The Outer Banks Community Foundation grants program has expanded to allow for nonprofit organizations to include staff wages in their 
grant requests.
The change is effective immediately in the Community Enrichment Grants Program, which has traditionally focused on funding tangible items, one-time costs, capacity-building endeavors, program scholarships and capital assets and improvements.
“This is exciting news for Outer Banks nonprofits because it will help fill such a huge funding need for our local charitable sector,” said Lorelei Costa, the Community Foundation’s executive director
The Community Enrichment Grants Program is the Community Foundation’s largest and broadest funding opportunity. Last year the Community Foundation awarded more than $225,000 in Community Enrichment Grants to 35 local nonprofits.
Community Enrichment Grants are offered on a competitive basis for any kind of charitable project that benefits Dare County, Ocracoke and/or the Currituck beaches.
Areas of interest include arts and culture, animal welfare, children and youth, education, the environment, disaster relief and prevention, health and wellness, historic interpretation and preservation, and other human services.
The next deadline to apply is Friday, July 27, and the last deadline of the year is Friday, Oct. 26.
“While tremendously impactful, grants for supplies, assets, and delimited services do not always cover a nonprofit’s greatest need,” said Costa. “Many nonprofits also need professional staff to do critical work, yet funds to pay staff are often the hardest dollars to raise. Now, thanks to our generous donors, the Community Foundation’s grant funding has grown, and we are able to offer grants that include program staff wages, as well as other hard costs.”
Nonprofits can apply now to the newly expanded Community Enrichment Grants Program at: www.obcf.org. The website also includes a more detailed announcement, our grants criteria, a questions/answer page, and many other resources.
