NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The largest nonprofit group funneling money into New Hanover County has announced its first grants of 2026, with more than $7 million going to the city and county government for land preservation.
The Endowment announced a grant of $7.7 million to help the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County governments acquire land to conserve and create a community-centered park. It’s unclear where the land is located, as the city and county have remained tight-lipped since announcing its plans to approach The Endowment last fall.
READ MORE: City’s desire to acquire property for green space surprises elected officials, details obscure
In October, the city passed a resolution to allow City Manager Becky Hawke to enter into a purchase agreement for the unnamed property. The resolution notes it’s requesting the county to “ideally” match the city’s investment. It also granted Hawke authority to ask The Endowment and other grant sources to fund a portion of the acquisition and seek a commitment from New Hanover County.
The Endowment’s grant money is contingent upon $1 million in investments from the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County, according to Thursday’s release. The announcement noted that procedural approvals will be addressed by the Wilmington City Council on Feb. 3, followed by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 16.
“The Endowment’s provisional grant to the City of Wilmington will help conserve green space in New Hanover County, expand outdoor recreation, and create community gathering spaces for all residents,” according to the release. “Additional details, including the project’s urgency and alignment with the City’s and County’s long-term plans, will be announced jointly in the coming weeks if the parties reach agreement and receive the requisite approvals from their governing bodies.”
Another grant was announced Thursday as well: $75,000 to go to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to support the 2026 SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program for eligible children statewide, including New Hanover County. The program serves 15,000 children countywide in the summer and delivers around $1.85 million in food benefits,
The money from The Endowment is a philanthropic match required for North Carolina to unlock more than $125 million in federal support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for statewide summer nutrition benefits. In addition to The Endowment’s funding, money has been put forth for SUN Bucks from Duke Endowment, Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina Foundation, Dogwood Health Trust, Bryson Foundation, and AJ Fletcher Foundation in advancing this effort.
Sophie Dagenais, interim president and CEO of The Endowment, said about both grants in a release: “The planned investments in land conservation and child nutrition are guided by our strategic framework and aligned with our prioritized objectives in health, education, and community development, strengthening our community today while safeguarding opportunity for future generations.”
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