Education

Our goal is to improve educational opportunities for all WNC learners.

Supporting Teachers and Learners

Investing in Education for a Thriving Future

Education is central to the continued development of a thriving, just, and creative Western North Carolina. It is the foundation of economic progress and effective civic participation. The skills and attributes of an educated public help our region prosper and expand opportunities across it. The educational profile of a region plays a significant role in potential employers’ decisions to invest in an economy. For these reasons and others, CFWNC directs resources toward improving educational outcomes, systems and opportunities through grants and scholarships. This work is aggregated under the Education focus area.

Support the Fund for Education

<p>Photo courtesy of the Region A Partnership for Children</p>

<p>McDowell County teacher Greg Kerr, photo courtesy of Go Global NC. Go Global NC<strong> </strong>for the<strong> </strong>Global Teachers Fellowship WNC (GTF)<strong> </strong>received $200,000 to implement and endow GTF in several rural counties in WNC, thereby decreasing the burden of annual fundraising and ensuring that this established program is available to generations of teachers across WNC. These funds are matched by public funds and this effort received generous co-investment. Learn More</p>

Apply for Funding

Funds are Distributed through Competitive and Proactive Grants

Apply for Funding

Funds are Distributed through Competitive and Proactive Grants

Eligible organizations must be: (1) tax-exempt as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, public agencies or faith communities; and (2) located in the Qualla Boundary or one of the following counties in Western North Carolina: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania or Yancey. Organizations must already be established in and serving Western North Carolina.

Subscribe to Email Notifications about Education Grants

See Recent Grants

Each fall, CFWNC will award grants of up to $25,000 through the Human Services and Education grant program.
The Learning Links program offers mini grants up to $1,000 for public school teachers to help them provide "hands-on" creative learning projects to their students. The goal of this program is to increase students' enthusiasm for learning and staying in school through graduation.

Applications may be invited for timely and effective projects or programs. These grant opportunities are not governed by the cycles or categories specified for competitive Education grants but must address the Education focus area goal. Because a limited number of proactive grants can be awarded, applications may be invited as often as quarterly or until all available funds have been committed for that year. To determine eligibility for proactive grants, contact Vice President for Programs Philip Belcher at 828-367-9901.

Learn More and Apply

Scholarships

CFWNC awards scholarships to North Carolina residents who are public high school seniors, who attend the NC School of Science and Mathematics or the UNC School of the Arts High School, or who study in a home school registered with the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education. There are programs open to private high school students in Buncombe County, and programs open to students already in college or who are employees or children and grandchildren of employees of certain area corporations. Scholarships may be used to attend a nonprofit postsecondary two- or four-year college, university, or vocational school in the United States, unless otherwise specified in the guidelines for a particular scholarship program.

The 2024 scholarship cycle awarded $589,500 to 96 students.

Support Scholarships View the Scholarship Directory