Funding Guidelines

Applying for grants

The Duke Energy Foundation receives grant requests for funding during the specific application cycle for each investment priority, which are published online and in the grant application. While an organization's programming may align with more than one investment priority, the Foundation prefers to provide funding to an organization once in a 12-month period. Therefore, we encourage you to first do a comprehensive evaluation of your organization's funding needs and programmatic goals/outcomes to determine which investment priority and funding cycle to pursue. This does not preclude you from applying to more than one investment priority during a 12-month period, but receiving funding in multiple investment priorities during this time period will be rare.

All grant requests must be entered through the online grant application, except for requests to the Duke Energy Water Resources Fund and Duke Energy/Piedmont Natural Gas Community College Apprenticeship Grant Program. The Foundation is unable to accept grant proposals in other formats. Once received through the online system, each grant application is reviewed, researched and assessed within the published funding cycle. Final approval will typically occur three to five months from the close of the RFP time frame and will vary by investment priority. Local community development grants are reviewed and approved year-round, and final approval will vary between one to three months.

To qualify for grant funding consideration, your organization must meet the following criteria:

• Have current tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code or be a governmental entity. Governmental entities will need to submit an IRS letter of determination. To request an IRS letter of determination, contact the IRS at 877.829.5500 or view this sample letter.
• Serve communities that are also served by Duke Energy
• Serve communities without discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, creed, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation or national origin
• Have a method by which to measure, track and report one or more program outcomes and specific results that demonstrate measurable community impact

Foundation grant support is not available for:

• Churches or evangelical organizations
• Organizations with a substantial purpose of influencing any political, legislative or regulatory cause
• Fraternal, veteran or labor membership organizations serving only the members of that organization
• Organizations offering or providing either Duke Energy Corporation, the Duke Energy Foundation, or their respective officers or employees any benefit from the grant 

The Foundation does not fund grants for programs and projects associated with, but not limited to, the following:

• Individual K-12 schools or organizations that operate within an individual school. We will consider school grants at the district level.
• Sports teams or events, with the exception of Power for Students. 
• Religious programs, projects or activities
• Direct cost reduction for electric or natural gas service provided by Duke Energy
• External fundraising campaigns or events
• General operating expenses
• Capital investments and improvements
• Endowments or other foundations