Asheville Poverty Initiative
The mission of Asheville Poverty Initiative is to build community and educate about the realities of poverty.
Asheville Poverty Initiative at a glance
- Total assets
- $686,666
- +37.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $604,660
- +10.1% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $12,326
- +37.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $412,399
- +26.3% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Asheville Poverty Initiative funds
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 1 grant totaling $6K.
Ready to take the next step with Asheville Poverty Initiative?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $686,666 | $604,660 | $412,399 | — | — | $12,326 |
| 2024 | $499,950 | $548,987 | $326,429 | — | — | $8,995 |
| 2023 | $268,588 | $216,222 | $197,647 | — | — | $4,920 |
| 2022 | — | $175,151 | $181,182 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | $163,398 | $193,477 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $282,576 | $330,160 | $165,217 | $5,837 | 1 | $531 |
About Asheville Poverty Initiative
Based on IRS filings
Asheville Poverty Initiative is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Asheville, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $687K in total assets. Net investment income was $12K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Asheville Poverty Initiative is led by Ben Williamson, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ben Williamson
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$71K (2024) → $86K (2025)
Kimberleigh Wells
Board Chair
Member → Co-Chair, 2022
Co-Chair → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
TJ Amos
Board Member
Member → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$506 (2024) → $0 (2025)
Shaad Bellamy
Board Member - Left Mid-Year
Board Member → Board Member - Left Mid-Year, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$2K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Philip Leonard
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Buchanan
Secretary
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Leventer
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shunyu Huang
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Taija Ventrella
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andy Thomas
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anson Cooke
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kyle Yoder
Incoming Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslee Johnson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Micah Blaise
Board Member - Left Mid-Year
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Sparks
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Melissa Harris (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Poulos (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Frances E Wilson (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Emily Fox (2021–2022) — Co-Director to
- Former: Melva Lowry (2021–2022) — Co-Director
- Former: Shannon D Specer (2020–2021) — Prior Director
- Former: Samantha Gonzalez-Block (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $86K, to Ben Williamson (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Asheville Poverty Initiative
How large is Asheville Poverty Initiative?
Asheville Poverty Initiative reported $687K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $605K.
What is Asheville Poverty Initiative?
Asheville Poverty Initiative is a public charity focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in Asheville, NC. It holds $687K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Asheville Poverty Initiative operate?
Asheville Poverty Initiative has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is Asheville Poverty Initiative's EIN?
Asheville Poverty Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0757744. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 3, 2021)
Live grants for the work Asheville Poverty Initiative funds
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Asheville Poverty Initiative's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in North Carolina
State Employees Credit Union Foundation
Raleigh, NC
The foundation funds capital projects, regional or statewide programs, and organizational capacity building that strengthen North Carolina communities; it favors projects with broad or replicable impact and does not fund operating budgets or shortfalls. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,250 to $1 million, with a median of $2,500. Applications are accepted at any time and typically reviewed semiannually.
Assets
$61.0M
Grants
1,806
Total Given
$17.4M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Foundation For The Carolinas funds education and youth development, environmental and wildlife work, health and human services, and animal welfare, with a reported median grant of $25,000 in 2024. Its competitive programs focus on Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Carolinas, and specific local communities, while donor-advised funds may support eligible nonprofits more broadly; it accepts applications for some competitive grants, but most grants are recommended by fund advisors and have no application process.
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
Dogwood Health Trust
Asheville, NC
Dogwood Health Trust funds work in housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness that improves wellbeing in Western North Carolina, including its 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $21 million, with a median of $37,500; application requirements vary by funding opportunity.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
835
Total Given
$148.2M
The Winston-Salem Foundation
Winston-Salem, NC
The Winston-Salem Foundation funds charitable organizations serving Forsyth County, North Carolina, across areas including education, housing, economic opportunity, civic engagement, arts, health, and human services. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000; specific programs offer grants ranging from small grants of up to $2,000 to capital grants of up to $100,000. The profile describes application-based programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$630.1M
Grants
823
Total Given
$90.4M
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc
Asheville, NC
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina funds nonprofits and public agencies serving 18 Western North Carolina counties, including the Qualla Boundary, in areas such as cultural resources, education, human services, and natural resources. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though award sizes varied widely; some local opportunities cap grants at $5,000 or $7,500. It provides an online application system, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$481.0M
Grants
793
Total Given
$59.4M
North Carolina Community Foundation Inc
Raleigh, NC
The North Carolina Community Foundation supports charitable organizations and community programs in areas such as human services, education, youth development, health, food and nutrition, and the arts. Its typical grant was $15,000 in 2025; it serves communities statewide, with an emphasis on rural North Carolina, and accepts applications through specific affiliate, giving-circle, and other grant programs.
Assets
$569.1M
Grants
732
Total Given
$30.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Asheville Poverty Initiative'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.
Asheville Poverty Initiative down — hundreds of funders to go?