The Graham County Community Foundation is a growing family of philanthropic funds, source of grants for local causes and partner for donors. GCCF was founded in 1999 and is led by a local volunteer advisory board that helps build community assets through the creation of permanent endowments, makes grants and leverages leadership – all for the benefit of Graham County.
Graham County Community Foundation
Officers
Angie Knight
Amanda Daniels
Board Members
Jamie Farley
Marcia Hollifield
The Graham County Community Foundation will accept grant applications from July 31, 2026, to NOON eastern time on Sept. 1, 2026. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted, including late submissions due to technology issues. Funds are available for qualified charitable organizations serving the local community.
Grants typically range from $500 to $1,000. In 2025, GCCF awarded $2,770 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients.
Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund.
How to apply
GCCF is an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Organizations must apply for grants using NCCF’s Grant Application Portal.
- Read the guidelines before you apply. Applications that do not adhere to guidelines will be ineligible for funding.
- If this is your first time applying, follow the instructions in Training Module I to create a profile. If your organization already has an account, use your information to log in.
- New and existing users should follow the instructions in Training Module II to add a grant application. Once logged in, you can access more information about the application process.
More information
- In most cases, grant decisions are announced about two months after the close of the application cycle.
- One tool board members use to guide grant decisions is an annual Community Needs Assessment. Scroll to the end of this page to review the Community Needs Assessment for this community.
- For answers to specific questions, contact the Program Officer.
Grants Awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation awarded $2,770 in grants to four organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $570 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for expanding potential in Graham County youth
- $1,200 to Four Square Community Action, Inc. for Head Start
- $500 to Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina for wish enhancements for every wish child in Graham County
- $500 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for Graham County vision screening program
2026 Grants Awarded
In February 2026, NCCF awarded a total of $9 million in grants from the Disaster Relief Fund to 108 charitable organizations focused on long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene. Review the full list of grants.
2025 Grants Awarded
In conjunction with the Graham County Community Foundation, NCCF awarded $75,000 in grants from our Disaster Relief Fund to the following local organizations to support long-term recovery, resiliency and unmet needs related to Hurricane Helene.
- $37,500 to Five Point Center
- $37,500 to Graham County Emergency Services
If an organization is unable to receive a grant, the affiliate will choose another charitable or government organization to receive the award.
2024 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation awarded $2,750 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $1,550 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Robbinsville High School Bigs program and mentoring Graham County youth
- $1,200 to Four Square Community Action, Inc. for Graham County Head Start Playground Safety
In response to disruptions Hurricane Helene may have caused to their work, NCCF offered flexibility to 2024 grantees of western affiliate foundations to repurpose funding awarded for specific programs or projects to best support their current needs. The programs and projects listed reflect the original awards.
2023 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation awarded $2,680 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $893 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Igniting the Power of Graham County Youth
- $893 to HIGHTS for fuel for mediation services
- $894 to Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina for Fund-A-Wish in Graham County (A Spark of Hope)
2022 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation awards $2,500 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization, including:
- $500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for its Igniting the Power of Youth program
- $500 to HIGHTS for its Fuel for Mediation Services program
- $1,000 to the Hospice House Foundation of WNC for general operating expenses
- $500 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for its Star Pupils program in Graham County
2021 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation has awarded more than $2,100 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization, including:
- $1,170 to Graham Cancer Support Group to provide financial and humanitarian aid to residents of Graham County NC who are suffering from cancer
- $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for the Re-Igniting Youth Development program.
2019 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation has awarded more than $1,000 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization, including:
- $1,300 to Grace Extended Ministries for offering hope while extending grace – providing a safe space and place of hope for children whose parent(s) are receiving recovery services
- $500 to the Hospice House Foundation of WNC for general operating support
2018 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation has awarded more than $1,000 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization, including:
- $1,100 to the Graham County Public Library Friends of the Library
2017 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation has awarded more than $800 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization. Recipients were:
- The Church Mouse Ministries, Inc.
2016 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation has awarded $700 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization. Recipients were:
- Hospice House Foundation of WNC
2015 grants awarded
The Graham County Community Foundation has awarded $580 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization. Recipient was:
- Graham County Department of Public Health
2014 grants awarded
- Prevent Blindness North Carolina
2013 grants awarded
- Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team
Graham County News
View all newsNC Community Foundation awards $9M in grants for long-term recovery from Helene
February 23, 2026
The North Carolina Community Foundation has awarded 108 grants totaling $9 million from its Disaster Relief Fund to support long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. The grants provide funding…
NCCF’s Disaster Relief Fund supports ongoing legal help after Helene
February 11, 2026
More than a year after Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, many of the challenges facing residents are very different. Often it is legal…
Supporting small businesses recovering from Hurricane Helene
January 14, 2026
When Hurricane Helene hit Chimney Rock, Shari Cummings and her family were asleep in the building they had called their home and business for nearly…
Graham County Community Foundation awards more than $2,700 in grants
October 21, 2025
The Graham County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $2,770 in grants to four organizations supporting the…