The Madison County Community Foundation is a growing family of philanthropic funds, source of grants for local causes and partner for donors. MCCF was founded in 1995 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 Madison County.
Madison County Community Foundation
Officers
Donna Kull
Board Members
Teresa Buckner
Tim Clark
Sherri Davis
Tonya Hensley
Nick Honeycutt
Len Jones
Kristina Llanes
Sherrye Perry
Director Emeriti:
Walter S. Gladding
Sidney Mashburn
Jerry Plemmons
The Madison County Community Foundation will accept grant applications from June 19, 2026, to NOON eastern time on July 21, 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 $1,500. In 2025, MCCF awarded $12,410 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients.
Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund and the:
- Howard J. & Blanche Elam Runnion Endowment
- Fran’s Helping Hands Endowment
How to apply
NCCF 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 Madison County Community Foundation awarded $12,410 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund and other board-advised funds, including:
- $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Igniting Potential in Madison County youth
- $2,500 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County for unrestricted emergency repair funding
- $900 to Laurel Community Center Organization, Inc. for lawn tractor
- $1,500 to Madison County Arts Council for arts education jumpstart project
- $1,000 to Mars Hill Farmers and Artisans Market for community food donation from Mars Hill farmers
- $1,000 to Marshall Native Gardens Initiative (MNGI) for education program coordinator
- $1,500 to Pisgah Legal Services for survivors of domestic violence and child abuse in Madison County
- $1,510 to Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART) for financial accountability support
- $1,000 to Special Olympics North Carolina for Special Olympics North Carolina – Madison County
- $500 to Trillium Arts for general operating support
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 Madison County.
2025 Grants Awarded
In conjunction with the Madison 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 Beacon of Hope
- $50,000 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
- $40,000 to Marshall Relief Alliance
- $40,000 to Rebuild Hot Springs
- $25,000 to Walnut Volunteer Fire Department
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 Madison County Community Foundation awarded $12,530 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund and other board-advised funds, including:
- $750 to Appalachian Barn Alliance for information signs on two donated barns at Smith Farm
- $2,765 to Beacon of Hope for general operating support
- $1,500 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County for home repair
- $2,765 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County for general operating support
- $750 to Heart of Horse Sense for Equine Assisted Therapy for Madison County veterans and trauma survivors
- $1,500 to Madison County Arts Council for Extending Our Art Reach: a pilot MCAC location partner program
- $1,000 to Marshall Native Gardens Initiative for general operating support
- $1,500 to Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre for Appalachian winter concert
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 Madison County Community Foundation awarded $6,970 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund and other board-advised funds, including:
- $500 to Aura Home Women Vets for supporting women veterans in crisis
- $500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for igniting the power of youth in Madison County
- $500 to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue for owned animal assistance for Madison County
- $1,470 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County for unrestricted home repair funding
- $1,500 to Laurel Community Center Organization, Inc. for shady playground picnic tables
- $500 to Macon County Public Health for sustaining Double Up Food Bucks and healthy food access in Madison County
- $1,000 to Madison County Arts Council for improvements to lighting for performance and classroom space at MCAC Art Center
- $500 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for Star Pupils Madison County
- $500 to Trillium Arts for general operating support
2022 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation awarded more than $6,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $800 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Igniting the Power of Youth
- $1,500 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County for unrestricted home repair funding
- $1,000 to Lord’s Harvest for the Hungry, Inc. for Operation Golden Harvest
- $1,500 to Madison County Arts Council for a new roofing system for the Madison County Arts Center building
- $1,330 to The Beacon of Hope Services for increasing food security for local families
2021 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation awarded more than $6,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $1,500 to Heart of Horse Sense for Equine Assisted Therapy for Madison County Veterans
- $1,300 to Laurel Community Center Org, Inc. for Make Nice with Ice project
- $1,080 to Appalachian Barn Alliance for Historic Barn Signage at Smith Heritage Farmstead
- $1,000 to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue for Owned Animal Assistance for Madison County
- $630 to Southern Appalachian Raptor Research for Big Bald Mountain Bird Migration Project: Citizen-Science Environmental Education Program
- $500 to Trillium Arts for general operating support
2020 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation awarded more than $4,600 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $1,680 to The Beacon of Hope Services for the Transporting Hope program
- $1,000 to the Laurel Community Center Org Inc. for retooling our former school for renewal as a community center and resource for all
- $500 to the Madison Friendship Fund for general operating support
- $500 to the Mediation & Restorative Justice Center for the Madison County Drug Treatment Court
- $1,000 to Pisgah Legal Services for the Hot Springs Health Medical Legal Partnership
2019 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation awarded more than $4,700 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
- Madison County Arts Council
- Pisgah Legal Services
- The Beacon of Hope Services
2018 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation has awarded more than $4,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $2,000 to the Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
- $1,050 to The Madison County Arts Council
- $1,000 to the Upper Laurel Community Organization
- $750 to Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre
2017 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation has awarded more than $4,700 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Community House Coalition of Madison County
- Do Good Things
- Friends of Madison County Animals
- The Madison County Arts Council
2016 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation has awarded more than $3,900 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
- Junior Achievement – WNC
- Southern Appalachian Raptor Research
2015 grants awarded
The Madison County Community Foundation has awarded more than $4,300 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Beacon of Hope Services
- Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
- Friends of Madison County Animals
2014 grants awarded
- Beacon of Hope Services
- Madison County Arts Council
- Mountain Area Pregnancy Services
Madison County News
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