Outer Banks Community Foundation supports critical needs on Ocracoke Island
Ocracoke Health Center. Photo courtesy of Ocracoke Health Center.
By Connie Leinbach, Ocracoke Observer
Ocracoke has a lot of off-island friends, and one of its most treasured friends is the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF).
In 2025, four Ocracoke nonprofit organizations received a total of 10 grants totaling over $60,000 through OBCF’s competitive grant programs and donor-advised funds.
That’s the most funds ever granted to Ocracoke Island outside of the $1 million+ the Community Foundation sent to Ocracoke as the fundraising conduit after the island was inundated by Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 6, 2019.
Nandy Stuart, Vice President of Programs and Chief Operating Officer, is thrilled that all four of the Ocracoke nonprofits, Ocracoke Preservation Society, Ocracoke Alive, Ocracoke Health Center, and the Ocracoke Community Pool Association, that applied for grants in the fourth quarter, were funded.
“We were so excited to see these grant applications from Ocracoke,” she said. “The grant committee does an exemplary job of spreading the money around to really represent all the folks in our service area.”
In addition to the larger grants received by these four Ocracoke nonprofits, they also received smaller grants from two donor-advised funds, the MAS Fund for Ocracoke and the Instrument of Thy Peace.
The Ocracoke Preservation Society (OPS) has received several grants for the restoration of the Island Inn, which it purchased in 2017. Last year, the OPS received a $10,000 Impact Grant and a $1,000 grant from the MAS Fund for Ocracoke.
“Since 2018, work on the Island Inn has focused on the outside—raising the building, restoring the siding, building stairs, and installing a new roof,” said OPS Chair Ken DeBarth. “This year, the focus is on finishing the interior. The Foundation has been wonderful and very supportive of us.”
Ruth Toth, president of the Ocracoke Community Pool Association, echoed DeBarth’s sentiments and noted that the millions raised through the OBCF Disaster Relief Fund for Ocracoke after Hurricane Dorian were instrumental in helping the island recover.
“The Foundation paid all of the credit card fees, which were probably in the thousands, so that all of the money would go to Ocracoke,” said Toth.
Now, the Ocracoke Community Pool Association is going through the permitting process on the land along Cutting Sage Road, which they purchased last year as a site for a community pool.
The Pool Association received $500 from the MAS Fund for Ocracoke and a $25,000 Impact Grant in 2025.
Latino dance class with Ocracoke Alive. Photo courtesy of Ocracoke Alive.
Ocracoke Alive is grateful for the grants from OBCF that help support their mission to bring together the island’s various cultures, according to Executive Director David Tweedie.
“It’s important to encourage the cultural exchange in a conscious way,” said David Tweedie from Ocracoke Alive.
Ocracoke Alive received $500 from the MAS Fund for Ocracoke for program support and a $4,860.54 Impact Grant for the “Celebrating Latino/Non‑Latino Connection: Enhancing Well‑Being Through Cultural Exchange on Ocracoke” program.
These grants have helped Ocracoke Alive launch activities for the Latino community, such as the Dia de los Muertos evening last November and increasing Spanish offerings in their winter cultural series.
L-R- Ocracoke Health Center staff members Avi Basnight and Mackenzie O’Neal with new machines. Photo courtesy of Ocracoke Health Center.
The Ocracoke Health Center received four grants from OBCF in 2025: two grants from the Instrument of Thy Peace Fund totaling $14,000, a $1,000 grant from the MAS Fund for Ocracoke, and a $10,000 Community Enrichment grant for new equipment.
“The new vital signs monitors and blood pressure monitors help us improve patient care,” said Jamie Carter, interim CEO of The Ocracoke Health Center. “These new and improved machines integrate into our EMR, automate readings, and therefore are more accurate and save time. We are especially thankful to the Outer Banks Community Foundation for their support of health care in Eastern North Carolina along the Outer Banks.”
Both the Community Foundation and its donors see the importance of supporting the arts, health and well-being, and history on Ocracoke Island.
Although the donor advisors who gave grants chose to remain anonymous, Stuart noted how much they love Ocracoke and want to help with the amazing things that these nonprofits are doing.
And, it’s not just these donor advisors that are fans.
“The Outer Banks Community Foundation believes in the importance of the work these Ocracoke nonprofits are doing too,” said Stuart.
The Community Foundation’s next grant application is for Focus Grants, which offer a funding opportunity of up to $50,000 for innovative, large-scale projects aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges on the Outer Banks. These grants prioritize projects that expand healthcare access, provide affordable housing solutions, and support child care initiatives. The application deadline is Friday, April 24, 2026.
Nonprofits are encouraged to visit OBCF’s website for detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria, and the application portal. Early submissions are encouraged to allow time for review and feedback.
For more information or assistance with the grant application process, visit OBCF.org/grants or contact the staff at 252-423-3003.
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.
