Isaac Coleman Grants

The Isaac Coleman Grants, named in honor of a local social justice advocate, are administered by Buncombe County, North Carolina. This grant initiative is designed to advance educational equity by reducing disparities in public school graduation rates among at-risk populations within Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools. The program aligns closely with Buncombe County’s Strategic Plan goal to reduce the graduation gap for identified student subgroups by 50% by the year 2030. These subgroups include students who are Black, Hispanic, of Two or More Races, economically disadvantaged, English learners, in foster care, homeless, or have disabilities. The grant also supports the broader mission of United for Youth (U4Y), a local cradle-to-career initiative focused on removing barriers to opportunity and creating support systems that enable student success from early education through postsecondary pathways. Funding through the Isaac Coleman Grant program is allocated annually and subject to the county’s budget approval process. Successful applicants will receive funding for a three-year term, with continuation contingent on both project performance and budget availability. Organizations can request between $100,000 and $150,000 per application cycle. While full funding requests are welcome, the county retains the right to make partial awards depending on the proposal pool and funding constraints. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit organizations with current tax-exempt status and compliance with all legal nonprofit requirements. Furthermore, they must operate within Buncombe County and serve its residents. If an organization does not meet the standard eligibility criteria, it may work with a fiscal sponsor to administer the funds. Each organization may submit only one application unless serving as a fiscal sponsor for additional groups. Proposed projects must directly serve students from Asheville City and Buncombe County Schools and be open to the eligible subgroups. The projects should also align with at least one of the U4Y opportunity objectives, which include foundational literacy instruction in K–6, mentoring opportunities in grades 4–9, and paid internships, apprenticeship programs, and college-readiness supports for students in grades 10 and above. The grant timeline begins with the application opening on January 5, 2026, and closes on February 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM. An optional virtual grant-writing workshop will be held on January 21, 2026, to assist applicants with understanding the process and requirements. Applicants must use Buncombe County’s online grant portal to submit applications, as late or paper-based submissions will not be accepted. Throughout the process, staff are available to provide support and connect applicants with community-based grant-writing assistance if needed. Applications consist of a questionnaire with nine structured questions addressing funding request details, organizational background, project design, access to services, partnerships, expected outcomes, evaluation strategies, detailed budgeting, and project sustainability. These components will be assessed by a review committee of up to seven members appointed by the County Manager. Using a standardized 35-point scoring rubric, committee members will evaluate proposals based on project plan, access to services, partnerships, results, evaluation, and budget alignment. Final recommendations will be submitted to the Board of Commissioners for inclusion in the county’s budget, with awards finalized in June 2026 and the funding period beginning July 1, 2026. All awards are governed by performance-based contracts and include reporting and financial accountability provisions. Depending on organizational size, grantees must submit reviewed or audited financial statements and Form 990s. Grant performance will be evaluated throughout the fiscal year, with renewal dependent on satisfactory reporting. For further assistance, prospective applicants can contact Angelyn Johnson, Grants Manager, at [email protected] or (828) 250-4175. The program is managed by Buncombe County’s Strategic Partnerships Department.