The Bertie-Hertford Community Foundation (BHCF), an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF), administers an annual grant program through its Unrestricted Endowment. This fund provides competitive grants to support qualified charitable organizations that serve the residents of Bertie and Hertford counties in North Carolina. Established in 1999, BHCF is overseen by a local volunteer advisory board that guides its philanthropic strategy, including the development of permanent endowments and responsive grantmaking efforts.

For the 2025 grant cycle, BHCF will accept applications from March 7, 2025, until 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on April 8, 2025. Late applications, including those delayed due to technical issues, will not be accepted. Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund and are designed to address local needs as identified through an annual community needs assessment. Typical awards range between $500 and $1,000. In 2024, the foundation awarded a total of $5,370 in grants.

To apply, organizations must use NCCF’s online grant application system. First-time applicants must create a profile following the instructions in Training Module I, while returning applicants should log in using their existing credentials. Training Module II provides detailed steps for submitting a grant application. All applicants are required to follow the published guidelines, as failure to do so will render submissions ineligible.

Funding decisions are usually announced about two months after the application deadline. The advisory board considers both the quality of applications and the findings of the local community needs assessment in its review process. This approach ensures that grant funds are allocated to programs and services with the highest potential to enhance the well-being of local communities.

For further details or to address specific questions, applicants are encouraged to reach out to the program officer. General inquiries can also be directed to NCCF’s main office in Raleigh.