Technical Assistance
For help, contact:
- Eileen O’Malley, Chief Technology Officer: eomalley@theendowment.org
- Kathleen Saldivar, Grants Manager: ksaldivar@theendowment.org
or call them at (910) 596-5990
What We Fund
Building a stronger, healthier, and more equitable New Hanover County starts with strategic investments in the areas that matter most.
The Endowment was established to create a meaningful, lasting impact on our community. Our goal is to drive significant improvement in key areas that directly influence the well-being and future of our residents:
- Education: Supporting public primary, secondary, and post-secondary education.
- Equity: Advancing social and health equity across all populations.
- Community Safety: Promoting safe and secure environments for all.
- Community Development: Enhancing infrastructure and local opportunities for growth.
In alignment with the New Hanover County Strategic Plan, we are committed to addressing the root causes of challenges within these areas. By coordinating our efforts with the county’s overarching strategy, we aim to create sustainable, transformative solutions that will leave a profound, positive impact on our community.
Review the New Hanover County Strategic Plan and The Endowment 2023-2025 Strategic Plan.
Delivering or enhancing educational opportunities, access to learning resources, and skill-building opportunities; investing in innovative learning opportunities to ensure all students in New Hanover County have access to quality education, resources, and pathways to success.
Providing or improving access to resources for optimal health and well-being; advancing programs and initiatives that promote access to resources, and equitable opportunities for all members of our community.
Promoting economic and community development, creating welcoming environments, and fostering community cohesion; supporting economic growth, affordable housing, and infrastructure improvements to build a thriving and sustainable community.
Helping to create safe and supportive environments for all residents; strengthening neighborhood initiatives and partnerships, and promoting community resilience and engagement.
our approach to community impact
We utilize a variety of methods across our four key pillars to invest our time, resources, and energy in meaningful ways:
- Grantmaking: Directing funds to maximize impact and address community needs.
- Convening: Bringing together partners, community groups, and other funders to strengthen collective efforts.
- Capacity Building: Supporting community organizations through resources, learning opportunities, and guidance to enhance their work.
- Communication: Using our platform to educate on challenges and amplify opportunities for positive change, fostering awareness and collaboration.
- Evaluation: Continuously measuring our investments to assess impact, share results, and refine our approach for greater effectiveness.
Funding Types
We offer grants across six categories, each designed to support different aspects of community development and organizational growth:
- Community Grants: Grants up to $5,000 in support of programs, services, projects, or initiatives that align with our priority areas. We welcome referrals and recommendations from the Community Advisory Council (CAC) and other local stakeholders. These grants empower smaller-scale projects and grassroots organizations to make a tangible impact in their communities.
- Capacity Grants: Capacity-building grants designed to enhance the organizational and financial stability of nonprofit entities. These grants focus on strengthening internal structures and processes, including strategic planning, professional development, leadership development, succession planning, board development, fundraising, research, program evaluation, and data management. Our capacity grants also support fiscal sponsors who help stabilize nonprofit organizations and promote innovative program development.
- Operations Grants: Investments aimed at improving the overall impact and effectiveness of established nonprofits. These grants help strengthen an organization’s day-to-day operations, boost performance outcomes, and enhance long-term sustainability, ultimately expanding their reach and impact on the community.
- Project Grants: Funding opportunities to support specific projects, programs, or events that align with our mission. These grants provide short-term funding to launch or enhance specific initiatives, with a focus on measurable, community-driven outcomes.
- Strategic Grants: Multi-year investments focused on driving long-term, systemic change in key priority areas. These grants are intended to address root causes of community challenges and promote sustainable solutions, with a focus on creating significant and lasting improvements in education, health and social equity, community safety, and community development.
- Social Impact Investing: Mobilizing collaborative partnerships aimed at addressing major social challenges through targeted, mission-driven investments. These grants support initiatives that not only activate and coordinate change agents and deliver measurable social outcomes but also have the potential to create sustainable models for addressing pressing community issues.
By segmenting our grantmaking into these categories we aim to create operating conditions that promote:
- Tailored Support: By offering categorized funding opportunities, we allow organizations to apply for grants that best match their specific needs and missions.
- Increased Accessibility: Smaller, more focused categories make the application process more accessible to a wider range of organizations, for broader reach and impact.
- Greater Flexibility: Different grant categories offer varying levels of flexibility, allowing recipients to allocate resources where they are most needed.
- Strategic Alignment: Segmented grants enable recipients to align their work with the Endowment’s strategic priorities in education, health and social equity, community safety, and community development.
- Long-Term Partnerships: Categorized funding fosters the development of sustainable, long-term partnerships between the Endowment and grantees, supporting collaboration and sustained impact.
Strategic Initiatives
From time to time, The Endowment announces strategic priorities to guide grant applications. For instance, in 2024, our Community Development portfolio focused on Affordable Housing view our strategic plan here. As we develop and implement these strategic initiatives, we will publish and post impact reports to share outcomes and lessons learned.
Our 2025 pillar priorities will be announced in the spring of 2025. In the meantime, if you have any questions about a pending application or letter of inquiry, please connect with a Network Officer or email grants@theendowment.org.
Requests for Abstracts, Studies, and Proposals
The Endowment welcomes innovative solutions to improve the quality of life in New Hanover County. From time to time, we plan to issue Requests for Abstracts under the “Capacity Grants” band to:
- Invite brief summaries of proposed studies addressing identified problems.
- Evaluate the credentials of authors and research teams, study duration, and proposed costs.
Selected abstracts may lead to commissioned studies, which could inspire government implementation or further proposals for solutions. This innovation advances meaningful change and sets a model for other communities.
To join our mailing list for Requests for Abstracts or Proposals, sign up.
How to apply
Apply here for Community Grants Program
Apply here for Capacity Building Grants Program
Eligible entities seeking other types grants should register here or submit a letter of inquiry. For these grants, the Endowment adopts a rolling grant application process, to provide organizations with ongoing opportunities to seek funding for impactful initiatives. Unlike grant cycles with fixed deadlines, rolling grants allow eligible applicants to submit proposals throughout the year, ensuring that time-sensitive projects and urgent community needs can receive timely support. This approach enables The Endowment to remain responsive to emerging challenges while fostering long-term, strategic investments in Education, Social & Health Equity, Community Development, and Community Safety.
Organizations interested in applying should carefully review The Endowment’s funding priorities and eligibility criteria before submitting a proposal. Applications are evaluated on a continuous basis, with funding decisions made periodically to ensure a thorough review process. Strong proposals should demonstrate a clear alignment with The Endowment’s mission, a well-structured plan for implementation, measurable outcomes, and a sustainable impact. Applicants are encouraged to connect with a Network Officer or email grants@nhcendowment.org for guidance before submitting a request.