Investing in Education, Affordable Housing, Food Security, and Support and Safety Services
WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Endowment announces 12 new grants investing more than $1.67 million in 12 nonprofit organizations across New Hanover County, supporting critical work in education, family support, food access, housing, infrastructure, and community health. These grants mark another milestone in The Endowment’s commitment to helping build a stronger, more resilient region.
“Our community’s strength lies in the dedication of people and organizations working every day to create meaningful change,” said Dan Winslow, President and CEO of The Endowment. “These grants represent an investment in their vision and efforts to build a healthier, more resilient New Hanover County for everyone.”
Six of the awarded grants are focused on advancing youth education and family services. Together, they support initiatives spanning early childhood through young adulthood, including music instruction for preschoolers, hands-on science education for fifth-grade students, and mentorship and outdoor learning programs for teens. Other grants in this group provide enhanced training for group home staff, support for families navigating special education, and resources to help young people transition from foster care to independent living.
Two additional grants aim to expand community access to healthy food. One supports infrastructure upgrades that will increase storage and distribution capacity for food assistance. The other provides operational support for long-term food access solutions in the Northside neighborhood, including efforts to build viable, community-led food delivery strategies. These investments reflect The Endowment’s ongoing focus on advancing food security and supporting innovative responses to local basic needs.
The remaining grants address housing affordability, facility improvements, and essential support services. Funds will support coordinated housing and homelessness assistance programs, upgrades at a local restoration house, and expanded outreach efforts for survivors of human trafficking.
“As promised at our May public meeting, we are excited to continue announcing Endowment grants rooted in real needs and shaped by residents and nonprofit leaders across New Hanover County,” said Sophie Dagenais, Vice President of Programs and Grants. “In the weeks and months ahead, we will share more grants, even as we work, in close partnership with community partners, to refine our long-term strategies in support of our refreshed goals and priorities. That planning is essential but so is keeping resources flowing to the important work already happening on the ground.”
All grant awards are contingent upon The Endowment’s receipt of a signed grant agreement and Plan of Accountability from each grantee organization.
About The Endowment
The Endowment’s mission is to address the root challenges in community safety, community development, health and social equity, and education and to develop impactful solutions for every person in New Hanover County. The Endowment was established from the sale of the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2020. The initial fund has grown from nearly $1.3 billion to allow millions of dollars to be awarded as grants each year in perpetuity.
To stay informed about upcoming grant opportunities, news, and community events, follow The Endowment on social media or subscribe to the newsletter at www.theendowment.org
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GRANT AWARDS
Arid Serenity Association Inc – $50,000
To complete critical facility upgrades, including ADA-compliant decking and railings, parking lot resurfacing, and bathroom repairs.
Brooklyn Arts Music Academy – $66,000
To continue Music is Life! in two preschools and provide five new scholarships for individual music instruction to school children.
Cape Fear Community Land Trust – $350,000
To serve as a revolving resource to purchase, renovate and resell subject to a ground lease blighted single family homes to residents making at or below 80% AMI. All of the land purchased with this revolving resource will be banked by the Trust to maintain affordability in perpetuity.
Cape Fear Council of Governments – $200,000
To sustain the New Hanover County Coordinated Entry Program, the primary entry point to housing and services in New Hanover County homeless response system.
Cape Fear Group Homes – $180,000
To improve quality of care for clients and promote staff retention through creating an Integrated Education Coordinator position.
Education Without Walls – $37,500
To augment the capacity for Education Without Walls, a 12-month program for opportunity youth aged 13-18, which integrates mentorship with outdoor and adventure education (12 additional slots).
Family Support Network of Southeastern NC, Inc. – $33,000
To support parent mentor training, parent to parent support, Triple P Positive Parenting Program, and IEP support programs.
Five14 Revolution – $85,000
To support organization’s restoration house and outreach center programs for victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
Growing Resilience – $320,940
To support operations, including efforts to develop viable food access and delivery solutions in and for the Northside community.
Masonboro.org – $45,000
To support the Island Explorers (ILX), a science-based field trip for all New Hanover County fifth graders.
Nourish NC – $240,000
To build a 1,300 sq. ft. warehouse annex, purchase a forklift, and construct a 16X20 walk-in cooler to increase NourishNC’s efficiency, storage, and purchasing across all programs.
Youth Villages North Carolina – $66,667
To support LifeSet, Youth Villages of North Carolina’s community-based program serving youth who are “aging out” of foster care and transitioning into independent living.
All grant awards are contingent upon The Endowment’s receipt of a signed grant agreement and Plan of Accountability from each grantee organization.