Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation
The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation is a public charity based in Asheville, North Carolina. Formed in 1991, it supports programs and grants connected to workforce development, entrepreneurship, industry growth, business recovery, and community initiatives.
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation at a glance
In short: Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation gave $2.1M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $172K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,062,348
- +175.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $171,862
- +244.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $2,326,738
- +25.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation
- How to Apply
For the special local nonprofit grants described in the filing, organizations were invited to apply earlier in the year; applications were reviewed by a committee, with recipients selected through committee scoring and…
For the special local nonprofit grants described in the filing, organizations were invited to apply earlier in the year; applications were reviewed by a committee, with recipients selected through committee scoring and a public vote.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1010, Asheville, NC 28802
Phone: (828) 258-6119
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mountain BizCapital Inc ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 34 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in North Carolina. The foundation’s filing describes Optimist Ventures as serving growth ventures based in western North Carolina and reports support for regional businesses and chambers.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $404K (2023) to $2.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BizCapital Inc Asheville, NC | Operating Support | $1,098,635 |
| Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Inc Asheville, NC | Economic Development Activity & PCI Fund | $773,113 |
| Asheville Tea Company Asheville, NC | Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program providing assistance to western NC organizations | $25,000 |
| Matcha Nude Arden, NC | Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program providing assistance to western NC organizations | $25,000 |
| Carolina Flowers LLC Asheville, NC | Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program providing assistance to western NC organizations | $25,000 |
| Online Training Concepts Asheville, NC | Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program providing assistance to western NC organizations | $25,000 |
| French Broad Pantry LLC Asheville, NC | Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program providing assistance to western NC organizations | $25,000 |
| Dare Vegan Cheese LLC Weaverville, NC | Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program providing assistance to western NC organizations | $25,000 |
| Legally Addictive Foods LLC Weaverville, NC | Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program providing assistance to western NC organizations | $25,000 |
| Greater Haywood Chamber of Commerce Waynesville, NC | Operating Support | $5,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,326,738 | $2,585,458 | $2,495,076 | $2,062,348 | 12 | $44,714 |
| 2024 | $1,855,987 | $1,110,442 | $1,260,699 | $749,435 | 15 | $34,250 |
| 2023 | $2,151,279 | $3,782,364 | $4,013,723 | $403,774 | 1 | $21,707 |
| 2022 | $2,704,997 | $6,607,474 | $6,589,290 | $527,273 | 3 | $1,942 |
| 2021 | $2,583,932 | $6,471,789 | $5,587,769 | $457,962 | 3 | $1,380 |
| 2020 | $977,915 | $508,643 | $474,379 | $408,984 | 1 | $4,270 |
| 2019 | $1,160,798 | $525,568 | $555,955 | $484,501 | 1 | $4,715 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states its mission as: “Develop and accelerate growth & employment opportunities for the community.”
Its reported programs include workforce preparedness and development; entrepreneur and startup development; recruitment of new industry; expansion of existing industry; and research. Optimist Ventures offers startup funding and education through a 12-week accelerator for long-term growth ventures based in western North Carolina. The foundation reported serving seven ventures in fiscal year 2025, with a $50,000 package comprising a $25,000 grant and a $25,000 investment.
The foundation also reported raising and distributing $1,162,685 through the Mountain Strong Fund for Business Recovery to more than 55 small businesses and 16 regional chambers of commerce following Hurricane Helene. Other reported activities include support for traditional mountain music and dance, and advertising benefits and Asheville Chamber memberships for 15 businesses owned by people of color through the People’s Community and Inclusion Initiative.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $2,062,348. Grant amounts ranged from $5,100 to $1,098,635, with a median grant of $25,000.
The largest reported grants were $1,098,635 to Mountain BizCapital Inc. for operating support and $773,113 to Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Inc. for economic development activity and the PCI Fund. Seven businesses received $25,000 each for the Optimist Ventures Accelerator Grant Program, which provides assistance to western North Carolina organizations. Three regional chambers received operating support: Greater Haywood Chamber of Commerce and Henderson County Chamber of Commerce Incorporated received $5,250 each, and Burke County Chamber of Commerce received $5,100.
Mountain BizCapital describes its mission as building a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial community in western North Carolina. The foundation’s filing also describes a selection process for 11 local nonprofit grants: organizations were invited to apply, a committee of business leaders reviewed applications, and recipients were selected through committee scoring and a public vote.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ben Hamrick as Treasurer and John FAV Cecil as Chair. Board members listed are Austin Walker, Carolyn Coward, Dana Stonestreet, Himanshu Karvir, Janice Brumit, Kevin Hefner, Laura Webb, and Robert C Roberts.
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation is led by John F A V Cecil, Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 16 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John F A V Cecil
Chair
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2020
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Hamrick
Treasurer
Treasurer → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Coward
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Stonestreet
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Himanshu Karvir
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janice Brumit
Board Member
Chairman → Chair, 2020
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Cramer
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert C Roberts
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Deferie
Board Member
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
W. Louis Bissette Jr.
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William A. V. Cecil Jr.
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Webb
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Austin Walker
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terri King
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Hefner
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sabrina Rockoff
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Tracy Buchanan (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: John Winkenwerder (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Meguiar (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kit Cramer (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Alice Oglesby (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: K. Ray Bailey (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Lavoy Spooner (2019) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation
How much does Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation give each year?
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation gave $2.1M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $749K across 15 grants.
What is Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's typical grant size?
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $171,862, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation give grants?
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (6 grants) and Weaverville, NC (2 grants).
Does Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's largest grantees?
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mountain BizCapital Inc ($1,098,635), Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Inc ($773,113) and Asheville Tea Company ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation?
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.
What does Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation fund?
The foundation states its mission as: “Develop and accelerate growth & employment opportunities for the community.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation?
For the special local nonprofit grants described in the filing, organizations were invited to apply earlier in the year; applications were reviewed by a committee, with recipients selected through committee scoring and… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's EIN?
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1762978. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/asheville-area-chamber-of-commerce-community-betterment-foundation-morg_524312c4ba14478b905be92ea71e7d1b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561762978_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/asheville-area-chamber-of-commerce-community-betterment-foundation-morg_524312c4ba14478b905be92ea71e7d1b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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