Duke Energy Foundation has announced a new grant initiative totaling $500,000 to support small businesses in North Carolina. Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants of up to $25,000, which will be used to provide awards of up to $5,000 to individual small businesses. These funds can help businesses such as restaurants and retail stores with renovations, equipment purchases, inventory, or other operational needs.
Applications for the grants are open now and will be accepted through October 31, 2025. Nonprofits interested in applying can find more information and submit their applications through the Duke Energy Foundation’s website.
Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president, said, “Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, especially in North Carolina where they employ nearly half of the state’s workforce. Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation helps to stimulate local economies, create jobs and foster economic growth in the communities where Duke Energy operates.”
In 2024, twenty organizations in North Carolina received similar funding from the Duke Energy Foundation, including the Downtown Greensboro Foundation, the Durham Chamber Legacy Foundation, and the Caraway Foundation in Anson County. Since 2020, the Foundation has provided over $2.4 million in support of small businesses in the state.
The Duke Energy Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders and provides more than $30 million each year in philanthropic support for communities served by Duke Energy customers.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States, serving 8.6 million electric customers across six states and operating 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. The company is also working on an energy transition that includes upgrades to the electric grid and investments in cleaner energy sources such as natural gas, nuclear power, renewables, and energy storage.
More information about Duke Energy and its initiatives can be found at duke-energy.com and on its social media channels.
