$7 million available to strengthen nonprofits serving Wake County residents
Wake County is now accepting proposals from local nonprofits seeking funding for capital projects that tackle urgent community challenges and strengthen their long-term ability to serve residents. The County plans to invest $7 million over the next two years in initiatives with strong business plans that offer solutions to problems affecting residents across the county.
The Community Capital Competitive Grant Process will award grants to support capital improvements, such as facility construction or renovation, permanent infrastructure upgrades and the purchase of durable equipment.
“Our nonprofit partners play a vital role in the well-being of our residents,” said Wake County Commissioner Safiyah Jackson. “By investing in capital projects, we’re helping these organizations grow stronger and more resilient, so they can continue to deliver essential services like housing support, behavioral healthcare, food access and more.”
Projects funded through the Community Capital Competitive Grant Process must align with Wake County’s strategic goals and demonstrate a meaningful impact in key service areas such as healthcare access, food security, homeless services, behavioral health and housing stability. Past projects funded by this process include money for The Women’s Center of Wake County to convert existing space into an overnight shelter in Southeast Raleigh and The Joel Fund’s purchase of land to develop The Joel Center in Rolesville, which will connect veterans with resources and support.
To further promote equity and accessibility, the County is continuing a dedicated “Impact Fund” track within the grant program. This track reserves up to $500,000 of the available funds specifically for smaller nonprofit organizations with limited staffing and financial resources to fund smaller capital projects.
A broad team of Wake County staff and community representatives will evaluate the proposals submitted and make recommendations to the commissioners in late December 2025. The board is expected to decide shortly after which proposals to fund.
The work group will review the business plans associated with each proposal based on their ability to:
- Provide a comprehensive analysis of an unmet need
- Demonstrate a clear link between the project initiatives and resolution of the countywide problem
- Include a mechanism to track and measure success
- Show a need for county capital investment for project success
Important Dates:
- Aug. 20 at 1 p.m.: Optional pre-submittal meeting (virtual)
- Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.: Proposals due via the Bonfire procurement portal
- October–December: Proposal reviews and funding recommendations
- December 2025 / Early 2026: Board of Commissioners considers final grant awards
Organizations interested in applying can access full Request for Proposals (RFP) materials by searching “RFP #25-083 Community Capital Grant Process” on our website.
