The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina

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The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina

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CFWNC inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in WNC. We commit resources to these needs and inspire others to join us.
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The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina's vision is a vibrant 18-county region where all people can find opportunity and enjoy the region's many resources. Our actions reflect our values:

We listen, cultivate relationships and build collective support to address community needs. We draw on our regional expertise to guide this work. We make giving easy, effective and enduring.

10/30/2026

CFWNC was honored to host a screening of Papertown Film last week for donors and friends. The film addresses the sudden closure of the 115-year-old Pactiv Evergreen paper mill in Canton and and the ripple effects felt across Haywood County and WNC. Musician Dave Matthews is a producer and created an original song, “Papertown,” for the film. The screening was followed by a lively Q and A featuring Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers.

10/27/2026

It was great to be at the groundbreaking today for Heartwood Village, a new ten-acre affordable neighborhood for Hurricane Helene survivors and working families in the Swannanoa Valley. The project, led by Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders, is supported by a broad coalition of organizations, volunteers, funders, companies, and more. The Roots Land Trust, a Fuller program, owns the land and holds it in trust. Qualified buyers own the homes but lease the land. Owners build equity, and when they sell, they keep a share of the profit, and the home remains affordable for the next family. Donors to the Emergency and Disaster Response fund made it possible for CFWNC to support Fuller's construction expenses soon after Helene and site development costs for Heartwood Village. We are grateful!

10/23/2026

Generosity, gratitude, care for others, connection, and partnership anchor a community foundation’s place-based work. Inspired by our fundholders, donors, and nonprofit partners, Common Threads is the theme of our Year End Report. We are grateful to Local Cloth and photographer Michael Oppenheim for the beautiful photos throughout. Details about the grants and scholarships totaling $37.7 million awarded in FY 2026 are in the pages of the report, which can be accessed in the comments below. We work closely with people who value community, responsibility, and paying it forward. We deeply value our trusted relationships with volunteers, professional advisors, and nonprofits.

Common threads. Common ground. Common purpose.

10/22/2026

The North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications from organizations that foster more prepared and resilient communities in WNC in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Preference will be given to applicants supporting preparedness and resilience in the most severely impacted counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey.

If you are considering applying, it is strongly recommended that you attend one of the virtual information sessions:

📅Friday, Nov. 13, at 12 p.m.
📅Thursday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m.

For more information, registration, and application details visit the NCCF website.

10/20/2026

Virginia Dollar and Ramble Charitable Fund (RCF) Advisory Board Member Lyle Johnson visited Oakley Elementary to see the school's Inchy Bookworm Vending Machine in action. Through the program, students earn Inchy tokens by demonstrating school-identified academic effort. On their birthdays, students can redeem for a book of their choice. Since its launch, the Inchy Bookworm program has generated tremendous enthusiasm among students and staff and has contributed to a 9% increase in literacy progress. A recent RCF award will further expand the program's impact, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to select and own three books and helping foster a lifelong love of reading. Also pictured are Buncombe County Schools Foundation's Christy Cheek and Principal Jo Landreth.

10/16/2026

Virginia Dollar and Board Member Matt Lee visited Thermal Belt Outreach (TBO) in Columbus. TBO has been serving Polk County for 35 years, providing food, shelter, and vital connections to residents who lack the resources to meet their basic needs. Each week, more than 80 dedicated volunteers help operate TBO's self-choice food pantry, prepare ready-to-cook meals, and support a backpack food program that serves nearly 400 students across all seven Polk County public schools. TBO is experiencing the highest demand for services in its history. In addition to food assistance, the organization helps clients secure housing and has developed an affordable housing community on its 10-acre campus. It currently includes 10 homes, with plans to add seven more. Several of the original homes were built through a partnership with Polk County High School, where construction students gained hands-on experience while helping address a critical community need. Thank you TBO!

Pictured are Virginia, Matt, and Thermal Belt's Outreach staff and volunteers

10/14/2026

The Newton Cemetery Committee meets twice a year, in the spring and the fall, to plan maintenance and care of the cemetery, its native plants (including two chestnut trees saplings), and the memorials. The Newton Academy Cemetery is a private historic site donated to CFWNC in 1990. While the cemetery property was an unusual gift, our commitment to its ongoing restoration and maintenance is in keeping with our organizational charter to preserve WNC resources for future generations. We are grateful to the staff and community volunteers, and to Dan Foy who has been working for the cemetary for more than three decades.

10/12/2026

This year CFWNC welcomed three new members to the Board of Directors. Scott McLeod, Scott Latell, and BJ Kilgore joined others who guide CFWNC by volunteering their time and expertise. Members are chosen to represent the region and for their knowledge of community needs and issues. We value different perspectives and life experiences and strive to represent the diversity of WNC. Volunteers do so much to support our work from serving on committees and advising affiliates to reviewing scholarship applications. We are grateful!

10/09/2026

Virginia Dollar and CFWNC Board Members Matt Lee and Scott Latell visited Share Thy Bread (STB) in Tryon with Pantry Director Melissa Zjaci. As a predominantly volunteer-driven organization, STB provides free food and essential services to low-income and disadvantaged families. Beyond addressing food insecurity, STB is committed to promoting health and wellness by offering a nutritious, well-balanced selection of food. Each year, STB supports an average of 14,169 household visits, reaching approximately 33,809 individuals, and distributes more than 306,000 pounds of food. Demand for services continues to grow, with STB serving an additional 524 households this year alone, representing nearly 1,000 more individuals seeking assistance. Through the dedication of its volunteers and community partners, Share Thy Bread remains a vital resource for local families.

10/07/2026

CFWNC's 34th Annual Professional Seminar featuring attorneys Carl L. King and Rebecca Smitherman will take place Tuesday, November 17, at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park. The presentation will address Estate Tax and Income Tax Planning Considerations for Carolinians in a High-Exemption World. Registration, breakfast, and networking begin at 8 a.m.; the seminar takes place from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Three hours of continuing education credit are available. Attendees are encouraged to register online at cfwnc.org by November 16. Link in comments below. Join us!

Address

4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Ste 300
Asheville, NC
28803

Telephone

+18282544960

Website

http://www.cfwnc.org/

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