About Community Foundations
Community Foundations represent one of the fastest growing areas of philanthropy in the United States today. In fact, there are nearly 700 Community Foundations currently operating nationwide. The Cleveland Foundation is the oldest; the New York Community Trust is the largest. Community Foundations build and strengthen communities by making it possible for a wide range of Donors to create permanent named component funds to meet crucial needs. The funds are invested and the distributions are used to award grants to charitable organizations.

About the Community Foundation of Burke County
A small group of concerned local citizens established the Community Foundation of Burke County, Inc. in 2000. They wanted to ensure that Burke County, North Carolina would continue to flourish during their lifetimes and long into the future. They also wanted to provide a means for members of this close knit community to care for the organizations, churches and communities that they love far beyond their lifetimes. The Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and receives gifts, endowments and bequests from individuals, families, businesses and organizations. The distributions from these funds are used to make grants to qualified charitable agencies and institutions primarily serving the residents of Burke County, North Carolina.

Board of Directors Sitting L-R:John Branstrom, Hugh Fletcher, John Ervin (President), Marc Mitchell (Secretary) and Paul Deaton Standing L-R: Chip Black, Susan Wilson, Sterling Collett, Doris Fullwood, Le Erwin, Otto Woerner, Jim Rostan and Emily Williamson Missing: Jim Lowdermilk (Treasurer) and Ben Succop (Vice President)

Mission Statement
Our mission is to encourage, develop and participate in philanthropy by providing flexible giving opportunities, professional support and responsible stewardship for the benefit of donors and qualified recipients.

Click here to view our Annual Report. (shown in pdf format).

Click here to view our newsletter. (shown in pdf format).

 

Foundation Highlights (unaudited figures):
Since 2000:

• Over $1.5 million distributed in grants to nonprofit organizations and churches
• More than 70 funds established, most of which are permanent endowments benefiting the Burke County community - forever

Fiscal Year 2007:

• $378,544 in grants and scholarships awarded
• More than $2.9 million in contributions
• Foundation assets totaled $7.9 million

Fiscal Year 2006:

• $354,369 in grants and scholarships awarded
• More than $2.2 million in contributions
• Foundation assets totaled $5.3 million

Fiscal Year 2005:

• $236,000 in grants and scholarships awarded
• More than $700,000 in contributions
• Foundation assets totaled $3.3 million

Donors establish funds to support qualified, nonprofit organizations in perpetuity.