The Durham Next Impact Fund provides matching investments to eligible Durham-based nonprofits, locally owned businesses and local government entities for projects aligned with Durham Next’s mission and strategic goals.

ABOUT THE

IMPACT FUND

Each year, tourism in Durham generates over $1 billion in our local economy. These dollars help sustain Durham’s small businesses, support local jobs and fund public resources. Through the Impact Fund, Durham Next is investing in local events and activations that attract visitors to Durham and increase the impact their dollars have in the community. Investments are awarded annually and typically range from $10,000 to $25,000 to strategically support events and activations that enhance visitor and resident experience, drive measurable economic impact in the community and contribute to long-term viability in Durham.

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

  • New or existing events or activations with a compelling plan to expand visitor reach.
  • An event hosted by a Durham-based chapter of a larger organization, attracting visitors from a broad area.
  • Activation of a space in Durham in ways that enable residents and visitors to utilize it in new ways.

Awarded funds may be used to support operating costs directly related to event expansion, planning and delivery of selected projects; however, they may not be used to cover existing operational or general organizational expenses or to support regularly recurring events unless the applicant clearly demonstrates how the project will expand visitor attraction.

A photo grid with an image of a group gathered in the sunny law of the American Tobacco Campus and a couple walking hand-in-hand down the street past tents during a festival.

Our mission is to prioritize, plan and steward projects and initiatives across Durham County that will contribute to Durham being the best place to live, work and visit.

Program Structure

  • Investment Term: Impact Fund investments must be used within one year of award date.
  • Investment Levels: Approximately $10,000 – $25,000 per event per year.
  • Match Requirements: Applicants must provide a cash match (based on entity type) to the requested investment amount. In-kind goods or services do not count toward the match; however, pledged sponsorships do qualify. Local government entities must provide a 100% match. Small businesses and nonprofits must provide a 50% match.
  • Program Participation: Participation in the Durham Next Impact Fund is contingent upon compliance with all program requirements and agreements.
Eligibility Criteria
  • Activations, events and initiatives must be located in Durham County.
  • Projects must align with the Destination Master Plan and Durham Next’s mission.
  • Projects must demonstrate cultural relevance and/or strong community engagement.
  • Projects show the potential to create or expand economic impact by increasing attendance, growing regional visibility or drawing new visitors to Durham.
  • Projects must engage leadership with a proven track record of success in planning and implementing community events/activations.
Participation Agreements
  • Awardees will be required to provide a mid-point report approximately halfway through the investment period that includes a financial summary of spending to date, project updates, outcomes/participation metrics thus far and any challenges, adjustments or changes to the original plan.
  • Awardees will also be required to submit a final report (After-Action Report) within 45 days of project or event completion that includes a final financial report, a summary of the project's outcomes, key takeaways and results of required data collection related to attendance, visitor origin, spending and other indicators used to assess economic and community impact.

All agreements are listed in the application. 

* Durham Next reserves the right to award or deny investment funding to any project for any reason, consistent with the program’s intent. Durham Next reserves the right to modify, suspend or cancel the matching investment program, award less than the amount requested or revoke funding if program requirements are not met. Durham Next reserves the right to modify program components, timelines or requirements as needed to advance program goals. 

Additional FAQs

Eligible applicants include federally recognized nonprofit organization, locally owned small businesses and local government entities based in Durham County.

Projects must be located in Durham County and demonstrate the potential to attract visitors from outside the county, aligning with the Destination Master Plan’s strategic goal of driving economic development through tourism. Examples of eligible projects may include (but are not limited to):

  • New or existing events with a compelling plan to expand visitor reach.
  • Events that encourage visitors to stay overnight in Durham County.
  • An event hosted by a Durham chapter of a larger organization, attracting visitors from a broad area.
  • Activating a space in Durham in ways that enable residents and visitors to utilize it in new ways and help bring together different facets of our community.

Investment funds may not be used for existing operational or general organizational expenses or to support regularly recurring events unless the applicant clearly demonstrates how the project will expand visitor attraction.

All funded projects or events must be completed within 12 months of the investment award date.

Matching means that the applicant business or organization will provide a certain amount of funds to “match” the investment amount awarded. Applicants are required to provide a minimum cash match to the requested investment amount. In-kind goods or services do not count toward the match; however, pledged sponsorships do qualify. Local Government Agencies require a 1:1 match to received funding. Small businesses and nonprofit Organizations require a 50% match. Proof of the matching funds (balance sheet or pledged commitment) is required at the time of application.

Typical awards range from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on project scope and available funding per cycle.

Applications are reviewed by the Community Investment Review team which may include representatives from the Durham Next and Discover Durham staff, the Durham Next Community Advisory Council and other community partners.

Applicants may request up to 50% of their total award in the form of a reimbursement ahead of the event date. The remaining funds will be reimbursed after the event has occurred. All reimbursement requests must be accompanied by a receipt and reimbursement form. Once a reimbursement request is submitted and approved, funds will be released within 30 days.

Durham Next plans to offer one investment cycle per year. The 2026 application period will open on May 15, 2026, and close on June 15, 2026, at noon. Awarded investments are expected to be announced by midsummer. 

Applications will be submitted online through durhamnext.org. We only accept digital applications through the Durham Next website at this time.

All materials must be submitted at once, so please wait until you can provide all required documentation.

Applicants should submit letters from neighboring businesses, elected officials, town governments and/or partner organizations, etc. based on the scope of the event.

To avoid confusion, please submit only one application for the entire event or project. There is a place on the application to note partnerships and collaborations.

If the changes to the event/project are significant or will impact how the funding will be used, you must contact the Durham Next project team to ensure the event/project remains aligned with the goals and purpose of the investment. If changes impact that alignment, the award may be rescinded.

All funded projects are required to submit brief progress and final reports during the investment period. These reports help the program understand how investment funds were used and the impact of funded projects.  

A mid-point report is submitted approximately halfway through the investment period and provides a progress update. Awardees will be asked to share: 

  • A financial summary showing how investments have been spent to date 
  • An update on project activities and implementation progress 
  • Outcomes or participation metrics available so far 
  • Any challenges, adjustments or changes to the original plan or timeline 

A final report (After-Action Report) must be submitted within 45 days of project or event completion. Submission of the final report and required documentation is necessary for the release of final investment funds. This report includes: 

  • A final financial report detailing how investments were used (with supporting documentation) 
  • A summary of the project’s impact and outcomes, including visitor impact information 
  • Lessons learned and key takeaways from the project or event 

Do you still have questions?