The Jackson County Community Foundation is a growing family of philanthropic funds, source of grants for local causes and partner for donors. JCCF was founded in 1992 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 Jackson County.
Jackson County Community Foundation
Officers
Mike Wade
Scott Baker
Board Members
Jaret Bessette
Robert Edwards
Geoffrey Hirsch
Hank Hodge
Rob Howard
Pam Martin
Joseph Pechmann
Lane Perry
Norman West
The Jackson County Community Foundation will accept grant applications from June 26, 2026, to NOON eastern time on July 28, 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 $1,000 to $3,000. In 2025, JCCF awarded $15,390 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients. JCCF frequently partners with the Balsam Mountain Preserve Fund to do additional community grantmaking based on the applications received through this process.
Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund.
How to apply
JCCF is an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Organizations must apply for grants using NCCF’s Grant Application Portal. Please note: special consideration will be given to organizations addressing family food insecurity, youth behavior and safety, and substance use disorders in Jackson County.
- 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 Jackson County Community Foundation awarded $15,390 in grants to local organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $3,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Net Ninjas-Internet Safety for Jackson County Youth
- $3,000 to Full Spectrum Farms for general operations support
- $2,390 to Jackson County Public Schools for Every Day Counts: Building Connections for Better Attendance
- $5,000 to Rolling Start NC, Inc., for vehicles for Jackson County individuals in need
- $2,000 to Vecinos, Inc., for Farmworker Health Program: Mental Health Transition Space
Additionally, the Balsam Mountain Preserve Gift Fund for Jackson County granted $29,000:
- $3,000 to Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina for Homebase Support
- $2,500 to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas for Jackson County Childhood Cancer Safety Net
- $3,000 to Christmas Connection of Jackson County for gifts for Christmas
- $4,500 to Circles of Jackson County for transportation and emergency assistance
- $3,000 to HERE in Jackson County, Inc., for general operating support
- $4,000 to HIGHTS for healthy food for afterschool program
- $3,000 to Jackson Neighbors in Need for cold-weather heating assistance program
- $3,000 to Pisgah Legal Services for legal services for survivors of domestic violence and child abuse in Jackson County
- $3,000 to Uncomplicated Kitchen for Meals in an Instant
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, including those serving Jackson County.
2025 Grants Awarded
In conjunction with the Jackson County Community Foundation, NCCF awarded $180,000 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.
- $25,000 to The Community Table
- $25,000 Fishes and Loaves
- $25,000 to HERE of Jackson County
- $25,000 to HIGHTS
- $30,000 to Jackson County Emergency Management
- $25,000 to Mountain Projects
- $25,000 to UNIDXS
If an organization is unable to receive a grant, the affiliate will choose another charitable or government organization to receive the award.
The Jackson County Community Foundation awarded $15,120 in grants to the following local nonprofits from its community grantmaking fund:
- $2,458 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Plateau for academic support for students not proficient in reading and math
- $3,000 to Full Spectrum Farms for general operating support
- $3,000 to International Friendship Center for food pantry supporting Jackson County residents
- $500 to Meridian Behavioral Health Services for Narcan and first-aid kits
- $4,162 to Rolling Start NC, Inc. for vehicles for individuals in need
- $2,000 to Special Olympics North Carolina for Special Olympics Jackson County
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 Jackson County Community Foundation awarded $14,600 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund.
- $900 The Bascom for expansion of their senior ceramics program
- $1,000 to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cashiers and Highlands for general operating support
- $1,200 to Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau for tutoring for literacy
- $3,000 to Christmas Connection of Jackson County for Christmas Connection of Jackson County
- $1,000 to Cornbread & Roses Community Counseling for the Jackson County food box delivery program
- $2,500 to Full Spectrum Farms for an Autism Art Program
- $1,500 to International Friendship Center for the Highlands Food Pantry
- $1,000 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for Star Pupils Jackson County
- $1,000 Special Olympics North Carolina for Special Olympics Jackson County
- $1,500 to Uncomplicated Kitchen for Cooking for Life
2022 grants awarded
The Jackson County Community Foundation awarded more than $13,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $3,000 to Awake, Inc. for its Healing for Children program
- $1,500 to the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Cashiers and Highlands for its growth initiative
- $600 to Circles of Jackson County for transportation support
- $2,000 to Full Spectrum Farms for general operating support
- $2,500 to Meridian Behavioral Health Services for behavioral health services in Jackson County
- $1,200 to Mountain Projects to advertise open enrollment and signups for ACA health insurance in 2023
- $3,000 to New Hope Sylva for transitional housing
2020 grants awarded
The Jackson County Community Foundation, in partnership with the Balsam Mountain Preserve Fund for Jackson County awarded more than $34,600 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $3,000 to HIGHTS for the Jackson County Community Crisis Support Service
- $3,000 to Meridian Behavioral Health Services for the Training Program project
- $3,000 to the Vecinos, Inc. Farmworker Health Program for supporting specialist medical encounters for farmworkers
- $3,000 to Pisgah Legal Services for the Plateau Poverty Law Initiative
- $2,500 to HERE in Jackson County, Inc. for the Jackson Housing Relocation Assistance Program
- $2,400 to the Fontana Regional Library for books for childcare centers
- $2,300 to Circles of Jackson County for Financial Literacy Training
- $2,000 to Full Spectrum Farms for outdoor art therapy for teens and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- $2,000 to The Community Table for the Pantry Program and Meal Program
- $1,500 to the Thirtieth Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc. for the WNC Elder, Veteran and Victims with Disabilities Program
- $750 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for Star Pupils Jackson County
Along with the community grantmaking program this fall, the Balsam Mountain Preserve Fund expediated the following grants this spring in response to COVID-19:
- $2,000 to the Community Table for food and meals for those impacted by COVID-19
- $2,000 to United Christian Ministries of Jackson County for food, water, electric, rent and gas for those impacted by COVID-19
- $2,000 to Jackson County Public Schools for Stuff the Bus for COVID-19
- $2,000 to Circles of Jackson County for food and essentials help for circle leaders impacted by COVID-19 crisis
- $1,200 to Cullowhee United Methodist Church for food boxes for Head Start kids impacted by COVID-19
2019 grants awarded
The Jackson County Community Foundation awarded $19,760 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- American Red Cross – Western North Carolina Chapter
- Fontana Regional Library
- Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
- Hospice House Foundation of WNC
- Pisgah Legal Services
- Prevent Blindness North Carolina
- The Bascom
- The Community Table
- Thirtieth Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc.
- Vecinos, Inc. Farmworker Health Program
2018 grants awarded
The Jackson County Community Foundation has awarded more than $18,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $2,000 to Equinox Ranch
- $1,360 to Blue Ridge Health
- $1,000 to Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project, Inc. (Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic)
- $2,500 to Vecinos, Inc. Farmworker Health Program
- $1,800 to Mountain Projects for training programs
- $1,300 to Fontana Regional Library
- $1,500 to Full Spectrum Farms
- $2,000 to the Thirtieth Judicial District Domestic Violence‐Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc.
- $1,000 to the Community Table for general operating support
- $2,300 to the Western North Carolina AIDS Project
- $2,000 to the Hospice House Foundation of WNC
The Jackson County Community Foundation has awarded more than $9,300 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Blue Ridge Health
- Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project, Inc. aka Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic
- The Community Table
- Equinox Ranch
- Fontana Regional Library
- Hospice House Foundation of WNC
- Prevent Blindness North Carolina
- United Christian Ministries of Jackson County
2016 grants awarded
The Jackson County Community Foundation has awarded more than $8,800 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project, Inc. aka Blue Ridge Free Dental Clinic
- Fontana Regional Library
- Mountain Mediation Services
- Prevent Blindness North Carolina
- Southwestern Child Development Commision, Inc.
- The Community Table
- The Good Samaritan Clinic of Jackson County
2015 grants awarded
The Jackson County Community Foundation has awarded $8,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project
- Fontana Regional Library
- Good Samaritan Clinic of Jackson County
- Humane Society of Jackson County (ARF) Mountain
- Projects, Inc.
- The Community Table
2014 grants awarded
- Community Table
- Fontana Regional Library
- Life Challenge of Western North Carolina, Inc.
- Mountain Mediation Services
2013 grants awarded
- Blue Ridge Mountain Health Project
- Catman2
- Community Table
- Good Samaritan Clinic of Jackson County
- Humane Society of Jackson County
- Life Challenge of Western North Carolina, Inc.
- United Christian Ministries of Jackson County
Jackson 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…
Jackson County Community Foundation announces more than $44,000 in grants
September 29, 2025
The Jackson County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, announced $44,390 in grants to organizations supporting the local community. …