(April 2025) The Rutherford County Endowment awarded fourteen grants totaling $93,250 to Rutherford County nonprofits in its recent grant cycle. The Endowment, in partnership with The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC), has awarded grants since inception totaling $1,934,773.
“Supporting local nonprofits is more important than ever following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” said Advisory Board Chair David Eaker. “The entire region was affected, and nonprofits joined other first responders on the front lines. As recovery progresses, these critical organizations continue to meet their missions and increased demand. Contributions from our friends and neighbors, both recently and over the years invested for long-term support, helped make this year’s grants possible.”
The 2025 grants are:
$7,000 to Abounding Grace Ministry to help incarcerated women transition into society.
$4,500 to Blue Ridge Hope for an afterschool program serving disadvantaged middle and high school students and providing mentorship, tutoring and community-building activities.
$10,000 to Grahamtown Team to expand its food pantry.
$10,000 to Hope Center of Rutherford County to improve housing essential to its transition program for court-involved people.
$6,000 to Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of the New Hope Community to support an event that educates residents about the history and significance of Juneteenth.
$5,000 to Mosaic Hope to support marketing and promotion efforts regarding specific foster care needs.
$1,000 to New Beginning Soup Kitchen to purchase bulk food and supplies.
$10,000 to Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity to support construction of new homes for low-income people.
$7,500 to Rutherford County Schools Education Foundation to provide kitchen kits, that include fruit and vegetables, for students and their families who live in hotels or campers or who do not have a working stove.
$8,000 to Rutherford Housing Partnership for home repair and improvements.
$10,000 to Salem United Methodist Church to provide nutritious healthy food and to repair the outreach service center.
$5,000 to South Mountains Christian Camp for electrical work for new cabins.
$1,750 to Special Olympics North Carolina to support athletes, coaches, and volunteers who serve children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
$7,500 to The Symphony of Rutherford County to install two 3-ton HVAC splits into an existing rehearsal and recital venue.
In 1996, local residents established the Rutherford County Endowment as a permanent charitable endowment to meet local needs. Gifts added to the Fund’s principal are preserved and invested, while grants from the Fund support nonprofits in Rutherford County. To make a tax-deductible contribution, donate online or by mail to the Rutherford County Endowment, c/o CFWNC, 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 300, Asheville, NC 28803, memo line: Rutherford County Endowment. Contributions of any size are welcome.
The local volunteer Advisory Board includes: David Eaker (Chair), Nancy Giles, Jean Gordon (Secretary), Jackie Hampton, Eddie Holland, Marla Machado-Arce, Wilfred McDowell, Tommy Miller, Jill W. Miracle, Pell Tanner, Dennis Tarlton, Robin Van Jura, and Michelle Yelton (Vice Chair).