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Community Foundation Of Henderson County Inc

Annual Giving
$9.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,500,000
  • Total Assets: $168,200,000 (as of June 30, 2025)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program ($1,000 - $25,000+)
  • Geographic Focus: Henderson County, NC (with some programs serving Western NC)
  • Grant Types: Competitive and non-competitive (primarily donor-advised and designated funds)
  • Total Grants Awarded (2024): 128 grants

Contact Details

Address: 401 North Main Street, Suite 300, Hendersonville, NC 28792

Phone: (828) 697-6224

Website: https://www.cfhcforever.org

Email: info@CFHCforever.org

Grants Portal: https://goapply2.akoyago.com/cfhcapply

Key Contact for Grants: Kris Merritt, Senior Program Officer

Overview

Founded in 1982 by fourteen local leaders, the Community Foundation of Henderson County (CFHC) has grown from managing two scholarship funds with less than $1 million in assets to stewarding $168.2 million across over 600 philanthropic component funds. Despite initial skepticism about whether a foundation "would succeed because the community was too small and rural," CFHC has become a philanthropic leader in Western North Carolina. The foundation's mission is "helping people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter." In the 2024-25 fiscal year, CFHC distributed $9.5 million in charitable grants and annuities. The foundation awards grants through both competitive and non-competitive processes, with the majority being non-competitive grants from donor-advised and designated funds. CFHC earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and achieved 14.7% investment performance for endowments in fiscal year 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Community Grants

  • Service Area: Henderson County, NC
  • Deadlines: Quarterly on March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1
  • Application Method: Online portal on rolling quarterly basis
  • Description: Supports projects that promote cooperation and collaboration among organizations while minimizing duplication of services

2. Perry N. Rudnick Grants

  • Amount Range: $10,000 - $25,000+ (typically awards over $200,000 annually)
  • Service Area: Western North Carolina, with priority to Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania Counties
  • Deadlines: Letters of Intent due January 1 and July 1
  • Application Method: Online portal with LOI process
  • Description: Funds specific projects (not operating expenses) in arts and culture, conservation, health and human services, and youth. Since 2004, has awarded over 400 grants to 125+ organizations totaling $5.1+ million
  • Priorities: Projects that demonstrate collaboration, affect broad population segments, address unmet community needs, encourage client independence and self-sufficiency, and emphasize prevention and early intervention

3. Fletcher Community Grants

  • Amount Range: Up to $15,000 (unless pre-approved by Program Officer)
  • Service Area: Town of Fletcher (within town limits)
  • Deadline: October 1 annually
  • Award Notification: Mid-December
  • Application Method: Online portal
  • Description: Provides cultural, educational, historic, and civic enrichment for Fletcher. Established in 1990
  • Special Focus: Projects that celebrate "Fletcher's unique character, history, and culture"
  • Preference: Projects where Fletcher is both the topic and host location

4. Field of Interest Grants

  • Service Area: Henderson County
  • Application Method: Rolling basis (requires prior discussion with Program Officer)
  • Common Areas: Animal welfare, arts and culture, civic and community, conservation, education, health, human services, and religion
  • Description: Address specific interests of funders and may change over time

5. Work with Heart Community Fund

  • Amount: $84,000-$85,000 distributed annually (2023-2024)
  • Recipients: Approximately 38 organizations receive quarterly grants
  • Description: Collaborative grant program pooling charitable dollars from multiple local businesses through donor-advised funds
  • Since 2015: Has awarded $288,000 to local nonprofits

Priority Areas

  • Arts and culture
  • Conservation and environmental protection
  • Health and human services
  • Youth development
  • Education
  • Civic and community engagement
  • Projects that demonstrate collaboration and reduce service duplication
  • Prevention and early intervention programs
  • Initiatives that encourage client independence and self-sufficiency
  • Programs addressing unmet community needs

What They Don't Fund

  • Operating expenses (for Perry N. Rudnick grants; other programs may vary)
  • Organizations outside designated service areas
  • More than one grant to the same program or agency within a twelve-month period (Community Grants restriction)
  • Projects that duplicate existing services without added value

Governance and Leadership

Staff

McCray V. Benson - President/CEO

  • Leads the foundation's strategic direction
  • Quote: The Work with Heart collaborative grants "will have a far-reaching impact for those who are served by these nonprofits"

Kris Merritt - Senior Program Officer (joined 2023)

  • Oversees Community Foundation programs
  • Works with grants committees and advisory groups through the grantmaking process
  • Background in data procurement, grant management, outcomes measurement, and grant writing
  • Previously worked with Boys and Girls Club in Kentucky
  • Key contact for grant applicants
  • Available for Q&A sessions with prospective applicants

Rachel Buchanan - Chief Financial Officer

Amy Cook - Philanthropic Services Officer

Rebekah Hobbs - Donor Services and Scholarship Officer

Isabella Jontz - Program and Communications Associate

Sean Stewart - Finance Associate

Ally Smith - Administrative Assistant

Governance Structure

The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Specific current board member names were not publicly available in recent sources, but the foundation emphasizes engaged and committed board leadership.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Review the AI Usage Statement: CFHC has a formal policy on AI use in grant applications. Applicants may use AI tools but remain fully responsible for "originality, accuracy, and integrity of all submitted content." Applicants may be asked to identify where they used AI, but this disclosure will NOT impact committee decisions. The foundation notes that volunteer reviewers prefer "personal and authentic responses."

  2. Consider Pre-Application Consultation: For Field of Interest Grants, applicants must first discuss their project with the Program Officer. For other grant programs, applicants can book a Q&A session with Kris Merritt, Senior Program Officer.

  3. Review Grant Guidelines: Each grant program has specific guidelines available on the foundation's website. Review these carefully before applying.

  4. Submit Through Online Grants Portal: https://goapply2.akoyago.com/cfhcapply

  5. Program-Specific Requirements:

    • Community Grants: Apply by quarterly deadlines (March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1)
    • Perry N. Rudnick Grants: Submit Letter of Intent by January 1 or July 1
    • Fletcher Community Grants: Apply by October 1
    • Field of Interest Grants: Contact Program Officer first, then apply on rolling basis

Decision Timeline

  • Fletcher Community Grants: Award notifications sent mid-December (approximately 2.5 months after October 1 deadline)
  • Other Programs: Specific timelines not publicly detailed; varies by program

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. The foundation notes that most grants awarded are non-competitive (designated and donor-advised grants), with a smaller portion being competitive grants through the programs listed above. In 2024, 128 grants were awarded.

Reapplication Policy

  • Community Grants: The foundation "normally will not award more than one grant to the same program or agency during a twelve-month period"
  • Other Programs: Reapplication policies not explicitly stated; contact Program Officer for guidance

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and grant program guidelines:

For All Competitive Grants:

  • Personal and authentic responses: The foundation explicitly notes that volunteer reviewers prefer applications that feel genuine rather than AI-generated or formulaic
  • Project-specific rather than operational: Most competitive grants prioritize specific projects over general operating support
  • Henderson County focus: Strong connection to Henderson County or specified service area is essential
  • Collaboration: Demonstrate cooperation with other organizations and show how the project minimizes service duplication

For Perry N. Rudnick Grants:

The foundation prioritizes projects that:

  • Demonstrate meaningful collaboration with other organizations
  • Affect a broad population segment (not just narrow beneficiary group)
  • Address unmet community needs (filling gaps in current services)
  • Encourage client independence and self-sufficiency (empowerment focus)
  • Emphasize prevention and early intervention (proactive rather than reactive)

For Fletcher Community Grants:

  • Projects must "celebrate Fletcher's unique character, history, and culture"
  • Strong preference for projects where Fletcher is both the topic and the host location
  • Stay within $15,000 request limit (unless pre-approved)
  • Must be specific to Fletcher's town limits

General Best Practices:

  • Consult with Program Officer: Kris Merritt is available to answer questions and provide guidance
  • Review past grant recipients: The foundation publishes news about grant awards, providing insight into funded project types
  • Follow submission guidelines precisely: Each program has specific requirements and deadlines
  • Be transparent about AI usage if applicable: While it won't affect decisions, the foundation values honesty
  • Demonstrate measurable outcomes: Given Kris Merritt's background in outcomes measurement, applications should include clear success metrics

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • CFHC operates multiple distinct grant programs with different service areas, deadlines, and priorities—match your project to the right program
  • Most grants are non-competitive (donor-advised), but competitive opportunities exist quarterly through Community Grants and twice yearly through Perry N. Rudnick grants
  • Collaboration is highly valued across all programs—emphasize partnerships and how your project complements (not duplicates) existing services
  • Pre-application consultation is encouraged—reach out to Kris Merritt for guidance before submitting
  • Henderson County focus is paramount for most programs—clearly articulate local impact and connection to the community
  • Authenticity matters—reviewers are volunteers who prefer genuine, personal applications over overly polished or AI-generated content
  • Perry N. Rudnick grants offer the largest awards ($10,000-$25,000+) but require projects to serve Western NC beyond just Henderson County
  • The foundation values transparency—they have a progressive stance on AI usage and prioritize honest communication with applicants

References

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