The Community Foundation Of Western North Carolina Inc - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $69 million (FY 2025)
Total Assets: $491.5 million (September 2025)
Decision Time: Approximately 2 months after application deadline
Grant Range: $2,500 - $105,000 (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: 18-county region in Western North Carolina
Founded: 1978

Contact Details

Website: https://cfwnc.org
Address: 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 300, Asheville, NC 28803
Phone: 828-254-4960
General Email: mcnairy@cfwnc.org
Vice President of Programs: Tara Scholtz, scholtz@cfwnc.org, 828-367-9913
Technical Assistance (Grants): Diane Crisp, Senior Grants Manager, 828-367-9904

Overview

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) was founded in 1978 as the Community Foundation of Greater Asheville and expanded in 1982 to serve 18 counties across Western North Carolina. With total assets of $491.5 million, CFWNC distributed $69 million in grants and scholarships during fiscal year 2025, making it the third-largest community foundation in North Carolina. The foundation manages over 1,300 philanthropic funds and has awarded more than $456 million in total grants since inception. CFWNC's mission is "Inspiring philanthropy and mobilizing resources to enrich lives and communities throughout Western North Carolina." Under President & CEO Elizabeth Brazas's leadership since 2009, the foundation has grown significantly—from $400 million in assets in 2022 when she celebrated her 13th year, having rebuilt from recession losses. The foundation recently played a major role in Hurricane Helene disaster relief, distributing over $39.6 million through more than 525 grants since October 2024. CFWNC has earned a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Asheville Merchants Fund

Amount: Up to $105,000 over 3 years ($35,000/year)
County: Buncombe
Deadline: February 6, 2026
Focus: Economic development projects

Black Mountain-Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund

Amount: $2,500 - $10,000
Deadline: March 1
Focus: Health, education, cultural resources, human services

Cashiers Community Fund

Amount: $2,500 - $12,500
Deadline: April 1
Focus: Community benefit projects
Note: One application per year per organization

Cultural Resources

Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: 2nd Friday in January and July (rolling)
Focus: General operating support for arts organizations
Note: Simple online application

The Fund for Haywood County

Amount: Up to $7,500
County: Haywood
Deadline: 1st Friday in February
Focus: Community benefit projects

The Fund for Mitchell County

Amount: Up to $5,000
County: Mitchell
Deadline: February 1
Focus: Community benefit projects

Highlands Community Fund

Amount: $2,500 - $10,000
Deadline: April 1
Focus: Community benefit projects

Human Services and Education

Amount: Up to $25,000
Deadline: Last Friday in August
Focus: Supporting economically-disadvantaged people and educational needs

SUN (Sudden and Urgent Needs) Grants

Amount: Up to $10,000
Rolling basis
Focus: Unforeseen crises for human service nonprofits

Additional Programs: The foundation also manages numerous county-specific and special-purpose funds including the Pigeon River Fund (environmental grants, $350,000+ annually), organizational capacity grants (up to $7,500), and grants for economically disadvantaged populations (up to $20,000).

Priority Areas

CFWNC focuses on four main funding priorities:

Early Childhood Development
Food and Farming
People in Need / Human Services
Natural and Cultural Resources

The foundation serves 18 Western North Carolina counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey, and the Qualla Boundary.

What They Don't Fund

CFWNC explicitly excludes:

Annual giving campaigns
Scholarships (in most grant programs)
Sectarian religious purposes
Partisan political purposes
Endowment funds
Deficit funding or debt retirement
Festivals or one-time events (exhibits, performances, fundraisers)
Private primary and secondary schools (except for projects addressing broader community needs with local leadership)
Private clubs
Ongoing operational costs or expenses incurred before grant award
State or national organizations (unless funding directly benefits Western NC with local leadership)
Arts programs run by non-arts organizations (for Cultural Resources grants)

Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership:

Elizabeth Brazas - President & CEO (since 2009): Brings 30+ years of experience in financial services and legal/compliance work. Under her leadership, the foundation's assets grew from recession lows to $491.5 million. She states, "It's an honor to serve these visionaries and dreamers and steward their philanthropic legacies."
Tara Scholtz - Vice President, Programs (since 2002): Has deep roots in Western NC, grew up in Cherokee County. Led the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund grantmaking exceeding $30 million following Hurricane Helene. She notes: "It's an honor to work with my colleagues as CFWNC continues to evolve and to partner with organizations addressing critical issues and protecting natural and cultural treasures."
Laura Herndon - Vice President, Development
Julie Klipp - Chief Operating Officer
Graham Keever - Chief Financial Officer

Key Program Staff:

Diane Crisp - Senior Grants Manager
Virginia Dollar - Senior Program Officer
Lindsay Hearn - Communications Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CFWNC uses an online grant application system accessible through their website (cfwnc.org). The process is straightforward:

Navigate to the "Apply" section at the top of the grants page
Select "Apply" to the right of the appropriate grant program
Create a user ID and password to access and save your application
Use the "Question List" feature for guidance on each question and attachment requirements
Save your application at any point and return to complete it later

Applications are submitted through different cycles depending on the grant program—some have fixed annual deadlines while others (like Cultural Resources and SUN grants) operate on a rolling basis.

Decision Timeline

Grant decisions are typically announced approximately two months after the application deadline. For example, applications submitted in August would receive decisions in the fall. Foundation staff and board review applications together through a careful review process to identify grants that will strengthen the nonprofit sector and provide the greatest community benefit.

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the foundation notes that it distributed $69 million in fiscal year 2025 to hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Recent focus area grants included 74 grants totaling $1.3 million awarded to nonprofits serving economically-disadvantaged populations, and another announcement of $1.8 million in focus area grants to education and human service nonprofits.

Reapplication Policy

For the Human Services and Education grant program, organizations are eligible to apply if they "did not receive a Human Services and Education grant during the most recent fall grant cycle and do not have an open Human Services and Education grant" (meaning they must have submitted a final report). This indicates unsuccessful applicants may reapply in the next cycle without a waiting period.

Organizations may submit only one funding proposal per grant cycle. For some programs like the Cashiers Community Fund, eligible organizations may only submit one application per year.

Application Success Factors

What CFWNC Looks For

Community Benefit is Critical: According to CFWNC's guidance, "Requests that exhibit the greatest community benefit will be given the highest consideration."

Clear, Specific Project Plans: The foundation advises applicants to provide "clearly defined and realistic project plans and activities. Do not use educational or technical jargon. Be as specific as possible about how the funds will be used."

Established Local Presence: Organizations must already be established in and serving Western North Carolina. Preference is given to nonprofit organizations with demonstrated local impact.

Organizational Capacity and Management: For many programs, the foundation evaluates "applicants' capabilities" as part of the review process, looking for organizations with strong management capabilities.

Recent Grant Examples

Understanding what CFWNC has recently funded provides insight into their priorities:

Hurricane Helene Recovery (2024-2025):

$10,000 to Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center for children and families experiencing stress and loss
$8,726 to Center for Rural Health Innovation for a community clinic and telehealth access point
$10,000 to Feed-A-Child WNC to install insulation at new facility
$10,000 to Mitchell-Yancey Habitat for Humanity to acquire land for new home construction

Environmental Grants (Pigeon River Fund):

$45,000 to Environmental Quality Institute for stream monitoring programs
$33,500 to RiverLink for restoration projects in Hurricane Helene-affected areas

Human Services:

$10,000 to High Country Area Agency on Aging for dementia family caregiver support network
$7 million to MANNA FoodBank for new facility construction (supporting critical community infrastructure)

Application Tips from CFWNC

The foundation emphasizes:

Avoid jargon: Write in clear, accessible language
Be specific: Detail exactly how funds will be used
Demonstrate community benefit: Show how your project will benefit the broader community
Build realistic plans: Ensure project plans are achievable and well-defined
Complete applications carefully: Use the Question List tool to ensure all requirements are met

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic specificity matters: You must serve one or more of the 18 Western NC counties; the foundation prioritizes local organizations with established presence
Community benefit is the top criterion: Applications demonstrating the greatest community benefit receive highest consideration—articulate your broader impact clearly
Multiple funding opportunities: With various county funds and program-specific grants, consider which fund best aligns with your work rather than defaulting to the largest program
Clarity over sophistication: CFWNC explicitly requests clear, jargon-free language and specific plans rather than technical or educational terminology
Flexible and responsive: Under Elizabeth Brazas's leadership, the foundation prides itself on being "flexible and nimble"—they respond to emerging community needs (as evidenced by the $39.6M Hurricane Helene response)
Build relationships: With 22 staff members including regional officers, reach out to the appropriate contact for technical assistance—Diane Crisp and Tara Scholtz are explicitly available for grant questions
Timing varies widely: Different programs have different deadlines from rolling (Cultural Resources, SUN) to fixed annual dates—plan ahead and apply to the program that best fits your timeline and purpose

References

Community Foundation of Western North Carolina official website - https://cfwnc.org - Accessed January 2026
CFWNC About Grants page - https://cfwnc.org/grants/about-grants - Accessed January 2026
CFWNC Grants Directory - https://cfwnc.org/grants/grants-directory - Accessed January 2026
CFWNC Staff Directory - https://cfwnc.org/about/staff-directory - Accessed January 2026
Charity Navigator profile - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/561223384 - Accessed January 2026
Inside Philanthropy profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/north-carolina-grants/community-foundation-of-western-north-carolina - Accessed January 2026
Mountain Xpress: "Community Foundation of WNC approves $1.4 million in focus area grants" - https://mountainx.com/blogwire/community-foundation-of-wnc-approves-1-4-million-in-focus-area-grants/ - Accessed January 2026
WLOS News: "Foundation gives $1.8M to WNC nonprofits for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts" - https://wlos.com/news/local/foundation-18m-wnc-nonprofits-hurricane-helene-recovery-efforts-asheville-community-emergency-habitat-for-humanity - Accessed January 2026
WLOS News: "Foundation distributes $350K in grants to environmental groups" - https://wlos.com/news/local/pigeon-river-fund-community-foundation-western-north-carolina-grants-environmental-groups-water-quality-wildlife-habitats-waterways-buncombe-haywood-madison-county-soil-water-conservation-weaverville-asheville-greenworks-highlands - Accessed January 2026
WNC Business: "Elizabeth Brazas Celebrates 13 Years as President of The Community Foundation of WNC" - https://www.wncbusiness.com/2022/11/03/417120/elizabeth-brazas-celebrates-13-years-as-president-of-the-community-foundation-of-wnc - Accessed January 2026
CFWNC article: "Philip Belcher to Retire in August; Tara Scholtz to Assume Program Department Leadership" - https://cfwnc.org/article/philip-belcher-to-retire-in-august-tara-scholtz-to-assume-program-department-leadership - Accessed January 2026