Apply for American 250 Grants Now

North Carolina -- September 23, 2024: The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is now accepting

applications for a second round of America 250 NC grants. The grants are designed to spark programs and activities on a local level to create a memorable and meaningful commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

Applications may be submitted in two grant categories — county committee grants of $10,000, and community program grants with awards up to $30,000. Fundable projects will clearly connect to at least one of America 250 NC’s commemorative themes: Visions of Freedom, Gathering of Voices, and Common Ground

The America 250 NC team is excited to announce that another round of grant-funding opens for applications on Monday, August 26. We will once again be accepting applications for county committee grants of $10,000, and community program grants with awards up to $30,000. Fundable projects will clearly connect to at least one of America 250 NC’s commemorative themes; Visions of Freedom, Gathering of Voices, and Common Ground. The submission deadline is November 1.

We are fast approaching important anniversaries of key state and national events from the Revolutionary War period. April 12, 2026, marks 250 years since the Fourth Provincial Congress met in Halifax and passed a resolution that authorized its delegates to the Continental Congress to seek independence from the British. A few short months later, all colonial representatives in Philadelphia passed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and a new nation was born. North Carolina will observe this anniversary with wide-ranging activities across a multi-year commemoration, with a focus on 2026. 

As DNCR fosters the commemoration statewide, we seek to generate a collaborative spirit across counties, municipalities, non-profit and tourism sectors, and civic organizations. The America 250 NC Grants are designed to spark programs and activities on a local level to create a memorable and meaningful commemoration. Our program field guide includes planning resources and ideas that may help you identify programs and activities that will resonate with your communities.

A wonderful assortment of proposals received funding approval during the first grant cycle. Exhibits, commemorative events, school field trips, waysides, and many other project types were successful. We encourage applicants to use this grant as an opportunity to creatively meet a community need through a project tied to America 250 NC themes. This grant program is available to non-profit organizations and official county committees seeking to engage in America 250 NC programs and resource development on a local and regional level. Eligible projects include public art, educational activities, community events, exhibits, scholarly research, printed resources, and oral history projects, among a host of other activities. The America 250 NC team is available to help with questions about the grant program, the application and award process, or any other related topics. Please direct questions to Dan Brosz at dan.brosz@dncr.nc.gov.

For more information and to apply, visit  www.america250.nc.gov/grants.Applications must be submitted by Nov. 1.

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