The NGCF Community Grant Program seeks to fund organizations and programs designed to improve the quality of life in North Georgia.

2026 Application Updates

To better meet the needs of nonprofits throughout North Georgia, NGCF updated the 2026 Community Grant application to make the process more equitable and streamlined:

• • Organizations applied according to budget size — greater than or less than $1 million — to promote equity throughout the application process.
  • Organizations could apply for their greatest need rather than choosing between operational and programmatic funding.
  • Application questions were streamlined to create a shorter application.

Each organization was eligible to submit one Community Grant application.

Community Grant recipients remain eligible for other NGCF grant opportunities in the same year, including Opportunity Grants and separate Fundholder grant cycles hosted by NGCF.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing or a direct service program operated by a church, school, or government entity, with a primary location in one of the following North Georgia counties:

Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Jackson, Lumpkin, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White.

Reporting

Organizations receiving a Community Grant are required to provide NGCF with a final report on the use of grant funds.

Funding Restrictions

NGCF Community Grant funds may not be used in any of the following ways:

• Funding may not be used to support political campaigns or lobbying activities.
• While funding may be used to pay reasonable salary expenses, funding may not be used for the individual benefit of an employee (i.e., paying bonuses, supporting pay increases, etc.)
• Grants to capital campaigns are not permitted.
• If applying as a church or government entity, funds cannot be used for operational expenses. Funds must be used for a direct service program provided by the applicant.

Grant Portal

The NGCF Grant Portal remains available for applicants to access submitted applications, review records, and complete any required follow-up materials.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE GRANT PORTAL

An Opportunity Grant provides a nonprofit organization with funding for a new or expanding program that addresses specific key issues in North Georgia and promotes lasting change. This funding enables organizations to create meaningful impact through initiatives they may not have been able to pursue otherwise.

Potential Opportunity Grant recipients are recommended by a group of community leaders from across North Georgia who identify local needs that nonprofits could address, if they had the resources to do so.