Cone Health Foundation is awarding $1,183,750 in grants to 41 organizations working to advance health equity in Greensboro and across North Carolina. These investments support community-based organizations addressing the social and economic conditions that shape health, strengthening access to health care, building the capacity of local nonprofits, and advancing statewide advocacy to address policies and systems that affect health and well-being.
The awards include grants made through two Requests for Proposals launched this summer: Social Drivers of Health and Capacity Building & General Operating. All were shaped by what we heard from community organizations as we developed our strategic refresh – shifting our funding upstream towards impacting the social drivers of health at the systems level, and investing in organizational operations and capacity building. Both grants were designed based on this input in accordance with our grantmaking strategy being increasingly guided by community.
“Advancing health equity requires investing in the organizations serving our communities today, while also addressing the conditions and systems that shape health over the long term,” said Darius Graham, president of Cone Health Foundation. “We’re honored to support these organizations and the important work they do every day to strengthen our communities.”
2026 Social Drivers of Health Grant
Recognizing that social, economic, and environmental conditions shape health outcomes, this funding opportunity was designed to address the root causes of inequities by supporting innovative, community-informed projects.
For example, the American Public Health Association has proclaimed that educational attainment is the social factor that is the single greatest predictor of a person’s health and well-being across their lifespan. College Pathways of the Triad helps local students navigate the path to and through college. With a $25,000 grant, the organization will expand college advising for a growing number of students, provide college tours, and stay connected with students through regular check-ins once they enroll in college.
Students with College Pathways of the Triad on a Summer college tour at Appalachian State University.
2026 Capacity Building and General Operating Support Grant
We’ve heard directly from local nonprofits about the need for flexible funding that helps them strengthen their organizations and sustain their work. Capacity building grants help organizations invest in what they need to operate effectively, such as staff, technology, planning, communications, or other core needs. General operating support gives organizations flexibility to use funds where they are needed most, rather than limiting funding to a specific program or project.
For example, Hope407, formerly the Hope Center, serves low-income and unhoused community members by meeting immediate needs while connecting people to resources that support longer-term stability. Hope407 is receiving a grant to renovate its space to create private areas for benefits and housing assistance, consultations, and health exams. The grant will also support the installation of on-site showers, helping guests meet basic hygiene needs and prepare for employment, housing, and health care appointments. This grant supports the Foundation’s access to health care priority by making it easier for unhoused community members to access health care, benefits, screenings, and other services that support their health and well-being.
2026 Statewide Advocacy
Many of the policies and systems that shape health in Greensboro extend beyond our city. That is why Cone Health Foundation also invests in advocacy and systems change efforts working across the region and North Carolina to address the broader conditions that influence health and health equity.
These investments support organizations working to change policies, practices, and systems in ways that can improve health outcomes for Greensboro residents and communities across the state. By pairing local grantmaking with regional and statewide advocacy, we can support organizations meeting community needs today while also working toward lasting, systemic change.
NC Alliance for Health (NCAH) is a statewide network that connects community organizations, advocates, and people with lived experience to advance policy solutions that improve health and quality of life across North Carolina. Funding will support NCAH’s Stronger with SNAP campaign, which works to protect access to SNAP and strengthen food security in Greensboro and across North Carolina. The campaign will bring together families, grassroots organizations, community leaders, and people with lived experience to advocate for policies that protect food assistance, support nutritious food access for children and families, and help schools maintain access to free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision.
To learn more about our grant partners, including many of the organizations receiving funding announced here, visit Our Partners page.
