The North Carolina Peace Prize was established over 20 years ago to honor small North Carolina community-based, nonprofit groups that honor the values of the Peace Corps: helping people to help themselves and promoting peace and cross-cultural understanding. The prize consists of a financial contribution and recognition at a ceremony held in the spring in Raleigh, NC.
Student Action with Farm Workers receiving the first ever North Carolina Peace Prize.
NCPCA awarded its 2025 North Carolina Peace Prize to Vets to Vets United, a local nonprofit organization that uses therapy dogs to help military veterans deal with challenges resulting from their service. Read more here.
Past Peace Prize Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Featured Speaker |
| 2024 | Arts Access North Carolina | Robert Parish, Reverend and Arts Access Board Member |
| 2023 | Commotion | |
| 2022 | H.E.A.R.T.S. | |
| 2021 | Spanish Language Acquisition | |
| 2020 | Anathoth Community Garden | Doris Rouse, RPCV/Liberia, Vice President of Global Health at RTI International |
| 2019 | Witness for Peace Southeast | Rob Christensen, Columnist for The News & Observer |
| 2018 | Learning Outside | Gene Nichol, Boyd Tinsley Distinguished Professor of Law, University of North Carolina |
| 2017 | International Focus | Tom Vitaglione, Adjunct Professor, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. RPCV Malawi |
| 2016 | The Refugee Center | Richard Harrill, Executive Director, Campus Y, University of North Carolina |
| 2015 | Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County | Barry Saunders, Columnist for the News & Observer |
| 2014 | Community Empowerment Fund | Glenn Blumhorst, President National Peace Corps Association. RPCV Guatemala |
| 2013 | 4 the World | Matt Nash, Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University, RPCV Romania |
| 2012 | Achievement Academy | Honorable Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. RPCV Turkey |
| 2011 | Uniting NC | Dr. Jack Allison, Professor of Emergency Medical Care, Western Carolina University. RPCV Malawi |
| 2010 | USCRI US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | Stephen R. Kelley, Diplomat in Residence Duke University |
| 2009 | Source Force | Allison Prager, Master of Arts Candidate at West Virginia University. RPCV Lesotho |
| 2008 | Nourish International | Jody Olsen, The 20th Director of the Peace Corps. RPCV Tunisia |
| 2007 | None awarded | |
| 2006 | My Sister’s House | Honorable Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. RPCV Turkey |
| 2005 | Center for Participatory Change | |
| 2004 | High Country Amigos | |
| 2003 | Durham-San Ramon Sister Communities | |
| 2002 | El Centro Hispano | |
| 2001 | SEEDS South Easton Efforts Developing Sustainable Spaces | |
| 2000 | Friends of Glenwood Library | |
| 1996 | Student Action with Farmworkers | RPCV Robert Pastor, Carter Center in Atlanta |