← Back to US Funders Directory

The Golden LEAF Foundation

Annual Giving
$136.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.5M00
Decision Time
4mo
0

The Golden LEAF Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $1.34 billion (2024)
  • Annual Giving: $136 million+ (2024, 99 projects)
  • Decision Time: Bimonthly board meetings (February, April, June, August, October, December)
  • Grant Range: Up to $500,000 (Open Grants); No maximum (Economic Catalyst Program)
  • Geographic Focus: North Carolina (tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural communities)

Contact Details

Website: https://goldenleaf.org
Email: info@goldenleaf.org
Phone: 252-442-7474
Address: 301 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Overview

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina's funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. With total assets of $1.34 billion (up 14% year-over-year as of 2024), the Foundation has provided $1.3 billion in grants since inception to advance economic opportunity across North Carolina. The Foundation's mission is to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina's rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation. Over its 25-year history, Golden LEAF has helped create 68,000 jobs, generated more than $780 million in new payrolls, and supported training or retraining for more than 98,000 workers. In 2024 alone, the Foundation awarded more than $136 million for 99 projects across the state.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Open Grants Program: Up to $500,000 (rolling basis with specific submission deadlines)

  • Applications accepted year-round through online portal
  • Two-stage application process
  • Next deadline: varies by board meeting schedule

Economic Catalyst Program: No maximum grant amount (rolling basis)

  • Requires specific company commitment to create full-time jobs
  • Proposals presented to Board at next meeting (minimum 6 weeks after submission)
  • Funds for public infrastructure, job training, building upfit, or equipment acquisition

Shell Building Pilot Program: Varies (specific initiative basis)

  • Recent awards ranged from $1.3M to $1.5M per project
  • Supports construction of speculative industrial buildings

SITE Program (Site Infrastructure and Training for Economic Development): Varies

  • Supports site identification, due diligence, public infrastructure, clearing and rough grading

Flood Mitigation Grant Program: Varies (specific initiative basis)

Workforce Assistance Program: Up to $250,000

  • Supports vocational/technical training programs

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on four key outcome areas:

  1. Job Creation and Economic Investment

    • Economic development projects creating/retaining jobs
    • Attracting new business and expanding existing industries
    • Infrastructure extensions (water, sewer, roads) enabling industrial job creation
    • Workforce housing infrastructure

  2. Workforce Preparedness

    • Vocational and technical training programs
    • High school career pathways in high-demand fields
    • Training for identified employment opportunities
    • Community college workforce development

  3. Agriculture

    • Agricultural development and market expansion
    • Farmer training programs
    • Support for agricultural industries

  4. Community Competitiveness and Capacity

    • Projects strengthening community infrastructure
    • Initiatives enhancing economic competitiveness

What They Don't Fund

  • Ineligible Applicants: Individuals and for-profit businesses cannot apply directly (though for-profits can benefit through governmental or nonprofit applicant partnerships)
  • Low Priority Projects: The Foundation maintains a list of low-priority projects that fall outside their specific outcome areas
  • Geographic Restrictions: Projects must benefit North Carolina, specifically tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities
  • Resubmission Restrictions: Declined projects cannot be resubmitted for six months (same or substantially similar projects)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The 15-member Board of Directors is appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Current Board Officers:

  • Chair: Brian Raynor (Cumberland County) - Co-owner of Highland Paving Company
  • Vice Chair: O.A. "Buddy" Keller (Lee County)
  • Treasurer: Bobbie Richardson (Franklin County)
  • Secretary: Jeffery Lee (Johnston County)
  • Assistant Secretary: Bobbie Richardson (Franklin County)

Leadership Staff

President and Chief Executive Officer: Scott T. Hamilton

Golden LEAF President Scott T. Hamilton noted about their scholarship program: "The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program is an important component of the Foundation's workforce preparedness strategy."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Open Grants Program - Two-Stage Process:

Stage 1:

  • Submit basic project information through online portal
  • Include expected outcomes and sustainability plans
  • Board reviews and selects competitive projects for Stage 2
  • This stage helps applicants avoid investing time in proposals unlikely to receive funding

Stage 2 (by invitation only):

  • Provide detailed information including audits, financials, implementation details, and outcome projections
  • Invitation to submit Stage 2 does not guarantee funding

Economic Catalyst Program:

  • Single-stage application
  • Submit complete proposal through online portal
  • Must include specific company commitment to create full-time jobs (1,600+ hours/year)
  • Company must provide at least 50% of employee-only health insurance costs

Application Deadlines: Rolling basis with specific submission dates aligned to board meeting schedule

Pre-Application Consultation

Golden LEAF strongly encourages prospective applicants to contact staff before applying. The Foundation has an "open door policy" and welcomes discussions about project ideas at any stage. Staff consultation is not required but is highly recommended for refining proposal fit.

Decision Timeline

  • Board Meetings: Held bimonthly (February, April, June, August, October, December)
  • Stage 1 to Stage 2: Generally decided at separate board meetings (approximately 2 months between stages)
  • Economic Catalyst: Proposals presented at next regularly scheduled meeting (minimum 6 weeks after submission)
  • Notification: Applicants are generally notified the day of the Board's decision
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 4-6 months from initial Stage 1 submission to final decision for Open Grants

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly disclosed. However, the two-stage process for Open Grants indicates competitive selection, with only promising projects invited to Stage 2.

Reapplication Policy

  • Six-Month Waiting Period: When the Board declines to invite a Stage 2 Application or declines to fund a project, applications for the same or substantially similar project may not be resubmitted for six months from the Board's decision date
  • Different Projects: Applicants may submit substantially different projects at any time, even during the six-month waiting period
  • Learning from Rejection: Golden LEAF encourages declined applicants to use their open door policy to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of proposals

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Advice to Applicants

  1. Contact Staff Early: Golden LEAF actively encourages use of their open door policy to discuss project concepts before applying. Staff members welcome early discussions about proposal fit.

  2. Include Quantitative Outcomes: The Foundation has identified specific quantitative outcomes for each priority area. Competitive applications include projections for one or more of these measures to assess project success.

  3. Demonstrate "At Risk" Status: For Economic Catalyst applications, competitive proposals show that expected job creation is AT RISK without Golden LEAF support. Demonstrate this by identifying a funding gap that would significantly impair ability to attract anticipated jobs.

  4. Align with Geographic Priorities: Projects must clearly benefit tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and/or rural communities in North Carolina.

  5. Show Sustainability: Applications should demonstrate how project outcomes will be sustained beyond the grant period.

  6. Leverage the Two-Stage Process: Use Stage 1 as an opportunity to test project fit before investing significant time in a full application.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

  • Methodist University: $8 million for instructional equipment for Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine (260 new jobs)
  • Shell Building Projects: $1.3-1.5 million per county for construction of 15,000 square-foot speculative industrial buildings
  • Cleveland Community College: $300,000 for heavy equipment operator program expansion
  • North Carolina Community College System: $2.1 million for student scholarships in rural and suburban counties
  • Mountain BizWorks: $7.5 million for Hurricane Helene business recovery fund

Key Selection Criteria

  • Job Creation Impact: Clear demonstration of full-time job creation or retention
  • Economic Distress: Projects serving the most economically challenged areas receive priority
  • Measurable Outcomes: Specific, quantifiable projections aligned with Foundation priorities
  • Community Support: Evidence of local buy-in and partnership
  • Financial Sustainability: Realistic plan for long-term project viability

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Use the Open Door Policy: Contact Golden LEAF staff before applying to discuss your project concept - this is strongly encouraged and can significantly improve your proposal's competitiveness
  • Focus on Measurable Outcomes: Include specific, quantifiable projections for job creation, wages, training completions, or other metrics aligned with the Foundation's priority areas
  • Target the Right Communities: Ensure your project clearly benefits tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, or rural areas of North Carolina
  • Demonstrate "At Risk" Status for Economic Catalyst: Show a funding gap that threatens job creation without Golden LEAF support
  • Leverage the Two-Stage Process: Use Stage 1 as a low-effort test of project fit before investing in a full application
  • Build in Sustainability: Show how project benefits will continue beyond the grant period
  • Learn from Rejection: If declined, use the open door policy to discuss your proposal's strengths and weaknesses before reapplying after six months
  • Time Your Application Strategically: Plan for 4-6 month decision timeline and align with bimonthly board meeting schedule

References

← Back to US Funders Directory