The Matching Grants Program is designed to assist non-profit organizations in Durham County, both inside and outside the city limits, in preserving open space lands and promoting new or improved recreational opportunities for citizens of Durham County.
Donor Name: Durham County
State: North Carolina
County: Durham County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants
Deadline: 11/12/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Grant funds help provide public lands and outdoor recreational facilities through citizen initiative, support and involvement. Applicants must provide at least one half of the project’s cost and manage all aspects of the project to accommodate public accessibility. Grant awards are made to new permanent programs and expansions of existing programs that meet a wide range of service provision criteria.
Ten Grant Selection Priorities
Priorities for funding under the Matching Grants Program favor those projects which provide maximum open space benefits and recreational facilities. The following grant selection priorities are each of equal importance and should be given serious consideration as you weigh your organization and project’s qualifications for funding.
- The extent to which the project meets a need relative to existing parks, recreational facilities and open space areas in that geographical location. In each funding year and collectively over time, a balance of projects should be funded which reflect the geographical range of the County and a variety of projects.
- The intrinsic value of the project or the quality, value, and need of the project to the County. Priorities supporting certain types of projects may be set by the Board of County Commissioners and the DOST for a particular funding round.
- The extent to which DOST’s goals are met.
- The extent to which recreational needs are met.
- The environmental significance of the project.
- Project compatibility with the site and surroundings.
- Long term viability, maintenance and supervision of the project. Permanent projects providing long term services will be of higher priority for funding.
- Project cost must be justified by the lifetime of the project or the cost of the project must be relative to its benefits. Given equal cost, preference will be given to projects that will benefit a greater number of people, or provide greater environmental or open space benefits.
- The type and amount of the match must demonstrate that the applicant organization has sufficient funds and manpower to complete the project and to maintain and manage it for the required period. The project plan should include documentation on the status of other funds pledged.
- The project must be publicly accessible according to the management plan developed for the application.
Funding Information
The Durham County Matching Grants Program will allow qualifying projects within priority focus areas for up to $5,000 using a simplified application with a reduced applicant match of 25% (county matching funds are 75%) .
Eligible Projects
Projects eligible under the Matching Grants Program should fit within the wide range of open space and recreation goals adopted by the DOST. The DOST’s goals are as follows:
DOST Goals
- As its primary mission, to plan for the preservation of:
- Environmentally significant sites such as those identified within the Durham Inventory.
- The County’s scenic river corridors, particularly the Eno River, the Little River, the Flat River, and the New Hope Creek.
- Critical environmental lands, such as wetlands and watershed areas.
- Lands which represent Durham’s rural heritage, important farmland, scenic roads, and important historic open space areas.
- To provide opportunities for greenways, trails, and rails-to-trails linkages throughout the County, including corridors designed by the Urban Trails and Greenways Commission (currently the Open Space and Trails Commission), The Triangle Greenways Council, and the Mountain to the Sea Trail.
- To support the provision of active recreation areas.
- To educate and involve the citizenry of Durham County on the importance of preserving open space lands within the County: and of the need to provide open space lands as an integral part of the infrastructure that should accompany the development of land.
- To assist in the preservation and long-term protection of existing areas in Durham County that are presently used for passive or active recreation
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible groups are non-profit organizations, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and the State of North Carolina or its agents, which seek to provide recreational opportunities or open space in Durham County. Eligible applicants will meet the following additional criteria:
- Groups with an outstanding Durham County Matching Grant project will be eligible for a new grant if progress is demonstrated on the current grant and the additional grant complements or completes phases of the original grant
- A project is considered active until the twenty-four (24) month completion date, as stated in the Grant Agreement, is reached. If a project has not been completed at this time, it will be considered outstanding, unless a grant extension has been given.
- A project will be considered completed only after the final report and request for reimbursement has been received and accepted by County staff.
- All groups or organizations administered by a common board or council will be considered a single entity for the purpose of administering the Matching Grants Program.
For more information, visit Durham County.
