Catawba Valley Community Foundation Grant

The Catawba Valley Community Foundation (CVCF), founded in 1997, is a regional affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. It operates as a philanthropic entity dedicated to serving the communities of Alexander, Caldwell, and Catawba counties. Guided by a local volunteer advisory board, the foundation builds community assets through the establishment of permanent endowments, the distribution of grants, and strategic leadership that targets key community issues. CVCF plays a critical role in enhancing the region’s charitable ecosystem by supporting organizations that align with its community-focused mission. CVCF administers an annual competitive grant cycle designed to support nonprofit organizations serving Alexander, Caldwell, and Catawba counties. In 2025, it awarded a total of $53,600 in grants, with individual grant amounts typically ranging from $500 to $2,500. Funding is available from both the foundation’s general community grantmaking fund and the Brian Long Youth Fund. The latter specifically supports youth-centered initiatives in Catawba County with a focus on hunger alleviation, drug intervention, mental illness, and pre-kindergarten developmental needs. Priority consideration in the 2026 grant cycle will be given to proposals addressing early childhood development, mental health, and substance use disorders. The application process is managed through the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Grant Application Portal. All interested applicants must review and adhere to the program guidelines before submission. First-time applicants are required to complete Training Module I to create a user profile, while returning applicants must log in using existing credentials. All users must then follow Training Module II to successfully submit an application. Any deviation from these guidelines may result in ineligibility. Applications must be submitted electronically; no paper submissions are accepted. For the 2026 cycle, the application window opens on July 24, 2026, and closes at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on August 25, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted, including those affected by technological errors. It is strongly recommended that applicants plan ahead to ensure timely submission. Grant decisions are generally announced approximately two months following the application deadline, allowing adequate time for review by the foundation’s advisory board. The grant selection process is informed in part by an annual Community Needs Assessment, which helps the board identify areas of greatest impact and guide strategic grant allocations. The foundation encourages applicants to review this assessment prior to submission. All awarded grants support nonprofit organizations that are serving or located within the designated three-county service area. There are no indications of required matching funds or cost-sharing obligations, and the grant is open only to qualified charitable organizations. For specific questions or application-related guidance, applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Officer affiliated with CVCF. Although no individual contact name or direct email address is provided in the source material, general inquiries can be directed to the North Carolina Community Foundation offices via their Raleigh headquarters.