Community Grantmaking Program

The Women's Center
The Women's Center

The Community Grantmaking Program (CGP) is an open, competitive, discretionary program through which we provide funding to Triangle-based nonprofits with annual budgets of $1,500,000 or less.  Grants, ranging from $10,000 to $15,000, are made in both the spring and fall of each year to initiatives promoting Civic Engagement and Youth Leadership & Development.

Details regarding CGP information sessions can be found on our the Foundation’s Events Calendar.

Who We Fund

Community Grantmaking Program provides funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government entities and faith-based groups based in Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake counties with total annual organizational budgets of $1,500,000 or less.

University-affiliated programs are not eligible to apply.

Applicants should review the CGP application, guidelines, and answers to frequently asked questions.

What We Fund

Community Grantmaking Program supports initiatives in two focus areas: Civic Engagement and Youth Leadership & Development.

Applicants should review the proposal assessment rubric to learn more about how proposals are scored.

Recent grantees’ projects are described in videos on the Triangle Community Foundation YouTube Channel.


Civic Engagement
Expanding opportunities for people to engage in their communities to create a vibrant, inclusive and fair society.

Everyone in the community can be a source of knowledge and a full partner in social change and community building. The Foundation awards civic engagement funding to initiatives supporting local and statewide public policy issues. Priority is given to projects that focus on integrating diverse community voices and participation in civic life. Supported projects include those that:

  • Analyze the impact of state and local policies on Triangle communities.
  • Increase community knowledge of critical issues through grassroots education and policy analysis dissemination.
  • Improve community understanding of public policy’s impact on daily life.
  • Expand participation in public policy activities at the neighborhood, local and state levels.

For more information please refer to the Civic Engagement Primer.


Youth Leadership & Development
Engaging young people in opportunities to gain leadership skills and build power in order to reach their full potential and contribute to positive social change.

All youth are worthy of investment and can contribute positively to their communities. The Foundation awards Youth Leadership & Development funding to initiatives that build “multiple pathways” to success for the Triangle’s youth. Funding is awarded to programs focusing on children ages 8 to 14. Priority is given to proposals that incorporate a holistic approach—one that involves the family or other support mechanisms. Supported projects include those that:

  • Motivate young people to stay in school.
  • Foster positive youth - adult engagement through mentoring.
  • Strengthen gang awareness and prevention efforts.
  • Promote participation in philanthropy.
  • Provide leadership opportunities and employment skills training.
  • Increase the likelihood of a successful transition to adulthood.
  • Develop financial literacy.
  • Encourage engagement in community service.

For more information please refer to the Youth Leadership & Development Primer.