Strategic Partnership Grants fund nonprofit organizations that promote a healthy, safe, well-educated, and thriving community with a sustainable quality of life.
Donor Name: Buncombe County
State: North Carolina
County: Buncombe County (NC)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 02/20/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Focus Areas
- Growth & Development
- Encourage a diversity of housing as a foundation for affordable, healthy and thriving communities, particularly for the most vulnerable residents
- Maximize the use of land, guiding development to targeted growth areas that lead to resilient communities
- Economic Development
- Increase opportunities and support for local workforce
- Increase economic and business opportunities in Buncombe County
- Education
- Enhance early & adult learning
- Improve outcomes in education
- Community Health
- Increase coordination and resilience of community health services to create a healthier and safer community
- Improve outcomes in physical, mental, and behavioral health, and increase connectedness
- Improve community well-being by providing person-centered, trauma informed services
- Public Safety
- Increase prevention and harm reduction
- Increase hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness to support a climate resilient community
- Enhance individualized diversion service
- Energy & Environment
- Preserve the agricultural heritage of Buncombe County & prioritize the conservation of natural resources
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect air quality
Funding Information
Applicants may select one of two funding options:
- Option 1: Up to $10,000 for one-time, non-personnel, non-operating expenses. Funds may be used for expenses including but not limited to: equipment; supplies; technology; training; or professional services. Administrative or management are not allowed in this category. Grantees will be required to report on project milestones accomplished.
- Option 2: Up to $85,000 for general project or program costs, including operational expenses. Grantees will be required to report on project milestones accomplished and results achieved (performance measures).
Project Period
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants
- Applicants must be nonprofit organizations, classified as tax-exempt by the IRS, and compliant with legal requirements for nonprofits.
- Organizations must operate in Buncombe County and serve its residents.
- If an organization does not meet this criteria, it may partner with another organization to serve as fiscal sponsor for the purposes of administering grant funding.
- Only one application per organization may be submitted per annual grant cycle. Exception = If an organization is applying as a fiscal sponsor for another group, more than one application is allowed.
Projects
- Applicants are encouraged to submit projects that contribute to recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. Alignment with Helene recovery is a scoring criteria.
- Projects must directly support one or more objective of SP2030. Applicants will be asked to select the strategic objective that best fits their project.
For more information, visit Buncombe County.
