Duke Energy Foundation launches America250 grant opportunity for nonprofits in six states

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy Foundation launched an America250 grant program with a more than $1 million investment to support nonprofits in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida.

Grants of $5,000 to $20,000 will fund local projects aligned with three themes: careers for veterans, sharing the American story (local history and education), and care for our country (cleanups and green-space improvements). The RFP opens Jan. 12, 2026 and the application window runs Jan. 12–Feb. 20, 2026. Eligible applicants are qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Duke Energy communities; governmental entities are ineligible and each organization may submit one application.

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support and is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) serves 8.6 million electric customers and owns 55,100 megawatts of capacity across its service states.

Key Figures

America250 investment more than $1 million Total Duke Energy Foundation investment tied to America250 launch

Grant size minimum $5,000 Minimum America250 grant amount per nonprofit

Grant size maximum $20,000 Maximum America250 grant amount per nonprofit

Annual philanthropy more than $30 million Duke Energy Foundation annual philanthropic support

Electric customers 8.6 million Electric utilities customers across six states

Gas customers 1.7 million Natural gas utilities customers across five states

Energy capacity 55,100 megawatts Owned energy capacity of Duke Energy electric utilities

Market Reality Check

$116.80 Last Close

Volume Volume 3,222,783 is close to the 20-day average of 3,178,692. normal

Technical Shares at 116.19 are trading below the 200-day MA of 120.38 and below the 52-week high of 130.03.

Peers on Argus

DUK fell 1.32% with peers also lower today: SO -1.69%, AEP -1.41%, NGG -0.40%, D -3.09%, EXC -2.12%, but no peers appeared in the momentum scanner.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 06	Dividend declaration	Positive	+0.8%	Announced quarterly cash dividends on common and preferred stock.
Jan 02	Regulatory ruling	Positive	+0.2%	SC regulators approved measures to recover Helene costs and lower impacts.
Dec 30	Nuclear development	Positive	+0.1%	Submitted early site permit for potential new nuclear development in NC.
Dec 29	Customer savings	Positive	+0.3%	Detailed 2025 Florida investments expected to save customers over $1 billion.
Dec 22	Community support	Positive	+0.6%	Reported >$1 million in 2025 community contributions by Florida employees.

Pattern Detected

Recent dividend, regulatory, nuclear planning and customer bill savings news all saw modestly positive next-day price reactions, suggesting generally constructive responses to operational and stakeholder-focused updates.

Recent Company History

Over the last few weeks, Duke Energy issued several stakeholder-oriented updates. On Dec. 22, 2025, Duke Energy Florida highlighted > $1 billion in future customer savings tied to 2025 infrastructure investments. Subsequent releases covered an early site permit application for advanced nuclear in North Carolina, South Carolina bill changes to recover Hurricane Helene costs while lowering impacts, and a $1.065 quarterly dividend with a 100-year payment history. Today’s America250 grant program continues this pattern of community and customer-focused announcements.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-09-30

$4,000,000,000 registered capacity

An effective S-3ASR filed on 2025-09-30 registers up to $4,000,000,000 of PremierNotes, unsecured floating rate demand notes with a maximum net aggregate principal amount outstanding of $2,000,000,000. A related 424B3 on 2025-12-22 updated interest rates, indicating active use of this program.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Duke Energy Foundation’s America250 grant program, committing more than $1 million in grants of $5,000–$20,000 to nonprofits across six states, alongside ongoing philanthropy of over $30 million annually. It reinforces Duke Energy’s large regulated footprint of 8.6 million electric and 1.7 million gas customers and 55,100 MW of capacity. Investors may watch how such community initiatives intersect with regulatory developments, capital programs, and any future use of the existing PremierNotes shelf.

Key Terms

501(c)(3) regulatory

"Eligible applicants: Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Duke Energy communities."

A 501(c)(3) is a U.S. federal tax designation for organizations organized and operated for charitable, educational, religious, scientific or literary purposes, which exempts them from federal income tax and generally makes donations to them tax-deductible. Investors pay attention because the designation shapes how the organization raises money, what activities it can legally pursue (for example, limits on political lobbying), and how transparent and financially stable it must be—factors that affect risk, reputation, and potential partnerships.

megawatts technical

"serve 8.6 million customers ... and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity."

A megawatt is a measure of electrical power equal to one million watts, describing how much electricity a plant or device can generate or use at a single moment. Investors use megawatts to compare the size and earning potential of energy projects—larger capacity usually means more electricity to sell—much like comparing the horsepower of engines to judge how much work they can do. Knowing megawatts helps assess scale, revenue potential, and grid impact of energy assets.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• Foundation kicks off America250 with a more than $1 million investment in its communities
• Grants will support local projects that empower veterans, enhance shared green spaces and expand access to history and civics education

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of America's upcoming 250th anniversary, the Duke Energy Foundation is inviting qualified nonprofits in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida to apply for America250 grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. The enterprise request for proposals (RFP) opens Jan. 12 and will fund projects that demonstrate local impact and alignment with spirit of the Foundation's America250 core themes, including:

• Careers for veterans: Workforce development programs that help veterans transition to civilian careers.
• Sharing the American story: Local history projects, public exhibits, preservation of historic sites, educational programming, or field trips that celebrate America's founding and ideals.
• Care for our country: Community cleanups, park revitalizations, public landscaping, or improvements to shared green spaces.

"America250 is more than a milestone – it's an opportunity to reflect on our nation's history, recognize the contributions of all Americans and support the next generation through community-led projects," said Loree Elswick, president of the Duke Energy Foundation. "Our investment is focused on uplifting the places and people that shape our communities." 

What to Know 

• Eligible applicants: Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Duke Energy communities.
• Governmental entities are not eligible for America250 grant funding.
• One application per organization.

How to Apply 

• Application window: Jan. 12-Feb. 20.
• Title your application "America250: [Insert description of the request]."
• Visit our website to learn more or apply.

Duke Energy Foundation 
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. 

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Contact: Gina DiPietro
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-foundation-launches-america250-grant-opportunity-for-nonprofits-in-six-states-302654393.html

SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

What is the Duke Energy Foundation America250 grant amount and who can apply (DUK)?

Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000; eligible applicants are qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Duke Energy communities; governmental entities are not eligible.

When does the America250 RFP open and what is the application window for Duke Energy Foundation (DUK)?

The RFP opens Jan. 12, 2026 and the application window is Jan. 12–Feb. 20, 2026.

Which states are eligible for Duke Energy Foundation America250 grants (DUK)?

Nonprofits serving communities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Florida are eligible to apply.

What project themes does Duke Energy Foundation prioritize for America250 grants (DUK)?

Priority themes are careers for veterans, sharing the American story (local history and civics education), and care for our country (community cleanups and green-space improvements).

How many applications can one organization submit for the America250 grant (DUK)?

Each organization may submit one application.