The Asheville Merchants Fund (AMF) seeks to improve the quality of life in Buncombe County by supporting innovative projects that strengthen the community through economic effects in one or more of its focus areas.
Donor Name: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
State: North Carolina
County: Buncombe County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/03/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $50,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
Projects must target economic benefit for Buncombe County residents. Priority will be given to projects comprehensively addressing one or more of the following areas:
- Innovative Economic Approaches
- Community asset development: investing in emerging local economies, especially those related to home-grown businesses
- Entrepreneurship: resources for entrepreneurs, including access to training, service providers and capital to accelerate business success
- Quality Jobs & Workforce
- Living wage work: recruitment, retention and expansion of businesses providing high-quality, well-paying jobs
- Appropriate skills: training for jobs that are in demand and critical to community viability
- Non-traditional training and employment services: flexible schedules, short-term certificate programs and community-based (versus academic institutional) settings
- Social Infrastructure
- Programs contributing to family economic success, including financial education and asset development
- Affordable housing: developing effective strategies and supporting implementation
- Services that increase employees’ ability to participate fully in the workforce, including health and wellness or dependent care
- Youth Success in School
- Middle and high school students: targeted academic (particularly in math, science and technology) and non-academic activities related to job skill development
- Family support: improving the home environment for learning
AMF supports organizations that have the capacity and vision to develop multi-faceted programs to help Buncombe County and its citizens thrive in the emerging economic environment. Factors considered in evaluating applications include:
- Focus on a critical need
- Defined, measurable results that can be achieved within the grant period and make a long-term difference in the beneficiaries’ lives
- Skilled leadership with the potential to carry out innovative, integrated efforts effectively in one or more of the focus areas
Funding Information
The Fund provides grants of up to $50,000 over two years. Approximately four to six grants are awarded during each two-year funding cycle. Grants are paid in two installments, with the second year of funding contingent upon reasonable progress toward expected results.
Eligibility Criteria
AMF grants may be awarded to tax-exempt organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and governmental entities with a documented history of substantial work in Buncombe County that pre-dates the application.
For more information, visit CFWNC.
