The Wilkes Community Foundation is a growing family of philanthropic funds, source of grants for local causes and partner for donors. WCF was founded in 1993 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 Wilkes County.
Wilkes Community Foundation
Officers
Suzanne Moore
Board Members
Ashley Barton
Linda Cheek
Fred Costello
Jennifer Furr
Jean Hefner
Luke Jarvis
Craig Langston
Lena Lovette
Morgan Mathis
Michelle Shepherd
Mary Smith
Apply for grants
The Wilkes Community Foundation will accept grant applications from June 21, 2024, to NOON on July 23, 2024. 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 $2,500. In 2023, WCF awarded $9,850 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients.
Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund.
How to apply
WCF is an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. Organizations must apply for grants using NCCF’s online application system.
- Read the guidelines before you apply. Failure to adhere to the guidelines will result in your application being declined.
- 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.
- Follow the instructions in Training Module II to add a grant application. Once registered, you can access more information about the application process.
Grants Awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation awarded $9,740 in grants to local organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $1,390 to Appalachian State university for senior programs
- $1,000 to Carolina Cross Section for access in Wilkes County
- $2,000 to Unified City Church for Justice Project – Feed the Kids given in honor of the Kyle Hayes Memorial Endowment
- $2,000 to Wilkes Circle of Care for Circle Leader Program
- $2,000 to Wilkes Community Partnership for Children for Wilkes County diaper pantry
- $500 to Wilkes County Public Library for children’s programming at Wilkes County Public Library and Traphill Branch Library
- $850 to Wilkes Literacy for ESL group curriculum
2023 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation has awarded $9,850 in grants to the following local nonprofits from its community grantmaking fund.
- $2,350 to CAPT (Child Abuse Prevention Team)/Our House for general operating support, in honor of the Kyle Hayes Memorial Endowment
- $2,500 to Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas for Wilkes County Childhood Safety Net
- $500 to Children’s Center of Surry, Inc. for Wilkes County Real World
- $1,000 to Legal Aid of NC, Inc. (executive director) for reaching low-income county residents with civil legal issues that impact safety, housing and other basic needs
- $2,000 to Wilkes Community Partnership for Children for supporting the safety of playgrounds in licensed childcare centers
- $1,000 to Wilkes Literacy for Math for Life: Building Everyday Math Skills for Adults
- $500 to Wilkes Youth Life Development for general operating support
2022 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation awarded $10,000 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $500 to Carolina Cross Connection for home repairs in Wilkes County
- $1,000 to Catherine H. Barber Memorial Shelter, Inc. for client WTA voucher program
- $1,500 to Children’s Center of Surry, Inc. for Children’s Center of NWNC family and youth services
- $1,500 to Diaper Bank of NC for Distributing Dignity: Meeting Diaper Need in Wilkes County
- $1,500 to High Country Caregiver Foundation for High Country Caregivers Kinship Navigation Program (given in honor of the Kyle Hayes Memorial Endowment Fund)
- $500 to Josh Paul Ministries DBA Anchor Ridge Ministries for Wilkes County Kids Club
- $1,000 to Ronda Community Volunteer Fire Department for community first-aid kits and bleeding control devices for first responders
- $500 to Wilkes Adult Development Activity Program, Inc. for Technology Two
- $500 to Wilkes Recovery Revolution, Inc. for Community Kitchen Fund
- $1,500 to Wilkes Youth Life Development for Teen Advisory Council
2021 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation awarded more than $8,600 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $2,000 to Wilkes Adult Development Activity Program for Project Upgrade. A portion of this grant is made in honor of the Kyle Hayes Memorial Endowment Fund
- $1,580 to Ronda Community Volunteer Fire Department
- $1,500 to Appalachian State University for the Appalachian Senior Programs
- $1,280 to Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes, Inc. for Samaritan All-Weather Canopy
- $1,000 to Wilkes Art Gallery for Art Scavenger Hunt Wilkes
- $770 to Carolina Cross Connection for Home Repair Program
- $500 to Brushy Mountain Group homes for Resident Recreational Development
2020 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation awarded more than $8,000 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $1,000 to Appalachian State University for the Appalachian Senior Programs
- $500 to Carolina Cross Connection for the Home Repair Program
- $1,000 to the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership, Inc. for the Small Business Recovery Promotion program
- $1,500 to the Mediation & Restorative Justice Center for the Wilkes Restorative Conferencing Program
- $1,000 to the Ronda Community Volunteer Fire Department for general operating support
- $2,500 to the Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program, Inc. for the Operations Re-entry program. A portion of this grant is made in honor of the Kyle Hayes Memorial Endowment Fund
- $600 to Wilkes Literacy for the Summer Education Enrichment for Kids (SEEK) Literacy Camp
2019 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation awarded $6,340 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations, including:
- Autism Society of North Carolina
- CAPT/Our House
- Hospital Hospitality House of Winston Salem (SECU Family House)
- Moravian Falls Elementary School
- Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes, Inc
- Unified City Church
- Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program, Inc.
2018 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation has awarded more than $6,500 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $1,305 to Appalachian State University
- $1,000 to Project Lazarus
- $1,000 to the Autism Society of North Carolina
- $1,725 to the Wilkes Community Partnership
- $500 to the Yadkin River Greenway
- $1,000 to the Mediation and Restorative Justice Center
2017 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation has awarded more than $5,910 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- $500 to Project Lazarus
- $500 to Appalachian State University
- $500 to Communities In Schools of Wilkes
- $500 to Wilkes Circles of Care
- $500 to Operation FINALLY HOME
- $910 to Catherine H. Barber Memorial Shelter, Inc.
- $500 to Unified City Church
- $500 to Crisis Assistance of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
- $1,000 to Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program, Inc.
- $500 to Mediation & Restorative Justice Center for MRJC: Building Community Capacity
2016 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation has awarded more than $5,500 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Adult Enrichment Services of Wilkes, Inc.
- Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, Inc./Meals on Wheels Wilkes County
- Sheltered Aid to Families in Emergencies (SAFE), Inc.
- Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program, Inc.
- Wilkes Art Gallery Inc.
- Wilkes Circles of Care
- Yadkin River Greenway
2015 grants awarded
The Wilkes Community Foundation has awarded more than $5,100 through its community grants program to the following local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Moravian Falls Elementary School
- Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes, Inc.
- Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program, Inc.
- Wilkes Prison Ministry
2014 grants awarded
- Appalachian State University – Sponsored Programs
- Communities In Schools of Wilkes County
- Florida State University
- Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
- Western Carolina University
- Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program, Inc.
- Wilkes County Schools
- Adult Enrichment Services of Wilkes
- C.C. Wright Elementary School
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
- Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program, Inc.
- Wilkes County Heritage Museum
- Wilkes County Library
- Wilkes County Schools
- Wilkes Prison Ministry, Inc.
- Yadkin River Greenway Council
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