Onslow Caring Communities Foundation

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation is a growing family of philanthropic funds, source of grants for local causes and partner for donors. OCCF was founded in 2000 and is led by a local volunteer advisory board that helps build community assets through the creation of permanent endowments, makes grants and leverages leadership – all for the benefit of Onslow County.

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Officers

Julie Henderson

President

Korene Marsh

Secretary

Ann Marie Raymond

Treasurer

Board Members

Karen Armstrong

Lashea Cavers

Glenn Hargett

Joseph Jarman

Tracy Leary

Ann Maready

Kevin McConnell

Ryan McRacken

Kelly Neal

Matt Ray

Julee Efird Sewell

Bobby Sheegog

Logan Sosa

Susan Stevenson

Steve W. Wangerin

Director Emeriti:

Kenneth Morgan, Sr.

* Deceased

Rodney Earl Martin*

* Deceased

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation will accept grant applications from March 27, 2026, to NOON eastern time on April 28, 2026. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted, including late submissions due to technology issues. Funds are available for qualified charitable organizations serving the local community.

Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. Larger amounts will be considered for projects or initiatives with the potential to achieve significant positive impact for Onslow County. In 2025, OCCF awarded $103,920 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients.

Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund and the:

Onslow County Youth Fund, which supports programs and activities for youth in Onslow County.
Dallas Fred Allen Endowment, which supports organizations with services and programs benefitting animal humane treatment and animal welfare solely within Onslow County. Please note this program involves a separate application process in our grant application portal.

In addition to grants for programs and projects from the Dallas Fred Allen Endowment, OCCF will offer up to $10,000 total from the fund to support capacity building for animal welfare nonprofits. The Dallas Fred Allen Endowment defines capacity building to include training and education designed to strengthen an organization’s performance and impact. This could include any training or education for board development, executive or leadership development, and/or fundraising. More details on the application process are below.

How to apply

OCCF is an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Organizations must apply for grants using NCCF’s Grant Application Portal.

Read the guidelines before you apply. Applications that do not adhere to guidelines will be ineligible for funding.
If this is your first time applying, follow the instructions in Training Module I to create a profile. If your organization already has an account, use your information to log in.
New and existing users should follow the instructions in Training Module II to add a grant application. Once logged in, you can access more information about the application process.
Note that the Dallas Fred Allen Endowment accepts applications separately. Follow the steps in Training Module II to add and submit a grant application for this program. If your program or project meets the criteria for grants from both Dallas Fred Allen and OCCF and you wish to apply for both opportunities, you must submit both applications.

Organizations interested in applying for capacity building support from the Dallas Fred Allen Endowment may do so by indicating this preference in the “Proposal Summary” section of the application, after which they will be asked to complete a brief response detailing their goals for the funds. Applying for capacity building support will not impact eligibility for general operating support or program/project funding.

More information

In most cases, grant decisions are announced about two months after the close of the application cycle.
One tool board members use to guide grant decisions is an annual Community Needs Assessment. Scroll to the end of this page to review the Community Needs Assessment for this community.
For answers to specific questions, contact the Program Officer.

Apply online

Thanks to the City of Jacksonville for donating this video to the Onslow Caring Communities Foundation.

The Onslow Caring Community Foundation awarded $103,920 in grants from its community grantmaking fund and other local funds to the following local organizations:

$1,500 to Autism Society of North America for autism resource specialists in Onslow County
$3,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern North Carolina for Project Learn
$1,500 to CarolinaEast Foundation for patient assistance program for Onslow County residents
$2,230 to City of Jacksonville for Jacksonville Youth Council – HARMONY
$4,000 to Diaper Bank of NC for Onslow County hygiene access initiative
$1,000 to Home Health and Hospice Care, doing business as 3HC, for Wings Camp for grieving youth
$2,500 to Hope Is Alive for Winning with Wellness
$1,500 to Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. for support for Onslow County residents in need of civil legal support
$1,500 to Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina for Onslow Teen Court
$1,500 to Military Missions in Action for general operating support
$5,000 to Overflow Café NC for The Blessing Shed
$1,000 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for Onslow County vision screening program
$1,000 to Salvage Life for OCASR community garden
$1,500 to The Salvation Army of Jacksonville for Bucket Brigade
$2,150 to The Salvation Army of Onslow and Jones counties, NC for food distribution program
$4,500 to Share the Table for expanding healthy choices
$1,000 to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. for No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town!
$6,000 to Sturgeon City of Jacksonville, NC for Sturgeon City environmental and STEAM education – outreach programs
$1,000 to Voices Together for Voices Music Therapy (VMT) in Onslow County schools

The board also awarded grants from the Dallas Fred Allen Endowment. The Dallas Fred Allen Endowment supports organizations with services and programs focused on the humane treatment of animals and animal welfare. From this endowment, the board of advisors granted:

$8,500 to Adoption First Animal Rescue for training and enrichment yard
$5,000 to Feline Rescue in the Ferry for communal health and harmony – assessing new arrivals for health, behavior and socialization compatibility
$10,000 to Onslow County Partners for Animal Welfare, Inc. for PawsAbility Spay/Neuter Voucher Program
$2,040 to Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter, Inc. for seasonal summer staff
$10,000 to Paws 4 Purpose for 2025 Intake Diversion and Heart Healthy for Onslow County residents
$20,000 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary for ensuring ENC wildlife for kids – for life
$5,000 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary for capacity building. The Dallas Fred Allen Endowment defines capacity building to include training and education designed to strengthen an organization’s performance and impact.

2024 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded $101,700 in grants from its community grantmaking fund and other local funds to the following local organizations:

$1,500 to BackPack Friends for general operating support (for Onslow County residents)
$5,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern North Carolina for Project Learn – Onslow
$1,000 to Camp Lejeune Leadership Seminar (CLLS) for fall 2024 leadership seminar
$4,500 to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas for Caring Onslow Childhood Cancer Safety Net
$1,500 to Children’s Museum of Jacksonville for museum professional development
$5,000 to Feline Rescue in the Ferry for 360-degree holistic care
$2,500 to Hope Is Alive for Winning with Wellness
$5,000 to Jaded Paws for pet food pantry
$1,500 to Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina – Duplin for Onslow Teen Court
$10,000 to Onslow County Partners for Animal Welfare, Inc. for PawsAbility Spay/Neuter program
$2,000 to Onslow Literacy Council, Inc. for 2024 technology upgrade
$2,790 to Overflow Café NC for Blessing Shed, serving hundreds monthly
$11,410 to Paws 4 Purpose for 2024 Intake Diversion and Heart Healthy (for Onslow County residents)
$20,000 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary for ensuring ENC wildlife for kids – for life
$1,500 to Share the Table for expanding fresh and nutritious food access
$7,000 to Sturgeon City of Jacksonville, NC, for Sturgeon City STEM and environmental education programs
$1,500 to The Salvation Army of Jacksonville for Bucket Brigade
$1,500 to United Way of Onslow County for general operating support of volunteer center
$2,000 to United Way of Onslow County for CHEW (Children Healthy Eating on Weekends) purchase of donation shed
$3,000 to Voices Together for VOICSS® in Education – Onslow County Schools
$2,500 to Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, Inc. for preserving affordable housing and building community assets

OCCF awarded the following additional grants to provide training, support and resources for the leaders of the following nonprofit animal welfare organizations:

$1,000 to Castaways Rescue
$1,000 to Feline Rescue in the Ferry
$1,000 to Jaded Paws
$1,000 to Onslow County Partners for Animal Welfare, Inc.
$5,000 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary

2023 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded $95,010 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund and other board-advised funds:

$4,000 to Adoption First Animal Rescue for Create Time
$1,000 to Autism Society of North Carolina for autism resource specialists in Onslow County
$1,000 to BackPack Friends for general operating support
$1,160 to Boy Scouts of America – East Carolina Council for membership and retention
$5,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern North Carolina for Sandy Run Community (SRA) – new site location support
$1,920 to Carolina Boxer Rescue for general operating support (for Onslow County residents)
$1,000 to CarolinaEast Foundation for Patient Assistance Program (for Onslow County residents)
$1,000 to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas for Onslow Caring Childhood Cancer Safety Net
$1,500 to Children’s Museum of Jacksonville for Camp Zing Zumm
$2,330 to City of Jacksonville for Jacksonville Youth Council HARMONY Board
$2,500 to Feline Rescue in the Ferry for second chance for unwanted cats/kittens
$1,000 to Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines for Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Onslow County
$1,500 to Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina-Duplin for Onslow Teen Court
$3,000 to Onslow Community Outreach for soup kitchen equipment
$15,000 to Onslow County Partners for Animal Welfare for PawsAbility Spay/Neuter Program
$1,100 to Onslow Literacy Council Inc. for donor relations management upgrade
$14,000 to Paws 4 Purpose for 2023 Intake Diversion and Heart Healthy (for Onslow County residents)
$19,000 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary for ensuring ENC wildlife for kids – for life
$1,500 to Ronald McDonald House of Eastern NC for general operating expenses for funding families of Onslow County
$1,000 to Share the Table for general operating support
$7,000 to Sturgeon City of Jacksonville NC for Sturgeon City STEM and environmental education programs
$3,000 to The Salvation Army of Jacksonville for Bucket Brigade
$3,000 to United Way of Onslow County for CHEW administrative operating support
$2,500 to United Way of Onslow County for Volunteer Onslow Resource Center

2022 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded more than $85,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$750 to A Safe Place (The Centre of Redemption) for minor prevention and education
$520 to Autism Society of North Carolina for autism resource specialists in Onslow County
$5,000 to Backpack Friends for program support and training
$1,320 to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas for Onslow Caring Community Childhood Cancer Safety Net
$1,500 to Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear for National Diabetes Prevention Program: Access for the Underserved
$3,000 to Eastern Carolina Young Men’s Christian Association for New River YMCA – youth programming for all
$520 to Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines for Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Onslow County
$3,000 to Jaded Paws for general operating support and training
$1,000 to Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina for Improving health outcomes for children with critical illnesses in Onslow County
$1,250 to Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina – Duplin for Onslow Teen Court outreach
$2,000 to North Carolina Symphony for music education concert for Onslow County students
$7,310 to Onslow County Animal Services for the purchase of cat kennel suites and equipment for the shelter veterinary suite
$10,000 to Onslow County Partners for Animal Welfare, Inc. for PawsAbility Spay/Neuter Program
$1,000 to Onslow Veterans Pow Wow Inc. For the Onslow Veterans Pow Wow
$15,000 to Paws 4 Purpose for Intake Diversion and Heart Healthy
$15,000 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary for wildlife rehabilitation and internship training
$1,000 to Roots of Recovery for Growing Our Roots
$3,000 to United Way of Onslow County for 2-1-1 Resource Hotline
$8,000 to United Way of Onslow County for Children Healthy Eating on Weekends
$2,500 to United Way of Onslow County for Volunteer Onslow
$3,000 to Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry, Inc. for urgent home repairs for low-income households – preserving affordable housing and building community assets

2021 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded more than $60,630 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$5000 to Brigade Boys & Girls Club for Project Learn
$3000 to Children’s Cancer Partners of Carolinas for Onslow County Child Cancer Safety Net
$2000 to the City of Jacksonville for HARMONY Youth Grants Program
$3000 to Eastern Carolina Young Men’s Christian Association for New River YMCA Financial Assistance-Healthy Spirit, Mind and Body for ALL
$1250 to Mediation Center of Eastern NC for Onslow Teen Court Outreach
$1000 to Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill for Onslow Cares Fund
$2000 to Sturgeon City for Family Science Bingo
$2640 to TROSA (Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers) for Onslow Residential Recovery Services
$3500 to United Way of Onslow for 211 Resource Hotline
$2500 to United Way of Onslow for Volunteer Onslow Program
$3000 to UNC-W for QENO (Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations) Capacity Onslow
$2640 to WARM (Wilmington Rebuilding Residential Ministry) for Rebuilding Homes & Restoring Hope Outreach Onslow
$6600 to Onslow County Animal Services to purchase equipment for shelter veterinary suite
$4000 to Onslow County Partners for Animal Welfare for PawsAbility Spay/Neuter Program
$13,680 to Paws 4 Purpose for Intake Diversion and Heart Healthy Program
$2500 to Trail of Faith Farms for Scholarship Funding
$2500 to QENO for coaching/capacity building for Trail of Faith Farms

2020 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded more than $52,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$2,000 to Abundant Life Community Outreach for the Mind, Body & Soul Economic Mobility Initiative
$3,000 to BackPack Friends for general operating support
$3,000 to Brigade Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington for general operating support
$3,000 to the City of Jacksonville for the HARMONY Youth Grants Board Philanthropy Initiative
$2,870 to the Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. for promoting telehealth capabilities
$3,000 to the Eastern Carolina Young Men’s Christian Association for the New River YMCA Financial Assistance Program – Healthy Spirit, Mind and Body for ALL
$800 to the Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina-Duplin for Onslow Teen Court Outreach
$2,000 to the North Carolina Symphony for music education concerts for Onslow elementary school students
$3,000 to the Onslow County PEERS Program for the Peers P.L.A.Y. (Positive Leisure Activities for Youth) Project
$3,000 to the Onslow Literacy Council Inc. for digital upgrades
$23,000 to the Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary for the CENTERing on NC Wildlife program
$1,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern NC for general operating expenses for families of Onslow County
$3,000 to the Sturgeon City of Jacksonville NC for the Sturgeon City Science Series

2019 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded $27,080 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:

Brigade Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington
Childrens Museum of Jacksonville
City of Jacksonville
Eastern Carolina Young Men’s Christian Association
Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina-Duplin
NC United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries, Inc.
North Carolina Symphony Society
Prevent Blindness North Carolina
Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill
Ronald McDonald House of Eastern NC
Sturgeon City of Jacksonville NC
University of North Carolina Wilmington

2018 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded $34,800 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$3,000 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina
$2,280 to the City of Jacksonville
$2,500 to Sturgeon City of Jacksonville
$1,500 to the Salvation Army
$3,500 to United Way of Onslow County
$650 to the American Heart Association
$1,450 to the Meditation Center of Eastern Carolina- Duplin
$20,000 to the Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary

2017 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded $35,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:

$1,700 to Autism Society of North Carolina
$1,400 to Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, Inc.
$1,300 to Children’s Museum of Jacksonville
$3,000 to City of Jacksonville
$1,500 to Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines
$800 to Muscular Dystrophy Association
$1,800 to Onslow Literacy Council Inc.
$15,000 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary
$3,000 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina
$3,000 to TROSA (Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, Inc.)
$2,500 to Wilmington Family YMCA for continued expansion of Girls on the Run and STRIDE programs

2016 grants awarded

The Onslow Caring Communities Foundation awarded $18,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:

Muscular Dystrophy Association
Brigade Boys & Girls Clubs
Girls Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines
City of Jacksonville
Healing Household 6
United Way of Onslow County
Prevent Blindness North Carolina
Philippians Place
Autism Society of North Carolina

2015 grants awarded

Brigade Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington
Girls Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Onslow Literacy Council, Inc.
Prevent Blindness North Carolina

2014 grants awarded

Belgrade Community Action Association
City of Jacksonville
Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary

Onslow County News

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$575,000 awarded to eastern North Carolina nonprofit programs by NCCF

October 30, 2025

This is the eighth annual application-based cycle from the endowment, which supports nonprofit programs focusing on education, health, and human services in 41 eastern North Carolina counties.

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