North Carolina

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a North Carolina grant-making organization funded by the state's tobacco settlement. It supports job creation, workforce preparedness, and agriculture projects in tobacco-dependent and economically distressed areas. Eligible applicants include state, regional, and local economic development entities, local governments, community colleges, nonprofits, and other organizations. Most Open Grants awards are $200,000 or less, though projects with exceptional characteristics may receive up to $500,000.

The One North Carolina Small Business Program, administered by the Department of Commerce's Office of Science, Technology & Innovation, is the primary state program for technology-focused small businesses. It offers both Incentive grants and Matching grants to help early-stage companies achieve milestones that mitigate risk and attract investors. Applications are accepted through June 30, 2026, or until the $2.07 million in total available funding is exhausted. The program specifically targets businesses commercializing innovative technologies.

Rural communities can access funding through the Rural Infrastructure Authority, which has facilitated over $120 million in grants and loans for utility upgrades, road and rail access, building reuse, and demolition projects. The Golden LEAF Foundation also funds infrastructure development in economically distressed areas through its SITE Program and Community-Based Grants Initiative. For communities affected by Hurricane Helene, the $55 million SmBIZ program provides infrastructure grants through local governments.

Yes, the NC AgVentures Farm Grant Program provides grants to NC family farms and local nonprofit community organizations to develop agricultural projects that increase farm profits, with another round planned for fall 2026. The Golden LEAF Foundation also funds agriculture projects, including grants to develop new crops, expand markets for agricultural products, and provide training for farmers. These programs specifically target agricultural innovation and economic diversification in rural communities.

North Carolina provides several centralized resources. The NC.gov Grant Opportunities page links to grant programs across all state government agencies, and the OpenBudget database contains descriptive information about state-administered grant programs. The Department of Commerce's grants and incentives page at commerce.nc.gov lists economic development programs. For nonprofit-specific opportunities, the NC Community Foundation administers community grantmaking programs, and Instrumentl lists over 234 active grants for North Carolina nonprofits.