The Greater Cabarrus Foundation (GCF) is pleased to announce a new grantmaking partnership with the William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust, expanding funding opportunities for Cabarrus County nonprofits in 2026. This collaboration will introduce a second grant cycle for 2026 and marks the debut of the Foundation’s new online grant management system designed to simplify the application process for local agencies. 

Through this pilot initiative, the Greater Cabarrus Foundation will help facilitate grantmaking for a portion of the Trust’s annual distributions, specifically $300,000 in grants focused on Cabarrus County nonprofit organizations. The Trust will continue its long-standing tradition of supporting its designated legacy charities across the region, while GCF focuses on strengthening the local impact of this new community-centered grant pool. 

This partnership brings together the Trust’s historic generosity and the Greater Cabarrus Foundation’s local expertise to make the grant process more efficient and accessible for the organizations doing critical work in our community. 

“This partnership is a remarkable opportunity to amplify the impact of the Trust’s historic generosity right here in Cabarrus County,” said Cam Cruickshank, President and CEO of the Greater Cabarrus Foundation. “We are honored to lend our operational expertise to manage this portion of the cycle, ensuring these substantial funds are efficiently directed to the nonprofit agencies that serve our community every day.” 

The launch of this cycle also coincides with GCF’s debut of a streamlined online grant management system—a tool designed to make applying for funding easier, clearer, and more consistent for nonprofits. 

“We are incredibly excited to debut our new online grant management system alongside this important partnership,” said Robbie Furr, Director of Development for the Greater Cabarrus Foundation. “Our goal is to make it simpler for our nonprofit partners to apply by streamlining the entire process into one platform. Agencies applying for grants with the WCNC Cannon Charitable Trust in February will simply log in and transfer their information to the Greater Cabarrus Foundation’s grant application in July. It’s one platform, multiple grant opportunities.” 

The Trust’s leadership echoes this shared commitment to improving the grantmaking experience and increasing local impact. 

“We believe this collaboration is a powerful way to enhance the reach and efficiency of our local giving,” said Britt Leatherman, Grant Committee Chair for the William Coltrane and Norma Craft Cannon Charitable Trust. “The Greater Cabarrus Foundation’s deep knowledge of the community and its needs makes them the ideal partner to help administer these critical local grants. We look forward to seeing the positive difference these funds will make.” 

Key Dates for Nonprofit Organizations 

The joint grant cycle will run February 1 – March 31, 2026. 

Nonprofits are encouraged to attend an in-person training session: 

• What: Grant Cycle Training Session 

• When: Friday, January 30, 2026, 11:30am – 1:30pm 
• Where: 4855 Milestone Ave, Kannapolis, NC