Small Grant Program 

The Small Grant Program was established in 2020 to allow qualifying smaller, grassroots nonprofit organizations and those who have not partnered with the Mecklenburg County ABC Board in the past an opportunity to apply for funding to reduce or prevent alcohol and/or substance abuse (substance use disorder) in their target populations. The ABC Board is excited to offer this grant opportunity once again to the community.

We encourage eligible organizations to submit proposals that bring important programming for prevention and education of alcohol and/or substance abuse (substance use disorder) per Chapter 18B-805 (h) of the North Carolina General Statutes. These guidelines will be strictly followed.

Grants will be awarded up to $25,000 for a one-year project period in FY 2024, depending on and in alignment with the applicant's proposed project and at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The ABC Board is interested in applications from BIPOC-led and serving organizations as well as new projects that show innovation in reaching identified target populations.

Read about the organizations and projects funded for FY 2023 HERE. Together, we can have a positive impact on our community.

Important Information About the Small Grant Program

• For FY 2024, the ABC Board is introducing a Letter of Intent (LOI) process to ensure: (1) applicants are eligible for ABC Board funding and (2) their proposed project aligns with the purpose of ABC Board grant funds prior to submitting a full application.
• The Small Grant Program LOI cycle opened on November 14, 2022, at 5:00 PM EST and closed on December 5, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST. NOTE: the Small Grant Program LOI is now closed.
• For applicant agencies that submitted an LOI and are invited to apply for a grant: the Small Grant Program grant cycle opens on January 10,  2023, at 5:00 PM EST and closes on February 7, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST.

Eligibility Guidelines

Funding is restricted to organizations that meet the following criteria (note: a fiscal sponsor arrangement will be considered for organizations that do not meet some of the eligibility criteria):

• Mecklenburg County non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to governmental entities such as the State of North Carolina and its agencies, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of the State. A fiscal sponsor arrangement will be considered for applicants that do not yet have their IRS Letter of Determination.
• 501(c)(3) determination letters located in and serving residents of Mecklenburg County.
• Evidence of two (2) consecutive years of organization growth/success.
• Current year operating budget under $350,000.
• The ABC Board requires all awardees to have a current active NC Charitable Solicitation License (CSL) or exempt status with the NC Secretary of State (NCSOS). Before applying for a grant, please check your organization's status HERE. If you do not have a CSL, exempt status, or your license has expired, please apply, or renew at this time. The ABC Board will require proof of application to the NCSOS to move forward in the grant process. The CSL number or evidence of exempt status will be required to receive a grant award.
• Demonstration of organizational financial stability though one of these options:
• Option 1: Two (2) most recent 990-N postcards with corresponding Annual Financial Report Form for Charities or Sponsors submitted to the NCSOS for those same years (Note: likely to need a fiscal agent)
• Option 2: Two (2) most recent independent financial compilation reports done by a public accounting firm (Note: likely to need a fiscal agent)
• Option 3: Two (2) most recent 990 EZs (Note: possible to need a fiscal agent)
• Option 4: Two (2) most recent 990 full versions
• Option 5: The most recent independent audit completed by a licensed CPA showing year-over-year (2 years) financials

Application Requirements

• If invited to apply, the full grant application cycle will open in January 2023. Invitees will receive a link to the application via email.
  • • There are no restrictions in the type of projects that are proposed and who they intend to serve.
    • Agency site visits will be scheduled virtually with applicant organizations as deemed appropriate by the Grants Evaluation Team as part of the grant evaluation process.
  • Only one (1) application to the Small Grant Program can be made by an organization for that fiscal year.
  • All small grants are for a one-year project period.
  • Matching funds are not a requirement of the Small Grant Program.
  • Non-allowable costs include sub-grants, sub-contracts and/or use of funds for general operating support. Definition of terms is as follows:
    • Sub-grant: when a grantee makes grant awards from the funds received through its ABC grant.
    • Sub-contract: when a grantee hires a contractor who then awards a portion of the existing contract to another individual or entity.
    • Operating Costs: expenses associated with the maintenance and administration of a business on a day-to-day basis.
  • All organizations submitting a full grant request will be notified in writing of their application status by May 31, 2023. Please note this is tentative application status pending Board budget approval at the June 2023 Board meeting.

The ABC Board is Here to Help!

A virtual pre-grant information workshop will be held prior to the opening of the grant cycle. This workshop is for organizations invited to apply to the FY 2024 Small Grant Program and are highly encouraged to attend. Registration is required and the registration link will be emailed to eligible applicants two weeks prior to the workshop.

The Small Grant Program Pre-Grant Workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, from 3:00- 4:30 PM.

Getting Started

Getting started means getting organized! This will help applicants to prepare a better grant application.

Begin by updating any information in Foundant that may have changed. It is important to keep contact information current so that communications from the ABC Board are not missed. Go to the ABC Board’s online grants management system at Foundant to make updates to the organization’s profile.

Project & Technical Assistance

For assistance with the Small Grant Program, please contact Autumn Keck, Assistant Program Officer Consultant HERE.

To schedule a meeting with Autumn, go to her Calendly link HERE.

For more information about the Small Grant Program and ABC Board grant-making in general, please refer to these documents:

• ABC Board FY24 Grant Opportunity Overview
• ABC Board FY24 Eligibility Criteria
• ABC Board Grant Funding Pipeline
• ABC Board Examples of Fundable Projects

Community / Substance Use Prevention Resources

The ABC Board encourages applicants to review these important resources for project planning and proposal development purposes:

SAMHSA's Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center
SAMHSA’s Programs and Campaigns
Mecklenburg County Community Health Assessment (2019)
CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) Middle and High School Results (2019)
A Guide to SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (2019)
Evidence-Based Programs for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment
National Mentoring Resource Center

 Helpful Sites

FY 2023 SGP-Monthly Expenditure Template-fill-in

FY2023 SGP RFP Budget Expenditure Summary Template-FINAL
Media Release