IMPACT Grants

WNC Bridge Foundation is pleased to announce our 2026 grant cycle, focused on strengthening community wellbeing across Western North Carolina. We invite eligible organizations to apply and join us in creating lasting impact across the region. Applications focused solely on long-term recovery and resilience following Hurricane Helene will receive additional consideration.

If you have questions, please email grants@wncbridge.org or call 828.274.6159.

IMPORTANT: Application will go live February 2, 2026.

  • Click Here to view 2026 IMPACT Grant Application Questions – English

  • Haga clic aquí para ver las preguntas de la solicitud de subvención IMPACT 2026 (en español)

Application Timeline

Step 1: Review 2026 IMPACT Grant Guidelines

Start by reading our updated 2026 IMPACT grant guidelines.

Step 2: Apply For 2026 IMPACT Grant (Deadline: March 2, 2026)

IMPACT Grant application goes live on February 2. Be sure to submit your application no later than March 2 by 11:00 p.m.

Step 3: Grant Decisions Made: (Late June 2026)

WNC Bridge Foundation’s Board of Directors will make final funding decisions and grant recipients will be notified.

2026 IMPACT Grants Overview

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. Please note: Organizations requesting funding for camps are not eligible but may apply for NOW Grant funding.

Who is eligible

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.

Who is not eligible, and areas that fall outside of our 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

Award Amounts

  • Grant awards will range from $15,000 to $50,000. Applicants are encouraged to request only the amount necessary to successfully implement their proposed project.
  • The Foundation maintains a limited budget for this grant cycle, and requests at the higher end of the award range should be clearly justified based on the project’s scope, scale, and anticipated community impact.
  • If you believe your project may merit funding above $50,000, please reach out to our Grants staff before applying at grants@wncbridge.org. We’d be glad to talk through your idea and help determine the best path forward.
  • If your organization is funded, grant recipients have one year from the date of the grant to spend funds awarded.

Guidelines

  • Organizations addressing the needs within any of the following 18 counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania and Yancey and including the Qualla Boundary.
  • Additional consideration will be given to organizations actively involved in the long-term recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene’s impact.
  • Applications receiving the highest consideration will demonstrate need and capacity for impactful service deliver, present organizational readiness and have the potential for positive community impact.
  • No multi-year grants will be considered. Only one application can be submitted per organization.

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.

Proposals receiving the highest consideration will:

  • Align with focus areas.
  • Demonstrate need and capacity for impactful service delivery.
  • Present organizational readiness.
  • Have the potential for long-term positive community impact.

Click here to see former grant recipients.

If you have questions, please email grants@wncbridge.org or call 828.274.6159.