Wake County Community Foundation

The Wake County Community Foundation transforms collective generosity into a permanent source of community support.

Founded in 1991, WCCF works to increase philanthropic giving and establish endowments in the community. WCCF is part of the North Carolina Community Foundation network and is led by a local volunteer advisory board that understands community needs. Grants and scholarships are made annually.

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Officers

Peter Roche

President

Michael Shaw

Vice President, Secretary

Board members:

Brooke Dickhart

Caroline Fungaroli

Ellen Gorham

Bianca Harris

Delilah Jones

Samir Mehta

Barrett Coddington Morris

Amanda Powell

Maggie Stroud

Directors emeriti:

Jeff Raxlin

The Wake County Community Foundation will accept grant applications from July 3, 2026, to NOON eastern time on Aug. 4, 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 $500 to $1,000, and up to two organizations may receive a maximum of $2,500 designated as “Impact Grants.” In 2025, WCCF awarded $15,420 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients.

Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund and the Friends of BOMA Charitable Endowment, which supports charitable uses in Wake and Durham counties to strengthen and support the local community, the family, education, and organizations serving the needs of veterans, active military personnel and their families.

How to apply

WCCF is an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Organizations must apply for grants using NCCF’s Grant Application Portal. Please note, only organizations with annual budgets under $500,000 are eligible to apply.

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.

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

Jamilla Hawkins, member of the Wake County Community Foundation board, shares about her experiences being a part of the WCCF board and working with other community leaders.

2024 grants awarded

The Wake County Community Foundation awarded $16,800 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund and other board advised funds, including:

$1,000 to 5190 Roboboosters, Inc. for general operating support
$500 to BELONG NC for general operating support
$1,500 to Gilbert Scholarship, Inc. for fostering educational success
$3,300 to Helping Horse, Inc. for First Responders and Veterans (FRV) program
$500 to HOST (Housing Options for Students Today) for general operating support
$1,500 to Kiran for Heal and Empower
$2,500 to Made4Me, Inc. for Specialized Programs for Adapted Recreation in Communities (SPARC)
$1,000 to Peak Beginnings to Peak Readiness: implementing ASQ to measure social, emotional and academic growth
$500 to Diaper Train for general operating support
$500 to Shield North Carolina for general operating support
$1,500 to The Center for Volunteer Caregiving for In-Home Connections program
$500 to The HBCU STEMulUS for general operating support
$1,000 to Wake Forest Community Table for general operating support
$1,000 to Zola Sudania, Inc. for basic necessities for Wake County Women

2023 grants awarded

The Wake County Community Foundation awarded more than $14,000 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund and other board advised funds, including:

$1,500 to All Things New for 3 “S” Sweet Safe Sleep
$1,500 to Cary Downtown Farmers Market for CDFM nutrition programs + Eat-A-Rainbow
$1,000 to Dorothy Mae Hall Women’s Center for transportation assistance
$1,000 to Gilbert Scholarship, Inc. for general operating support
$1,500 to Grace Landing, Inc. for the survivor fund
$3,130 to Military Missions in Action for general operating support
$1,250 to Musicians for Overdose Prevention for distributing naloxone to music venues
$750 to Safe Families for Children – Greater Raleigh-Durham for general operating support
$1,500 to the Diaper Train for general operating support
$1,500 to Shield North Carolina for general operating support
$1,000 to Wake Forest Community Table for general operating support

2022 grants awarded

The Wake County Community Foundation awarded more than $14,000 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund and other board advised funds, including:

$1,500 to Diaper Train at Saint Saviour’s Center for general operating support
$600 to Dorothy Mae Hall Women’s Center for transportation assistance
$600 to East Wake Education Foundation, Inc. for the F.A.C.E.S. (Family and Child Enrichment Services) program
$1,000 to HOPE North Carolina for inclusion housing summit
$600 to Kiran, Inc. for Healing the Survivor
$500 to League of Women Voters of Wake County for youth engagement program
$750 to Lux Resources for general operating support
$1,800 to NAMI Wake County for support for virtual mental health programs for veterans
$1,000 Pleasant Grove Foundation for Dream Academy
$1,000 to Safe Families for Children – Greater Raleigh-Durham for general operating support
$1,500 to SOAR Outreach for Healthy Hygiene Habits program
$1,000 to Tarheel Minuteman Foundation for a scholarship fund
$1,500 to The Center for Volunteer Caregiving for In-Home Connections Program
$1,000 to Triangle Down Syndrome Network for The Learning Program

2021 grants awarded

Through its community grants program, the Wake County Community Foundation awarded $13,000 to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$1,000 to Diaper Train at Saint Saviour’s Center for Diaper Train
$1,000 to HOPE of NC, Inc. for HOPE Housing Options for People with Exceptionalities
$1,000 to Made4Me for Making Abilities Possible
$2,640 to NAMI Wake County for Support for Virtual Mental Health Programs for Veterans and their Families
$2,000 to Ship Outreach and Community Center for General Operating Support
$1,000 to SMART Bus for General Operating Support
$1,000 to SOAR Outreach for Healthy Hygiene Habits Program
$1,000 to The Center for Volunteer Caregiving for In Home – Connections Program
$1,000 to The Gifted Arts, Inc. for Gifted Summer
$1,360 to With Love from Jesus Ministries for Food Pantry

2020 grants awarded

Through its community grants program, the Wake County Community Foundation awarded more than $12,000 to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$1,000 to the Diaper Train at Saint Saviour’s Center for general operating support.
$1,000 to the East Wake Education Foundation for the F.A.C.E.S (Family and Child Enrichment Services) program.
$1,250 to Family Promise of Wake County for the emergency shelter.
$1,250 to Gabi’s Grounds Coffee Shop for general operating support.
$1,250 to Helping Horse, Inc for therapeutic horseback riding lessons
$2,350 to NAMI Wake County for support for virtual mental health programs for veteran and military families
$1,250 to Ship Outreach and Community Center for general operating support
$500 to SOAR Outreach for the healthy hygiene program
$1,250 to The Gifted Arts, Inc. for the Gifted Academy program
$1,250 to With Love From Jesus Ministries for the food pantry

2019 grants awarded

Through the North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, the following grant was made:

$30,000 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh for disaster relief and recovery in Wake County due to Hurricane Florence

Through its community grants program, the Wake County Community Foundation awarded more than $11,000 to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$1,000 to The Hope Center at Pullen for Lighting a Path to a Safe and Stable Adulthood for Former Foster Youth
$1,500 to Ship Outreach and Community Center for general operating support
$1,500 to Community Helpers Service Center, Inc. for a food pantry
$1,500 to You Call This Yoga for yoga classes for veterans in Wake County
$1,500 to the Center for Volunteer Caregiving for an in-home connections program
$1,000 to 100 Black Men Triangle East for general operating support
$1,500 to The Gifted Arts, Inc. for Gifted Academy
$850 to Helping Horse, Inc. for therapeutic horseback riding lessons for individuals with disabilities
$1,000 to NAMI Wake County for support and education for family members of those living with a mental illness

The Wake County Community Foundation awarded $30,000 in recovery grants from the North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund to support long-term recovery from Hurricane Florence.

2018 grants awarded

The Wake County Community Foundation awarded more than $10,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$2,000 to Community Helpers Service Center Inc.
$1,000 to Dorothy Mae Hall Women’s Center
$1,000 to Helping Horse Inc.
$1,500 to The Carying Place Inc.
$1,500 to The Center for Volunteer Caregiving
$1,500 to The Hope Center at Pullen
$1,000 to United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County
$1,000 to With Love From Jesus Ministries

2017 grants awarded

The Wake County Community Foundation awarded more than $9,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:

$750 to The Daniel Center
$750 to Helping Horse, Inc.
$760 to Dorothy Mae Hall Women’s Centers
$1,500 to Community Helpers Service Center, Inc.
$1,000 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina
$1,590 to With Love From Jesus Ministries
$1,000 to Apex Immigration Services, Inc.
$50 to Mojoaa Performing Arts Company
$750 to Shepherd Youth Ranch
$1,250 to The Carying Place, Inc.

2016 grants awarded

The Wake County Community Foundation awarded more than $9,400 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:

Assistance League of the Triangle Area
Community Helpers Service Center, Inc.
Lighthouse Foundation of Wake County
Prevent Blindness North Carolina
Shepherd Youth Ranch
The Carying Place, Inc.
With Love From Jesus Ministries

No grants were awarded in 2015

2014 grants awarded

Abundant Life Christian Center Church of God in Christ
All Things New, Inc.
Community Helpers Service Center, Inc.
East Carolina University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network
With Love From Jesus Ministries

2013 grants awarded

Community Helpers Service Center, Inc.
HopeLine, Inc.
Literacy Council of Wake County
The Carying Place, Inc.

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