News Release

CHAPEL HILL -- The N.C. Civic Education Consortium, a statewide partnership based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government, is seeking grant applications from organizations working to develop effective citizenship among North Carolina’s young people.

The one-year grants range from $1,000 to $10,000; the consortium is especially interested in funding programs directly involving youth in local government or service-based programs, as well as collaborations between community or school organizations.

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has provided funding for the small grants program since 1998 to support efforts that teach young people about their rights, responsibilities and opportunities as members of a democratic society.

The consortium initiated the small grants program to increase and support civic education and engagement projects statewide. During the past six years, the consortium has awarded grants totaling $287,000 to 49 programs statewide, reaching nearly 100,000 young people.

Applications, which are due 5 p.m. Sept. 20, are available by contacting Leslie Anderson at lesliea@ioa.com or (828) 252-4913. Further information is available at www.civics.org.

The N.C. Civic Education Consortium is a non-partisan, statewide partnership of more than 200 organizations formed in 1997 with the support of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to revitalize civic education and engagement for young North Carolinians. UNC’s School of Government provides training, consulting, publications and other services for public officials statewide.

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation was established in 1936 as a memorial to the youngest son of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.’s founder. The foundation gives special attention to community building and economic development, the environment, governance, public policy and civic engagement, pre-collegiate education and social justice and equity. The foundation is headquartered in Winston-Salem.

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N.C. Civic Education Consortium contact: Debra Henzey, (919) 962-8273 or henzey@iogmail.iog.unc.edu