Duke Energy Foundation has announced a new grant program totaling $500,000 to support small businesses throughout North Carolina. Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants of up to $25,000. These nonprofits will then use the funds to provide awards of up to $5,000 to individual small businesses. The funding is intended to help local businesses, such as restaurants and retail stores, with renovations, equipment purchases, technology upgrades, inventory acquisition, or other business needs.
Applications for these grants are open now and will be accepted through October 31, 2025. Eligible nonprofits can find more information and apply through the Duke Energy Foundation’s website.
In 2024, twenty organizations in North Carolina received funding for small business support. Recipients included the Downtown Greensboro Foundation, the Durham Chamber Legacy Foundation, and the Caraway Foundation in Anson County. Since 2020, the Duke Energy Foundation has committed over $2.4 million to supporting small businesses across the state.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, especially in North Carolina where they employ nearly half of the state’s workforce,” said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation helps to stimulate local economies, create jobs and foster economic growth in the communities where Duke Energy operates.”
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to address community needs where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers across several states and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. The company’s natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in multiple states. Duke Energy is currently investing in electric grid upgrades and cleaner energy generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and energy storage.
For more information about Duke Energy and its initiatives, visit duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center.
