Duke Energy Foundation Offers $500,000 in Grants to Support North Carolina Small Businesses

Duke Energy Foundation today announced a new grant opportunity, offering $500,000 to support small businesses in communities across North Carolina.

Zoom in: Nonprofit organizations can apply for $25,000 grants, which will then fund awards of up to $5,000 to individual small businesses. Funding can be used by local businesses like restaurants and retail stores to complete renovations, buy equipment or technology, purchase inventory or meet other business needs.

Flashback: Twenty North Carolina organizations were awarded funding for small business support in 2024, including the Downtown Greensboro Foundation, the Durham Chamber Legacy Foundation and the Caraway Foundation in Anson County. Since 2020, Duke Energy Foundation has committed over $2.4 million to supporting small businesses across North Carolina.

Why it matters: “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.”

How to apply: Eligible nonprofits can find additional program details and apply via Duke Energy Foundation’s website. Applications are open now through Oct. 31, 2025.

Duke Energy Foundation 
Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.