WNC Communities empowers the people of Western North Carolina to cultivate the vitality and prosperity of mountain communities through collaboration and agricultural opportunities. This mission is accomplished through a program of work focused on community development, agriculture revenue, and forest health.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$178K
Grant Count
1
Avg Grant Size
$178K
About WNC Communities
Based on IRS filings
WNC Communities is a nonprofit organization focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in ASHEVILLE, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grants totaling $178K. Net investment income was $54K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,828,084 | $3,818,190 | $3,870,797 |
| Revenue | $2,021,113 | $1,606,254 | $2,495,883 |
| Expenses | $2,121,140 | $1,716,675 | $1,956,526 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $54,056 | $5,885 | $9,703 |
| 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 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from WNC Communities
George H.V. Cecil Scholarship (Journey Scholarship)
WNC Communities
Amount
Four-year renewable scholarship (amount not specified)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
WNC Honors Program - Annual Cash Awards
WNC Communities
Amount
$730 per community, plus additional awards up to $2,000 for Best in Class
Deadline
August 6, 2026
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Haywood County Schools ($177,818).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Haywood County Schools Waynesville, NC | Tuscola High FAA facility and grounds | $177,818 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer L Ferre | Executive Director | 40 | $76,098 |
| K Ray Bailey | President Emeritus | 2 | — |
| LT Ward | Member | 5 | — |
| Dean Kanipe | President | 2 | — |
| Jimmy Cowan | Chair | 2 | — |
| Karen Hammett | 1st Vice Chair | 2 | — |
| Craig DeBrew | 2nd Vice Chair | 0.5 | — |
| Jeffrey Owen | Secretary | 0.5 | — |
| Bill Yarborough | Treasurer | 0.5 | — |
| Randy Rogers | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Chivous Bradley | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Sophie Dixon | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Lumpy Lambert | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Laura Leatherwood | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Harris Prevost | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Zeb Smathers | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Kaleb Rathbone | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Shelly White | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Tammie Whitlock | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Ross Young | Member | 0.5 | — |
| Edie Cecil | Member | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WNC Communities?
WNC Communities is a nonprofit organization focused on Food, Agriculture & Nutrition, based in ASHEVILLE, NC. It holds $3.8M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is WNC Communities?
As of 2024, WNC Communities holds $3.8M in total assets with $2.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 1 grants totaling $178K in 2024.
Where does WNC Communities operate?
WNC Communities has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What size grants does WNC Communities award?
In 2024, WNC Communities awarded 1 grants totaling $178K — an average of about $178K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is WNC Communities's EIN?
WNC Communities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-0797766. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in WNC Communities's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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