Increasing
Economic
Opportunity
in North Carolina
underline squiggle

The Golden LEAF
Foundation

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding received from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. For 25 years, Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.

Our Impact

underline squiggle

Since its inception in 1999, Golden LEAF has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and rural areas of the state helping build both human and physical infrastructure.

Jobs Created
0 +
In New Payroll
$ 0 M+
Workers trained across N.C.
0 +

Discover Our Success Stories

North Carolina State Map
Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters connects to sewer to expand, create new jobs

Snowbird Wilderness
Outfitters connects to sewer
to expand, create new jobs

Learn More

Partnership results in anchor tenant, 263 new jobs in Henderson County

Partnership results in
anchor tenant, 263 new jobs
in Henderson County

Learn More

Western NC gains new jobs, increased healthcare capacity, expanded services despite pandemic

Western NC gains new jobs,
increased healthcare
capacity, expanded
services despite pandemic

Learn More

Cleveland Community College breaks ground on advanced manufacturing center

Cleveland Community
College breaks ground on
advanced manufacturing
center

Learn More

Gaston County Schools creating an advanced manufacturing workforce through career academy

Gaston County Schools
creating an advanced
manufacturing workforce
through career academy

Learn More

Wilkes County completes the three phases of the SITE Program

Wilkes County completes
the three phases of the
SITE Program

Learn More

Surry and Yadkin counties invest in local workforce

Surry and Yadkin counties
invest in local workforce

Learn More

Golden LEAF, partner organizations cut ribbon on NC Food Innovation Lab

Golden LEAF, partner
organizations cut ribbon on
NC Food Innovation Lab

Learn More

Town of Mocksville wins nearly 400 agribusiness jobs, more to come

Town of Mocksville wins
nearly 400 agribusiness
jobs, more to come

Learn More

Guilford County apprenticeship program recruits students into manufacturing jobs

Guilford County
apprenticeship program
recruits students into
manufacturing jobs

Learn More

New cooler space improves access to local foods

New cooler space improves
access to local foods

Learn More

Golden LEAF supports entrepreneurship in the Sandhills

Golden LEAF supports
entrepreneurship in the
Sandhills

Learn More

Southeastern Community College creates state-of-the-art simulation lab

Southeastern Community
College creates state-of-
the-art simulation lab

Learn More

Fayetteville State University expands nursing program

Fayetteville State
University expands nursing
program

Learn More

Vance County wins jobs, community partner with MAKO Medical Laboratories

Vance County wins jobs,
community partner with
MAKO Medical
Laboratories

Learn More

Hospital in Franklin County creating jobs, providing increased access to healthcare

Hospital in Franklin County
creating jobs, providing
increased access to
healthcare

Learn More

Wilson Community College receives Golden LEAF funding to support the creation of 420 jobs

Wilson Community College
receives Golden LEAF
funding to support the
creation of 420 jobs

Learn More

East Carolina University, community colleges collaborate to build workforce pipeline for BioPharma Crescent

East Carolina University,
community colleges
collaborate to build
workforce pipeline for
BioPharma Crescent

Learn More

Martin Community College line technician program

Martin Community College
line technician program

Learn More

College of the Albemarle machinist program helps fill employer needs

College of the Albemarle
machinist program helps fill
employer needs

Learn More

Collaboration creates workforce solutions in high-demand trades

Collaboration creates
workforce solutions in high-
demand trades

Learn More

Sampson Community College builds trades center to address local agriculture industry skills demand

Sampson Community
College builds trades
center to address local
agriculture industry skills
demand

Learn More

University of Mount Olive livestock training facility to provide hands-on learning for students, farmers

University of Mount Olive
livestock training facility to
provide hands-on learning
for students, farmers

Learn More

Featured News

Copy of Scholar Spotlight (42)

Golden LEAF welcomes Scholarship Program Associate

In May, the Golden LEAF Foundation welcomed Jala Hill as the Scholarship Program Associate. “We are excited to have Jala to help carry out the mission of the Foundation,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer. “Jala brings a great set of skills to our hardworking team of dedicated professionals.”
June 11, 2025
Copy of Scholar Spotlight (43)

Golden LEAF announces 215 students from 58 rural North Carolina counties were selected to receive up to a $14,000 Golden LEAF Scholarship

Recently, the Golden LEAF Foundation announced that 215 students from 58 rural North Carolina counties were selected to receive up to a $14,000 Golden LEAF Scholarship.  This scholarship provides high school seniors entering a four-year North Carolina college or university with $3,500 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. Community college transfer students are eligible for $3,500 a year for up to three years of undergraduate study.
June 11, 2025
Scholar-Spotlight-15

Golden LEAF announces $4.5 million in funding at June meeting 

At the June Board meeting, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded a total of $4.5 million in funding to support job creation and economic investment projects, workforce preparedness projects, and disaster relief work. The Golden LEAF Board awarded $2,113,986 to support three projects through the Open Grants Program and $1,536,120 to support one industrial park through the SITE Program. The Board also awarded an additional $940,000 for Hurricane Helene relief.
June 11, 2025

Stay in Touch

hand interacting with a tablet

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Stay connected with Golden LEAF by signing up for our e-newsletter. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.