The Fund for Mitchell County is a grant program managed by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, aimed at improving the quality of life in Mitchell County by promoting charitable giving and supporting community-benefiting projects. The fund offers grants of up to $5,000 for initiatives that demonstrate the greatest potential benefit to the local population. If an organization other than the applicant will benefit from the grant, such as in cases where an organization plans to run a program in public schools, a letter of endorsement from the benefiting organization must be included with the application. The grant funds are typically disbursed by the end of March, with most funds needing to be spent within 10 months after the award is granted.

Eligible applicants for the Fund for Mitchell County include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, governmental, educational, and religious organizations that serve Mitchell County. Organizations must either be located in or serve the residents of Mitchell County. Additionally, organizations may submit only one application per year, even if they are acting through a fiscal sponsor. All prior recipients of the fund must have submitted End of Grant Reports for past awards in order to qualify for new funding. The fund does not support annual giving campaigns, endowment funds, deficit funding, debt retirement, sectarian or partisan political purposes, private primary and secondary schools (except for projects not directly targeting the school’s students or staff), private clubs, or activities and expenses incurred before grant decisions are made.

The application process involves three main steps. First, applicants are encouraged to reach out to Virginia Dollar, Senior Program Officer, for assistance in discussing their proposal or confirming eligibility. Second, applicants must submit their application through the online system, where they will receive email confirmation upon successful submission. For those who need technical help with the online application, Diane Crisp, Senior Grants Manager, is available for support. The review process includes a screening by staff to ensure the application is complete and meets eligibility requirements, followed by an evaluation by the Fund’s advisory committee. The committee reviews proposals based on the fund’s priorities, availability of funds, applicant capacity, and potential community impact.

Grant payments are processed via electronic funds transfer (EFT), so grantees must have their banking details on file with The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to receive funds. Following the receipt of funds, grantees are required to submit an online end-of-grant report, which verifies the use of the funds and details the results of the project. The instructions for this report, as well as deadlines, are provided in the grant award letter. In some cases, additional reports or site visits may be requested.

The Fund’s advisory committee holds the authority to modify or make exceptions to the fund’s guidelines in consultation with the staff of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. For further information or inquiries, applicants can contact the foundation directly via phone or email. Additional resources, including examples of recent grants, can be found on the foundation's website.