CarolinaEast Foundation
/OVERVIEW: This health legacy funder supports the North Carolina counties of Craven, Pamlico, Jones, Carteret and Onslow.
IP TAKE: While health is the main focus of this funder, its recent grants have branched out somewhat to support mental health and human services as well. CarolinaEast accepts applications for its two annual grantmaking programs each year, with due dates that usually fall in December and August. While it may not make many grants per year, this is an accessible grantmaker that doesn’t shy away from smaller organizations; nonprofits working in its areas of interest may find it worthwhile to reach out with inquiries and ideas.
PROFILE: The CarolinaEast Foundation is based in New Bern, North Carolina, and is a health legacy funder in the Southeast. It seeks to promote health in the region, “support the healthcare community” and “assist individuals with healthcare needs.” The foundation was established in 1996 as the Craven Regional Medical Center Foundation with a geographic focus on Craven, Pamlico and Jones Counties. When the medical center became more deeply integrated with the Health System in 2010, the foundation took on its current name and expanded to serve Carteret and Onslow Counties as well.
This foundation prioritizes its region's health with support in various forms. Most of the donor funds here are given to CarolinaEast’s unrestricted fund so that the foundation can use them where needed most, but there are also named funds that address topics like women’s wellness, children with cancer and mental health. A major recipient of ongoing funding is the SECU Comprehensive Cancer Center, which was established in 2011 in honor of a cardiologist who passed away due to a brain tumor. Other grantees include Craven County Senior Services, Reviving Lives Ministries of New Bern and True Justice International, which supports people “who have been trafficked and experienced severe trauma.” In addition to grants, CarolinaEast runs a patient assistance program that helps patients in need with expenses not covered by insurance. This help can include gas cards to get to and from treatments and assistance with prescriptions and medical equipment. Providers must refer patients to the foundation for participation in this program.
In a past year, the foundation reported over $9 million in total assets. Nonprofit grant support has exceeded $224,000 annually in recent years. Meanwhile, patient assistance has exceeded $155,000 recently.
CarolinaEast has two grant cycles per year. Nonprofits can make one request per year. There is typically an application deadline in December for a February payout and a July deadline for an August payout. Grant seekers must submit an original plus ten copies of applications to the foundation via mail. The forms can be downloaded from the funder’s website. General inquiries may be submitted to the foundation’s staff via email.
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