OBCF 101-7- How can OBCF help my nonprofit?
Photo of OBCF office on Roanoke Island courtesy of Biff Jennings.
In an effort to better connect with our community and educate people about all of the unique facets of the Community Foundation, we have created OBCF 101.
This week, for OBCF 101-7, we are delving into how OBCF can help your nonprofit.
How can OBCF help your nonprofit? Let’s count the ways!
1. The Outer Banks Center For Nonprofits is home to the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s office on Roanoke Island. It is also a welcoming space that can be utilized for free by local nonprofits to continue their work within the community. This accessible space is available for board and staff meetings, retreats, brainstorming sessions, work luncheons, event planning, networking, training/workshop sessions, to record podcasts, and even small events. To reserve a space at the Outer Banks Center For Nonprofits, please visit OBCF.org/centerfornonprofits or give us a call at (252) 423-3003.
2. We host workshops and seminars specifically designed to give nonprofit professionals tools for success. From marketing to fundraising, we find experts and connect them with our nonprofit community for free educational opportunities that will strengthen our nonprofits. Our next Nonprofit Knowledge Series is a “Messaging Lab” that we have put together with our friends from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau to help nonprofits tell their story, inspire donors, and strengthen community trust. The event will be held on Friday, September 26 at College of The Albemarle. This event is free for nonprofit board members, staff, and volunteers, but please pre-register online here: https://obcf.fcsuite.com/erp/
3. The Community Foundation offers numerous grant opportunities for nonprofits throughout the year. We have Focus Grants, which can provide funding up to $50,000 for innovative, large-scale projects aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges on the Outer Banks. OBCF’s Community Enrichment Grants are awarded twice a year and are open to all types of projects with no restrictions on scope or focus, with funding requests up to $10,000. And, our next grant application deadline is for Impact Grants, which are open to all types of projects with funding requests exceeding $10,000. The Impact Grant application deadline is Friday, October 31. Early submissions are encouraged to allow time for review and feedback. For more information or assistance with the grant application process, please visit OBCF.org/grants or contact the staff at 252-423-3003. Stay tuned for a December announcement about our 2026 grant offerings.
4. We host events, including our Annual Nonprofit Mission Mixer, providing nonprofit professionals the opportunity to connect with each other and our staff. These free events are a fun way to network in a laid back atmosphere.
5. At OBCF, we connect people with causes they care about, which includes our nonprofits. If someone is looking to volunteer, we can link them up with the nonprofits who are doing important work in our community.
Our nonprofit community is vibrant, and we are always looking for ways to help them meet the local needs while inspiring them to bring unique opportunities to the Outer Banks.
Stay tuned for our next OBCF 101!
About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks
