The North Carolina Turfgrass Research & Education Foundation (NCTF) was begun in 1980 as the NC Turfgrass Research & Extension Fund. It was modified in 1992 and 1995 to better accommodate changing industry needs. Operated by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC) as a service to industry, NCTF is the most significant and flexible tax sheltered repository for industry to support turfgrass research, Extension and academic programs in North Carolina.

Housed within the NC Agricultural Foundation, Inc., NCTF accepts both general and directed donations from associations, companies and individuals who desire to enhance the scholastic capabilities and insure the future of recognized college programs in the turfgrass sciences. Through the Turfgrass Council, NCTF seeks annually to gather and interpret research and education priorities from all industry sectors and to encourage the focusing of donor resources on those priorities.

In order to accomplish that formidable task, TCNC maintains both a Research Review Committee  composed of broad industry representation. The Research Committee meets in early December to evaluate the progress of currently funded projects and to award grants for deserving new research proposals. The NCTF Research Symposium, an open and interactive industry-faculty forum sponsored by TCNC, precedes the Research Committee meeting.

The North Carolina Turfgrass Research & Education Foundation represents the most durable, flexible and time proven way yet devised for North Carolina’s entire turfgrass industry to work together - to solve problems and to seize opportunity