News about gifts, grants

The Friends of the Eno River Farmers Market received a grant through Carolina Farm Credit’s Corporate Mission Fund to assist with the program’s efforts to build a fenced-in nursery and expand the market’s “Double Market Bucks” program – which matches every dollar spent by a customer using an EBT/SNAP card at the farmer’s market. Grants are intended to stimulate local agricultural economies and promote efforts in local agriculture, and are awarded based on information provided through applications by organizations and individuals alike.

Chef Andrew Smith of bu*ku in Wake Forest claimed the top prize in the third annual Cooking for a Classic event. This year’s series of seven Cooking for a Classic head-to-head showdowns raised $150,000 for The Lucy Daniels Center, which helps children lead emotionally healthy lives. Over three years, the competition has raised more than $400,000. In addition to raising funds for Center, Smith won a restored 1981 JEEP Scrambler.

Duplin County Community Foundation awarded $56,250 in recovery grants from the North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund to support the long-term recovery of the local community from Hurricane Florence. Funds were distributed Disaster Recovery Group of Duplin County, Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina-Duplin, Helping His Hands Disaster Response, Duplin Christian Outreach Ministries, Eastern Baptist Association for NC Baptist on Mission, and East Duplin Christian Outreach.

News about people, groups

Mary Ann Brittain, passed away on March 17th at age 76. Brittain was the founder and first director of the NC Museum of Natural Science’s Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45- acre site in Raleigh. Brittain developed experiential learning programs at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences  and launched an innovative science program, Using the Outdoors to Teach Experiential Science, with a grant from the National Science Foundation.

The North Carolina Early Education Coalition is bringing babies, parents, teachers, and early childhood advocates to Raleigh for Strolling Thunder: A Think Babies™ NC Advocacy Day to call attention to what babies and families in North Carolina need to thrive. The event takes place on Tuesday, April 9th at the North Carolina General Assembly. The Coalition aims to raise public awareness and speak with policymakers about the importance of making the potential of every baby their top priority.

North Carolina Community Foundation elected Rodney Earl Martin to chair the statewide board of directors. Martin is an Onslow County resident and president and principal of Atlantic Coast Foods, Inc. He is also founding president of the Onslow Caring Communities Foundation and the 2005 recipient of the Lewis R. Holding Philanthropic Leadership Award, named for NCCF’s founder.

Verified Volunteers is eager to help organizations during April (National Volunteer Month) and beyond. The organization conducts background checks tailored to the specific needs of the service sector and allows volunteers to share reports with multiple organizations across the country with one click . Nonprofit clients include American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and the National Alliance for Youth Sports.

NC Governor Roy Cooper declared North Carolina as an Employment First State. “Employment First” refers to the belief that employment in the general workforce should be the first and preferred option for individuals with disabilities. In the making for more than 10 years, the collective impact of state agencies (NC Vocational Rehabilitation, Division of of Mental Health/Substance Abuse Services/Developmental Disabilities, Office of Disability Employment Policy) along with nonprofit organizations (Association of People Supporting Employment First), and community advocates brought the state to this milestone for people with disabilities and employment.

Winston Salem Chamber and Venture Cafe Winston-Salem are partnering together to promote local innovation through tech events, highlighting young leaders, and collaborating on ideas and efforts to recruit and retain talent in the city.

United Way of the Greater Triangle hosts Peter Buffett at the Carolina Theater on April 15th. Emmy-award winner and co-chair of the NoVo Foundation, Buffet will perform music and discuss stories of growing up with his parents in Omaha. Registration is open to the public. 

News about opportunities, initiatives

North Carolina Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for nonprofits serving the following counties: Columbus, Duplin, Granville, and Robeson. Check specific county information for submission deadlines. 

North Carolina Local News Lab Fund is calling for proposals for projects that inform and engage the public as communities recover from Hurricane Florence. The Fund will provide up to $150,000 in grants to organizations and initiatives around news and information related to hurricane recovery. Proposed projects  should provide critical information to communities with a focus on collaboration, content, capacity building, and/or community engagement related to recovery and resilience in the region. Applications close April 15th.

Orange County Arts Commission is accepting applications for Arts grants from April 1st through June 3rd. Grant categories: Grassroots Arts Program Grants: Funded by the NC Arts Council and Orange County, these grants fund arts programs, projects, and services through area nonprofits, schools, and municipal organizations. Artist Project Grants: Funded by Orange County, the grants fund individual artist projects and programs. Applicants can apply once for arts funding till Spring 2020

CenterFest, The Art Lovers Festival, is seeking applications for visual artists, performers, and booth displays and representatives from nonprofits, government services, political advocates, as well as novelty and food vendors. Centerfest takes place September 21st and 22nd.

News about upcoming events

4.3.19 North Carolina Center for Nonprofits presents The Nonprofit Social Media Toolkit: A Webinar Series: Beginning April 3rd, seminars are from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration is $255.

4.5.19 Danville Regional Foundation hosts Dr. Robert Putnam at the foundation’s Speaker Series event at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research in Danville. Putnam will discuss his recent book, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, at 7:30 a.m. Event is free and open to the public. Reservations required. 

4.7.13 Activate Good hosts National Volunteer Week. Members of the public can sign up with nonprofit organizations to assist at an Easter cookout, clean out a barn, pack hygiene kits for the homeless, and more. See volunteer opportunities.

4.9.13 North Carolina Early Education Coalition welcomes participation in Strolling Thunder: A Think Babies™ NC Advocacy Day to call attention to what babies and families in North Carolina need to thrive. The event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Halifax Mall at the North Carolina General Assembly. Registration.

4.10.19 North Carolina Center for Nonprofits hosts “White Supremacy Culture: Treachery and Transformation,” part of the center’s webinar series on Walking the Talk: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in North Carolina Nonprofits from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration: $35 for members, $50 for the public.

4.12.19 Durham Rescue Mission seeks 1,500 Easter Baskets for Triangle’s At-risk Children. Pre-made baskets may be delivered to Mission’s Center for Hope by Friday, April 12th.

4.13.19 Rebrand NC Education presents the latest series in Shifting the Conversation at 5:30 p.m. at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. The theme is Woke Has No Color: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Science Centers From A Black Feminist and White Male Perspective. Todd Boyette and Crystal Harden, who both work in director positions at the planetarium, will present personal and professional challenges side-by-side to help stakeholders better understand the struggles and perspectives facing students in classrooms across the state, particularly in regards to STEM careers. Registration is $10 and open to the public.

4.18.19 City of Raleigh’s Fair Housing Hearing Board and the Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid of North Carolina will host the 16th Annual Raleigh Fair Housing Community Conference. Freedom from Humiliation is the theme and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is the keynote speaker. Registration is open to adults 18 and older and includes breakfast and lunch.

4.20.19 Emily K Center hosts a free College Explo from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Over 50 colleges will be in attendance. High school students, teachers, administrators, and parents of students who are interested in pursuing postsecondary opportunities are encouraged to attend. Registration.

4.25.19 Frankie Lemmon School & Developmental Center hosts its 2nd annual Bright Futures Breakfast 8:30 a.m. at North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh. Registration. Event if complimentary. Registration required. 

4.25.19 IntraHealth International hosts their annual SwitchPoint conference at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw April 25th and 26th. Keynote speakers include: Leah Borromeo, Disobedient Films and Toyin Saraki, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa. Discounts rate available for groups of 10 or more. Registration is open.

4.26.19 Me Fine Foundation hosts Music for Me Fine, a benefit concert featuring New Reveille at The Stockroom at 230 in  Raleigh. Proceeds benefit families whose children are receiving care at Duke, UNC, or WakeMed Children’s Hospitals. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Music at 8:00 p.m. Sponsorships and tickets are available. 

4.27.19 Special Olympics North Carolina hosts 2019 Plane Pull at 8:00 a.m. at the UPS tarmac at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Five-person teams can test their strength against other teams competing to see which one can pull a 30,000-pound regional jet 25 feet. 

4.29.19 The Carolinas Planned Giving Conference takes place April 29th through May 1st at the Kanuga Center in Hendersonville, NC. Co-hosted by the NC Council of Charitable Gift Planners and the SC Planned Gift Council, the conference keynote speaker is Dr. Eddie Thompson. Registration is open.

5.4.19 Make A Wish Central and Western North Carolina hosts its Kentucky Derby Classic at High Caliber Stables in Greensboro. Purchase sponsorships and tickets.

5.4.19 Junior League of Raleigh hosts its 2019 Touch-A-Truck fundraising event from 9 :00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Spring Hill Lot near Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh. Presented by Johnson Lexus, the event includes a low-sensory hour for those sensitive to lights and loud noises  and The Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures mobile dental van will be on-site to host free youth dental exams offered by Falls Family Dental. Proceeds from Touch-A-Truck will benefit the Junior League of Raleigh’s BackPack Buddies program, which feeds children from food-insecure families in Wake County. Discounted $6 tickets and family packages are now on sale now.

5.09.19 Create Good Conference takes place May 9th and 10th at Durham Arts Council. Tickets: $175 two-day, $90 one-day. Keynote speaker: Barbara Pena, Director of Strategic Partnerships at RAICES in Texas. 

5.17.19 The NONPROFITS STRONG Summit will feature Zainab Baloch, ZB, a former and future Raleigh City Council Candidate and founder of  YAP!, Young Americans Protest, which provides local avenues for young people to bear witness to policy decisions and pursue accountability through voting and and action through technology. This year’s summit takes place at the NC State’s McKimmon Center for Extension & Continued Education in Raleigh. 

05.29.19 Junior League of Raleigh will host a Women in Public Service Panel at 7:00 p.m. at the Julia Jones Daniels Center for Community Leadership. Attendees will hear from influential state and community leaders including Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane, State Auditor Beth Wood, N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice (Retired), Barbara Jackson, and WCPSS Superintendent Cathy Moore. Free and open to the public. 

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