CFWNC Cultural Resources Grant

The Cultural Resources Grant is a program administered by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), an organization headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina. CFWNC supports nonprofit efforts to enhance the quality of life in the region it serves. Through its Cultural Resources initiative, CFWNC awards grants to promote various art forms and cultural preservation efforts within Western North Carolina. The foundation is committed to strengthening community engagement through arts and culture by supporting organizations that align with the mission and values of cultural heritage and expression. This grant provides $5,000 in general operating support for eligible applicants within specified art and cultural categories that rotate annually. Applicants may only apply once during the grant cycle rotation, and must choose the category most closely aligned with their mission. The upcoming grant category for July 2025 is Visual Arts, which includes painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and mixed media. The category for January 2026 is WNC History and Places of Cultural Significance, which focuses on organizations preserving and promoting cultural traditions, values, or historic locations. Categories continue on a biennial rotation through January 2028, including communication arts, craft, performing arts, and arts councils. To be eligible, applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or public agencies. They must be based in and serve the Western North Carolina region, specifically including the Qualla Boundary or the counties of Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, or Yancey. Priority is given to nonprofit organizations, though public agencies may be supported in areas with few nonprofit providers. Non-arts organizations administering arts programs are not eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted through an online system by 5 p.m. on the second Friday of January and July, depending on the cycle. Each application is evaluated by foundation staff based on organizational priorities, community impact, available funds, and applicant capacity. Grant recipients are required to have current banking details on file for electronic funds transfer, and must submit an end-of-grant report verifying the use and outcomes of the funding, which must be expended within twelve months. To apply, applicants are encouraged to contact Senior Program Officer Tara Scholtz for guidance on eligibility and proposal discussions. Technical support during the online application process is available from Senior Grants Manager Diane Crisp. Contact can be made via email or phone. Additionally, CFWNC provides flexibility to adjust the grant guidelines or make exceptions at its discretion.