Affiliate Funds
Black Mountain - Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund Cashiers Community Fund The Fund for Haywood County Highlands Community Fund The McDowell Endowment The Fund for Mitchell County Rutherford County Endowment Transylvania Endowment The Yancey Fund
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Browse Affiliates Funds
Black Mountain - Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund Cashiers Community Fund The Fund for Haywood County Highlands Community Fund The McDowell Endowment The Fund for Mitchell County Rutherford County Endowment Transylvania Endowment The Yancey Fund
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Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Creating a lasting resource

The Highlands Community Fund seeks to inspire philanthropy and strengthen charitable organizations serving the Highlands community. This endowment fund was established in 1996 by caring individuals who recognized the importance of a permanent charitable resources to support changing needs and opportunities.

Contributions made to the Highlands Community Fund are pooled and invested by The Community Foundation. Proceeds from the investments are used to make grants while the original gifts remain intact, continuing to grow for the benefit of future generations. You can make a difference in Highlands by making a tax-deductible gift of cash, securities or other assets.

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Kids in front of Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau Highlands
About

The Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau was awarded $8,000 to to expand academic programming at its new Highlands location.

Photo by courtesy of Boys & Girls Club of the Platea.
Join us this summer for brunch!

Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine is a sophisticated gathering of community members to benefit the Highlands Community Fund, an affiliate fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC).

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025

Time: 10:00am to 12:30pm

Location: Highlands Falls Country Club 

Address: 1 Club Drive, Highlands, NC 28741

This summer's event is a brunch with a performance by the Junior Appalachian Musicians of Jackson County. These students, ages 8 to 18, participate in an after-school program during which they learn traditional old time and bluegrass music, as well as Appalachian dance and culture. Their band, “The String Beans”, performs for local festivals, such as Sylva’s “Greening up the Mountain” and Canton’s “Cold Mountain Music Festival”. Recent performances include the Youth Talent Celebration of Asheville’s renowned “Mountain Heritage and Dance Festival”, as well as “Echoes Across the Smokies” at WCU’s Bardo Center, where they opened for the award-winning Kruger Bothers.

Funds raised by the Highlands Community Fund since the event began in 2015 have been added to an endowment fund that has grown to over $2.4 million to-date. The investment income from this endowment is used annually to provide grant support for nonprofits that serve the Highlands community.  Last year’s Rise and Shine event raised nearly $70,000 thanks to the generosity of our community. Last fall, the Fund was able to award 17 grants totaling $96,555. 

If you have any questions, please contact Florence Holmes at (404) 291-0933.

Purchase Tickets to Rise and Shine

Tickets are $125 per person, $60 of your ticket is tax deductible.

Purchase Tickets

How you can get involved

  • Join our mailing list to stay informed about our work.
  • Nonprofit organizations and public institutions may apply to the Highlands Community Fund for support. Review the guidelines and application information for Highlands Community Fund Grants for more details. The deadline to apply is the 2nd Friday in August.
  • Join people like you who love the Highlands region and want the best for our communities.

Want to know more?

Contact Melissa Edgington
Development Associate
828-367-9917

Email Melissa