32 Cabarrus nonprofits receive $385,000 through new local grant partnership
The Greater Cabarrus Foundation and the William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust expanded the inaugural grant cycle after receiving more than $2.25 million in funding requests.
This story has been adapted from a Greater Cabarrus Foundation news release.
The Greater Cabarrus Foundation announced this week that 32 nonprofit organizations across Cabarrus County will receive a combined $385,000 in grants through a new partnership with the William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust.
The funding was awarded through the trust’s inaugural Cabarrus County-focused grant cycle, which was administered by the Greater Cabarrus Foundation. Organizers said the program originally launched as a $300,000 pilot initiative but expanded after receiving significantly more requests than anticipated.
According to the foundation, the grant cycle received 60 applications totaling more than $2.25 million in funding requests from nonprofits throughout the county.
“This grant cycle demonstrated both the tremendous needs that exist across our community and the extraordinary work local nonprofit organizations are doing every day to meet those challenges,” said Cam Cruickshank, president and CEO of the Greater Cabarrus Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to the William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust for their generosity and partnership, as well as their willingness to expand support beyond the original funding amount in order to invest more deeply in Cabarrus County.”
Cruickshank said the trust ultimately decided to increase the total amount awarded beyond the original funding target in order to invest more deeply in local organizations.
The partnership also marked the launch of the Greater Cabarrus Foundation’s new online grant management system, which officials said was designed to simplify the application process for nonprofits. Applications were evaluated using a rubric focused on organizational effectiveness, financial stewardship, community impact and alignment with local needs.
Margaret West, daughter of William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon and a committee member for the family trust, said the evaluation process helped introduce the trust to organizations it had not previously worked with.
“One of the things that impressed me most was the thoughtful rubric-based evaluation process the Greater Cabarrus Foundation implemented,” West said. “It created a consistent and intentional way to review applications while helping us better understand organizational strengths and community impact.”
Among the grant recipients was The Open Door House, which supports young adults transitioning out of foster care.
“We are extremely grateful to the WCNC Cannon Charitable Trust to be selected as a grant recipient,” said Kathy Lista, founding executive director of The Open Door House. “These funds will help us establish another home to support young adults coming out of foster care.”
Cruickshank said organizers hope the partnership represents the beginning of a broader long-term effort to strengthen philanthropy and nonprofit support systems within Cabarrus County.
“This partnership represents more than a single grant cycle,” he said. “It reflects a growing commitment to building stronger systems of philanthropy and support within Cabarrus County.”
The following organizations were selected as grant recipients through the 2026 William
Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust grant cycle:
1CAN
Academic Learning Center
Augustine Literacy Project
Autism Society of North Carolina
AYA House
Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Carolinas, Cabarrus County
Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County
Cabarrus Arts Council
Cabarrus County Education Foundation
Cabarrus County Young Life
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels
Cabarrus Partnership for Children
Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network (CVAN)
Central North Carolina Council, Scouting America
Concord Bible Teaching Association
Cooperative Christian Ministry
Elder Orphan Care
El Puente Hispano
Families First in Cabarrus County
First Baptist Church of Concord (First Missionary Baptist Church)
Gate Pregnancy Resource Centers
Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County
Heart Math Tutoring
Junior Charity League of Concord
Lockhart Child Development Center
Rowan-Cabarrus Young Men’s Christian Association
The Community Free Clinic
The Lantern Project
The Open Door House
The Salvation Army of Cabarrus and Stanly Counties
Walking in the Harvest
WeBuild Concord
More information on grant opportunities is available through the Greater Cabarrus Foundation’s grantmaking priorities page.