The Golden LEAF Foundation’s Open Grants Program offers year-round funding opportunities for governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in North Carolina. This program is designed to support projects that strengthen the state’s economy, with a particular focus on tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural communities. Award amounts are limited to $500,000 or less per project.

Grants are awarded to projects aligned with Golden LEAF’s core priority areas: Job Creation and Economic Investment, Workforce Preparedness, Agriculture, and Community Competitiveness and Capacity. Typical projects might include workforce training programs to meet local employer demand, career pathways in high-demand fields at high schools, infrastructure expansion for industrial development, support for agricultural innovation and market access, and public infrastructure for workforce housing development.

The application process consists of two stages. First, applicants submit a Stage 1 Application online, providing general information about the organization, a project summary, expected outcomes, and how the funding will be used. If selected, applicants are invited to submit a more detailed Stage 2 Application, which includes financials, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes. While being invited to submit a Stage 2 Application indicates interest from the Golden LEAF Board, it does not guarantee funding.

Golden LEAF encourages applicants to review the Funding 101 Quiz and contact staff to discuss project ideas prior to submitting a Stage 1 Application. The Board meets bi-monthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December, and applications must be submitted by 12 PM on designated submission dates to be reviewed at the subsequent Board meeting.

For example, applications submitted by 12 PM on February 20, 2025, will be reviewed no later than the Board meeting on April 3, 2025. If a proposal is declined at either stage, similar projects may not be resubmitted for six months. Applicants should be aware that Golden LEAF is subject to public records laws, although some exceptions apply.

Interested applicants can begin the application process through the Foundation’s grant portal and may contact Golden LEAF staff for support in aligning their proposals with the foundation’s funding priorities.