The Lee County Community Foundation (LCCF), an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF), has announced the opening of its 2025 grant cycle. Founded in 1997, LCCF is guided by a local volunteer advisory board and serves as a partner to donors, a source of grants for local causes, and a builder of community assets through permanent endowments. The Foundation seeks to support nonprofit initiatives that strengthen the quality of life in Lee County, North Carolina.

The 2025 LCCF community grant cycle runs from March 28 through April 29, 2025, with applications due by noon Eastern Time on the closing date. Applications must be submitted online using NCCF’s digital grant system. First-time applicants must create an organization profile by following the instructions in Training Module I, while returning applicants should log in with their existing credentials. Instructions for submitting an application are provided in Training Module II. Submissions that do not comply with published guidelines will be deemed ineligible.

Grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. In 2024, LCCF distributed $89,420 through this competitive grantmaking process. Grants will be awarded from the Foundation’s community grantmaking fund and several named endowments, including the Betty Sauls Memorial Endowment, the Lisa Lynn McBryde Memorial Endowment (which specifically supports children’s programs), the Margaret L. and Calvin G. Caviness Endowment, the Warren and Imogene Kinder Owens Memorial Endowment, and the William J. and Emily G. Womble Endowment.

Eligible applicants must be qualified charitable organizations operating in or serving Lee County. Proposals are evaluated using criteria informed in part by an annual community needs assessment, which helps guide board decision-making. Grant decisions are typically announced approximately two months after the grant cycle closes.

More information, including links to the application portal, guidelines, and training materials, is available on the LCCF website. For assistance or specific questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the LCCF Program Officer through the North Carolina Community Foundation. General inquiries may also be directed to the NCCF main office located at 3737 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 460, Raleigh, NC 27612. Phone support is available at 919-828-4387 or toll-free at 800-532-1349.