The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust conserves lands with scenic, recreational, historic and/or ecological value. Our mission is to enrich our state through conservation of natural areas and working landscapes, education, and the promotion of good land stewardship in our coastal communities.
The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust’s recent giving is anchored by large conservation grants to public agencies and land-focused nonprofits, including $3,840,000 to NC Coastal Federation and $3,638,104 to the State of North Carolina. That pattern fits its stated mission: conserving lands with scenic, recreational, historic, and ecological value while supporting natural areas, working landscapes, education, and stewardship in coastal communities. The grant record shows a strong emphasis on land protection and habitat work rather than individual giving or program-related investments. Its support also reaches state and local governments, as well as conservation organizations that work on shoreline protection, habitat restoration, and land stewardship. The scale of the foundation’s grantmaking is substantial, with annual grants of $15,155,772 and total assets of $58,241,203 on the latest 990. Recent awards also include a $1,959,000 grant to Craven County, showing that its conservation priorities can be implemented through public-sector partners as well as nonprofit grantees. Across the recent list, the foundation’s giving reflects a consistent conservation orientation tied to land, habitat, and coastal resilience.
In coastal conservation, the foundation gave $3,840,000 to NC Coastal Federation for conservation. It also awarded $550,000 to the United States Forest Service for conservation, showing that public land managers are part of its network. Habitat and ecosystem work appear in several grants. Ducks Unlimited Inc received $594,415 in 2023, $112,246 in 2025, and $17,479 in 2024, all listed as conservation support. The Nature Conservancy received $100,000 in 2023 for conservation, another sign that the foundation backs organizations working on land and habitat protection. Its grantmaking also reaches state and county partners. The State of North Carolina received multiple conservation grants, including $3,638,104 in 2025 and $3,549,022 in 2024, while Craven County received $1,959,000 in 2025. These awards indicate a mix of nonprofit and public-sector channels for land and conservation work.
Typical grant size is sizable: the p25 grant is $79,370, the median is $572,208, and the p75 is $2,356,506. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including the State of North Carolina and Ducks Unlimited Inc, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent grant list is entirely composed of U.S. recipients, and the pattern is consistent with program/project support in conservation.
$3M
$64.8M
$6.3M
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $79K and $2.4M, with a median of $572K.
25th Percentile
$79K
Median
$572K
75th Percentile
$2.4M
HARRISON MARKS
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Grant dollars are concentrated in North Carolina, which accounts for 67% of grants by recipient location. Recent recipients in the state include Newport, Raleigh, New Bern, Asheville, and Durham. Outside North Carolina, the recent list also includes Memphis, Tennessee, and New York, New York. By count, Tennessee is the top state for recipients, driven by multiple grants to Ducks Unlimited Inc in Memphis.
Its recent grants go to conservation organizations and public agencies, including NC Coastal Federation, the State of North Carolina, Craven County, Ducks Unlimited Inc, the United States Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and National Audubon Society Inc. The stated focus is land protection, habitat restoration, stewardship, and coastal resilience.
Yes. The State of North Carolina appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Ducks Unlimited Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well. That pattern points to recurring support for conservation partners rather than isolated awards.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is relatively large: the 25th percentile is $79,370, the median is $572,208, and the 75th percentile is $2,356,506. Recent awards include multi-million-dollar grants as well as smaller conservation awards under $20,000.
Most grants go to recipients in North Carolina, which receives 67% of the grants by recipient location. The recent list also includes grants to Memphis, Tennessee, and New York, New York, but North Carolina is the main geography in the record.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC COASTAL FEDERATION | NEWPORT, NC | $1,416,598 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| TOWN OF WINDSOR | WINDSOR, NC | $850,000 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | DURHAM, NC | $569,296 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $127,600 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| NC WILDLIFE RESOURCE COMMISSION | RALEIGH, NC | $78,500 | 2026 | CONSERVATION |
| NC COASTAL FEDERATION | NEWPORT, NC | $3,840,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $3,638,104 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| CRAVEN COUNTY | NEW BERN, NC | $1,959,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $112,246 | 2025 | CONSERVATION |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $9,285 | 2025 | — |
| STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $3,549,022 | 2024 | CONSERVATION |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $17,479 | 2024 | CONSERVATION |
| STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $768,988 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $594,415 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
| UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE | ASHEVILLE, NC | $550,000 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | DURHAM, NC | $100,000 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
| STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA | RALEIGH, NC | $17,233 | 2023 | CONSERVATION |
TOWN OF WINDSOR
$850,000CONSERVATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
$127,600CONSERVATION
NC WILDLIFE RESOURCE COMMISSION
$78,500CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
$3,638,104CONSERVATION
CRAVEN COUNTY
$1,959,000CONSERVATION
DUCKS UNLIMITED INC
$112,246CONSERVATION
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
$9,285STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
$3,549,022CONSERVATION
DUCKS UNLIMITED INC
$17,479CONSERVATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
$768,988CONSERVATION
DUCKS UNLIMITED INC
$594,415CONSERVATION
UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE
$550,000CONSERVATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
$17,233CONSERVATION