Opportunity Grant Guidelines

• Assisting people of low resources out of crisis and into financial security and independence
• Addressing root causes of poverty through systemic change

• Providing economic opportunities to disadvantaged people through workforce development, small business development, and job creation
• Contributing to place-based economic development projects that build on local assets and retain wealth within our communities
• Fostering community involvement in local problem solving and civic engagement.
• Helping residents access and maintain safe and affordable housing
• Promoting or implementing smart growth principles including recommendations from the Region A Mountain Landscapes Initiative Toolbox (PDF, 125MB)

• Establishing and/or increasing quality afterschool and summer programs that academically and socially benefit at-risk students
• Creating or improving school-community partnerships that reduce the achievement gap and academic disparities among students
• Improve the ability of families to learn and develop skills to more effectively participate in their children's education

We encourage you to view the statewide foundation report, "Education is the Foundation" for background information.

• Implementing local counties' health assessment priorities such as programs that focus on healthy lifestyles, obesity reduction, and youth risk behavior prevention or increase the capacity of free health clinics

Refer to the list of local counties' health assessment for more information.

• Supporting efforts that involve art to improve education or boost economic development.

• Supporting local adaptation of climate change and energy efficiency strategies for homes, businesses and communities.

Nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code and public agencies are eligible to apply for these grants.

Organizations must be located in or serving one or more of these WNC counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson , Macon , Madison , McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey.

Competitive applicants will demonstrate compliance with the best practices as put forth by the NC Center for Nonprofits (PDF, 519KB).

for:

• General operating expenses (except for specific costs including staffing directly related to the proposed project)
• Capital support including feasibility studies and architectural designs
• Recreational programs and equipment such as playgrounds
• Festivals or one-time events such as exhibits, performances or fundraisers
• Scholarships or direct support of individuals including one time emergency assistance
• Activities taking place or expenses incurred before grant decisions are made
• Sectarian religious purposes
• Partisan purposes
• Endowment, deficit funding or debt retirement

• Nonprofits with significant unrestricted revenue such as hospitals.
• Private schools and childcare centers where the majority of funding is derived from tuition.
• EMS or fire departments.
• Organized sports programs.
• State or national organizations, unless funding is sought for a portion of the program that directly benefits WNC, and local people assume leadership.