[Community Foundation of Western North Carolina](https://cfwnc.org)

April 1, 2027 (full application due by 5 p.m.; next business day if on weekend/holiday)

$2,500–$10,000 per grant; funds typically spent within 10 months of award

Supports charitable projects delivering significant benefit to the Highlands, NC community.

--- ## Description The Highlands Community Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, provides competitive grants to nonprofit and public organizations for projects that offer substantial and lasting benefits to the Highlands, NC community. The fund emphasizes proposals that demonstrate the greatest positive impact, with a focus on community needs, innovation, and measurable outcomes. Grants are reviewed by an advisory committee and are intended to strengthen local charitable organizations and address evolving community priorities. --- ## Due Dates - April 1, 2027: Grant application deadline (full application due by 5 p.m.; if the date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is 5 p.m. the next business day) --- ## Funding Amount - Typical grant awards range from **$2,500 to $10,000**. - Grant funds are generally expected to be spent within **10 months** of the award. - Funds are distributed by electronic funds transfer (EFT) by the end of September each year. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be qualified **501(c)(3) nonprofit, governmental, educational, or religious organizations** serving the Highlands community. - Organizations must be established in or actively serving Highlands, NC. - Only one application per organization (including fiscal sponsors) per year is allowed. - All previous Highlands Community Fund grantees must have submitted required end-of-grant reports before reapplying. - Ineligible requests include: scholarships, annual giving campaigns, endowment funds, deficit funding/debt retirement, sectarian religious or partisan political purposes, festivals/one-time events, private school projects (unless addressing broader community needs), private clubs, or activities/expenses incurred before grant decisions. --- ## Application Process 1. **Consultation (Optional):** - Contact the Senior Program Officer ([Virginia Dollar](mailto:dollar@cfwnc.org), 828-367-9907) with questions about eligibility or proposal ideas. 2. **Online Application:** - Submit your application through the [CFWNC online grants system](https://cfwnc.org/grants/about-grants/online-application). - For technical assistance, contact [Diane Crisp](mailto:crisp@cfwnc.org), Senior Grants Manager, 828-367-9904. - Applicants will receive an email confirmation upon submission. 3. **Review Process:** - Staff review for completeness and eligibility. - Advisory committee evaluates proposals based on alignment with priorities and community benefit. - Grant payments require current banking information for EFT. 4. **Reporting:** - Grantees must submit an end-of-grant report online to verify use of funds and outcomes. - Additional reports or site visits may be required. --- ## Additional Information - The advisory committee may modify guidelines or make exceptions in consultation with CFWNC staff. - For examples of funded projects, see [recent grants](https://cfwnc.org/affiliates/highlands-community-fund/recent-grants). - For more details and the latest updates, visit the [program guidelines](https://cfwnc.org/grants/highlands-community-fund). --- ## External Links - [Highlands Community Fund Program Page](https://cfwnc.org/grants/highlands-community-fund) - [Online Application Portal](https://cfwnc.org/grants/about-grants/online-application) - [Recent Grants](https://cfwnc.org/affiliates/highlands-community-fund/recent-grants) - [Community Foundation of Western North Carolina](https://cfwnc.org) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Role | Email | Phone | |--------------------|-------------------------|------------------------------|--------------| | Virginia Dollar | Senior Program Officer | [dollar@cfwnc.org](mailto:dollar@cfwnc.org) | 828-367-9907 | | Diane Crisp | Senior Grants Manager | [crisp@cfwnc.org](mailto:crisp@cfwnc.org) | 828-367-9904 | | General Inquiries | - | [info@cfwnc.org](mailto:info@cfwnc.org) | (828) 254-4960 | ---

Highlands Community Fund

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