WNC Bridge Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and grantmaking foundation headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina. The organization serves as a community-based philanthropic entity focused on health and wellness initiatives across Western North Carolina. In addition to grantmaking, WNC Bridge Foundation operates a thrift store and estate sales services that generate revenue to support its mission.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$128.6M
+0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+37.1% YoY
Grant Count
138
+137.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
-42.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To provide funds to assist in meeting the health challenges of people in the communities of Western North Carolina and to empower nonprofits to impact individual and community wellness in those communities.
Goal: To be a catalyst for change in Western North Carolina by eliminating barriers that prevent individuals from reaching their full potential.
Core Values:
- Collaboration
- Excellence
- Equality
- Optimism
- Openness
- Action
Strategic Focus Areas:
WNC Bridge Foundation prioritizes funding in the following areas:
- Basic Needs: Fresh food access, prepared meals, healthcare, home and property repair, and transportation
- Youth Development: Mental and emotional support for children, academic support for K-12 students, child welfare, and family support
- Mental Health: Community outreach and access to mental health services (recovery and substance abuse-focused organizations are not eligible)
- Safe Housing and Food Insecurity
- Health Scholarships
The foundation also recognizes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as integral to its work and actively supports these principles through fundraising, grantmaking, retail operations, and administrative policies.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
and quick turnaround time. Organizations awarded 2026 IMPACT Grants are not eligible for 2026 NOW Grant funding.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WNC Bridge Foundation serves eighteen counties in Western North Carolina across a 7,439 square-mile service area. All eighteen counties in the service area are designated by the federal government as medically underserved. The region is characterized by mountainous, rugged, and remote terrain lacking rail service or other reliable transport infrastructure.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $128,597,202
- Total Revenues: $11,836,735
- Total Expenses: $9,097,750
- Number of Employees: 43
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $127,000,000
- Total Revenues: $4,460,000
- Total Expenses: $8,050,000
- Total Liabilities: $11,200,000
Revenue Sources: The organization generates revenue through thrift store operations and estate sales commissions. In 2024, thrift store revenue was $1,142,839 with cost of goods sold of $288,661.
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since August 2004. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $128,597,202 | $127,467,872 | $118,883,660 |
| Revenue | $11,836,735 | $4,463,165 | $5,813,436 |
| Expenses | $9,097,750 | $8,053,497 | $8,723,889 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $9,523,863 | $2,390,504 | $3,551,057 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Wnc Bridge Foundation
AIM Grants (Special Initiative Grants)
WNC BRIDGE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Outreach Grants
WNC BRIDGE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Health Scholarships
WNC BRIDGE FOUNDATION
Amount
$1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Zach Levin – Chief Executive Officer (joined November 2025)
Jessica Bentley – Vice President of Finance
Skip Wade – Director of Retail Operations
Kerry Friedman – Board Member (recognized for outstanding service in February 2026)
Liz Cozart – Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT W BUCHANAN | CEO & PRESIDENT | 40 | $215,141 |
| DAVID W HART | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| MATT GROOME CPA CFP QPFC | CHAIR-ELECT | 2 | — |
| GAY P VINSON | PAST-CHAIR | 2 | — |
| KERRY FRIEDMAN JD | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| DAVID L HAYES | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| ELIZABETH COZART | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EUGENE EDWARDS JR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JUDY FUTCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DONNA HASTIE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN BAXTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEAN LEE JD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM N LEWIN CPA CGMA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RENDI MANN-STADT JD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAJANE MELTON MHS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE METZGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LOWELL PEARLMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LARY A SCHULHOF MD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATE VOGEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALLISON KRIVATCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN PIERCE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WINFIELD WORD-SIMS MD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HAIZE LEWIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JESSICA BENTLEY | VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE | 40 | $117,744 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**CEO Announcement:** WNC Bridge Foundation CEO announced retirement (announcement date referenced in early 2026)
NOW Grants - WNC Bridge Foundation**Board Recognition:** Kerry Friedman recognized for outstanding service as outgoing board member (February 2026)
**Community Support:** WNC Greatest Needs Fund brought assistance to Macon County families (February 2026)
**Youth Programs:** PATH Programs supporting youth wellness initiatives
**Pathways Collaborative:** WNC Bridge Foundation joined the Pathways Collaborative
NOW Grants - WNC Bridge Foundation**Five-Year Milestone:** Foundation celebrated five years of being "the bridge" in the community, with annual report available
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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