As the United States nears its 250th anniversary in 2026, communities across the country are planning events to reflect on our nation’s history, honor the contributions of all Americans and look toward a brighter future. Duke Energy Foundation is joining that effort with a $1 million America250 commitment designed to uplift the places and people that shape our communities.
Building on its longstanding mission to support strong, connected and resilient communities, the Foundation’s America250 grant funding will support projects that revitalize parks and green spaces, empower veterans transitioning to civilian careers and help communities preserve and share their stories – honoring our past while building a stronger, more connected future.
“America250’s work is deeply aligned with the Foundation’s focus on vibrant economies and upward mobility,” said Loree Elswick, Duke Energy Foundation president. “This is an opportunity to ensure that every student, family and community sees themselves in the American story – and has the tools to help shape its next chapter.”
Visit the Lincoln Memorial, from several states away
Among those tools: a trip to Washington, D.C. – without leaving home.
One of the Foundation’s early America250 investments (awarded in September 2025) is a $250,000 grant to the Trust for the National Mall, creating a no-cost, interactive experience for students, families and communities who may not have the means to visit in person.
“This grant gives us the opportunity to bring the Mall to all people,” said Jeremy Goldstein, vice president of programs at the Trust for the National Mall. “Growing up, I was one of those kids who did not have the funding to visit. The Foundation is helping us ensure that the platform is accessible to every student in America, and this is only the beginning.”
The National Mall Gateway offers a virtual tour of one of the world’s most popular parks, letting users explore iconic sites like the Washington Monument and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This platform, developed with the National Park Service, helps educators design curriculum and offers multilingual support.
Celebrating America’s 250th birthday
The Foundation’s America250 initiative is anchored in three core themes, each designed to honor the past and invest in the future. Together, they demonstrate how local projects and partnerships can create meaningful, lasting impact in the communities where we live and work.
- Caring for our country. The Foundation is seeking projects that improve shared green spaces and foster civic pride, including community cleanups, park revitalizations and public landscaping.
- Employing our veterans. Workforce development programs will strengthen and prepare veterans for the transition to civilian careers.
- Sharing our American stories. Every American has a perspective and history of their own. The Foundation wants to help communities tell and preserve their stories through public exhibits and educational field trips.
An enterprisewide request for proposals (RFP) will launch in January 2026, inviting qualified nonprofits to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to support community-based projects aligned with these themes.
Building on decades of local impact
The Foundation celebrated 40 years of grantmaking in 2024, and provides more than $25 million annually to support vibrant economies, climate resiliency and promote opportunity and inclusion in Duke Energy-served communities.
The America250 initiative builds on that legacy, uniting philanthropy with employee volunteerism. In addition to providing $1 million in funding, the Foundation will enable Duke Energy employees to participate as volunteers in America250 projects throughout the Carolinas, Midwest and Florida.
“One of the great things we collectively have as employees is the inclination to get things done and put action around a solution,” Elswick said.
Take the Harvest Hustle volunteer event in Charlotte, N.C. On Oct. 15, more than 300 Duke Energy employees joined Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina and the American Red Cross North Carolina Region to assemble storm kits filled with essentials like emergency rain ponchos and blankets, first aid supplies, LED flashlights, nonperishable food items and more. So many people showed up that volunteers set a Guinness World Record for most people assembling disaster preparedness kits simultaneously.
“That’s just part of our DNA at Duke Energy,” Elswick added. “We come together, we look at an opportunity and we say, ‘Let’s figure it out.’”