W C and Stella B Hennessee

Prescott Family Charitable Trust

Sylva, NC

Laird Youth Leadership Foundation Inc

River Falls, WI

The foundation funds organizations working in food security, children’s health and mental health, education and mentorship, family support, and the arts. In 2025, it made 13 grants of $2,500–$10,000, with a median of $5,000, primarily to recipients in Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as North Carolina, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; contact the foundation to ask about applying.

WNC Bridge Foundation

Asheville, NC

WNC Bridge Foundation funds nonprofits advancing basic needs, mental health, and youth development in Western North Carolina’s 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $500,000, with a median award of $10,000. The profile describes grant cycles but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Ella and Les Swindell Foundation

Mebane, NC

The Ella and Les Swindell Foundation supports charitable organizations, with its 2025 grants listed for educational services and recipients working in areas including hunger relief, recovery, and animal welfare. Grants ranged from $500 to $4,500, with a median of $1,625; most funding went to North Carolina, with additional grants in several other states. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Nantahala Health Foundation

Franklin, NC

Nantahala Health Foundation funds health and well-being initiatives, with a current emphasis on youth and young adults as well as support for food security and disaster recovery. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $100,000, with a median of $12,500, and its service area is Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina.

Community Foundation for RockbridgeBath & Allegh

Lexington, VA

The Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany funds community development and a range of local charitable projects in those Virginia counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,250 to $468,552, with a median of $9,750; qualified organizations may apply through its annual grant cycle, so unsolicited requests are accepted through that process.

DWB Family Foundation

Denver, CO

The DWB Family Foundation supports a broad range of charitable work, including veteran services, food assistance, youth, literacy, conservation, health, fitness, animal welfare, and community programs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,200 to $53,000, with a median of $13,250; Colorado received 60% of grant dollars, with the rest going to organizations in several other states. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation Inc

Highlands, NC

The foundation funds health and well-being programs, including healthcare access, behavioral and mental health, emergency services, and related community needs, with emphasis on six western North Carolina counties and the Highlands–Cashiers area. In 2024, grants ranged from $7,390 to $533,707, with a median of $15,000. Its general grant program is described as open, but the information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Duke Energy Foundation

Charlotte, NC

The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce development, local economic development and recovery, disaster resilience, conservation, and economic opportunity in communities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. It reports more than $30 million in annual charitable grants; awards vary widely, with a 2024 median of $25,000, and applications of $20,000 or less are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants should contact their local Foundation representative before applying.

The Grace Curtis & Priscilla O'Hara Foundation Inc

Lorton, VA

The foundation supports preselected charities in areas including military and veterans’ services, international aid and health, education and research, and food assistance, with grants ranging from $500 to $78,000 and a median award of $5,000 in 2024. Its grants went to organizations across the U.S., with the largest shares in Ohio and Virginia; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Manna Food Bank Inc

Mills River, NC

MANNA Food Bank funds food access and hunger-relief work, including support for food-related organizations and local farms, primarily in Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary. In 2025, its 51 grants ranged from $5,600 to $65,000, with a median of about $49,000. It describes an application process for food-bank partner agencies, but no unsolicited grant-request process is stated.

The Community Foundation

Asheville, NC

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina funds nonprofits and public agencies working in cultural resources, education, human services and natural resources, with some programs also accepting faith communities. Grants serve 18 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary; the median 2025 grant was $25,000, and the Human Services and Education program offers up to $25,000. Application access and deadlines vary by program; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.