GSHF Community Grants

The Great Smokies Health Foundation (GSHF) is a private nonprofit organization that serves the residents of Jackson, Swain, Macon, and Graham counties in North Carolina. Its mission centers on improving the health status of these communities through strategic investments and collaborative initiatives focused on health, wellness, and prevention. Over the past eleven years, the Foundation has distributed thousands of dollars in grant funding to more than 30 agencies and programs located within its service area. The GSHF is also affiliated with the Sylva Thrift Shop, a local retail operation that supports the Foundation’s activities and reinvests proceeds into health-related community grants. The GSHF Community Grants Program, previously known as the Thrift Shop Grants, is accepting applications for the FY2025-27 grant cycle. The grant application window is open from June 16, 2025, through July 14, 2025. The updated structure for this cycle offers a two-year grant period, providing up to $7,500 annually, with a total maximum award of $15,000 over the two-year span. Awardees will receive funding for the first year, and the provision of funding for the second year will be contingent upon successful fulfillment of Year 1 project goals, appropriate use of the initial funds, and the timely submission of required reports and deliverables. This funding opportunity prioritizes projects that align with GSHF’s core focus areas. Specifically, the Foundation seeks to support initiatives that increase or maintain access to preventative and primary care services, including oral health; enhance access to mental health care; improve access to nutrition and food; and reduce barriers to health and safety for vulnerable populations. These focus areas reflect GSHF’s ongoing commitment to addressing critical social determinants of health in underserved rural communities. Eligibility for this grant appears to be geographically restricted to organizations or entities that operate within the four counties served by GSHF: Jackson, Swain, Macon, and Graham. While the program does not list explicit eligible applicant types, its historic support of over 30 local agencies and programs suggests a focus on nonprofit organizations and potentially other community-serving entities. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation to confirm eligibility. The application process is managed online, with the grant portal accessible via a designated link on the Foundation’s website. Although the specific application components and evaluation rubric are not detailed in the announcement, applicants must demonstrate how their proposed project aligns with GSHF’s strategic focus areas and must be prepared to track progress against measurable objectives. A critical component of the evaluation will be the grantee’s ability to use funds responsibly and to comply with reporting deadlines. For inquiries regarding the grant, eligibility questions, or help with the application process, applicants can contact Shelley Carraway, Executive Director of the Great Smokies Health Foundation, by phone at 828-507-2270. The Foundation’s mailing address is P.O. Box 176, Sylva, NC 28779. Additional contact for the Sylva Thrift Shop, which helps fund the grant program, is 828-586-7470. The Thrift Shop operates Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.