Duke Energy Foundation has announced it will provide $500,000 in grants to support small businesses throughout North Carolina. Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants of up to $25,000, which they will use to offer awards of up to $5,000 to individual small businesses. These funds can be used by local businesses such as restaurants and retail stores for purposes like renovations, purchasing equipment or technology, buying inventory, or addressing other business needs.
Applications for these grants are open now and will be accepted through October 31, 2025. Interested nonprofits can find more information and apply on the Duke Energy Foundation’s website.
In 2024, twenty organizations across North Carolina received similar funding from the foundation. Previous recipients included 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 in 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 over $30 million annually in philanthropic support to communities 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 six states, and its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in five states. The company is investing in electric grid upgrades and cleaner energy generation as part of its ongoing energy transition.
For further details about Duke Energy and its initiatives, visit duke-energy.com or the Duke Energy News Center.
