(July 2026) – Eight nonprofits serving Western North Carolina will receive $1,320,000 over three years from the Melvin R. Lane Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC). The program empowers and strengthens organizations dedicated to providing essential support services for individuals in need, youth, the elderly, and those facing mental and/or physical challenges.
The grants are:
$180,000 over three years to Bounty & Soul to grow and diversify funding by creating a grants and impact position focused on deep engagement with communities and funding partners.
$180,000 over three years to Food Connection to support long‑term growth by hiring a Hub Manager to conduct daily operations and enable senior leadership to focus on fundraising, strategic planning, and sustainability.
$180,000 over three years to Just Economics to advance strategic planning, strengthen fundraising and financial planning infrastructure, and support leadership transition to ensure long‑term stability, adaptability, and growth.
$150,000 over three years to REACH of Haywood County to build a stronger, more sustainable fundraising program by hiring a Development Officer and utilizing donor management software to expand revenue streams and improve donor communication and results reporting.
$120,000 over three years to Rutherford Housing Partnership to increase long-term efficiency and sustainability through a unified cloud-based management system, upgraded tools and equipment, and stronger internal processes to support growth, coordination, and data-informed decision making.
$180,000 over three years to Safelight to improve financial planning by hiring an additional finance staff member to support day-to-day operations while strengthening internal systems and infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability.
$150,000 over three years to The Haven of Transylvania County to hire a Development Director to transition fundraising from a reactive approach to a strategic, proactive model that strengthens long-term financial stability and supports organizational growth and program expansion.
$180,000 over three years to Western North Carolina Community Health Services to build long-term sustainability and visibility by increasing development staff, implementing strategic fundraising initiatives and events, mobilizing an engaged Board, and deepening donor relationships.
"We are deeply grateful to the Melvin R. Lane Fund for making this investment in Food Connection's future and to CFWNC for their partnership and support,” said Marisha MacMorran, Executive Director, Food Connection. “As we build our new central food hub, we're creating the infrastructure to rescue more food, strengthen our regional food system, and serve more WNC neighbors. A dedicated Hub Manager is critical to that vision, providing the leadership and coordination to oversee daily operations and maximize the impact of this new facility. This investment is about much more than a single position—it is helping us build the capacity to expand our reach, deepen our partnerships, and ensure that more nutritious food gets to the people who need it most."
These three-year grants are made possible through a trust, created by Melvin and Georgianna Lane, longtime residents of Henderson County. Lyn Fozzard, daughter of Melvin R. Lane, created the Melvin R. Lane Fund at CFWNC in 2000. Her son, Peter Fozzard, oversees the Fund and manages it with family and community members serving on the Lane Advisory Board. The Lane Fund grant program builds capacity and improves operations so human service nonprofits can help more people. This is important and necessary work, and CFWNC is honored to support the Lane family in carrying on this legacy.