The Endowment announces first grant awards of 2026

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Endowment has provisionally approved a $7,750,000 grant to the City of Wilmington.

The grant will support the acquisition of land for conversation and activation as a community centered park.

This award is contingent on a few conditions. Including $1 million investments by both the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County as well as procedural approvals by the Wilmington City Council on February 3 and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners on February 16.

Grant funds will help conserve green space in New Hanover County, expand outdoor recreation, and create community gathering spaces.

Additionally, The Endowment has approved a $75,000 grant commitment to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to support of the 2026 SUN Bucks program for eligible children across the state.

This program is expected to serve more than 15,000 children in New Hanover County this summer and deliver nearly $1.85 million in food benefits.

“As we begin a new year, these represent our first grant commitments, setting the tone for 2026, and reflecting The Endowment’s readiness to act when the moment is right and to align with public-sector partners when their infrastructure and authority create opportunities for greater impact,” said Sophie Dagenais, Interim President and CEO of The Endowment. “The planned investments in land conservation and child nutrition are guided by our strategic framework and aligned with our prioritized objectives in health, education, and community development, strengthening our community today while safeguarding opportunity for future generations.”