Annual funds or capital campaign fundraisers; endowments
- Funds established as COVID-19 emergency response or assistance funds
- Loan repayment, reimbursements, or any expenses already paid
- Political purposes or lobbying
- Specific, named individuals
- Re-granting by the applicant organization
