Applying for Grants

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The Unifour Foundation Endowment Fund will accept grant applications from March 1, 2024, to NOON on April 2, 2024. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted, including late submissions due to technology issues. Funds are available to meet area needs including education, human services, basic needs, arts, historic preservation, health, recreation, youth development and animal welfare with a preference for applications focused on Unifour's areas of focus:

Grants that address Unifour priority areas of early childhood education, substance use disorders and mental health.
Grants that address a strong community need such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, or educational needs and learning deficits.

Grants typically range between $5,000 and $10,000. In 2023, the Unifour Foundation Endowment Fund awarded $216,400 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients.

How to apply

Founded in 1998, the Unifour Foundation Endowment is a fund of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Organizations must apply for grants from the using NCCF’s online application system.

Read the guidelines before you apply. Failure to adhere to the guidelines will result in your application being declined.
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.
Follow the instructions in Training Module II to add a grant application. Once registered, you can access more information about the application process.

Access the online application

Grantmaking guidelines

The grant applications must focus services on the Unifour Foundation region, which includes Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and/or Catawba counties.
Organizations must be qualified as tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be classified as a unit of local government (including public schools). An exception is made to include fire and rescue departments.
If your organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity via a fiscal agent, your application's supporting documentation must include a letter from the fiscal agent organization that verifies the relationship and includes when the relationship was established.
No discrimination based on age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.
Requests from religious entities, including churches, congregations and other houses of worship, and/or faith-based organizations, are encouraged to apply for funding to support social outreach and charitable service programs to benefit the community-at-large.
Requests for annual fund or capital campaigns may be considered but are not encouraged. Please note that capital renovations and improvements to existing structures are allowable requests.
No awards will be made for: individuals, political purposes or lobbying, re-granting by the applicant organization, loans or reimbursements.

Questions?

Contact the western region donor engagement officer and read the community grantmaking guidelines.