The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation (OCCF), an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation, is a local philanthropic organization that supports charitable initiatives in Onslow County. Established in 2000, OCCF is guided by a volunteer advisory board that focuses on building community assets through permanent endowments, grantmaking, and community leadership. Its grants aim to strengthen the well-being of the county’s residents by supporting local nonprofits that address pressing community needs.

For the 2025 cycle, OCCF will accept applications from March 21 until noon Eastern Time on April 22. Late submissions, including those impacted by technical issues, will not be accepted. The foundation provides grants to qualified charitable organizations serving Onslow County. Typical awards range from $750 to $5,000, but larger amounts may be granted for projects that can demonstrate a significant positive impact on the local community. In 2024, OCCF awarded $102,700 in total grants through this competitive process.

Grants will be distributed from OCCF’s general community grantmaking fund as well as from two designated funds: the Onslow County Youth Fund and the Dallas Fred Allen Endowment. The Youth Fund focuses on programs and activities benefiting the county’s youth. The Dallas Fred Allen Endowment supports organizations dedicated to humane treatment and welfare of animals within Onslow County. Additionally, this endowment will provide up to $10,000 in total to support capacity building for animal welfare nonprofits, which may include training and education related to board development, executive leadership, or fundraising.

Applicants must submit proposals through the North Carolina Community Foundation’s online application system. New applicants are required to create a profile as detailed in Training Module I, while returning users should log in with existing credentials. Training Module II provides instructions for submitting the grant application. Organizations seeking capacity building support from the Dallas Fred Allen Endowment must express this in the “Proposal Summary” section of the application and respond to an additional prompt regarding their goals for the funding. Applying for capacity building funds does not preclude applicants from being considered for general or program/project support.

Grant decisions are typically announced around two months following the application deadline. One tool used by OCCF’s advisory board in evaluating applications is the annual Community Needs Assessment. Organizations are strongly encouraged to review this document to ensure their applications align with current community priorities. For additional questions or guidance on the application process, applicants are directed to contact the foundation’s program officer by phone or email.