Cumberland County Opens $3,500 Grant Program for Nonprofits Serving Low-Income Residents

Cumberland County kicked off the Community Impact Micro-Award Program FY 2026–2027 on March 2. Nonprofits that help low-to-moderate-income people can get up to $3,500. These are reimbursement-based grants. The program gives short-term money to groups working inside the county.

Applications opened at 7:30 p.m. on March 2. They close at 5:00 p.m. on March 27. Groups apply through an online portal.

Five categories can get funding. Health and human services cover mental health help, substance abuse treatment, food assistance, homelessness prevention, and domestic violence shelters. Religious and faith-based services mean churches and faith groups that hand out food or give emergency help.

Public safety and emergency response groups qualify, too. Volunteer fire departments, EMS teams, and disaster response units that protect the public can apply. Educational and youth programs include at-risk youth services, after-school activities, mentorship, job training, and reading programs.

Arts, preservation of local heritage, economic revival, and community building groups can ask for money if they focus on those areas.

The county ran a public kickoff webinar on March 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Staff went over who can apply, how to fill out the application, and when things are due. Officials took questions from nonprofits during the session.

Groups wanting more details can call the county at 910-678-7776. The office sits at 117 Dick Street in Fayetteville. Tye Vaught is Chief of Staff for the program.