Year IN REVIEW

$362 Million Total Distributions Since 1978

CFWNC approved scholarships totaling $558,000 to 96 WNC students in 53 schools in 19 counties. More than 60 volunteers worked to review applications and select recipients. Nancy Membreno from School of Inquiry & Life Sciences at Asheville was awarded the Marilyn Lester and William Lester Scholarship valued at $40,000 over four years. The Lester Scholarship Fund was established by Marilyn Lester to reflect the pride and affection that she and her late brother Bill felt in being Asheville natives. Most especially, she wanted to express appreciation for the education she and Bill received in the Asheville City Schools system, particularly at Lee Edwards High School, now Asheville High School.

Photo courtesy of Nancy Membreno

27% Promoting Quality Health

17% Assisting People in Need

16% Enhancing the Environment

14% Improving Educational Opportunities

13% Building Community & Economic Vitality

6% Advancing the Arts

4% Religion

2% Scholarships

1% Animal Welfare work with the overarching goal to align and connect these activities deeply with its operational functions. In pursuit of that goal, the DEI workgroup collected information and organized learning opportunities. Staff sessions addressing disability etiquette and neurodiversity ensured awareness of best practices and resulted in changes to our office space to increase accessibility. Direct experiences with people in their communities deepened staff understanding at the Museum of the Cherokee People and Oconaluftee Village in Cherokee; Hometown Walkabout with The Industrial Commons in Morganton; and the Asheville Museum of History and South Asheville and Newton Academy cemeteries. Photos courtesy of CFWNC, above Hometown Walkabout, and left, Museum of the Cherokee People

Maggie Valley Wins Water Award

Maggie Valley’s water quality recently won a statewide first-place award from the NC Rural Water Association in a competition with other rural areas. Maggie Valley has a head start with the cleanliness of water because no source water flows into the county; everything flows out. It has also benefitted from a long and deep collaboration to protect and conserve water sources and land, an effort that has been supported by a broad network of agencies, nonprofits and funders.

“We started in 2004 and dealt with 22 private landowners to get this work done,” said Neil Carpenter, former District Manager at Maggie Valley Sanitary District (MVSD). “With that many relationships, we had a huge need for surveys, appraisals and closing costs. Many grants didn’t have any provisions for covering those expenses. When the Pigeon River Fund stepped up to fund them, it was really the key that moved the project forward.” Since 2016, the Fund has awarded $275,000 to the MVSD for conservation and protection projects. With this statewide award, Maggie Valley now qualifies to compete nationally in Washington D.C. in February. Photos above courtesy of CFWNC

Sources Of Grantmaking Funds

Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, in partnership with fundholders, donors and affiliates, CFWNC facilitated $34 million in grants and scholarships.

Support For Canton

CFWNC has been working with Haywood County, the Town of Canton, regional funders and engaged stakeholders to address the impact of the closing of the Pactiv Evergreen papermill. In May, CFWNC awarded $150,000 to the Town of Canton to underwrite a full-time Recovery Officer to assist the Town Manager’s office with work related to the Mill closure and economic revitalization. Candidates are under consideration, and an Officer should be in place in early 2024.

In June, CFWNC created the Forward Fund to support nonprofit organizations and municipalities affected by the closure. Dogwood Health Trust and Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC have made significant contributions to the Fund. “Our expectation is that grants will support economic recovery and transition,” said Elizabeth Brazas.

“I am moved by how many people have reached out proactively to help and am struck by the level of partnership,” said Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers. “The closing has created difficult situations for so many, but it opens the opportunity for us to plan together for a healthy future and shared prosperity. CFWNC’s Forward Fund provides yet another tool for continued collaboration.”

Learning Links

57 Learning Links grants totaling $101,912 went to schools to provide local teachers with funding for experiential activities for their students.

Advocacy And Lobbying

CFWNC, as a public charity, can participate in and support lobbying. During the year, CFWNC engaged in a broad range of issues, including action to make permanent the recent American Rescue Plan expansions of the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, signed letters in support of the School Meals for All NC, supported the Charitable Giving Coalition’s efforts to address legislation impacting philanthropy and giving, and more.

We also award grants that support lobbying. In partnership with nonprofits, other funders and leaders across the region, CFWNC is using our platform and engaging on issues crucial to the health and well-being of WNC.

40.2% Nonprofit

36.9% Donor-Advised

9.5% Field of Interest

9.5% Designated

2.5% Affiliate

1.1% Scholarship

.3% Unrestricted

Friends of paddler Shannon Christy opened a donor advised fund to honor her memory and support her passions. The Shannon Christy Memorial Fund awards grants to nonprofits that empower girls and women, protect the environment and rivers, relate to kayaking or the outdoors, and more. Grants have supported Outdoor Afro, Our VOICE, American Canoe Association, Nantahala Racing Club, Rios to Rivers, French Broad River Academy, Diversify Whitewater and more. Proceeds from the Women’s Paddlefest, held in June at Nantahala Outdoor Center, were directed to the Fund.

Highlands

Community Fund Supports Mental Health

With a $10,000 grant from HCF, the Counseling Center of Highlands subsidized more than 1,000 clinical sessions last year. The therapists saw young people, couples, individuals, and short-term and longer-term clients. Michael Greene, LCSWA (right), their first bilingual therapist, sees patients in the evenings at the Community Care Clinic; hosts afternoon evaluation sessions with clinical staff; supports clients at the Food Pantry run by International Friendship Center; and provides office and patient hours (for both Spanish and primary English speakers) at the Counseling Center at the Peggy Crosby Center.

Partnering nonprofits continue to evaluate and plan for providing the most care with the greatest benefit to residents through the Plateau Behavioral Health Collaborative, a partnership to address behavioral health concerns for at-risk communities along the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau.