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Greetings Noah!
Happy Spring! Perhaps like you, the Foundation is poised ever so briefly between seasons and taking a restorative breath following a full 1st Quarter of activity. In the past three months, we were thrilled to recognize students with more than $318,000 in scholarships to the Class of 2023, support 15 teachers with Slater Excellence in Teaching Awards, award more than $165,000 in competitive grants to local nonprofits, and partner with generous donors in establishing new and exciting funds to benefit our community. As buds continue to blossom, vibrant green leaves fill in the beautiful landscapes that surround us, and calendars fill up with local events, we look forward to a new season of growth in the 2nd Quarter and continuing the work of Building Community together.
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2023 Third Quarter Grants
Now is a great time to be preparing applications for our 3rd QTR grantmaking cycle of 2023, which are due by June 27. Before submitting your application, please complete a brief Letter of Intent form to confirm that your organization is eligible to apply for grants and that your project meets the criteria for one or more of our available grantmaking programs.
A companion Guidelines document provides more details about our competitive grant funds and the application process. Please refer to our 2023 Dates & Dollars sheet for more information.
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Anonymous donors to the Foundation have established the Leah Justice Journalism Scholarship Fund "in celebration of the life of Leah Justice and the many contributions she made to the citizens of Polk County throughout her career in journalism."
As most of us know, Leah was a tireless and dedicated reporter for the Tryon Daily Bulletin for more than 20 years, helping meet the information needs of our community through her work covering local stories and building countless relationships along the way.
Beginning with the Class of 2024, local graduating high school seniors with an interest in and aptitude for the field of journalism will be eligible for scholarships to help them pursue a degree and career in the field.
Members of the community who would like to contribute to this fund and increase its impact are encouraged to contact the Foundation.
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A Note for Donors
Sometimes it’s challenging to clearly articulate your philanthropic goals or choose the “perfect” causes to support. Many new and experienced donors alike have been inspired by the variety of funds that are already at work in the community through the Foundation. Some may closely align with the areas you feel drawn to support and provide a model for making your own charitable dreams come true.
We'll continue to feature funds that might be appealing to our community of donors in future newsletters. In the meantime, if you’re interested in starting a new fund or contributing to existing funds like the one highlighted above to allow them to have an even greater impact, please reach out to our President & CEO, Sara Bell at 828-859-5314 or sbell@polkccf.org.
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The Foundation was recently honored to award grants for two events happening this quarter. Mark your calendars now for your chance to attend and build community with your friends and neighbors! | |
Spring Fever Family Fun Fest
April 22 at Harmon Field
This grant was awarded to Steps to HOPE to offer a fun, family-friendly event designed to create "a sense of community ownership and family strengthening." Attendees will enjoy yard & carnival games, music & entertainment, free food trucks, and lots of information about community resources.
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Juneteenth Celebration
June 17 at Tryon Fine Arts Center
This grant was awarded to Thermal Belt Friendship Council to hold a Juneteenth Celebration for the community. The event will provide "opportunities for increased knowledge, understanding, and empathy" and will feature a keynote presentation, gospel music, and a delicious catered reception.
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Grantmaking Organizations Serving Polk County | | |
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The Carolina Foothills Foundation awards grants to meet the many health challenges that face people in Rutherford and Polk Counties, empowering carefully selected non-profits to impact individual and community wellness in the areas of eldercare, youth development, and wellness. | | |
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The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina makes grants and works with fundholders to support promising projects across Western NC. It awards grants to 501(c)(3) organizations and public agencies serving 18 counties, including Polk County, to strengthen the nonprofit sector and invest in the future of our region. | | |
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Dogwood Health Trust awards grants to partners advancing the goal of a healthier Western NC in the areas of Housing, Education, Economic Opportunity, Health & Wellness, and Behavioral Health/Substance Use Disorder so that all people can Live, Learn, Earn, and Thrive – no exceptions | | |
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Gateway Wellness Foundation invests grantmaking dollars in projects that work to support and uplift underserved and marginalized communities and people. Grants are awarded in the areas of access to health care, childhood development, education, food insecurity, and housing in Burke, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford Counties. | | |
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The North Carolina Arts Council invests in sustaining and advancing the diverse and widespread network of arts organizations and artists. 80 percent of its funds flow directly to arts organizations and artists across North Carolina. | |
NC Center for Nonprofits Event Calendar | |
Did you know that the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits publishes an updated calendar of professional development opportunities for nonprofit staff and board members? Upcoming virtual and in-person events this quarter will cover a range of topics, including fundraising, storytelling, program evaluation, and even QuickBooks! | |
As a reminder, the Foundation is pleased to offer grants to local nonprofits to join the Center and renew their annual memberships. Contact us to learn more. | |
Year of the Trail News & Updates | |
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North Carolina's Great Trails State Coalition has marked 2023 as the Year of the Trail and we're excited to help Polk County celebrate throughout the year by highlighting projects that we've been honored to support. Stay tuned for more updates from the Foundation and the PolkTrails team with County's Parks & Recreation Department.
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Little White Oak Hiking & Biking Trails
A $20,000 matching grant from the Community Foundation helped Polk County Parks & Recreation obtain a $336,000 NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant to develop 7-10 miles of hiking and biking trails at Little White Oak Mountain in Columbus. 140 acres was recently added to the park at the Polk County Recreation Complex and and we are excited that work is now underway to design and build the trail system!
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Image courtesy of Conserving Carolina | |
Saluda Grade Trail
A coalition of nonprofits that is spearheading the Saluda Grade Trail has reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern to sell the 31-mile rail line for use as a recreational rail trail. The coalition has a signed agreement with the railroad establishing the price and other terms of a future purchase. The Community Foundation awarded an historic $250,000 grant toward the project to benefit our community.
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Photo by Scott Park courtesy of Upstate Forever | | | | |
