The Craven County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $255,950 in grants to 36 organizations supporting the local community.

The board of advisors granted:

• $2,800 to American Red Cross for emergency support for Craven County families in crisis
• $5,000 to Autism Society of North Carolina for Autism Resource Specialists in Craven County
• $13,000 to Backpack Blessings, Inc. for Holiday Blessings
• $7,500 to Bike Box Project for Strengthening the Future of Bike Box Project.
• $5,000 to CarolinaEast Foundation for patient assistance program for Craven County residents
• $5,000 to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas for the Craven County Childhood Cancer Safety Net
• $5,000 to Coastal Carolina Disaster Resiliency Agency for Resilient Communities
• $15,000 to Coastal Women’s Shelter, Inc. for Courtney’s Home for Hope: Transitional Housing Support
• $14,000 to Craven Community College Foundation to expand the Toolbelt Trust Project
• $5,000 to Craven County Smart Start for Joey’s Play and Learn Kaleidoscope Literacy Project
• $2,500 to Crystal Coast Cancer Rehab Center for cancer rehabilitation and nutrition support for Craven County residents
• $8,000 to Eastern Carolina YMCA for Continuing STRONG: Building Community Beyond Cancer
• $15,000 to Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Inc. for Nourishing Families in Craven County
• $1,500 to Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines for the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Craven County
• $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Craven County for home repair program for sustainable living
• $5,000 to Hesed Place for ENGAGE: Community Workshops for Adults Affected by Trauma
• $3,500 to Made4Me, Inc. for Making Abilities Possible
• $15,000 to MERCI Clinic for Lab work for all: Continuing the journey
• $7,072 to North Carolina Coastal Federation for Coastal Discovery and Community Connection
• $5,000 to North Carolina Symphony for Ensembles in the Schools for Craven County Students
• $7,500 to Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter Inc. for the Wildlife Trauma Response and Recovery Program
• $3,500 to Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary for Wildlife Responsibilities and Community Engagement for Craven County
• $5,000 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for the Craven County Vision Screening Program
• $11,000 to Public Radio East Foundation for general operating support
• $15,000 to Religious Community Services for general operating support
• $3,500 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Triangle for the Craven County Care Fund
• $3,528 to Ronald McDonald House of Eastern NC to support Craven County families
• $5,540 to Sound Rivers, Inc. for a constructed stormwater wetland as a foundation for water quality education
• $6,000 to Special Olympics North Carolina for Craven County young athletes
• $3,500 to the African American Heritage and Culture Center to expand the center’s reach in eastern North Carolina
• $15,000 to The Salvation Army of New Bern, NC, for winter rent and utilities assistance program
• $10,000 to Tried By Fire Inc. for My Sister’s House: Safe Shelter for Post-Incarcerated Women
• $2,000 to TROSA (Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, Inc.) for residential substance use recovery services for individuals from Craven County
• $9,000 to Vanceboro Christian Help Center for general operating support
• $5,010 to We Can Be Association for the Children’s Museum of New Bern
• $6,000 to Word of God Christian Center for community food distribution program

“Our goal is to create meaningful change in our community,” said Charles Cushman, advisory board president of the Craven County Community Foundation. “By supporting these nonprofits, we turn the generosity of our donors into community support for generations to come.”

Funds for 2026 grants came from the community grantmaking fund and the Brian Fisher Endowment, Harry and Virginia Killian Charitable Endowment, Richard Chapman Cleve Fund and the Anonymous Fund. Each year, the Craven County Community Foundation’s advisory board uses dollars from its endowment funds to make grants to eligible local organizations, including nonprofits, local governments, schools and churches.

Visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Craven to learn more about the Craven County Community Foundation and its work or to make a tax-deductible donation. The board is also raising funds to establish a new scholarship for Craven County students. The application will open in December.

Craven County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members
Founded in 1991, the Craven County Community Foundation is led by a local volunteer advisory board that understands community needs. In addition to Cushman, board members include Trey Ferguson (vice president), Susan Braaten (secretary), Joseph Anderson, Kevin Bennert, Ellen Chance, Vic Dove, Mary Beth Fennell, Joseph Geiger, Brenda George, Omar Gonzalez, Zeb Hough, Kelly Millington, Ed Mitchell, E T Mitchell, Pat Leigh Pittman, Mary Skinner and Leigh Wheeler.

About the North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation transforms the collective generosity of our donors into a permanent source of community support, with a focus on the state’s rural areas.

NCCF partners with donors and a network of affiliates to sustain over 1,300 endowments totaling over $600 million in assets. Nearly $360 million has been awarded as grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students, creating stronger communities for generations to come.