Funding search · college access and success · North Carolina
Who funds college access and success work in North Carolina
12 funders have a record of paying for college access and success work by North Carolina recipients: 20 grants totaling $3.6M, most recently in 2025 — mostly private foundations, plus grantmaking charities. The largest by matched giving are Merancas Foundation ($2.6M), The Grable Foundation ($210,000) and The Joseph & Mercedes McMicking ($10,000).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to North Carolina recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
Largest: $2.0M to CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE — scholarship funds for college access
Largest: $70,000 to STUDENT U — to support a college-access program for students attending durham public schools
Largest: $5,000 to EXCEL COLLEGE — college readiness and scholarships
Largest: $45,000 to UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL — support for college access in north carolina
Largest: $161,955 to OPEN DOORS OF ASHEVILLE — to & through college access and completion initiative support.
Shallow Ford FoundationClemmons, NCCharity · may take applications
2 matching grants · $28,785 · through 2022Largest: $17,735 to YADKIN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS — college access progr
Chatham Education FoundationPittsboro, NCCharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $134,176 · through 2024Largest: $134,176 to CHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS — creative teaching grants, books & literacy programming, college-readiness initiatives, and engagement events
Largest: $146,750 to NATIONAL COLLEGE ADVISING CORPS INC — to promote college access & success for high achieving low and middle - income students
Largest: $30,000 to NC STATE UNIVERSITY — supporting programs designed to promote education with emphasis on day care and early childhood education, literacy, after school initiatives, and college access; community develop…
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinstonsalem, NCCharity · may take applications
1 matching grant · $20,000 · through 2024Largest: $20,000 to CROSBY SCHOLARS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP — enhance early college access
Largest: $15,000 to UNC - CHAPEL HILL — college access services for rowan county high school students
Largest: $1,100 to MADELYN WAGLER — college access support
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Start with one paperBroader: college access and success funders nationally · all North Carolina-based grantmakers