Community Foundation of Burke County
/OVERVIEW: This funder supports a broad range of causes in Burke County, North Carolina. In addition to grants for the community, it awards scholarships and runs a women’s fund.
IP TAKE: This funder limits its grantmaking to organizations that serve the people of Burke County, North Carolina and prioritize programs and initiatives that involve collaboration and broad community outreach. While CFBC tends to support many of the same grantees year after year, the foundation appears to be approachable and accessible, with transparent grant application processes. Reach out to the president, Nancy Taylor, with questions or ideas.
PROFILE: The Community Foundation of Burke County (CFBC) was established in 2000 in Morgantown, North Carolina to serve the residents the surrounding communities of Burke County. The foundation seeks to “encourage, develop and participate in philanthropy by providing flexible giving opportunities, professional support and responsible stewardship for the benefit of donors and qualified recipients.” Grantmaking stems from three separate programs: the foundation’s grants program, a scholarship program and the Burke Women’s Fund.
Foundation grants are strictly limited to organizations that run programs to improve the lives of the people of Burke County and prioritize programs and initiatives that involve collaboration of one or more agencies or organizations. The foundation offers scholarships for individuals pursuing higher education, with many awards stemming from legacy funds that have specific eligibility rules. The Burke Women’s Fund, meanwhile, changes the focus of its grantmaking program each year, announcing themes in January. Recent grantmaking has focused on women’s economic opportunity, mental health, literacy and health. Recent grantees of this community foundation include the Center for Rural Health Innovation, Blue Ridge Community Action’s Foster Grandparent Program, the Burke Arts Council and the Burke Literacy Council.
CFBC has awarded more than $8.8 million in grants to nonprofits and churches in the county. More than $4.9 million in grants came from endowed funds. In a recent year, the funder gave $975,350 in total grants and scholarships. Current financial data may be viewed at the foundation’s About page.
This funder accepts applications for each of its programs, but makes materials available at different times throughout the year. Application information for foundation grants generally becomes available in July, while information about grants stemming from the Burke Women’s Fund is usually released in January. Scholarship application information is linked to the scholarships page, with due dates varying by program. For general inquiries, reach out to the foundation’s president, Nancy Taylor, via email or telephone at (828) 437-7105.
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