The Foundation’s mission is to promote, protect and improve North Carolina soil and water resources for the enhancement of economic growth and stewardship of the natural environment.
NC Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation Inc. stands out for using cost-share funding, scholarships, and pilot projects to support North Carolina soil and water stewardship. One of its most distinctive recent efforts is the Animal Waste Fertilizer Conversion Cost Share Program, which helps eligible entities finance engineering, design, and installation of processing equipment to turn lagoon and sludge material into fertilizer products, intermediaries, and soil additives. That program shows how the foundation links livestock waste management with soil health and agricultural innovation. Its recent grants also show a strong commitment to local conservation infrastructure. The foundation has supported soil and water conservation districts across the state, along with county governments and conservation partners, in work described as building conservation capacity. Those awards point to a grantmaker that funds both technical implementation and the organizations that carry out conservation work on the ground. The Careers in Conservation Scholarship Program adds a talent pipeline element by supporting North Carolina students in natural resource management and agriculture. Across these activities, the foundation focuses on stewardship of working lands, water quality, and practical conservation capacity in North Carolina.
Livestock waste management is a clear theme in the foundation’s work. Through the Animal Waste Fertilizer Conversion Cost Share Program, they support processing equipment that can convert lagoon and sludge material into fertilizer products, intermediaries, and soil additives. The same subject area appears in their anaerobic digesters cost-share program for swine farms in Sampson and Duplin counties. Capacity building is another major thread. They gave $52,121 to Cumberland Soil and Water Conservation District, $51,047 to Wilkes Soil and Water Conservation District, and $44,304 to Harnett Soil and Water Conservation District, all for building conservation capacity. They also funded NC Association Soil & Water Conservation for the same purpose. The foundation also invests in research and demonstration. A 2023 grant to Phinite Inc supported improving the environment, while another award to North Carolina State University covered building conservation capacity and educating the citizens. These grants show support for applied conservation work and public-facing education.
$587K
$6.1M
$1.4M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $11K and $40K, with a median of $24K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$24K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $11,056, a median of $23,812, and a p75 of $39,552. The recent record also includes one much larger award, but most grants sit below that level. The foundation operates as a public charity and makes program-related investments. Its giving pattern is largely recurring in North Carolina: the 2025 list is filled with soil and water conservation districts, county governments, and statewide conservation organizations. The presence of both a 2023 grant and multiple 2025 awards to conservation partners suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-time awards. The Careers in Conservation Scholarship Program is also open to unsolicited applications, as is the animal waste fertilizer conversion cost-share program.
Giving is entirely in North Carolina, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The strongest cluster is in the central and western parts of the state, including Fayetteville, Wilkesboro, Lillington, Mocksville, Wadesboro, Sparta, Lenoir, Oxford, and Monroe. Raleigh also appears as a recipient location for North Carolina State University and NC Association Soil & Water Conservation. The grant record shows local, state-wide North Carolina distribution rather than multi-state or international giving.
Its stated focus areas include soil health, water quality, working lands and farmland preservation, conservation capacity building, environmental and conservation education, livestock waste management and manure processing, flood resilience and natural infrastructure, carbon farm planning, and outdoor learning and school gardens.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $11,056, median grant size is $23,812, and p75 is $39,552. Most recent awards shown are in that band, alongside one much larger 2023 grant.
Its giving is local to North Carolina. The recipient-country distribution is 100% US, and 100% of grants go to recipients in NC. Recent recipient cities include Fayetteville, Wilkesboro, Lillington, Raleigh, and Asheville.
Yes, for at least two active programs. The Animal Waste Fertilizer Conversion Cost Share Program accepts unsolicited applications, and the Careers in Conservation Scholarship Program also accepts unsolicited applications.
The recent grants list includes soil and water conservation districts, county governments, a state university, and conservation organizations. Awards also support entities working on manure management, conservation capacity, and environmental improvement.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Nc Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Available to Soil and Water Conservation Districts interested in establishing an easement program, reinvigorating an existing program, or seeking additional resources such as training, document-management software, and equipment.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUMBERLAND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $52,121 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| WILKES SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | WILKESBORO, NC | $51,047 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| HARNETT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | LILLINGTON, NC | $44,304 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| DAVIE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | MOCKSVILLE, NC | $34,500 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| COUNTY OF ANSON | WADESBORO, NC | $34,100 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| ALLEGHANY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | SPARTA, NC | $32,488 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| CALDWELL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | LENOIR, NC | $30,400 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| GRANVILLE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | OXFORD, NC | $29,550 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| JOHNSTON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | SMITHFILED, NC | $27,000 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| CHEROKEE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | MURPHY, NC | $26,550 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| UNION SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | MONROE, NC | $26,390 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| EDGECOMBE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | TARBORO, NC | $23,144 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| DAVIDSON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | LEXINGTON, NC | $22,195 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| LINCOLN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | LINCOLNTON, NC | $22,195 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| BUNCOMBE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | ASHEVILLE, NC | $18,448 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| NASH SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | NASHVILLE, NC | $13,178 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| NC ASSOCIATION SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION | RALEIGH, NC | $10,186 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| NC ASSOCIATION SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION | RALEIGH, NC | $10,186 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY, IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT |
| BURKE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | MORGANTON, NC | $10,038 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| MITCHELL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | SPRUCE PINE, NC | $10,037 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| COUNTY OF HENDERSON | HENDERSONVILLE, NC | $10,037 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| RUTHERFORD SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | RUTHERFORDTON, NC | $10,037 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| CHOWAN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | EDENTON, NC | $8,410 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| DURHAM SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | DURHAM, NC | $8,410 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| DUPLIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | KENANSVILLE, NC | $8,410 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| CHATHAM SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | PITTSBORO, NC | $8,410 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| CLEVELAND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | SHELBY, NC | $5,311 | 2025 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| PHINITE INC | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $374,089 | 2023 | IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT |
| ROANOKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC | AHOSKIE, NC | $43,572 | 2023 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| THE WORKING LANDS TRUST INC | RALEIGH, NC | $27,492 | 2023 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $20,133 | 2023 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY, EDUCATING THE CITIZENS |
| COLD MOUNTAIN NURSERY INC | CANTON, NC | $8,030 | 2023 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
| DUPLIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT | KENANSVILLE, NC | $6,000 | 2023 | BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY |
CUMBERLAND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$52,121BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
WILKES SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$51,047BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
HARNETT SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$44,304BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
DAVIE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$34,500BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
COUNTY OF ANSON
$34,100BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
ALLEGHANY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$32,488BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
CALDWELL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$30,400BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
GRANVILLE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$29,550BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
JOHNSTON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$27,000BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
CHEROKEE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$26,550BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
UNION SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$26,390BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
EDGECOMBE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$23,144BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
DAVIDSON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$22,195BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
LINCOLN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$22,195BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
BUNCOMBE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$18,448BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
NASH SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$13,178BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
NC ASSOCIATION SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION
$10,186BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
NC ASSOCIATION SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION
$10,186BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY, IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT
BURKE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$10,038BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
MITCHELL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$10,037BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
COUNTY OF HENDERSON
$10,037BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
RUTHERFORD SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$10,037BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
CHOWAN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$8,410BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
DURHAM SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$8,410BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
DUPLIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$8,410BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
CHATHAM SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$8,410BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
CLEVELAND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$5,311BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
PHINITE INC
$374,089IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT
THE WORKING LANDS TRUST INC
$27,492BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$20,133BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY, EDUCATING THE CITIZENS
COLD MOUNTAIN NURSERY INC
$8,030BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY
DUPLIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
$6,000BUILDING CONSERVATION CAPACITY