The New Hanover Community Endowment for 2026 is tripling the maximum grant award community organizations can receive through a program focused on smaller grants, according to an announcement Tuesday.

Dubbed the Community Grants Program, it remains open to all eligible organizations, with a total funding cap of $1 million, but it also remains competitive, according to the release.

"Building on the success of a 2025 pilot initiative, the program will continue to drive the endowment’s four pillars: social and health equity, education, community development and community safety," a news release stated. "In 2026, the maximum grant award will increase to $15,000, up from $5,000 in 2025."

According to the endowment's release, to be eligible for the Community Grants Program, an organization needs to be:

• organized as a tax-exempt organization (nonprofit, public charity or university) or a public agency, including state, county and local governments. (A nonprofit group that is not a tax-exempt organization must apply via a fiscal sponsorship from a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization);
• serve or benefit residents of New Hanover County and region;
• and demonstrate alignment with one or more of the endowment’s strategic pillars of social and health equity, education, community development and community safety

“The 2026 Community Grants Program expands access to the endowment’s resources for organizations across New Hanover County,” said Sophie Dagenais, interim president and CEO of the endowment, in the release. “By widening the circle of support, and with larger awards, we want to enable more organizations to pursue solutions that deepen their impact and strengthen our community.”

Applications for the first cycle will open in early 2026, with a second cycle in the fall, according to the release. Each organization may submit one application per cycle, the release stated.

The 2026 Community Grants Program "marks a new chapter in community-focused grantmaking and pairs a streamlined application process with technical support, including step-by-step guides, webinars, and dedicated technical assistance office hours," according to the release.