The Clay County Community Foundation is a growing family of philanthropic funds, source of grants for local causes and partner for donors. CCCF 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 Clay County.
Clay County Community Foundation
Officers
Jim Tiger
Jim Rich
Board Members
David Alsobrook
John Cain
The Clay 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, CCCF awarded $4,720 in grants through this competitive process. Learn more about past grant recipients.
Grants will be awarded from the community grantmaking fund.
How to apply
CCCF 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 Clay County Community Foundation awarded $4,720 in grants to four organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for expanding potential in Clay County youth
- $720 to Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina for wish enhancement for every wish child in Clay County
- $500 to Prevent Blindness North Carolina for Clay County vision screening program
- $2,500 to The Still Place for retreats
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 Clay 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 Cherokee Clay Food Alliance
- $30,000 to Clay County Fire and Rescue*
- $25,000 to Clay County Food Pantry
- $25,000 to Hinton Rural Life Center
- $25,000 to Matt’s Ministry
- $25,000 to Tri-County Community College Public Safety*
- $25,000 to WNC Communities
*Note that CCCF Advisory Board President Henry Angelopulos was recused from votes on these organizations.
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 Clay County Community Foundation awarded $4,560 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $560 to Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina for foster and cottage care support
- $1,200 to Four Square Community Action, Inc. for Hayesville Head Start safety improvement project
- $500 to HIGHTS for mediation services fuel
- $800 to Lilith Lidseen Performing Arts Association, Inc. for accessible restrooms
- $500 to North Carolina Symphony for music discovery for Clay County preschoolers
- $500 to Rock Bottom Recovery and Support, Inc. for general operating support
- $500 to Special Olympics North Carolina for Special Olympics North Carolina Clay 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 Clay County Community Foundation awarded more than $4,000 to the following local nonprofit organizations from its community grantmaking fund:
- $750 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Igniting the Power of Clay County Youth
- $1,000 to Clay County Hearts for Kids & Seniors for Empowering the Vulnerable to Flourish
- $600 to Hawthorn Heights WNC Inc., for transportation
- $600 to HIGHTS for fuel for mediation services
- $500 to North Carolina Symphony for music discovery for Clay County preschoolers
- $840 to Special Olympics North Carolina for Clay County Special Olympics
2022 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation awarded $3,880 through its community grants program to local nonprofit programs. Grant recipients were:
- $500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Igniting the Power of Youth
- $780 to Hayesville First United Methodist Church for Hearts in Ministry
- $600 to HIGHTS for Fuel for Mediation services
- $1,000 to Nantahala Regional Library for Family Film Night
- $1,000 to People of Clay CARE (Coalition Allies for Recovery and Education) for People of Clay youth prevention leadership program
2021 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation awarded more than $3,400 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $2,000 to St. Vincent de Paul-IHM Conference for general operating support
- $1,450 to People of Clay CARE – Coalition Allies for Recovery and Education for general operating support
2020 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation awarded more than $3,300 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $1,000 to Special Olympics North Carolina for Special Olympics – Clay County
- $930 to Clay County Department of Social Services to support Clay County Hearts for Kids in response to COVID-19
- $930 to Reach of Clay County, Inc. to support relief in response to COVID-19
- $500 to North Carolina Symphony for Virtual Musical Education programs for Clay County students
2019 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation awarded $2,300 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- American Red Cross – Western North Carolina Chapter
- Mainspring Conservation Trust, Inc.
2018 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation has awarded more than $1,900 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations, including:
- $1,300 to the Brasstown Community Civic Center
- $650 to the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition
2017 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation has awarded more than $1,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Brasstown Volunteer Fire Department
- Shooting Creek Volunteer Fire Department
- Warne Volunteer Fire Department
2016 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation has awarded more than $1,000 through its community grants program to local nonprofit organizations. Recipients were:
- Clay County Historical & Arts Council
- Mainspring Conservation Trust, Inc.
2015 grants awarded
The Clay County Community Foundation has awarded $840 through its community grants program to a local nonprofit organization. Recipient were:
- Hinton Rural Life Center
2014 grants awarded
- Brasstown Community Civic Center
- Ledford’s Chapel United Methodist Church
Clay 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…
Clay County Community Foundation awards nearly $5,000 in grants
October 21, 2025
The Clay County Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $4,720 in grants to four organizations supporting the…