WNC Bridge Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026 grant cycle, focused on strengthening community wellbeing across Western North Carolina.
Donor Name: WNC Bridge Foundation
State: North Carolina
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/02/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
This year’s funding priorities center on three focus areas:
- Basic Needs: Supporting organizations that meet essential needs such as access to fresh food and prepared meals, healthcare, transportation, and home repairs.
- Mental Health: Advancing community wellness through outreach and access to mental health services. Please Note: recovery and substance abuse programs are not eligible under this category.
- Youth Development: Promoting positive outcomes for children and families through programs that provide mental and emotional support, academic assistance for K–12 students, and child welfare or family support services.
Funding Information
Grant awards will range from $15,000 to $50,000.
Grant Period
If your organization is funded, grant recipients have one year from the date of the grant to spend funds awarded.
Use of Funds
Grant funding may be used to support direct program and operational expenses that advance WNC Bridge’s focus areas and strengthen community resilience across Western North Carolina.
Eligible Expenses May Include:
- Direct program expenses, such as materials, staffing, and program delivery.
- Costs related to Hurricane Helene relief and critical services, including utilities, administrative expenses, transportation, and essential supplies needed to maintain operations and deliver services effectively.
- Stabilization support for nonprofit partners experiencing reductions in state or federal funding, ensuring that critical community services continue without disruption.
Eligibility Criteria
Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and faith-based organizations that serve the Qualla Boundary and 18 counties of Western North Carolina. Faith-based applicants must demonstrate that grant-funded activities serve the broader community, regardless of religious affiliation or belief.
Ineligibility
Who is not eligible, and areas that fall outside of the scope of support:
- Grants to government agencies
- Other funders or organizations whose main purpose is to distribute grants to others.
- Grants to individuals
- Requests to support camps or camp programming
- Political Purposes, including lobbying
- Out-of-Area projects
- Grants prohibited by the IRS regulations.
For more information, visit WNCBF.
