Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
/OVERVIEW: This Asheville-based funder supports grantmaking for early childhood development, food and farming, human services and natural and cultural resources, working in 18 counties in the western part of North Carolina.
IP TAKE: This is a very active community funder with well-defined funding areas, but grant seekers should check the website regularly because specific grantmaking themes and goals change from year to year. The foundation does not run a single application program, so grantseekers will need to consult the grants directory to decide which program is most appropriate for their needs. Detailed application guidelines for each program are linked to this page. Overall, this is an important source of funding for community organizations providing direct services to the people of Western North Carolina, with plenty of funds to go around. Don’t hesitate to reach out to staff with inquiries.
PROFILE: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina is based in Asheville, North Carolina, and covers an 18-county region in the state. It seeks to inspire philanthropy and mobilize “resources to enrich lives and communities in Western North Carolina.” It was established in 1978 and has managed over $321 million in assets in recent times. In total, it has awarded over $200 million in nonprofit and public institutions grants, as well as scholarships for students.
This funder operates much like other community foundations and has over 1,000 funds under management. Its four four main funding priorities are early childhood development, food and farming, human services and natural and cultural resources, but CFWNC announces new priorities from time to time, and recent grantmaking has also focused on COVID-19 recovery and flood relief efforts. To be eligible for one of this funder’s grant programs, an organization must serve one or more of these North Carolina counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey. Across all funding areas, this foundation tends to support community-based organizations that work at the front lines of communities. Recent grantees include Smart Start of Transylvania County, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, the Aura Home for Women Vets and the Asheville Area Arts Council.
Important Grant Details
This funder made about $29 million in grants in a recent year. Grants are usually awarded in amounts of up to $80,000. Because many grants stem from established programs and/or donor-advised funds, grants are often awarded in set amounts. For additional information about CFWNC’s past grantmaking, see its individual program pages.
This funder does not have a general application for its grants. Instead, prospective grantseekers should consult the grants directory page to decide which of the foundation’s current grant program(s) best suit their needs and eligibility. Each grant program listed is linked to a page with detailed application information. Prospective grantees with general inquiries may email the foundation.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
