The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc
96% goes to programs $1 to raise $100 Strong reserves Growing revenue
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Asheville, North Carolina, registered in 1979, with $87,667,848 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 96% of spending to programs.
4 Vanderbilt Park Dr Ste 300, Asheville, NC, 28803 EIN 56-1223384 Since 1979
Revenue (FY2024)
$87.7M
▲ 238.0% vs prior year
Philanthropy median: $168K
Expenses (FY2024)
$67.3M
Net assets
$362.4M
Employees
24
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
A+Program efficiency40% of the rating96% to programs · $1 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc: 96% to programs · $1 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating65 mo reserves · +23% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc: 65 mo reserves · +23% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Please refer to schedule o for the organization's mission statement.the community foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to raising charitable capital for the benefit of its 18-county region, and strategically allocating resources to address pressing needs.
Contact & location
- Address
- 4 Vanderbilt Park Dr Ste 300, Asheville, NC, 28803
- City
- Asheville
- State
- North Carolina
- Subcategory
- Public Foundations
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $38.3M (FY2020) to $87.7M (FY2024) across 5 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $118.6MNet assets $362.4M
Operating margin
23.3%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$481.0M
Total liabilities
$118.6M
Net assets
$362.4M
Salaries & benefits
$3.1M
5% of expenses
Board members
21
20 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $87,667,848▲238% | $67,270,337▲172% | $362,449,330▲12.1% | $481,026,894▲10.6% | 990 |
| 2023 | $25,935,032▼18.9% | $24,774,631▼2.0% | $323,208,238▲6.1% | $434,889,192▲6.6% | 990 |
| 2022 | $31,983,295▼29.7% | $25,282,173▼0.4% | $304,738,326▲7.4% | $407,823,068▲5.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $45,512,765▲18.8% | $25,371,396▲12.6% | $283,657,042▼9.9% | $387,056,220▼8.4% | 990 |
| 2020 | $38,320,270 | $22,531,614▲64.7% | $314,808,828▲128% | $422,748,745▲129% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $13,682,166 | $138,006,326 | $184,694,972 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Elizabeth K Brazas — $343,901 (0.51% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth K Brazas | President | 40 | $343,901 |
| Graham Keever | Assistant Treasurer | 40 | $230,997 |
| Julie D Klipp | Assistant Secretary | 40 | $163,611 |
| Philip P Belcher | Vice President Programs | 40 | $157,601 |
| Laura Herndon | Vice President, Developmen | 40 | $130,116 |
| Naomi Davis | Assistant Treasurer | 40 | $97,537 |
| Janet Sharp | Assistant Treasurer | 40 | $94,426 |
| Melissa Crouse | Assistant Treasurer | 40 | $54,489 |
| Carla Barnard | Director | 1 | — |
| Carter B Webb | Director | 1 | — |
| Constance M Haire | Director | 1 | — |
| Ellen O Carr | Director | 1 | — |
| Francisco Castelblanco | Vice Chair & Secretary | 1 | — |
| Harris M Livingstain | Director | 1 | — |
| Heather P Norton | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Himanshu Karvir | Director | 1 | — |
| J Chris Smith | Director | 1 | — |
| Jean Mclaughlin | Director | 1 | — |
| Joanne Badr | Chair | 1 | — |
| Juanita Wilson | Director | 1 | — |
Grants received · $23.7M total
169 grants to The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc totaling $23.7M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation For the Carolinas | Charitable gift | 2024 | $733,018 |
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Community & human services | 2024 | $503,500 |
| The Community Foundation Inc | General purposes | 2024 | $271,500 |
| The Community Foundation For Greater Atlanta Inc | Philanthropy/voluntarism | 2024 | $228,750 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $197,610 |
| A J Fletcher Foundation | Education fund | 2024 | $125,000 |
| Winston-salem Foundation | 41 grant(s) for varying purposes | 2024 | $109,757 |
| The Community Foundation For Northeast Florida Inc | To support the emergency and disaster response fund | 2024 | $100,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Inc | General operational support | 2024 | $88,100 |
| Community Foundation of New Jersey | Relief services | 2024 | $80,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Philanthropy | 2024 | $78,450 |
| The Community Fdn of Middle Tn Inc | With love from outlaw state of kind | 2024 | $75,000 |
| Collier Community Foundation Inc | Human services | 2024 | $72,500 |
| Columbus Foundation | Advancing philanthropy | 2024 | $68,670 |
| The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham | General support; daf funded | 2024 | $66,000 |
Grants made · $59.4M in FY2024
793 grants totaling $59.4M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Manna Food Bank | Assisting people in need | $3,940,967 |
| North Carolina Synod of the Elca | Religion | $2,025,000 |
| Habitat For Humanity International Inc | Building community & economic vitality | $2,021,538 |
| Asheville-buncombe Community Christian Ministry Inc | Assisting people in need | $1,974,905 |
| North Carolina Baptist Men | Religion | $1,525,000 |
| Mountain Bizcapital Inc | Building community & economic vitality | $1,151,250 |
| Western North Carolina Regional Education Foundation | Improving educational opportunities | $1,059,800 |
| Georgia Tech Foundation Inc | Improving educational opportunities | $750,000 |
| Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy | Enhancing the environment | $714,320 |
| Pisgah Legal Services | Assisting people in need | $646,034 |
| Wnc Bridge Foundation | Promoting quality health | $559,605 |
| Asheville Area Arts Council | Advancing the arts | $556,180 |
| The Center For Craft Creativity & Design Inc | Advancing the arts | $554,500 |
| Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina Inc | Enhancing the environment | $545,763 |
| Helpmate Inc | Assisting people in need | $526,770 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 56-1223384, based in Asheville, North Carolina. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc's EIN?
- The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 56-1223384.
- How much revenue does The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc report?
- The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc reported $87,667,848 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc's spending goes to programs?
- The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc spends about 96% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc's latest Form 990 is $343,901, paid to Elizabeth K Brazas (President).
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Data for The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc (EIN 56-1223384) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.