Evolving + Learning PRESIDENT’S
Our fall newsletter was at the printer when Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving a changed region and a critical role for CFWNC in relief and recovery.
If you have been following our efforts, you know that we have been the recipient of a wave of generosity from individuals, corporations, fundraisers, community foundation colleagues and funding partners that allowed us to award critical emergency grants beginning on October 7. As we go to print, more than $39 million has been donated to the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund (EDRF) and more than 82% of that has been deployed to nonprofits and public agencies across the region. We are humbled by the support and the trust as well as the ways our communities, friends and neighbors rallied to support each other. It’s been a difficult and inspiring time.
With limited discretionary resources, CFWNC often looks for gaps or opportunities where our funds can leverage others. After the storm, everything was a gap, and many gaps remain. We are learning from our experience and partners. People like RiverLink’s Lisa Raleigh (pages 13-14), EdNC’s Mebane Rash (back cover) and others have provided valuable perspectives and guidance. We will absorb and share these lessons and more to plan for resilience in the future.
As we spend down the EDRF balance, other funders, like the North Carolina Community Foundation, continue to support longer term recovery. Our work continues as Focus Area, Learning Links, and Pigeon River Fund grants, and others, are distributed. Scholarship season is underway. Funds have been opened. We have welcomed new staff and are preparing for the retirement and promotion of others.
You can read more about the unbelievable work of our nonprofit network and public agencies in this newsletter. Recovery looks different from place to place, and we are only just beginning to see much-needed state and federal funds flow into WNC.
This experience has highlighted the role that philanthropy often plays in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. It has made us acutely aware of the importance of relationships, trust and connection. I cannot recount here the many ways support was offered and gratefully accepted.
As things green up, as we witness waves of volunteers cleaning up rivers and downed trees, as teams of people rebuild houses, bridges and farms, as businesses, galleries, restaurants and studios reopen, hope blooms this spring. We welcome the season with hearts full of gratitude and determination.
Western North Carolina is resilient. CFWNC is here for the long haul.
Onward,
Elizabeth Brazas, President
Elizabeth Brazas with EdNC’s Mebane Rash at East Yancey Middle School on November 6. Photo courtesy CFWNC
CFWNC and NCCF Partner to Support MANNA FoodBank’s New Facility
In February, MANNA FoodBank received $7 million from CFWNC and the North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF) to support critical infrastructure needs and long-term hurricane recovery efforts.
When flood waters devastated their headquarters, MANNA quickly secured a temporary lease for the warehouse it later purchased, allowing it to relocate immediately and continue food distribution. Each foundation awarded $3.5 million to MANNA to support essential infrastructure needs including the freezer, cooler/refrigerator build out, purchase and installation of a required sprinkler system, generator, and permanent racking.
“As the sole food bank serving WNC and the Qualla Boundary, this generous investment is a shared commitment to ensuring no one in our region goes hungry,” said Claire Neal, CEO of MANNA FoodBank. “We are deeply grateful for the support for our mission to provide food with dignity for our neighbors in need for generations to come.”
MANNA works with more than 250 nonprofit partners in 16 counties, including the Qualla Boundary. Both foundations support communities across MANNA’s footprint. Since
the storm, MANNA has distributed more than 12 million pounds of food.
“NCCF has been a strong partner and has been raising funds to support longer term needs,” said Elizabeth Brazas. “Donations to our emergency funds were made by people from across the country, and their support is helping a critical partner become fully operational. We want this funding to allow MANNA to focus on its mission, not its facility or move, as the economic fallout from the hurricane continues.”
“Since Helene struck, we have been collaborating with organizations throughout the west,” said Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, NCCF President & CEO. “This grant is critical to addressing food insecurity in WNC. It is also a prime example of how community foundations can come together to strengthen nonprofits in the aftermath of disasters.”
Photo courtesy of MANNA FoodBank
Welcome New Staff Eliana Rodriguez, Donor Relations Associate
Something surprising about CFWNC? The reach that CFWNC has in the WNC community and across the nation has been impressive to witness following Hurricane Helene.
Best part of your job? The best part of my job so far has been being able to express direct gratitude to the many people that help support CFWNC’s work.
Thoughts on giving back?
I have always believed that a compassionate community is a great gift we can give one another. It has been an honor to connect with and serve my community, and I am excited to continue this journey.
7/1/24 TO 3/31/25
$55,497,355 Total Distributions*
*Nearly $30 million in Emergency and Disaster Response Fund grants.
Affiliate Funds Award Grants
This spring, seven of nine affiliate funds awarded grants totaling $618,050. Local dollars supporting local nonprofits is crucial. In the wake of Hurricane Helene. The entire region was affected, and nonprofits joined other first responders on the front lines. As recovery progresses, these organizations continue to meet their missions and increased demand. Having a source of permanent charitable capital in these communities helped with that effort.
Black Mountain – Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund - $124,130
The Fund for Haywood County - $75,270
The Fund for Mitchell County - $49,450
The McDowell Endowment - $55,970
Rutherford County Endowment - $93,250
Transylvania Endowment - $98,690
The Yancey Fund - $121,290
Photos from top left, courtesy of McDowell Technical Community College, Muddy Sneakers and Campbell Farm
Sanctuary
Photo by Michael Oppenheim
A $20,000 EDRF grant to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office supported the purchase of two thermal drones to be used for emergency and disaster response. “In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our region faced unprecedented challenges, including washed-out roads and bridges that severely hindered search and rescue operations. These state-of-the-art drones have become indispensable tools, enhancing our capabilities within Rutherford County and our ability to assist surrounding counties through mutual aid agreements. Your investment will save lives in future emergencies and bolsters the resilience of the region. Please know that your generosity is making a tangible difference and is deeply appreciated by the residents and first responders of Rutherford County,” said Aaron Ellenburg, Sheriff of Rutherford County.
Partnering to Support School Staff
CFWNC awarded $1 million to Western North Carolina Regional Education Foundation (WRESA), with $125,000 from the A.J. Fletcher Foundation (AJF), to provide direct financial assistance to school system staff in the following counties devastated by Hurricane Helene: Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey. The A.J. Fletcher Foundation (AJF) in Raleigh, NC awarded from its education focus area $125,000 to CFWNC to be used specifically for education, with an emphasis on addressing education needs related to the effects of Helene in WNC.
With these funds, WRESA will be able to provide limited financial assistance for school system staff members who were displaced, lost vehicles, or lost household belongings due to Hurricane Helene. Asheville City Schools and the following county systems are currently assessing staff losses: Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, McDowell, Madison, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey.
Photo courtesy of Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Pigeon River Fund Grant Supports
Buckskin Branch Farm Conservation
A $30,000 grant to Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy helped cover transactional costs associated with the protection of Buckskin Branch Farm in Haywood County. The property contains numerous headwater tributaries and portions of Cove Creek and Fines Creek. The conservation easement protects both the wooded cove and wide-open fields, with approximately 65 acres of open space for pasture and crops.
Bottomlands along creeks, such as those found at the Farm, benefit from soil deposits formed over very long periods of time that create fertile, productive farmland. Nutrient-rich soil deposits are relatively rare in mountain regions and worthy of protection. The rich fields of the Buckskin Branch Farm include 11.7 acres of nationally important “Prime” soils, 45.6 acres of soils of statewide importance, and 87.4 acres of soils of local importance.
“At 489-acres, the Buckskin Branch Farm property is one of Haywood County’s largest privately held tracts,” said Tara Scholtz, Senior Program Officer. “A permanent easement on a property of this size will help protect water resources from the effects of sedimentation that low-density housing development inflicts on watersheds. The Pigeon River Fund is honored to play a role in funding transactional costs, which are a small but crucial part of this important conservation project, and to support an effort that furthers the goals of the Haywood Waterways Association’s Pigeon River Watershed Action Plan.”
Bridging Together
After Hurricane Helene, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) quickly realized that there would be a tremendous need for replacing private bridges in WNC, where many families need bridges to cross streams between the state-maintained road and their homes. MDS invited Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and LDR Carolinas to partner with them to fund and build the needed bridges.
In November, a $2,000,000 grant was awarded to Lutheran Disaster Response Carolinas, a ministry of the North Carolina Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) to partner with Mennonite Disaster Service in rebuilding private bridges destroyed by the hurricane. The project prioritizes the hardest hit areas in Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Rutherford, and Buncombe counties and bridges that impact multiple families or critically vulnerable persons. The bridges are engineered with a steel beam and wood plank system to be a more resilient solution, providing access for personal and emergency vehicles.
The governor’s office has estimated 8,000 private roads and bridges are still in need of repairs in western North Carolina, six months after Hurricane Helene hit.
Photos courtesy CFWNC
Photo courtesy of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
Nonprofit Partners
“Nonprofits need support for their work now more than ever. As the region addresses the aftermath of the storm, demand for services across the board has increased. In addition to ongoing financial support for Hurricane Helene response and recovery, we know that nonprofits count on our grant funds to sustain their programs.” - Virginia Dollar, Senior Program Officer
The grants included here were approved at the November and February board meetings. Typically, CFWNC partners with fundholders and private foundations to fund the November slate. In this unprecedented year, CFWNC’s Board authorized additional discretionary funds to support the Human Services and Education awards.
“Trillium Arts is grateful for the general operating grant for our performing arts organization. Unrestricted support is vitally important. It enables our small team to focus more on high quality program delivery for artists with less concern or time spent on how to raise money to pay for basic administrative expenses. The funds increase our capacity to provide artists with the best residencies possible and cover costs, equipment repairs, technology and other business-related needs.” –
Heather Hartley, Co-Founder
Cultural Resources - $99,000
CFWNC awards small general operating grants to cultural organizations on a rotating schedule. In January, $99,000 was awarded to the following performing arts organizations:
Asheville Area Piano Teachers Forum
Asheville Chamber Music
Asheville Community Theatre
Asheville Jazz Council
Asheville Music School Sound Education
Asheville Symphony Society
Brevard Music Center
Flat Rock Playhouse
Haywood Community Band
Hendersonville Ballet
Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra
Highlands Community Theatre
Montford Park Players
MusicWorks
North Carolina Stage Company
Parkway Playhouse of Burnsville
Rare Bird Cultural Arts
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre
The Montford Moppets Youth Shakespeare Company
Trillium Arts
A cycle in July will support organizations working in the visual arts.
“This was one of the best weeks of the year, thanks to Learning Links. Students were able to travel to places they had never been and take responsibility for their learning. Through hands-on experiences, they studied the interconnectedness of land, sea, and human history, fostering a deeper appreciation for their state’s diverse landscapes.”
Stephanie Warren, Harris Middle School, Mitchell County
Education – $662,307
In the first competitive grant cycle completed in the Education focus area, 25 grants totaling $554,196 were awarded to support early childhood development, K-12, and adult education in Western North Carolina.
The importance of art in a child’s development cannot be overstated—it nurtures young minds, fostering critical thinking, emotional growth, and problem-solving skills. You are helping to shape a brighter future for these children as they grow into capable, confident adults.
– Valley River Arts, Murphy, NC
Learning Links offers grants up to $1,000 per classroom to public school teachers in Avery, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Swain counties. The goal is to provide experiential educational opportunities for students. Currently, 52 grants totaling $108,111 are supporting WNC schools and teachers.
Made possible by:
Ben W. and Dixie Glenn Farthing Charitable Endowment
Cherokee County Schools Foundation Endowment Fund
Leon C. and Grace E. Luther Charitable Fund
Fund for Education
Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund
The Dr. Robert J. and Kimberly S. Reynolds Fund also provided co-investment for the cycle.
Photo courtesy of Harris Middle School
Human Services$1,435,792
In November, 63 Human Services grants totaling $1,435,792 were approved. Typically, CFWNC partners with fundholders and private foundations to fund this slate. Due to CFWNC’s Hurricane Helene response, CFWNC’s Board authorized additional discretionary funds to make these awards. A complete list of these grants is available at cfwnc.org.
Friends of the WNC Nature Center received $35,000 to implement the next phase of its strategic plan by completing a long-awaited butterfly garden. The Center was severely damaged by the hurricane and was able to reopen in March. The garden and adjacent meadow will feature chrysalis boxes, butterfly puddling areas, and native plants and shrubs to create a habitat that will attract and sustain native pollinators. The project now has heightened relevance as restoring native species and controlling invasive ones is more important following Helene. The Dogwood Charitable Endowment Fund, Concord Mountain Charitable Fund and Gretchen Batra Fund provided co-investment for this grant.
The Pisgah Conservancy was awarded $60,000 to fund a crew leader for the Invasive Plant Management Crew, fully dedicated to working in Pisgah National Forest. Following Hurricane Helene and the extreme level of disturbance and deforestation, there’s greater risk and opportunity for non-native invasive plant species to encroach and negatively affect forest biodiversity. Integrated Pest Management techniques require multiple seasons and strategies to combat the aggressive invasive plant species. Co-investment from the Dogwood Charitable Endowment Fund, Concord Mountain Charitable Fund, John and Janet Garrett Charitable Fund and Stewart Fund for Life & Love fully funded this grant.
Photos courtesy of NC MedAssist, Root Cause Farm and Hunger Coalition of Transylvania County
Photo courtesy of Friends of the WNC Nature Center
Meg Petersen’s Scholarship has a Ripple Effect
“It was nearly 25 years ago that I applied for college financial aid, but I vividly remember how critical it felt to secure scholarships and ease the financial burden. I recall writing my thank-you note each year and bringing it to the Foundation office. At the time, it felt like a small way to express my gratitude. Reflecting back, it’s hard for a young person to fully understand how taking on debt can impact them for years. It wasn’t until much later that I truly grasped the significance of receiving a college scholarship, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
Thanks in part to receiving a CFWNC scholarship, I attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where I graduated from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. Going to Carolina opened many doors for me, and receiving a partial scholarship helped make that possible. Coming full circle, I recently started working for a scholarship fund at my alma mater. I now have the great honor of building community among alumni and scholars, allowing me to spend every day with thoughtful, interesting, and generous people.
I believe it’s human nature to need community and to feel compelled to care for others. In my day-to-day life, I try to find ways to support the programs and people who nourish our communities. No amount of time or money is too small to make a difference.
If I were to offer advice to a student today, it would be this: don’t get stuck trying to make the “right” decision. There are many right decisions, and even the wrong one can lead you down a path toward something interesting. I would encourage students to be open to receiving help. Welcome guidance
“A scholarship doesn’t just change the life of the recipient, it has a ripple effect. Setting up a scholarship fund that helps students for years to come is a powerful way to leave a legacy and change lives.”
on navigating systems and networking. Always respond to people and thank them for their time. Thoughtful connections make a big difference.
I’ve worked in fundraising in one capacity or another since 2007. This role has given me the privilege of viewing gifts from multiple perspectives. Some of my favorite conversations have been with donors who made a gift and then experienced the joy of hearing from the recipient about how that gift changed their life. I’ve hoped to reconnect with my donor to share my gratitude and let them know that their support helped lay the foundation for a life of continued philanthropy and advocacy for higher education.”
Photo courtesy of Meg Petersen
Types of Grants Awarded
Immediate Emergency Needs Housing
Water, Medicine, Food, Clothing
First Responder Equipment/Vehicles
FEMA Application Assistance
Household Mucking/Tarping/Gutting
Crisis Communications/Internet Access
Housing/Temporary Shelter
Home Repair/Remediation/Demolition
Replacement of Household Contents
Rent/Utility Assistance
Economic Impact
Children and Families
Health/Mental Health
Substance Abuse
Youth Support During Out of School Hours
Elder Care/Services
Addressing Domestic Violence/ Child Abuse
Sta ng Costs for Hurricane Response
Financial Assistance to Farmers/Craftspeople/First Responders/ FEMA-Ineligible/Hospitality
Workers/Educators and School Sta
Small/Rural Business Support
Car Repair/Car Replacement/Transportation
Support for Schools/Colleges/ Childcare Centers
O set Costs for Volunteer Groups Assisting in Recovery
Streambank Restoration
Downed Tree and Debris Removal
Forest Management
Community Garden/Farm Remediation
Trail Remediation
Conservation Stewardship
Water Quality Assessments/Improvements
Infrastructure Environment
Road and Bridge Repair
Site Stabilization
Nonprofit Facility Repair/Remediation
Temporary Laundry/Shower Facilities
RiverLink continues to respond to the storm’s aftermath through our three programmatic areas (Water Resources, Land Resources and Education); in addition, we’ve launched a new Recovery, Resilience + Planning Division to ensure our watershed’s rivers and streams have representation in all aspects of the region’s comeback. We are now engaged in deep collaborations with local jurisdictions and linking arms with fellow conservation organizations – all to ensure a science-based, comprehensive approach to our rivers’ and region’s recovery and that we “make way” for our waterways to increase community flood resilience and reduce future losses. These efforts include:
• Championing and advocating for river bank stabilization, repair and restoration, ensuring the French Broad region receives dedicated recovery funding. Our immediate emphasis is on the French Broad River as it rolls through the River Arts District and heads north, plus the 6.6 mile middle segment of the Swannanoa – one of the hardest hit areas. With CFWNC support, we are underway on an evaluation and assessment of this unincorporated stretch of river to be followed by pursuit of federal and state restoration grants.
• Ensuring our rivers have a seat at critically influential decision-making tables, particularly with the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. This includes planning for enhanced economic vitality through outdoor recreation and conservation of natural resources and through regional jurisdictional work groups and stakeholder gatherings. We are grateful to these jurisdictions for including us, and the region’s rivers, in their economic recovery planning.
• Taking an active role in promoting floodplain property acquisition with voluntary and motivated landowners to remove flood-ravaged properties from development and create passive recreational space that makes way for the river. A key vehicle for this is the FEMA Buyout Program, which places qualifying flood-destroyed properties into green space uses in perpetuity, significantly enhancing our resilience by removing our investments and infrastructure from flood-prone landscapes.
• Advocating that damaged river parks be built back in harmony with their rivers—reducing the risk of future damage and providing storage of flood waters—in addition to promoting new greenway alignments that are not at the expense of healthy riparian zones. These vegetated buffers are the first line of defense against high-velocity flood waters and prevent bank erosion; we must ensure their well-being throughout our floodplains and restore them with woody plants wherever possible.
• And much like RiverLink’s founding over 35 years ago, we are delighted to be partnering with River Arts District stakeholders and community leaders to develop and execute a professionally-facilitated, community-led, artcentered, resiliency-focused Charrette process thanks to a generous grant from Etsy beginning this spring.
As many of us have discovered, recovery following a disaster is an ongoing learning process and a constantly changing landscape; it will take years to fully recover. However, throughout the process, we remain committed to our love affair with these rivers — as they are the economic, recreational and environmental backbone to our region, and our lives and livelihoods depend on them.
Onward with gratitude.” – Lisa Raleigh,
RiverLink Executive Director
Lisa Raleigh photo by Michael Oppenheim
Friends + Neighbors + Philanthropists
Funds Created between between July 1 through December 31, 2024
Charitable Gift Annuities allow donors to make a future gift and receive income and tax advantages now.
Richard Burton Charitable Gift Annuity
John Hazlehurst Charitable Gift Annuity 22
Designated Funds support specific nonprofits named when the fund is established.
Broadwell Designated Fund 2024
Frechette-Martinez Fund for MANNA FoodBank
Ted Ghiz and Ronnie Mill Charitable Fund 2024
Benn and Beverly Grant Fund for YMI Cultural Center
Kimmel Guest Designated Fund 2024
Lowell and Sally Pearlman Designated Fund 2024
And one anonymous fund
Donor Advised Funds allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit and recommend grants over time.
Alchemy Design Studio Fund
Baer Charitable Giving Fund
Barrett Family Fund
Concord Mountain Charitable Fund
DASH Fund
Eller Family Fund
John H. and Frances A. Killian Fund
Virginia McKinley Fund
Mullins Family Fund
Nash Duquet Family Fund
Karen Patrick and Mark Knight Fund
Pine Gate Renewables Community Impact Fund
Rebuild Black Mountain Resilience Fund
April Siegfried and David Miller Charitable Fund
Stokes Family Fund
WNC Long Haul - Recovery and Resilience Fund
And three anonymous funds
Expectancy Funds established to receive assets at a later time, typically through an estate plan, charitable gift annuity or charitable trust.
Richard Burton Fund
Education Impact Fund
Laura & Joel Fine Fund
Donna Andrews and Jonathan Gilbert Memorial Endowment Fund
Frank and Donna Patton Track Fund
Kristen and Patricia Sjostrom Scholarship Fund
Zena’s Love of Cats Fund
Fiscal Sponsorship Funds support a broadly-defined area such as the arts, the environment or health.
WNC Nonprofit Pathways Fiscal Sponsorship Fund
Nonprofit Organization Funds are created to invest and steward a nonprofit’s long-term or endowed assets.
Haywood Community Band Music Forever Fund
Philip Belcher to Retire in August; Tara Scholtz to Assume Department Leadership
Philip Belcher has served as Vice President of Programs since August 2012. When he came to CFWNC, annual grantmaking was $8 million; it now regularly exceeds $20 million.
In 2011, shortly before Philip’s arrival, CFWNC streamlined discretionary grantmaking by adopting focus areas. Philip led the Early Childhood Development focus area grantmaking for thirteen years, served on the Buncombe County Early Childhood Development Task Force, and built strong and fruitful partnerships across the sector. He worked with leadership and staff to refine grantmaking as the region’s philanthropic landscape changed.
such as the Utopian Seed Project, as particularly rewarding.
Philip has served in a variety of leadership positions, including the Board of Directors of The North Carolina Network of Grantmakers, Nurse-Family Partnership State Advisory Council, and Steering Committee for WNC Nonprofit Pathways.
She understands the relationship between our work, which can seem incremental, and larger regional issues that can only be addressed collaboratively by philanthropy and the public sector.
Reflecting on his tenure, Philip points to projects such as the reconciliation process and subsequent support for the Nikwasi Initiative in the far west and the funding of unique grassroots initiatives that have demonstrated staying power,
Tara Scholtz, currently a Senior Program Officer, will step into the role of Vice President, Programs. Tara has been part of CFWNC’s staff since 2002 and has experience and knowledge across the Foundation. She has deep roots in WNC, having grown up in Cherokee County, and has managed several grant programs, including four affiliate funds, the Pigeon River Fund, Asheville Merchants Fund, Women for Women’s grantmaking and the Food and Farming, Natural Resources and Cultural Resources focus areas. Since Hurricane Helene, Tara has led CFWNC’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund grantmaking, which has exceeded $32 million.
“Tara has extensive experience with our grant programs and processes and has developed trusted relationships with staff, regional nonprofit partners, individual donors, and grant program advisory boards. She understands the relationship between our work, which can seem incremental, and larger regional issues that can only be addressed collaboratively by philanthropy and the public sector. She is ideally suited for the position; the Program Department will be in good hands,” said Belcher.
“It’s an honor to work with my colleagues as CFWNC continues to evolve and to partner with organizations addressing critical issues and protecting natural and cultural treasures,” said Scholtz. “I’m hopeful about the region’s potential and desire to create a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient place for all who call it home.”
PhotocourtesyofCFWNC
Funds + Planned Giving Options
WAYS TO GIVE
When you give through CFWNC, you join thousands of like-minded individuals committed to the region and to giving back.
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You can make a taxdeductible contribution to any of these funds, knowing that your support helps WNC forever.
Fund for Western North Carolina Affiliate Funds
Fund for Animal Welfare Fund for the Arts Fund for Education Fund for the Environment Fund for Health Fund for People in Need Fund for Scholarships
Market Volatility
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Women Endowment Fund
The Women’s Fund
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A donor advised fund, named or anonymous, may provide tax benefits and a convenient way to consolidate your giving. You can open a fund that benefits a favorite nonprofit or supports students or a particular cause.
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You can give cash, marketable securities and mutual fund shares, closely held stock, retirement accounts, interest in a limited liability partnership, life insurance, real estate or private foundation assets. Your professional advisors partner in this process, ensuring coordination across your planning.
Give Later
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828-367-9900
herndon@cfwnc.org
After an initial surge in equity markets to begin 2025, uncertainty has become more of a constant presence. Markets have been reacting primarily to U.S. and global trade policies that have been characterized by wild volatility, both positive and negative, that has impacted markets and investor confidence alike.
In times of uncertainty for the capital markets it is instructive to reflect on market downturns over the past several decades, and there have been many to consider: the tech bubble, 9/11, 2008 recession and Covid, just to name a few. While each of these market downturns were significant, history tells us that abandoning a long-term investment discipline would have been counter-productive to meeting long-term objectives in each case. CFWNC’s investment approach embraces a long-term discipline that remains consistently in place amidst market tumult. As such, we continue to stay the course for the benefit of our communities. Our objective is to grow charitable assets not just today, but forever.
Becky Davis, CFRE Senior Development Officer
828-367-9905
bdavis@cfwnc.org
4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 300
Asheville, NC 28803
To receive future newsletters electronically and to subscribe to CFWNC E-News, please send an email with “subscribe” in the subject line to enews@cfwnc.org.
cfwnc.org / 828-254-4960
Support for Schools
“There is a spell after an economic or natural disaster hits, where especially in small rural communities, the leaders are already overworked and under-resourced, all of which makes the initial crisis period until state and federal resources start flowing really critical but also unreasonably stressful.
Many school districts and community colleges do not carry large fund balances. In the first days and weeks after the storm, we met education leaders who maxed out their personal credit cards to address the needs of those they serve.
CFWNC started distributing grants on October 7, when many counties were still in the rescue phase of rescue, relief, recovery. I saw them write the grants themselves when local leaders did not have the capacity.
It was a difference-maker that CFWNC allowed public agencies — including schools and community colleges —
to apply for early relief in addition to nonprofits and faith organizations. In Yancey, Mitchell, and Avery counties, it provided $25,000 per school and $25,000 for each of the campuses of Mayland Community College.
CFWNC, other funders and philanthropists moved money quickly to support early education, schools, and community colleges as they surmounted unparalleled challenges What if this kind of disaster had happened in a region without a community foundation, without a Dogwood Health Trust and other philanthropies to make the initial investments?”
– Mebane Rash, EdNC
Above photo: Elizabeth Brazas, Mebane Rash and Melanie Bennet, Principal of Micaville Elementary, courtesy of CFWNC
Watch the Video – Losing Micaville Elementary