The Cherokee Preservation Foundation welcomes grant requests that meet eligibility requirements and address our focus areas.
The mission of the Cherokee Preservation Foundation is to preserve our native culture, protect and enhance our natural environment, and create appropriate and diverse economic opportunities – in order to improve the quality of life for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and our neighbors in western North Carolina.
The Foundation has three main focus areas: cultural preservation, economic and workforce development, and environmental preservation. Proposed projects must fit into at least one of these areas and demonstrate how the project will help achieve the Foundation’s stated Goals and Strategies. Then demonstrate this alignment in your Grant Application.
Cherokee Preservation Foundation will provide grants to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, as well as to schools, institutions of higher learning, federal, state, local and tribal government units.
Applicant organizations must be located on the Qualla Boundary or in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon or Swain County, or serve people of this region.
The proposed work must directly benefit the people of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and must involve EBCI members in project planning and implementation. Regional entities seeking CPFdn assistance must form a collaborative partnership with the EBCI in order to be considered for support.
Grants will NOT be made to or for any of the following purposes:
Small grants are for $500 to $20,000. This category has three types of grants: Planning, Capacity and Project Specific.
Large Grants are $20,000 and higher. Within this category, there are two types of grants: Project Specific and Preservation and Civic Enhancement Grants.
Grantees may receive up to one large grant and two small grants per calendar year. For grantees with active CPFdn grants, at least 50% of funds must be spent before new grants will be awarded, and applicants must provide an Outstanding Grant Financial Report Form.
Applicants will be notified in writing of the Foundation’s decision. If your project is approved for funding, a legal agreement that outlines the responsibilities of the Foundation and the grantee must be signed prior to release of funds. The grantee must submit an annual report on grant activities, as well as an end-of-grant report on program activities and expenditures, prior to submitting another grant application to the Foundation. Project costs incurred prior to written authorization from the Foundation will be ineligible for reimbursement. All awarded grantees must attend an orientation session prior to the disbursement of funds. For more information regarding orientation sessions, please contact the Foundation.
Grant applicants who are notified that their grant applications have been successful MUST attend a grantee orientation of either of the two dates indicated in the Grant Calendar, even if they have previously been awarded a grant from Cherokee Preservation Foundation. RSVP Deb Mintz at 828-497-5550 if you are notified that your grant application has been successful.
The Cherokee Preservation Foundation (CPFdn) Board of Directors enacted the following policies for grant applications and awards in 2009. All CPFdn grantees and grant applicants should make note of the requirements.
Proposals and Project Budgeting
Limits on Grant Awards – CPFdn will award funding for only one large grant (more than $20,000) and two small grants ($20,000 or less) per calendar year to any grantee.
Budgeting for Fringe Benefits, Indirect Cost or Grant Administration Cost – CPFdn prefers not to award funding for fringe benefits, indirect cost or grant administration cost. Grantee organizations should support these costs through other funding sources and count them as matching funds for CPFdn grant awards. However, fringe benefits, indirect cost and grant administration cost may be funded on an exceptional basis at the discretion of the CPFdn’s grant reviewers, subject to the following limits:
Exceptions to these limits may be considered in the following situations:
Grant Award Management
Limits on No-Cost Extensions – Grantees are encouraged to complete their grant projects within one year. In cases where this cannot be accomplished, CPFdn will allow a one-time extension. Exceptions will be made only in rare and extenuating circumstances. Grantees seeking No-Cost Extensions will be required to attend the “Building Grantee Skills” courses as discussed below.
Guidelines for Budget Line Item Reallocations – Grantees may reallocate funds from one line item to another within the approved grant budget subject to the following limitations:
For Personnel line items, including Salaries/Wages, Fringe Benefits, Indirect Cost, and Honoraria/Stipends, a maximum increase of 10% of funds in any individual line item.
For all other line items, in the categories including Contracted Services, Operating Expenses, Major Capital Purchases and Other Expenses, a maximum increase or decrease of 25% in any individual line item.
Incentive and Resources to Build Grantee Skills
In an effort to strategically allocate resources and develop quality projects, the Cherokee Preservation Foundation is encouraging grantees to engage in ongoing capacity building trainings. Grantees that attend Skill Builder training sessions will receive funding priority in regards to their grant application.
CPFdn will offer these Skill Builder courses on a regular basis at times and places convenient to our local grantees. Two key staff members involved with CPFdn grant projects will have the opportunity to attend.
Grantees seeking No-Cost Extensions may be required to attend certain Skill Builder courses, which will help them complete their projects within the new time frame.
Other grantees (residing around our seven-county service area) can complete at least five hours of organizational development training every 12-month period that is comparable to the Skill Builder courses (e.g.: WNC Nonprofit Pathways and Duke Nonprofit Management courses).
Documentation of Training – As part of the grant application form, all grant applicants must document their prior year’s attendance in the Skill Builder courses and their plans for attending skill building training in the coming year in order to receive funding priority. This step does not guarantee funding, while all grants must still meet the CPFdn funding priorities and guidelines.
Visit the Skill Builder section on our web site to learn more about Skill Builder courses offered and the course schedule.