Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Funds

The Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Funds aim to promote innovative projects across North Carolina's arts and human services sectors. With awards of up to $100,000, the foundation supports initiatives that enhance community engagement and foster self-empowerment among citizens. Projects must be completed by the end of the granting year, and eligibility is limited to nonprofits in North Carolina. Notably, the grants exclude medical research and direct aid to individuals, focusing instead on sustainable community improvements.

Overview
Through the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant Funds, the Foundation seeks to foster innovation and model solutions across North Carolina.
Pope Memorial Grant Funds to recognize innovative projects across all spectrums of arts and human service work. However, the grants are not intended for medical research. Your proposed project could be an entirely new creation, something that changes how things are done (ex: improving processes, procedures, equipment, facilities, etc.); an endeavor that expands your scope of work (ex: reaching new populations). Regardless of your proposed project, the result should be a quantifiable gain for the organization and the people it serves.
The Arts Fund
As North Carolina continues to grow and evolve, so have the state’s art traditions. Today, North Carolinians from Murphy to Manteo celebrate, host, and create in venues of all sizes and varieties. Through the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant in the Arts, we hope to support innovative ideas and highlight the valuable contributions arts make to our communities.
We will award up to $100,000 for our current application cycle. The process and requirements are the same for both the arts and human services grant funds.
Human Services Fund
Across North Carolina, nonprofits extend a hand up to those in need and, in doing so, directly contribute to the flourishing of self-empowered citizens. Through the Joy W. Pope Memorial Grant in Human Services, we hope to support innovative ideas and highlight the creative projects that are making our communities stronger, better places to live, work, and play.
We will award up to $100,000 for our 2026 application cycle. The requirements are the same for both the arts and human services grant funds. Scroll down to learn more about the grants and start an application.

Eligibility

This grant fund is open to nonprofits located anywhere in North Carolina.Organizations are limited to one project-specific proposal.Eligible projects include capital improvements (new or existing), program development and execution, equipment, and technology. This list is not exhaustive, and we will consider other grant purposes.Projects should be complete by the end of the granting year, and we will ask grant recipients to submit a final report.

Ineligibility

Human services grant is not intended for medical research.The Foundation does not make direct aid grants to individuals or loans of any kind.We will not consider requests that amount to general operating support.Proposed projects should not be endowment, debt relief, or crisis funding requests.