evolve inside our work Importance of Advocacy FundsExpectancy Grants PartnersNonprofitto Pisgah AfghanSupportingLegalRefugeesAugust 2022 THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION of WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
President’s Letter • 2 News + Voices • 3-6 Nonprofit Partners The Value of Advocacy • 7-8 Women for Women • 9-10 Equity + Our Work • 11 Melvin R. Lane Fund • 12 Pisgah Legal Supporting Afghan Refugees • 13-14 Friends + Neighbors + Philanthropists • 15-16 Scholarships • 17 Funds + Planned Giving Options • 18 Max Patch near Harmon’s Den, Madison County. Photo by Andre Daugherty of Pro 16 Productions. CONTENTS Photo courtesy of Laurel Community Center Organization
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+ Listening PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Evolving
Photo courtesy of Smart Start of Transylvania County, a member of the WNC Early Childhood Coalition
These assets come to us because donors see the value of CFWNC’s role in WNC. We are stewards of a history and tradition of generosity and giving. As the world around us adapts and changes, so must we, and we willby responding today and planning and advocating for the future.
In the face of persistent existential problems and a whiplash-inducing news cycle, the pace of our days can feel overwhelming and progress excruciatingly slow. There is tension between what needs to happen today, because, well, it has to be done today, and what needs to be planned today, because it is how we will work toward change in the longer term. Advocacy and lobbying are part of how we balance that pull. Advocacy aims to educate about topic, while lobbying attempts to influence specific legislation at the local, state or federal level. With the support of our board, CFWNC engages in both. In partnership with nonprofits, other funders and leaders across the region, we use our platform to engage in issues crucial to the health and wellbeing of WNC. From school meals and maternal health, to the census and a universal charitable deduction, we have added our voice to the debates about resource allocation and legislation. The work is exceedingly slow, and yet educating decision makers about the impact of policy decisions they are contemplating is crucial. On a basic level, advocacy provides an avenue for people to have their views and wishes considered when decisions are being made that affect their lives. CFWNC supports the advocacy and policy work of others. Early childhood champion Greg Borum has been engaged in building the WNC Early Childhood Coalition into a powerful, united voice for elevating WNC childhood issues in Raleigh and at the federal level. You can read more about the Coalition on pages 7-8. Our Women for Women giving circle engages its membership to speak out on issues affecting their grantees and, more broadly, women and girls throughout WNC. Their recent grants and advocacy priorities are covered on pages 9-10. As we strengthen close collaborations with major regional funders and engage in planning to guide our next decade, a strong and united presence advocating for WNC, essential nonprofits and organizations, and equity, will enhance our ability to be effective. We are committed to funding solutions now and joining and funding the fight for better policies for tomorrow. The strength of a community foundation lies in its permanency, trusted relationships, partnerships and willingness to prioritize and take a stand on issues that matter. A community foundation plants philanthropic capital deeply into the region for the needs of that region. On June 30, we finished our fiscal year with $43 million in new gifts, our second highest total ever. More than $16 million came in the form of estate gifts (see page 16). Gifts, directed by people who trusted CFWNC’s board, staff, and processes, hold promise and potential for the region.
$23.5 Million 3
Dealing with Market Downturns GRANT TOTAL 7/1/21
It goes without saying that market downturns often instill discomfort and even fear in investors. And, of course, we know that donors want their charitable dollars to go as far as possible. Keep in mind that market cycles are normal and to be expected. Like a pendulum, a market upswing is inevitably followed by a downswing at some point. While economists point to different market signals (inverted yield curves, price to index ratios, volatility index spikes, etc.), it is nearly impossible to predict the timing of these oscillations with any regularity. The silver lining is that selloffs often create attractive opportunities as prices become cheaper and may not reflect the fair value of investments. As valuations become more attractive, so do potential future returns. When faced with a market decline, here are a few strategies to help maintain a broader perspective:
News + Voices
• Embrace Diversification: An important element of a strong long-term plan is diversification, which can reduce portfolio volatility. As the saying goes, it is rarely wise to have all of your eggs in one basket. Recognize that diversification by definition means that you will never be fully exposed to that which is performing the best or the worst. CFWNC offers its donor community a number of diversified investment options to invest charitable dollars.
Tara Elliott InvestmentGerber/TaylorConsultant to of Gerber/Taylor TO 6/30/22
• Create a Long-Term Plan: It is important to establish a long-term investment plan on the front end. Such a plan should be consistent with an investor’s risk and return goals, tolerance for volatility, and time horizon. It is important that donors have a time horizon that meets those of their charitable dollars. Portfolios that may have a quicker drawdown period should be appropriately allocated with more of an emphasis on capital preservation. Conversely, portfolios that might be drawn down over a long period or those trying to build corpus through growth may be more comfortable with a more equityoriented portfolio.
While the options are designed to meet varied risk and investment style preferences, they are also intended for investors focused on the long-term.
• Stick to It: After establishing a longterm investment plan, stick to it in times of market stress. Having a plan in place may mitigate any urge to make abrupt changes at juncturesunfortunateortry to “time the market.” Bear in mind that any decision to sell investments in a downturn necessitates a decision about when or if to buy back into the market.
CFWNCPhotocourtesy
Photos, left to right, courtesy of: Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County, Community Pet Center, Transylvania Christian Ministry by Kurt Reise, Camp Lakey Gap by Mary Claire Photography, Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, and Yancey County Humane Society. Affiliate Funds Award Grants Eight of CFWNC’s nine affiliates have awarded 2022 grants to address the needs in their communities. Complete grant lists are on the website and include: $114,160 from the Black Mountain – Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund $160,610 from the Cashiers Community Fund $66,468 from The Fund for Haywood County $51,280 from The McDowell Endowment $35,500 from The Fund for Mitchell $84,670County from the Rutherford County $48,500Endowmentfrom the Transylvania $90,600Endowmentfrom The Yancey Fund Grant decisions from the Highlands Community Fund occur in the fall. On May 24, CFWNC hosted a social for Nonprofit Organization Fundholders at Hi-Wire Brewing in the River Arts District. More than 130 nonprofits, civic clubs, places of worship and other charitable organizations have chosen to secure all or part of their endowment with CFWNC. These assets account for more than 25 percent of CFWNC’s total funds. In addition to competitive and noncompetitive grant support, capacity building, and networking, administration and investment management are another way CFWNC partners with organizations across the region. This service ensures the long-term stewardship and objective fiscal management of a nonprofit’s assets and frees nonprofit staff from the burdens of endowment management and reporting.
Elizabeth Brazas and Julie Klipp with Haywood Community College Foundation’s Hylah Birenbaum (center); photo courtesy of CFWNC 4
News + Voices CONTINUED
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Photo courtesy of CFWNC Ramble Charitable Fund board members Bob Washel and Shad Waters with Horizons Executive Director Jenny Tracy and Board members and founders Himanshu Karvir and Swati Patel; photo courtesy of CFWNC Kathleen Hargrove and Greg Hutchins of Roberts & Stevens with CFWNC’s Laura Herndon; photo courtesy of CFWNC
Horizons at Carolina Day School works to advance educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. Participants enjoy a six-week summer enrichment program that includes academics, swimming, field trips and other activities as well as school-year tutoring, family check-ins, holiday parties and other support services. In May, the Ramble Charitable Fund awarded $76,500 in grants including $10,000 to Horizons.
After a two-year hiatus, professionals were able to gather in person for continuing education and networking at the 30th Annual Professional Seminar that took place on May 5th. Christopher Hoyt, Professor of Law at University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, delivered information covering retirement accounts and planning optimal outcomes for family and charitable objectives. Hoyt is a frequent speaker at legal and educational programs and has been quoted in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, MONEY Magazine, and The Washington Post. CFWNC works frequently with advisors to support the charitable goals of their clients. We value their partnership and trust.
WELCOME NEW STAFF
Melissa Crouse Finance Associate Something surprising about CFWNC? The geographical impact of the work done here! We serve 18 counties, a large region of caring individuals and organizations supporting WNC initiatives, programs and communities. Working in philanthropy? I’ve been working in the nonprofit sector for most of my career. Knowing you are making a difference, even working in the background, is one of the greatest professional rewards I’ve experienced so far. When you are not at work? I spend most of my time with my localclassesalsoWNCseeinggoingdaughterfive-year-oldplayinggames,totheparkandtheottersattheNatureCenter.Iliketotakepaintingandtryouramazingbreweries.
Mountain BizWorks received a $36,300 Natural & Cultural Resources grant to increase the rural reach and economic benefits of the Craft Your Commerce program, designed to give rural, under-marketed creatives a foundation to build their rural enterprise.
Amy McGuire Donor Relations Associate Focus Area Grants
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Working in philanthropy? It can be challenging, but I remind myself that I am helping to make people’s dreams come true - for both the donors and the recipients of donors’ generosity. When you are not at work? I like to thrift shop and read. I am in an amazing book club called the Ink Drinkers! And, I love to go for long walks. Best thing about living in Asheville? The variety and quality of food, music, art, and the natural environment. There is no place like it on earth!
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project received an $80,000 Food & Farming grant over two years to support farm viability by connecting farmers with consumer demand through its Farm Fresh for Health wellness initiative.
Organic Growers School received a $25,000 Food & Farming grant to implement programming that provides WNC farmers with individualized support, advanced education and mentoring services to enhance farmer success and sustainability.
RELATIONSHIPS, CAPACITY, LEARNING, AND CHANGE
Greg Borum, Director of Advocacy, CF/CIS; photo by Camille courtesyNevarez-Hernandez,ofCF/CIS
THE VALUE OF ADVOCACY
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Excerpted from a Conversation with Greg Borum, Director of Advocacy, CF/CIS
Nonprofit Partners
“Our coalition of nonprofits gives us an 18-county footprint and a table that welcomes perspectives of the major funded programs for early childhood systems as well as of organizations that operate on a broader level. This group informs WNC ECC’s work around early childhood policies. There is a cost to participate in the Coalition, and engagement requires resources. From the beginning, our goal has been to share funds raised with participating Thenonprofits.expansion of this strong network is a success. We’ve been intentional about creating a space where we can explore and learn together. As a result, our work has attracted the attention of statewide policy makers. While some of our issues are unique to WNC, others are experienced statewide, enabling us to be part of broad conversations and early childhood efforts. Understanding the potential of advocacy, CFWNC awarded the first grant to the WNC ECC. The Foundation has continued to invest in the Coalition and has been a strong partner for nearly a decade. With stronger relationships and networks, we have established a more powerful voice in the region and in Raleigh. Philanthropy was key to supporting our growth. Our long-term focus, however, is on policies with the potential to make substantial changes. The big dollars to be transformative in the early childhood space are at the federal and state levels, and the time horizon for policy success is long.
The fact that the Coalition expanded before the pandemic allowed us to act quickly and elevate our needs to the state level. The pandemic and ensuing economic crisis continue to affect early childhood. By necessity, we were in crisis response for the first ten months. With centers shut down, we gained an even stronger understanding of the challenges
The WNC Early Childhood Coalition (WNC ECC), a collaboration of Smart Start Partnerships, local providers like the YWCA and Verner Center for Early Learning, Head Start programs, and early childhood providers, is a region-wide group collaborating on policy advocacy to improve care and education of WNC’s young children. Children First/Communities In Schools (CF/ CIS) provides staffing and coordination, and, in recent years, has assumed a leadership role. The effort evolved from a smaller, more informal partnership to an umbrella model that effectively elevates early childhood issues.
Photo courtesy of Smart Start of Transylvania County Photo courtesy of Smart Start Partnership for Children
facing providers. Bringing centers back online was difficult, from sourcing PPE and cleaning supplies to hiring and retaining staff. The emotional, mental and physical effects on classroom teachers, center operators, parents and children are still unfolding. As the state took control of some of the federal Covidresponse dollars, the Coalition was an insistent voice for workforce support, income and bonuses for childcare providers, and capacity issues. We now have an effective stabilization grant program in place using federal dollars. Unfortunately, we have not been able to get North Carolina’s elected leaders to allocate funds to keep the program going beyond next summer, when the federal support ends. Our upcoming work is to find a way to work with the state to ensure an extension, bridge or ramp. The limited childcare spaces available now are because of this stabilization program. We need the legislature to step up and find a funding mechanism to ensure that we don’t drop off a cliff next summer. We are engaged in ongoing work to address significant problems with the NC childcare subsidy program, and we have work to do to get us where we hope to be in four years. Our providers are not reimbursed at the same rate as others, a problem that is not unique to the west. We continue to focus on that inequity and have been tireless, but we have yet to solve it. In 2021, a bill was introduced that used our research to educate a larger statewide audience. We hope it will be back on the table in 2023, because it did not pass in the most recent General Assembly sessions. We have been working on this market rate issue for more than 15 years. If we had a statewide market rate, we would see millions of dollars coming to Western North Carolina for early childhood.
Great promise and potential lie in these relationships and organizing efforts. While we find more allies and secure more funding, our focus remains on the policy work. The stakes are high, and we need policy changes to shore up early childhood in the region. The existential question is what early childhood care and learning will look like in this region, state and country in the next five years. This will be answered at a policy level, and our first indication will be what happens with the stabilization grants next summer. We will be paying close attention. Our successes do not happen in a typical grant cycle. While we can measure our capacity and the strength of our network, our work is iterative and creative. If something doesn’t work, we try something else. We are persistent. Advocacy can be very slow, years of hard work, but if you succeed the impact can be huge.”
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The Coalition has years of experience working together. We have been growing advocacy skills, sharing analysis and data, and building awareness. We continue to build our team, including our Budding Futures Forum that provides leadership training for early childhood parent advocates. We finished our first year with parent advocates from three western counties who add parents’ lived-experience voices to this effort. We are positioned to take advantage of opportunities, whether it is a crisis or the introduction of proposed legislation in Raleigh.
Make Your Voice Count For Kids: Learn more: childrenfirstcisbc.org/advocacy/ Follow CF/CIS Social Media to learn about opportunities to take action to support WNC families. Sign up for “5 minutes 4 kids” Advocacy Email Alerts that provide education and action opportunities that make it easy to be an advocate.
In May, the Women for Women (WFW) giving circle awarded six grants totaling $294,513. The Women’s Fund, a CFWNC endowment, contributed $66,140 to the grants. With these awards and in its 17th year of grantmaking, WFW has invested more than $4.7 million in WNC.
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Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital – $100,000 over two years to launch the “Ladies Day In” Saturday Women’s Clinic in partnership with the Cherokee County Health Department. Low-income and/or underinsured women will be able to access comprehensive medical evaluation including bloodwork, mammogram and full physical exam in 90 minutes at one location. The clinic will serve women in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
Horizons Summer Program at Carolina Day School – $50,000 over two years to support the participation of girls, predominately from African American and Latinx communities, in the Horizons Summer program. The program at Carolina Day is a six-week academic experience that provides an allday STEM-centered curriculum to improve literacy and math proficiency and advance educational equity.
OpenDoors of Asheville – $50,000 over two years to support the living wage salaries with benefits of two women of color employed as Transportation Associates. The Associates drive an agency-owned van and coordinate transportation for women and girls, engaged in OpenDoors programming, to attend school and work and access enrichment and community resources.
WNC Superheroes – $34,513 to create a Fund for Survivors who face emergency needs in collaboration with partnering agencies. Funds will provide onetime, flexible small grants to survivors of sexual or domestic violence to support housing, transportation or employment needs as well as legal assistance. Grants are available to women in Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Transylvania and Madison counties. GRANTS
Women for Women Awards $294,513 to Support Women and Girls
“This year WFW expanded how we recognize diversity, equity and inclusion in our process,” said Pam Winkler, Grants Committee Chair. “We expanded our outreach to ensure we reached nonprofits serving and led by diverse people, and more than half of our letters of intent were from nonprofits that had not previously submitted requests. We are honored to support these skilled partners.”
2022
Pam Winkler with OpenDoors Asheville Board Chair Martin Moore; photo by Michael Oppenheim
Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC–$20,000 to transition the current Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion (JEDI) Specialist to full-time employment. The JEDI program will train both ‘Bigs’ (mentors) and ‘Littles’ (mentees) in 18 counties to recognize and address challenges facing girls, particularly Native American, Latinx and African American girls. Bountiful Cities Project – $40,000 over two years to launch and support The Collaborative Urban Agriculture Apprenticeship Program to train apprentices of color and those with low generational wealth. The program offers educational workshops, onsite job experience, cohort learning, and mentee support while earning a living wage.
Women for Women 2022 Grant Awards celebration; photo by Michael Oppenheim Women for Women’s mission is to improve the lives of women and girls through collective giving. The Giving Circle always welcomes new members; membership information is at www.cfwnc.org. Advocacy Priorities Women for Women has four policy priority areas: • Early Childhood Education • Reproductive Health Rights and Access • Health Disparities • Voting Rights and WFWRightsReproductiveAccessHealthUpdatesupportspoliciesthatprotectinformed individual choice and access to reproductive health care for all women and girls. We will advocate for policies that protect reproductive freedoms and bodily autonomy and challenge policies that aim to limit these rights. 10
An investment with Mountain BizWorks is expanding access to financing for entrepreneurs and growing local businesses. Funds have supported the purchase of a building to secure a location for an auto shop in Etowah, a market expansion for a local commercial and residential painter, and assistance to a Rutherford social enterprise that helps individuals transitioning out of homelessness. Money invested with Partner Community Capital was earmarked for local food and agriculture, a target sector for the firm’s lending efforts since 2008. Projects include a $450,000 expansion of a local food business in Black Mountain and a $25,000 loan for an ice cream truck at a farm stand in Cherokee. Additional funds will be deployed through several loans strengthening the regional food system. These investments expand access to financing for local businesses, create inclusive economic opportunities and meet community needs. ESG investing is another way that CFWNC uses its assets to support the region. CFWNC staff continues to learn from experienced community partners to deepen our knowledge and equity work. We recently hosted a lunch and conversation with Brenda Mills, Asheville’s Equity & Inclusion Director. In her new role, she emphasizes involving stakeholders in decisions and encourages attendance at neighborhood meetings. Her responsibilities include overseeing the city’s commitment to reparations, a process that deserves time and deep thought. CFWNC values the opportunity to explore equity issues with our partners and colleagues. TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES
Equity + Our Work INVESTING FOR GOOD As CFWNC has grown, so have options for fund investment. The Socially Responsible Portfolio utilizes an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment filter and is for fundholders who want to align their investment activities with their values. Within the ESG Portfolio, CFWNC makes investments that benefit WNC and provide a modest financial return. CFWNC partners with Community Development Financial Institutions that promote economic revitalization in distressed communities and provide financial services in lowincome communities. For four years, CFWNC has been an investor in Mountain Housing Opportunities’ Loan Fund that advances home ownership and community development. Recently, we increased our impact investing to $1.5 million targeting affordable housing, economic development, environmental sustainability, minority advancement, local food and agriculture, and women and minority-owned businesses. Community Capital Management invested $500,000 on CFWNC’s behalf supporting affordable mortgages and rental housing in Buncombe and Jackson counties. Jackson Village Apartments, one-bedroom units providing affordable housing for seniors ages 62 and older with rents based on an applicant’s income, received nearly $300,000, while just under $200,000 is supporting affordable mortgages in Buncombe County.
Elizabeth Brazas, Brenda Mills and Spencer Butler, photo courtesy of CFWNC
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ESG INVESTING
Below: Lane Advisory Board Members Yolanda Bopp and Shelley Brown with SPARC’s Jackie Latek, Leasha Ogle and Veronica Edwards; photo courtesy of CFWNC
$180,000 to HIGHTS to support a dedicated Chief Financial Officer position and to restructure and strengthen its leadership model to stabilize management practices.
$180,000 to The SPARC Foundation to hire an Operations Director to manage the day-to-day business, allowing the Executive Director to focus on enhancement and growth and building relationships with new partners and potential funders. “As children, families and individual community members experience increased needs for recovery and healing services, demand for SPARC services has grown. To keep pace, provide quality programming and innovate, we will utilize Lane funds to hire an Operations Director responsible for managing existing and new programs. To achieve sustainable growth, a comprehensive strategic planning process will occur this year that will lead us confidently into the future. These capacity-building possibilities through the Lane grant are rare, yet critical to the health of nonprofits, and we are grateful to the Lane committee and CFWNC.”–
$180,000 to McDowell Mission Ministries to hire a Development Director, improve board governance, and implement a strategic plan to improve organizational capacity and management.
Six nonprofits will receive $1,078,950 over three years from the Melvin R. Lane Fund, made possible through a trust created by Melvin and Georgianna Lane, longtime residents of Henderson County. Lyn Fozzard, their daughter, created the Fund in 2000. Her son, Peter Fozzard, oversees and manages it with his brother, Richard, wife Libby and members of the Lane Advisory Board. The program builds capacity and improves operations for human service nonprofits. This is important and necessary work, and CFWNC is honored to support the Lane family in carrying on this legacy.
$178,950 to Center for Domestic Peace for a Grants and Financial Administrator to support government grant processes and allow the Executive Director to focus on community partnerships and programs.
$180,000 to Children & Family Resource Center to hire an Outreach Director to expand program capacity and engage a consultant to develop a longterm fundraising plan.
$180,000 to The Family Place of Transylvania County to hire staff to improve programs and technological capabilities, allowing leadership to focus on outreach and collaboration.
Jackie Latek, Executive Director, The SPARC Foundation
Melvin R. Lane Fund Awards More than $1 Million to Human Service Nonprofits
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Above: Lane Advisory Board members Alex Comfort and Yolanda Bopp, Amber Harrelson-Williams, Jamie Weiner and Virgina Dollar at the Children and Family Resource Center; photo courtesy of CFWNC
In August 2021, as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew from Afghanistan, the U.S. evacuated more than 82,000 people, including U.S. citizens and other vulnerable Afghans. Some evacuees came to the mountains of Western North Carolina, escaping certain persecution and death by the Taliban. When nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) learned in March that these asylum-seekers did not have legal help to navigate the complex U.S. Asylum process, they responded and reached out to CFWNC for emergency funding. CFWNC met Pisgah Legal’s request for legal assistance and translation fees first with a Janirve Sudden and Urgent Needs Grant for $10,000, then another Proactive Human Services Grant of $78,600.
Asylum is the only path to lawful permanent status for many Afghan evacuees, and they must apply within one year of arriving in the U.S. PLS staff and volunteers have been working furiously to give dozens of asylumseekers a chance at the safety and security of permanent U.S. residency. PLS Immigration Attorney Jacob Oakes says, “There are other programs like ours across the country that wanted to help but couldn’t because of the significant cost of translation services. Nobody in this part of the country speaks the languages most common in Afghanistan, Dari and Pashto. This funding enabled us to take on this project and engage translators to make this truly lifesaving legal work possible.”
By Evie Sandlin White
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Naji, his wife and children, ages 2 and 4, were lucky. They made it onto one of the planes bound for the United States last August. But sadly, there is no going back. “After I fled Afghanistan, the Taliban visited my parents and still call my brothers and ask about me,” said Naji. “I fear that if I were to return to Afghanistan, my family and I would not survive a day.”
One client we’ll call “Naji” worked as a dentist in Afghanistan before joining the U.S.-backed Khost Protection Force. He says he always wanted to join the U.S. Army, despite the danger, because he thought it was the best way to help his country. It didn’t take long for word to reach the Taliban. “My elder brother and my father-in-law were told that I would not be spared. In August 2021, I started to receive calls from unknown numbers telling me ‘Your time is up.’”
Attorneys with a cause - Volunteer Attorney Rob Lamb and Jacob Oakes, PLS Immigration Attorney and Program Director of the Justice for All Project; photo courtesy of PLS
Pisgah Legal Services Helps Afghan Asylum-Seekers
• PLS will file asylum applications for 38 Afghan clients (total of 60 people).
• PLS is helping 40 Afghan clients (total of 62 people in households) secure permanent immigration status – asylum or Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status.
PLS staffer Katie Russell Miller, who coordinates dozens of volunteer attorneys, says, “These cases are exceptionally challenging because of the grave danger these clients and their families are in and because of language and cultural barriers. One client’s family is literally receiving handwritten letters from the Taliban, delivered to their house in Afghanistan, threatening to kill him and hurt his family members. Our clients have tremendous fear for the families they had to leave behind, many of whom are hiding in Afghanistan because of threats against them.”
• PLS has provided legal information, advice and/or representation to 53 Afghan clients (92 people in households).
• PLS has engaged interpreters and translators for hundreds of hours of assistance in communicating with Afghan clients.
• Dozens of non-attorney volunteers have been involved, acting as “legal assistants” to intake clients, gather client documents, provide transportation and perform administrative work for this labor-intensive effort.
PLS has provided legal assistance to 53 Afghan newcomers in our community and expects to help 40 evacuees complete applications and navigate their asylum interviews in Arlington, VA. One year after asylum is approved, PLS will help these clients apply for “Green Cards” which will give them lawful permanent residency.
pisgahlegal.org 14
• 34 volunteer attorneys in Asheville, Highlands, Raleigh, Charlotte and Washington, DC, are working to complete asylum applications.
• Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is WNC’s primary provider of free immigration law assistance.
• 37 volunteer attorneys, primarily in Washington, DC, will represent PLS clients at their asylum interviews in Arlington, VA, over the next few months.
She says, “We were compelled to take action and are so grateful that The Community Foundation also recognized the importance of this asylum work. Together we can protect these vulnerable Afghans, many of whom risked everything for our country, and give them a path to live and work here permanently. For our clients whose wives and children remain in danger in Afghanistan, securing asylum is the first step in a long process of applying to bring their families here to reunite and find safety.”
Eliza Faris Ward Family Fund for Single Moms Funds established a time, estate plan, charitable gift trust.
to receive assets at
2022 GIVING BACK
A bequest is the simplest way to leave a legacy to support the issues, organizations or community that mean the most to you.
Bartoli - Zubère Fund
MountainCare Organization Fund
annuity or charitable
Charitable donors to CFWNC have created hundreds of expectancy funds over the years. Many support nonprofits across the region and beyond, and others will in the future. The reasons that people open funds are varied and personal, but generosity and a desire to give back is always at the heart of the decision. FUNDS
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Drs. Joanne and Tom Parker III Foundation Fund
later
Mira-Knippel Family Fund Light Fund And an Anonymous Fund Field of Interest Funds support a broadly-defined area such as the arts, the environment or health.
typically through an
Carolina Mountain Club Endowment Fund Internship Endowment Fund
are
NAACP McDowell County Endowed Scholarship Service Engineer Society Scholarship Superintendent’s Fund Verner Legacy Fund between January 1 and June 30,
Friends + Neighbors + Philanthropists Funds Created
Refrigeration
Judith Carol Beale Fund of the NC Poetry Society
Nonprofit Funds are created to invest and steward a non profit’s long-term endowed assets.
or
Expectancy
EXPECTANCY
MountainCare Adult Day Scholarship Fund
Connie Boylan Fund Melanie Anthony Fund Standaert Family Endowment Fund
Hans and Gretel Timan Scholarship Fund
Porch
Charitable Gift Annuities allow donors to make a future gift and receive income and tax advantages now. Delphia Lamberson Charitable Gift Annuity 2 Designated Funds support specific nonprofits named when the fund is established. Bob Graham Designated Fund Brame-Mattox Designated Charitable Fund 2022 Hembree Designated Fund 2022 Hibbard Philanthropic Fund #6 Sciara Designated Fund 2022 Donor Advised Funds allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit and recommend grants over time.
ThisorganizationsHaywoodhonorbyUniversityWebberThefundDistributionscommunity.fromherbeganthisJuly.FundwillsupportInternational(foundedhergrandparentstoher)anddesignatedCountynonprofit-forever.typeofannualincomefor a nonprofit supports sustainability and helps it to budget and plan for the “Webberfuture. was the second school of business for women in the United States. Camilla’s gift helps students who really need it – 40% of our students receive PELL grants; half are the first in their family to go to college,” said Webber International University President and CEO Dr. H.K. Wade. “Our median debt is $27k – for four years of private, residential college – and many of our kids have jobs before they graduate. Camilla liked that. She didn’t have to work. She worked – at Webber as a secretary and registrar – and, in her later years as a Christmas tree farmer, because she thought people ought to work. It was certainly a different world when Camilla graduated from Webber in the 1940s. The idea that you find something you’re good at and put your all into it, is still very much something we estatehermeaningfultheWebberlegacyCamillateach.”McConnell’swillsupportUniversityandnonprofitsthatweretoherduringlifeinperpetuity.WhilegiftstoCFWNC
Camilla McConnell’s Legacy
Photos courtesy of Webber International University
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fluctuate significantly from year to year, the desire to give back and help others is universal and inspiring. Expectancy funds, like hers, are a statement of trust in CFWNC and a commitment to nonprofits and their futures.
Last year, generous people donated $43 million to CFWNC, the second highest amount ever. “Often in years with higher revenue, CFWNC has received an unusually large gift,” explained Senior Development Officer Becky Davis. “The largest gift that came in last fiscal year was through a bequest. We learned that 35%, or $16.4 million, in estate gifts was received, more than double any recent year on Arecord.”major estate gift flowed into the Camilla McConnell Endowment Fund, created in 1999 and updated in 2014 to reflect her charitable wishes. McConnell lived in Waynesville and cared about her
- Avery County High School
“It’s an absolute highlight of my year to be able to interview these gifted, amazing students, and to know the scholarships through CFWNC are helping them meet challenges ahead and attain successful futures,” said Diane Hagenbuch, scholarship committee member. “The members of our committee work well together to select the student we feel best represents the qualifications outlined, which is not easy given the considerable talent of the students. At the end of the process, we all feel confident that these students are going to be exceptional leaders in the future.”
Paddock Davey - Asheville High School
Alexis Armstrong - Asheville High School
Lawrence Stephenson - Haywood Early College High ZacherySchoolVance
Carley Lawter - Polk County High School
Harper Wilkes - Madison High School
Top recipients are:
Joseph Stanis - Madison Early College High School
Lela French - T.C. Roberson High School
Payton Palmer - Hiawassee Dam High School
Kira Creasman - Andrews High School
CFWNC approved scholarships totaling $516,250 to 90 WNC students in 57 schools in 21 counties. More than 60 volunteers from the community worked to review applications and select recipients. Scholarship endowments can have broad eligibility criteria or focus on a particular school or county or be offered to students pursuing a degree in a stated field or available to those who will attend a designated college or university.
Sareena Patel - Swain County High School
Peighton Robison - Mitchell High School
Taleigh Verrault - Smoky Mountain High School
Susan Zhang - Pisgah High School
A Marilyn and William Lester Scholarship supported Natalie Gabriel’s degree, a BS Environmentalin Science with a minor in Statistics from UNC Chapel Hill. She says, “My positionmethankfulItothinkimprovedchangedexperiencesacademichaveandhowIandattemptsolveproblems.amespeciallythattheyledtomyfirstfull-timeasanAssociate for Sustainable Finance and ESG at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Munich, Germany. In this position, I will be able to pursue my passion for the environment while challenging myself with life abroad. I am very excited for my next adventures and so grateful for the assistance and support.”
Photo courtesy of NatalieGabriel 17
Scholarships Support Student Goals
Sarah Gibby - Robbinsville High School
Hannah Wells - Tuscola High School
Give
CFWNC accepts gifts of cash, appreciated securities, real estate, IRA assets and life insurance. For 2022 charitable giving, gifts of cash should be received or postmarked by Saturday, December 31. If you plan to donate appreciated securities, your gift should be received no later than Friday, December 15, to allow for processing time. To track your contribution, CFWNC needs to know the type of security, number of shares and date of transfer. Finance and Human Resources Officer Naomi Davis (davis@cfwnc.org) can help with this.
or invest in WNC
CFWNC has experience with all types of gifts. To learn more about your options, contact Laura Herndon or Becky Davis. We are here to help.
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Funds Giving Options GIVING We can help. Please call or email us to discuss ways to meet charitableyourgoals. If your year-end goals involve charitable giving, CFWNC is here to help. Our experienced development team will work with you and/or your professional advisor to suggest tax-wise philanthropic options for you and your family. Our process is efficient and confidential. After all, philanthropy is our only business. You can make a one-time gift of any size to support an existing fund or establish a new donor advised fund, designated fund or field of interest fund with a gift of $10,000. You can also choose to create a scholarship or nonprofit organization fund with a minimum of $25,000. A charitable gift annuity allows you to make a substantial gift and receive tax advantages now, and enjoy lifetime annual annuity payments (after age 60) and additional tax benefits for you or a beneficiary.
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Laura Herndon Vice DevelopmentPresident, Beckyherndon@cfwnc.org828-367-9900Davis,CFRE Senior OfficerDevelopment bdavis@cfwnc.org828-367-9905 a Fundholder Regional can help you develop a plan that is personal and effective. A bequest or another planned giving option may be right for you. Now Create a Fund Planned Giving
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CFWNC administers the program, which was established through an agreement between Carolina Power & Light (now Duke Energy) and the State of North Carolina. A $25,000 grant for survey costs supported Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s (SAHC) purchase of the 450-acre Chestnut Mountain property in 2020.
Pigeon River Fund Awards $560,589
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The project paired permanent protection of habitat and water resources with creation of a conservation-friendly, community-centric space. SAHC transferred the property to the Town of Canton in 2022. Located in an important wildlife corridor, the large property includes diverse ecological communities, streams that flow into Hominy Creek, and the top of Chestnut Mountain. A portion was once slated for a motorsports speedway that never developed. Grading work done, however, created space well-suited for mountain bike and hiking trails. The property sits in a significant wildlife corridor identified by The Wildlands Network as important for animal movement and habitat. Its protection will conserve habitat for large mammals such as bear and deer, as well as numerous smaller mammals and species.
CFWNC staff Tara Scholtz and Amber Harrelson-Williams at the Chestnut Mountain Park opening; photo courtesy of CFWNC Cover photo of the Pigeon River in Haywood County by Travis Bordley to E-News, send an email with “subscribe” in the to enews@cfwnc.org.
4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 300 Asheville, NC 28803 Confirmed in compliance with national standards for US Community Foundations cfwnc.org / 828-254-4960
Last fiscal year, the Pigeon River Fund awarded $560,589 to environmental groups working to improve water quality, enhance fish and wildlife habitats and expand public use and access to waterways in Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties. Since 1996, the Pigeon River Fund has distributed more than $8.7 million in grants.
CFWNC
chestnutmountainnaturepark.com appalachian.org
