Charles & Irene Nanney Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation

Charlotte, NC

The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce development, local economic development and recovery, disaster resilience, conservation, and economic opportunity in communities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. It reports more than $30 million in annual charitable grants; awards vary widely, with a 2024 median of $25,000, and applications of $20,000 or less are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants should contact their local Foundation representative before applying.

The David Belk Cannon Foundation

Gastonia, NC

The David Belk Cannon Foundation supports charitable organizations in areas including education, conservation, community services, and the arts, with most of its 2024 grants going to North Carolina recipients. Its 40 grants ranged from $1,500 to $1.5 million, with a median of $52,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Gaston Community Foundation

Gastonia, NC

Gaston Community Foundation supports nonprofit programs and organizational work addressing community needs, primarily in Gaston County, North Carolina, or benefiting its residents. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $17,000, though awards varied widely; its unrestricted community grant cycle offers awards up to $300,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through its competitive community grants cycle, with new applicants required to meet with staff before applying.

McLeod Foundation

Clayton, NC

The foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, including education, health, religious, and community-service recipients, primarily in North Carolina and also in Virginia. In 2025, it made 13 grants totaling $260,000, with awards ranging from $500 to $80,000 and a median of $10,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

LPL Financial Foundation Inc

Boston, MA

Dover Foundation Inc

Shelby, NC

Dover Foundation Inc funds faith-based, educational, and human-service nonprofits, including projects such as renovations, food ministries, emergency services, youth programs, and scholarships, with priority given to Cleveland County, North Carolina; out-of-county groups may apply if their project benefits county residents. Its 2025 grants ranged from $300 to $151,000, with a median of $12,610. It accepts one request per calendar year from eligible tax-exempt organizations through its online application.

The Howe Foundation Inc

Cherryville, NC

The Howe Foundation supports children’s participation in sports and women pursuing careers in the sports industry, while its grants also reach schools, health, youth, arts, and community organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $200 to $6,500, with a median of $1,000; most funding went to North Carolina, followed by Virginia. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

W Russell and Patricia Davis Duke

Greenville, NC

United Way Worldwide

Alexandria, VA

United Way Worldwide supports community-focused work in health, youth opportunity, financial security, resilience, disaster recovery, education, and human services, including local United Way organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675, and went to recipients across multiple U.S. states; it describes its broader reach as global. No application process for unsolicited grant requests is specified.

The Cannon Foundation Inc

Concord, NC

The Cannon Foundation funds capital and equipment projects in human services, higher education, healthcare, and community programs, primarily for organizations with significant operations in North Carolina. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $500,000, with a median award of $50,000. Organizations begin with an online inquiry form; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Merancas Foundation Inc

Charlotte, NC

The Merancas Foundation funds nonprofits addressing economic hardship, especially through education, affordable housing, and services that support individual and community wellbeing. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $1.8 million, with a median of $50,000, and it focuses on the Charlotte, Atlanta, and Trenton metropolitan areas. It accepts unsolicited requests through an online “Are We a Match” process; full proposals are by invitation for pre-approved applicants and current partners.

Triangle Community Foundation Inc

Durham, NC

The foundation supports nonprofits working in cultural arts, education and youth, nonprofit capacity building, and sustainable communities, with discretionary grants focused on Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties in North Carolina. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, though amounts varied widely. Eligible nonprofits or fiscally sponsored organizations can apply through its online system during open grant cycles, so requests are accepted when a relevant cycle is open.