Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Cherokee, North Carolina, formed in 2001. It describes its work as protecting and preserving Native culture and enhancing the quality of life and overall well-being of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and neighbors in western North Carolina. The foundation works as a grantmaker, convener, partnership broker, and community builder, and maintains a collection of cultural artwork for future generations.
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc gave $5.5M across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $248K), mostly in North Carolina. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,452,336
- -1.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- Average grant
- $247,833
- Median grant
- $114,775
- Total assets
- $70,707,943
- +9.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (6 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- 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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 504, Cherokee, NC 28719
Phone: (828) 497-5500
Website: https://cherokeepreservationgdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cherokee Boys Club ($1.7M across 5 grants). Together the top 10 received $5.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 80 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina. The foundation’s stated mission names the EBCI and neighbors in western North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 18 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $108K; repeat grants $400K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $161K repeat.
- Giving grew 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 $2.2M (2021) to $5.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $5.5M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ebci Division of Commerce Cherokee, NC | Economic Development | $1,075,000 |
| Cherokee Boys Club Cherokee, NC | Enviromental Preservation | $975,000 |
| Cherokee Historical Association Cherokee, NC | Economic Development | $698,000 |
| The Sequoyah Fund Inc Cherokee, NC | Economic Development | $533,181 |
| Museum of the Cherokee Cherokee, NC | Economic Development | $500,000 |
| Cherokee Boys Club Cherokee, NC | Cultural Preservation | $336,872 |
| WCU Cherokee Studies Cullowhee, NC | Cultural Preservation | $223,014 |
| Western Region Edu SRV Alliance Asheville, NC | Economic Development | $206,855 |
| Cherokee Boys Club Cherokee, NC | Cultural Preservation | $198,924 |
| Cherokee Boys Club Cherokee, NC | Cultrual Preservation | $133,329 |
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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 | $70,707,943 | $9,791,468 | $7,064,310 | $5,452,336 | 22 | $2,291,468 |
| 2024 | $64,642,542 | $8,773,087 | $6,788,395 | $5,523,636 | Total only | $1,188,658 |
| 2023 | $54,294,045 | $8,618,882 | $6,370,951 | $4,985,836 | 29 | $1,118,882 |
| 2022 | $44,946,148 | $9,326,190 | $4,105,873 | $3,213,039 | 29 | $1,826,190 |
| 2021 | $54,218,085 | $8,542,068 | $3,396,875 | $2,193,589 | Total only | $1,041,437 |
| 2020 | $45,131,799 | $8,122,468 | $5,015,222 | $3,752,118 | 33 | $610,696 |
| 2019 | $39,622,073 | $7,506,819 | $6,579,065 | $5,240,925 | 33 | $6,819 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “to protect and preserve our Native culture” and enhance the quality of life and overall well-being of the EBCI and its neighbors in western North Carolina.
Its 2025 grants included awards for economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental preservation. Among the organizations it supported, The Sequoyah Fund says it serves the economic and social improvement of the EBCI. The Museum of the Cherokee People describes its mission as preserving and perpetuating Cherokee history, culture, and stories. Snowbird Cherokee Traditions Corporation says it works to ensure the survival and advancement of Cherokee culture, language, and history. The Center for Native Health says it integrates community-based traditional knowledge into Native health care and education and promotes wellness and balance for Indigenous peoples.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $5,452,336. Grant amounts ranged from $7,860 to $1,075,000, with a median of $114,775.
The largest reported awards included $1,075,000 to EBCI Division of Commerce for economic development; $975,000 to Cherokee Boys Club for environmental preservation; $698,000 to Cherokee Historical Association for economic development; $533,181 to The Sequoyah Fund for economic development; and $500,000 to Museum of the Cherokee for economic development. Other listed awards included $223,014 to WCU Cherokee Studies for cultural preservation and $114,300 to The Center of Native Health for environmental preservation.
No application process, materials, restrictions, or deadline are stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bobbie Raines as executive director. Listed directors and board members are Ty Boyd, Debora Forest, Janell Rattler, Richie Sneed (EBCI Principal Chief), Catcuce Tiger (board member, chief appointed), Melissa Smith (board member, chief appointed), April Ross (board member, RNSchool Nurse), David Anderson (board member, chairman), and Louise Goings.
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc is led by Bobbie Raines, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bobbie Raines
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$151K (2019) → $296K (2025)
David Anderson
Board Member-Chairman
Board Member → Board Member-Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
April Ross
Board Member-Rnschool Nurse
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catcuce Tiger
Board Member-Chief Apointed
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Smith
Board Member-Chief Appointed
Board Member-Chief Apointed → Board Member-Chief Appointed, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richie Sneed
Ebci Principal Chief
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janell Rattler
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louise Goings
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ty Boyd
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debora Forest
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard French
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Debora Foerst (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Adam Wachacha (2019–2022) — Ebci Tribal Council Chair
- Former: Danny Burns (2019–2022) — Board Member-Chairman
- Former: Ronnie Beale (2019–2022) — Board Member-Commissioner
- Former: Ty Bord (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Gil Jackson (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Jane Ferguson (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Cooper (2019–2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $296K, to Bobbie Raines (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc
How much does Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc give each year?
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc gave $5.5M across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it reported $5.5M in grants paid.
What is Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $114,775, and its average grant was $247,833, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc that year got $108K on average.
Where does Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc give grants?
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc 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 Cherokee, NC (13 grants), Asheville, NC (3 grants) and Bryson City, NC (2 grants).
Does Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Economic Development" (9 grants), "Cultural Preservation" (6 grants) and "Enviromental Preservation" (4 grants).
Who are Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Cherokee Boys Club ($1,664,090 across 5 grants), Ebci Division of Commerce ($1,075,000) and Cherokee Historical Association ($698,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc?
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc reported $70.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.8M.
What does Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to protect and preserve our Native culture” and enhance the quality of life and overall well-being of the EBCI and its neighbors in western North Carolina. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc?
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cherokeepreservationgdn.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc's EIN?
Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2272253. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 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 August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 25, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cherokee-preservation-foundation-inc-morg_3f262d30f506405a825df97f644de622
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_562272253_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cherokee-preservation-foundation-inc-morg_3f262d30f506405a825df97f644de622},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Cherokee Preservation Foundation Inc'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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