Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust Grant

The Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust is a private foundation managed through Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services. The trust was established in 1960 by the Thomasville Chair Company and is overseen by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee. Its mission is to support the charitable needs of communities in selected counties of North Carolina, specifically Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, and Randolph. Through this mission, the trust directs funding toward a broad range of program areas, including arts, culture, and humanities, education, environment and animals, health, human services, international and foreign affairs, public and societal benefit, and religion. The foundation limits its geographic scope to North Carolina, with grants specifically targeted to the counties identified in its mission. This makes the trust particularly focused on local impact and strengthening nonprofit programs and services in those communities. Grantmaking is guided by the principle that funds must be used exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. Funds cannot be used for political campaigns, political activity, or any activity impermissible under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, the trust requires that awarded funds, as well as any interest earned on those funds, be used only for the purposes outlined in the submitted proposal. There are additional limitations on requests. The foundation generally does not fund proposals that seek grant money to administer a program that would in turn redistribute funds to other organizations. Instead, applicants are expected to request funding for charitable programs that they directly manage. This ensures that resources are used directly in support of the communities and causes outlined in the trust’s mission rather than for secondary grantmaking purposes. Applications are accepted year-round; however, to be considered for review at the annual grant meeting, proposals must be submitted by September 30. Applications received by this deadline are reviewed in November, with funding decisions typically communicated in December. Applicants will receive an automated confirmation email upon submission, and the trust typically follows up with decisions within that annual review cycle. This clear and predictable cycle makes it easier for organizations to plan their funding requests and align them with their program timelines. Eligibility for funding is open to nonprofit organizations and institutions serving the eligible counties in North Carolina. The guidelines make it clear that funds should be used in direct service of charitable needs in these communities, spanning the broad program categories outlined in the trust’s mission. The trust does not support individuals through this program; scholarship seekers are directed to review opportunities at csascholars.org instead. This distinction ensures that the trust’s resources remain focused on community-serving organizations. Applicants with questions or technical issues may contact Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services for assistance. Grant program or technical support is available via phone at 1-888-235-4351 or by email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. These points of contact allow prospective applicants to obtain clarification or assistance throughout the application process. While application questions are not specifically listed, organizations are expected to follow the foundation’s stated mission, restrictions, and guidelines closely when preparing submissions. In summary, the Heritage Home Group Charitable Trust provides funding to nonprofit organizations working across multiple program areas within a defined set of North Carolina counties. With an application cycle that closes annually on September 30 and decisions released in December, the trust offers a structured but recurring opportunity for local organizations to secure funding in support of their charitable initiatives. Wells Fargo’s administration of the trust ensures accountability, compliance with charitable regulations, and continued focus on the philanthropic goals established by the Thomasville Chair Company in 1960.