Bright futures begin in the classroom, and every child deserves a fair chance at academic success.

Application period open Nov. 1 – Jan. 31; grant decisions by March 30

These grants support:

• Programs to address the summer reading loss (“summer slide”) experienced by rising kindergartners through rising third-graders
• Programs that advance energy, engineering and environmental education through student programming or teacher professional development 

• Have current tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, be a governmental entity, including school systems. Governmental entities, including school systems will need to:
  
  1.  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
       OR
  2.  Supply a letter to the Duke Energy Foundation on their governmental / school system letterhead affirming they are a governmental entity.
• 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 

Restrictions 

• 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
• Nonprofit organizations that are opposing or intervening parties (or that fund any such parties) in any proceeding in which Duke Energy is a party, or that fund or produce negative advertisements against Duke Energy.

• 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