Nonprofit Foundation | Fayetteville, North Carolina | EIN: 13-3787006
Catch & Release Foundation, Inc. is a North Carolina nonprofit foundation dedicated to aquatic habitat conservation, youth outdoor education, sustainable fisheries management and equitable public access to rivers, lakes and waterways across our region.
Headquartered in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Catch & Release Foundation, Inc. was established to turn the core principle of catch-and-release angling into a broader mission of conservation and community access. We believe healthy waterways are a shared public treasure, and that all young people deserve opportunities to learn about nature, aquatic ecosystems and responsible outdoor recreation.
Our board includes fisheries biologists, outdoor educators, conservation leaders and local community advisors. We fund grassroots nonprofits working on the front lines of watershed restoration, youth fishing programs, stream cleanup, habitat improvement and outdoor skill-building for underserved youth and military-connected families in the Fayetteville region and across North Carolina.
We prioritize long-term partnership funding and transparent stewardship. Our Employer Identification Number is 13-3787006. We support community-led projects that balance recreation, wildlife protection and environmental education.
Stream & watershed restoration
Fishing & ecology programs
Piers, trails and boat ramps
Best practices outreach
To invest in nonprofit partners across North Carolina that restore freshwater habitats, teach youth responsible outdoor recreation, expand equitable public access to waterways, and build lifelong commitment to conservation stewardship.
A future where North Carolina’s rivers, creeks and lakes are clean, biologically diverse, and open for all; where every child can experience the joy of fishing while learning to protect the waters they love.
We accept Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within North Carolina. We do not provide grants to individuals, political campaigns, lobbying activity, or for-profit fishing/outdoor businesses.
Funding for stream bank stabilization, native riparian planting, fish passage improvement, sediment reduction, water quality monitoring and aquatic habitat restoration projects.
Supports free youth fishing clinics, after-school aquatic science programs, field trips, tackle libraries, mentor programs and conservation curriculum for schools and community centers.
Grants for community fishing piers, bank access improvements, accessible launch sites, trail development and ADA-compliant outdoor recreation infrastructure.
Support for organized river cleanups, trash collection events, waste reduction campaigns and community stewardship days focused on local water bodies.
Programs serving service members, veterans and their families in the Fayetteville area that use fishing and nature connection for mental health, relaxation and peer bonding.
Select multi-year unrestricted operating grants for trusted conservation and youth education partners with proven track records of measurable environmental and community impact.
We collaborate closely with grantees to track restored stream footage, youth participants, access sites opened, and pounds of trash removed each year. Annual impact reports are published for full transparency.
Active Grantee Partners
Primary Funding Pillars
Youth & Families Engaged
Multi-Year Grant Portfolio
Our grant review cycles open quarterly. All applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry first. Full proposals are only invited after LOI review. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on conservation, youth outdoor education or public water access in North Carolina.
For grant eligibility questions, annual report requests, conservation partnership inquiries or administrative support, please reach out to our foundation team. Our team responds Monday through Friday during standard business hours.
100 Hope Mills Rd
Fayetteville, NC, US 28304-3149 United States
9231080853
info@catchrelease.cyou
13-3787006