WIN Grants-Frequently Asked Questions
WIN awards grants in May of each year on a rotating basis in four areas: Education (2026); Health & Wellness (2027); Environment (2028) and Arts & Culture (2029). This document provides additional detail relating to Grant Eligibility and Process, Grant Funding and Implementation and Evaluation Criteria.
Education is the ongoing journey of learning that shapes lives and builds stronger communities. WIN's 2026 Education Grants support projects that expand access, break down barriers, and open doors to learning at every stage of life.
Grant Eligibility and Process for 2026:
1. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a WIN Grant?
a. Applicant must be a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a certified nonprofit; must submit a copy of the Letter of Determination.
b. Applicant must operate in and primarily serve New Hanover County (NHC).
c. The project must relate directly to Education for a specific group of beneficiaries.
d. The project may not serve a political purpose or candidate or support lobbying for either.
2. Can religious organizations apply for a WIN Grant?
3. Can a nonprofit submit more than one grant proposal per year?Yes, providing that the proposed project or program for which funds are requested does not restrict service to members of a particular faith or promote a specific religious doctrine and that the applicant meets other eligibility requirements.
4. Can a former WIN Grantee reapply for a grant?Yes. A nonprofit may submit multiple proposals in the same year as long as each one serves a different population and/or addresses a distinct need. However, we encourage applicants to focus their efforts on submitting a single strong proposal.
Yes. Previous WIN grantees are eligible to apply again if they participated in the Mid-year Review and if the project was successfully completed.
5. Can the Grant be used outside of New Hanover County?
No, projects must primarily operate in and serve residents of NHC.
6. Will WIN provide a grant to a start-up organization?
WIN looks for organizations with a track record of managing their funds responsibly for at least one to two years and demonstrating meaningful results from those activities. WIN may consider new and developing non-profits that are fiscally sponsored by more established organizations.
7. Does WIN fund research, feasibility studies, or engineering and planning projects?
WIN will consider short-term studies that are part of a larger project and can be completed within one to two years.
8. Does WIN have to be the primary or sole funder of a project?
No. WIN's grant does not need to make up the majority of a project's funding. WIN will supoort projects with multiple funding sources, as long as WIN's contribution will make a meaningful difference in the project's success. If additional funding is needed to complete the project, applicants should explain how those funds will be secured.
9. Does WIN conduct site visits?
WIN's Grant Committee does not make site visits. The Grants Committee review process will yeild a smaller group of applicants who will be invited to participate in a Zoom interview with the full Grants Committee. This has proven to be an efficient use of time for both applicants and Grant Committee members.
10. Does WIN provide feedback on submitted Grant applications?
No, WIN does not provide detailed feedback on proposals that are not selected.
11. What are the key dates in the 2026 Grants cycle?
- January 9,2026: Online application available on WIN website
- January 13, 2026: Information Session in-person (optional)
- January 15, 2026: Information Session via Zoom (optional)
- February 13, 2026: Online Applications close at 11:59
- March 2026: Grants Committee reviews all applications
- April 2026: All applicants notified of status. Finalists scheduled for interviews
- May 1, 2026: Grants Committee presents final slate of recommended slate of grantees
- May 1-7, 2026: WIN membership votes on recommended slate of grantees
- May 8, 2026: Grant recipients are notified
- May 14, 2026: Annual Grantee Celebration
- November 2026: Mid-Year Review and Grantee Presentation to WIN members
- TBD: Final Report due to WIN
12. How many grants will WIN award each year and what is the typical grant amount?
13. Does WIN always award the full amount of funding requested?The number and size of WIN grants vary each year based on the total funds available and the amount requested for projects that WIN believes will have the greatest impact. In recent years, WIN grants have ranged from $2,500 to $25,000. View past WIN Grant Recipients.
WIN strives to fully fund projects whenever possible. However, because available funds are limited and the process is highly competitive, WIN may not always be able to award the full amount requested. In those cases, WIN will always consult with the organization first to discuss whether the project could still move forward effectively with a partial grant.
14. What is the duration of a typical Grant?
WIN seeks to fund projects with outcomes in the focus area, e.g., Education, that can be measured in about 12 months from the time of grant receipt. WIN does NOT provide multi-year funding.
15. Are Grants paid in a lump sum or in installments over time?
Smaller grants ($10k or less) are generally paid in full at the time of the Grant award. For larger grants, WIN may provide funding in
installments after discussion with the Grantee.
16. What happens if all of the funding received from WIN is not spent?
Any unspent WIN Grant funds remaining at the conclusion of the project are to be returned to WIN.
17. May a nonprofit modify how it uses the Grant money during the year?
A WIN Grant must be used for the purpose stated in the Grant Application. However, if a situation occurs that requires modification, the Grant recipient should contact the Grants Committee Chair at grants@winofnhc.org.
18. How are WIN Grants promoted?
The Grant Agreement lays out a simple process for this, but essentially, WIN will use information about the grant in various digital
and print media; WIN Grantees agree to use the WIN logo and acknowledge WIN's support. It is WIN's goal to highlight grantees and promote
their work to WIN members and the community.
19. What criteria does WIN use to evaluate Grant proposals?
WIN's Grants Committee evaluates proposals on five criteria, weighted as follows:
- Project Summary & Alignment with WIN's goals: 10 points
- Project Design and Implementation: 30 points
- Project Budget and Documentation: 20 points
- Community Impact: 30 points
- Sustainability & Organizational Capacity: 10 points
However, scores are not the sole factor in funding decisions-they serve as a starting point for the Grant Committee's overall review and discussion.
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Thank you for your interest in WIN and the 2026 Education Grants.
For additional information, please contact WIN's Grants Committee at grants@winofnhc.org
Download PDF of WIN Grants FAQs here