The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina is an Asheville-based nonprofit established in 1978. It works with individuals, families and corporations to create and manage charitable funds, and makes grants to nonprofits and public agencies serving Western North Carolina’s 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary.
Key facts about The Community Foundation
In short: The Community Foundation gave $59.4M across 793 grants in 2025 (avg $75K), mostly in North Carolina. 45% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 56-1223384
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $59,393,771
- Grants made (2025)
- 793
- Average grant
- $74,898
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (355 of 791, 2025)
- Total assets
- $481,026,894
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Review the description for the relevant grant program before starting an application. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$481.0M
+10.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$59.4M
+235.2% YoY
Grant Count
793
+54.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$75K
+117.3% YoY
Is The Community Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 355 of 791 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $66K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $31K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to “inspire philanthropy and mobilize resources to enrich lives and communities throughout the region.” It focuses discretionary resources on Cultural Resources, Education, Human Services and Natural Resources. Its stated Human Services goal is to help everyone in Western North Carolina meet their basic needs.
Eligible recipients vary by program and include 501(c)(3) organizations, public agencies and, for Human Services grants, faith communities. The Foundation’s 2025 grants included support for organizations working in food access, religion, housing, entrepreneurship, education, conservation, legal assistance, health and the arts. For example, MANNA FoodBank describes its mission as working to end hunger in Western North Carolina; Mountain BizWorks says it aims to build a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial community; and Pisgah Legal Services says it pursues justice for low-income people through legal assistance and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 793 grants totaling $59,393,771. Awards ranged from $5,240 to $3,940,967, with a median grant of $25,000. Separately, the Foundation reports that it distributed $69 million in Fiscal Year 2025 to hundreds of nonprofit organizations in the region and beyond.
Review Cycle
vary by program.
Open Grants
31 open opportunities from The Community Foundation
Asheville Merchants Fund Grant
The Community Foundation
Amount
Up to US $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Asheville Wilbert Vault Service Scholarship Grant
The Community Foundation
Amount
US $4,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Asheville Young Woman Leadership Award Grant
The Community Foundation
Amount
US $1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with The Community Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated service area is 18 Western North Carolina counties—Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey—and the Qualla Boundary. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to North Carolina recipients (93%); the listed other recipient states were Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Minnesota, each at 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 793 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
2,761 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MANNA FOODBANK Mills River, NC | ASSISTING PEOPLE IN NEED | $3,940,967 |
| NORTH CAROLINA SYNOD Salisbury, NC | RELIGION | $2,025,000 |
| ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC Asheville, NC | BUILDING COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC VITALITY | $2,021,538 |
| ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN MINISTRY (ABCCM) Arden, NC | ASSISTING PEOPLE IN NEED | $1,974,905 |
| NORTH CAROLINA BAPTIST MEN Cary, NC | RELIGION | $1,525,000 |
| MOUNTAIN BIZWORKS (MOUNTAIN BIZCAPITAL INC) Asheville, NC | BUILDING COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC VITALITY | $1,151,250 |
| WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA REGIONAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION (WRESA) Asheville, NC | IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES | $1,059,800 |
| GEORGIA TECH FOUNDATION Atlanta, GA | IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES | $750,000 |
| SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY Asheville, NC | ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT | $714,320 |
| PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES Asheville, NC | ASSISTING PEOPLE IN NEED | $646,034 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $481,026,894 | $87,667,848 | $67,270,337 | $59,393,771 |
| 2024 | $434,889,192 | $25,935,032 | $24,774,631 | $17,719,393 |
| 2023 | $407,823,068 | $31,983,295 | $25,282,173 | $18,520,213 |
The Foundation reported $510.6 million in assets as of March 2026. Its filing type is 990T.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $481,026,894 | $434,889,192 | $407,823,068 |
| Revenue | $87,667,848 | $25,935,032 | $31,983,295 |
| Expenses | $67,270,337 | $24,774,631 | $25,282,173 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $16,131,557 | $10,748,840 | $8,393,675 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Elizabeth K. Brazas as president and Juanita Wilson, Harris M. Livingstain, Sharon Fouts Taylor, Michael Fields, Natalie N. Bailey, Scott Peterson, Ellen O. Carr, Milton Butterworth and J. Chris Smith as directors. The Foundation’s grant information identifies Tara Scholtz as Vice President, Programs, and Diane Crisp as Senior Grants Manager.
The Community Foundation is led by Elizabeth K. Brazas, President on every filing since 2021; 8 of 28 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth K. Brazas
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$265K (2021) → $344K (2025)
Joanne Badr
Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen O. Carr
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean McLaughlin
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Juanita Wilson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Fields
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natalie N. Bailey
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Himanshu Karvir
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Fouts Taylor
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yolanda Fair
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carter B. Webb
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harris M. Livingstain
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carla Barnard
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Constance M. Haire
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Chris Smith
Director
Chairperson → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Milton Butterworth
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn M. Wilson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew T. Lee
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Peterson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Graham Keever
Assistant Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer → Assistant Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$165K (2021) → $231K (2025)
Janet Sharp
Assistant Treasurer
Staff Accountant & Assistant → Staff Accountant, 2022
Staff Accountant → Assistant Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$67K (2021) → $94K (2025)
Julie D. Klipp
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Chief Operating Officer, 2022
Chief Operating Officer → Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$127K (2021) → $164K (2025)
Naomi Davis
Assistant Treasurer
Accounting Associate & Assistant → Finance & Hr Officer, 2022
Finance & Hr Officer → Assistant Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$70K (2021) → $98K (2025)
Philip P. Belcher
Vice President Programs
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$131K (2021) → $158K (2025)
Laura Herndon
Vice President & Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$130K (2025)
Melissa Crouse
Assistant Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$54K (2025)
Francisco Castelblanco
Vice Chair & Secretary
Director → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather P. Norton
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Caroline M. Avery (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Joanne Badr Morgan (2021–2024) — Vice Chairperson
- Former: Scott Shealy (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Virgina L. Dollar (2021–2024) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Laura Herndon-Key Employee (2022–2024) — Vice President & Development
- Former: Connie Haire (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: J. Chris Smtih (2021–2023) — Chairperson
- Former: Susan Jenkins (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: William Clarke (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Sarah Sparboe Thornburg (2021–2022) — Chairperson
- Former: Stephanie Norris Kiser (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Charles Frederick (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Guadalupe Chavarria II (2021) — Director
- Former: Sheryl L. Aikman (2021) — Former Vice President of Development & Assistant
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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
Contact
Mailing address: 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive Suite 300, Asheville, NC 28803
Phone: (828) 254-4960
Website: https://cfwnc.org
Frequently asked questions about The Community Foundation
How much does The Community Foundation give each year?
The Community Foundation gave $59.4M across 793 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $17.7M across 514 grants.
What is The Community Foundation's typical grant size?
The Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $74,898, across 793 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Community Foundation that year got $66K on average.
Where does The Community Foundation give grants?
The Community Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (191 grants), Hendersonville, NC (37 grants), Burnsville, NC (24 grants) and Brevard, NC (21 grants).
Does The Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 793 grants with a stated purpose on The Community Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Assisting People in Need" (208 grants), "Building Community & Economic Vitality" (138 grants) and "Improving Educational Opportunities" (130 grants).
Who are The Community Foundation's largest grantees?
The Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Manna Foodbank ($3,940,967), North Carolina Synod ($2,025,000) and Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity International Inc ($2,021,538), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Community Foundation?
The Community Foundation reported $481.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $87.7M.
What does The Community Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to “inspire philanthropy and mobilize resources to enrich lives and communities throughout the region.” It focuses discretionary resources on Cultural Resources, Education, Human Services and Natural Resources. Its stated Human Services goal is to help everyone in Western North Carolina meet their basic needs. Eligible recipients vary by program and include 501(c)(3) organizations, public agencies and, for Human Services grants, faith communities. The Foundation’s 20…
How do I apply for a grant from The Community Foundation?
Review the description for the relevant grant program before starting an application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Community Foundation's EIN?
The Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1223384. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Community Foundation by hand.
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The Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?