Rural Reach Grants

WNC Bridge Foundation’s Rural Reach Grants provide flexible, two-year general operating support to nonprofit organizations located in and serving Western North Carolina’s rural communities and the Qualla Boundary. Funding helps organizations sustain essential services, respond to changing community needs, and strengthen long-term organizational stability.

Timeline
Step 1:

Review 2027 Rural Reach Grant Guidelines

Start by reviewing the guidelines to determine whether your organization meets the program’s eligibility requirements.

Step 2:

Submit an Application (Deadline: September 23, 2027)

The application opens September 1, 2027. All applications must be submitted by September 23, 2027. Application instructions and the submission link will be provided before the application opens.

Step 3:

Grant Decisions Announced (December 2027)

Funding decisions will be made in December 2027, and applicants will be notified.

What We Are Funding

Rural Reach Grants strengthen organizations that improve health and well-being through work aligned with one or more of WNC Bridge Foundation’s focus areas:

Basic Needs: Fresh food and prepared meals, healthcare, home repair, and transportation Organizations primarily focused on homelessness are not eligible.

Mental Health: Community outreach, access to mental health services, and other support for individual and community mental health. Organizations focused on substance use treatment or recovery are not eligible.

Youth Development: Academic support for early childhood, K–12 students, child welfare, family support, and mental and emotional support. Requests for camps are not eligible for Rural Reach funding; organizations may consider the NOW Grant program for camp requests.

The program is designed to increase philanthropic investment in communities outside Buncombe and Henderson counties. Funding may be used where it is needed most to advance an organization’s mission and support its work.

If you have questions about whether your organization or project is a good fit for Rural Reach grants, please contact our Grants staff at grants@wncbridge.org. We’d be happy to provide guidance.

Grant Details

Award amount: $25,000–$50,000 annually, for a total of $50,000–$100,000 over two years.

Grant term: Two years.

Funding type: Unrestricted general operating support.

Reporting: Grant reporting is required and will take place at the end of each year.

Grantee convenings: The program will include two in-person convenings to support connection, shared learning, and peer exchange among Rural Reach grantees.

Eligible Expenses

Rural Reach Grants provide flexible support for an organization’s overall operations. Funding may support expenses necessary to advance its mission, sustain services, respond to emerging needs, and strengthen organizational stability

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must:

  • Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.
  • Have its headquarters located in an eligible rural county or on the Qualla Boundary.
  • Primarily serve residents of eligible rural communities.
  • Demonstrate a strong track record of improving health and well-being through work aligned with Basic Needs, Mental Health, or Youth Development.

Eligible communities include the Qualla Boundary and these 16 counties: Avery, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey.

Who or What Is Not Eligible
  • Colleges, universities, and K–12 schools, including related supporting organizations or foundations.
  • Fiscally sponsored organizations.
  • Funders or organizations whose primary purpose is to distribute grants to others.
  • Government and quasi-governmental organizations.
  • Grants prohibited by IRS regulations.
  • Organizations headquartered in Buncombe or Henderson County, or that primarily serve either county.
  • Political activities, including lobbying.
  • Projects that fall outside our funding focus areas, including those focused on youth camps, homelessness, or substance use treatment and recovery.
  • Religious organizations without a 501(c)(3) determination letter.