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WNC Business

WNC nonprofits included in Duke Energy Foundation grants

Dec 19, 2023 05:08PM ● By WNC Business

As North Carolina continues to grow and lead the clean energy transition, the Duke Energy Foundation will donate more than $500,000 in grants to support programs to strengthen local nonprofit organizations and advance environmental programs.

“We’re committed to playing a significant role in lifting up our communities and awarding grants to help local nonprofits across the state advance their environmental impact and community engagement,” said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Local communities are critical to North Carolina’s energy transformation, and we look forward to our continued engagement as the state experiences unprecedented growth and opportunity.”

Thirty-two organizations will receive grants. Anita Brown-Graham, director of the ncIMPACT Initiative at the University of North Carolina School of Government, a recent grant recipient, sees a strong opportunity for building environmental awareness about North Carolina’s future.

“Engaging all voices in communities about our environment is critical,” she said. “The ncIMPACT Initiative grant from the Duke Energy Foundation will uplift Carolina Across 100's ‘Our State, Our Work’ program to offer young adults who find their way back to school and employment a voice on important community issues. Regions of North Carolina facing pressing environmental challenges are also those experiencing the highest rates of youth disconnection. It is critical to include the voices of lived experience from these young adults in environmental programs. They are the path to our collective future.”

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation has been a Duke Energy philanthropic partner for years. “Funding from Duke Energy is critical to our mission,” said Tim Gestwicki, CEO of the NC Wildlife Federation. “We are proud to partner to advance our mission to protect, conserve and restore North Carolina wildlife and habitat for all, and our latest grant will help us address biodiversity loss by restoring habitat in historically underserved communities of Wilmington.”

Organizations receiving grants:

  • Allison Woods Outdoor Learning Center, Iredell 
  • Asheville GreenWorks, Buncombe 
  • Broad River Greenway, Cleveland  
  • Catawba Lands Conservancy, Mecklenburg  
  • Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, Gaston   
  • Conserving Carolina, Henderson 
  • Dan River Basin Association,  Rockingham 
  • El Centro Hispano, Durham   
  • Exploring Joara Foundation, Burke   
  • Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Caldwell
  • Happy Roots, Rowan    
  • Hart Square Foundation , Catawba   
  • Haywood Waterways Association, Haywood  
  • Masonboro.org, New Hanover 
  • NC Project LEAD, Brunswick  
  • ncIMPACT Initiative at the University of North Carolina School of Government, Statewide 
  • North Carolina Coastal Federation, Carteret  
  • North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, Brunswick 
  • North Carolina Congress of Latino Organizations, Statewide 
  • North Carolina Wildlife Federation, New Hanover 
  • Occaneechi Band of Saponi Nation, Alamance 
  • Partners for Environmental Justice, Wake 
  • Piedmont Environmental Alliance, Forsyth  
  • Piedmont Land Conservancy, Rockingham 
  • Roxboro Community Redevelopment Corporation, Person     
  • Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, Rutherford   
  • Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust, Moore 
  • Stokes County Economic Development, Stokes 
  • Trees Charlotte, Mecklenburg 
  • Trees Durham, Durham 
  • Triangle Land Conservancy, Wake 
  • Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River, Jackson 
About Duke Energy Foundation:
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information can be found at Duke-Energy.com/Foundation.
Photo Source: Broad River Greenway