Chatham County, North Carolina’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department offers annual Nonprofit Recreation Grants to support local nonprofit agencies that provide recreation opportunities within the county. For Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), the tentative total funding available is $20,300. The grant program aligns with the county’s Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan and broader departmental goals, with funding priorities and proposal scoring determined by the Recreation Advisory Committee.

Eligible applicants must be established nonprofit organizations that have been in operation for at least three years. The program does not fund start-up agencies. Applicants must complete a certification process as outlined in Chatham County’s Nonprofit Funding Policy to confirm eligibility for county funding. This includes a financial analysis for agencies with annual revenue under $100,000, which must be scheduled with department staff prior to the application deadline.

Applications must be submitted online through the Foundant grant management software. The application portal will open on April 11, 2025, and the submission deadline is May 9, 2025. Funding recommendations will be made by the Recreation Advisory Committee and submitted to the County Manager and the Board of Commissioners for approval. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in July 2025.

Grants awarded through this program are intended to enhance access to quality recreation and cultural programming across the county. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to Jenny Clark, Recreation Program Manager, for questions or to schedule a required financial review. She can be contacted at Jenny.Clark@chathamcountync.gov or by phone at 919-545-8551.