Melvin R. Lane Fund Grant

Melvin R. Lane Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
Amount: US $90,000 - US $180,000
Last Updated: March 07, 2026

Summary

The Melvin R. Lane Fund, managed by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, aims to empower nonprofit organizations that provide essential services to individuals in need. Grants ranging from $90,000 to $180,000 are available over three years to help improve operations, develop partnerships, and ensure financial stability. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) entities with at least three years of operation, located in specific WNC counties, and have an operating budget of over $100,000.

Overview

Please note: If your organization is chosen as a finalist, the Executive Director and a key staff or board member should attend a three-hour workshop facilitated by WNC Nonprofit Pathways scheduled for February 10, 2026. Please do not apply if your organization is not ready for this commitment. Melvin R. Lane Fund The mission of the Melvin R. Lane Fund is to empower and strengthen organizations dedicated to providing essential support services for individuals in need, youth, the elderly, and those facing mental and/or physical challenges. This program may award up to seven grants of $90,000 to $180,000 over three years ($30,000 to $60,000 per year) to help human service organizations improve existing operations and programs, develop or expand partnerships, and maintain financial stability. Organizations should request an amount that is relative to and appropriate for their operating budget.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and have been operating for at least three years are eligible to apply.The organization must have two or more full-time employees and an operating budget exceeding $100,000.Organizations must be located in one of these WNC counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey.An eligible organization may only submit one application per cycle.

Ineligibility

Grants generally do not support: operating expenses (except for costs that are directly related to the project), capital support (except where modest requests can immediately and significantly increase an organization's capacity and effectiveness), activities taking place before grant decisions are made, sectarian religious purposes, partisan political purposes, veterans affairs, deficit funding, or debt retirement.