The Foundation has an open application process for grants of up to $35,000 per year for up to two years at a time.  Any entity that is legally eligible to receive a grant from the Foundation may apply for a grant using the Foundation’s Small Grant Application process.  In this focus area the Foundation makes grants larger than $35,000 per year only to organizations whose applications have been solicited by the Foundation. See Strengthening Democracy FAQs.

Goals for North Carolina

The Foundation seeks to foster a government that is accountable to the needs of the people and a populace that is able and willing to participate in democratic life.  The Foundation is especially interested in removing barriers that prevent civic participation among traditionally marginalized and underrepresented populations, including people of color, women, and young people.

Our Results Sought

Toward these goals, the Foundation seeks to invest in organizations and projects that are working to achieve the following:

Result 1:  Open, accountable governance

• Reduce the influence of money on politics
• Ensure high ethical standards for government bodies and officials
• Ensure government transparency and openness
• Provide oversight of government activity and performance

Result 2:  Enfranchisement of traditionally underrepresented populations

• Provide leadership development opportunities to individuals from marginalized or underrepresented populations to participate in public life
• Promote election reforms and actions that allow for increased civic participation and just and fair elections
• Protect and strengthen voters’ rights
• Increase participation in elections and government affairs

 Result 3:  Nonprofit infrastructure that increases the capacity of nonprofits to advance issues consistent with the mission of the Foundation

• Strengthen the nonprofit community’s ability to strategically:
• Communicate messages and educate decision makers and the public, including rapidly responding to issues as they arise
• Conduct outreach and organize people to make their voices heard on important state and local issues
• Create credible, policy-relevant research on pressing issues in a timely fashion

Result 4:  Inclusive community control *

• Identify and solve systemic community problems by having diverse stakeholders work together to take control of their community’s future
• Ensure that marginalized and underrepresented voices are included in decision-making processes and community governance

(*Note:  While the Foundation supports these kinds of projects across the five focus areas, the Foundation recognizes that some of this work does not squarely fit within one focus area.  This result is intended to acknowledge the Foundation’s interest in supporting communities to work with and outside of government to address important needs in an inclusive way.)