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Asheville Area Arts Council at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Asheville Area Arts Council

The mission of artsavl is to keep the arts at the heart of our community.

$2.0M
Granted FY2025still arriving
34
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$27k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Arts & Culture$870kCommunity Improvement$31kHuman Services$18kCivil Rights$12k
02FY2025 · 34 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 34 grants below total $385,438, the rows itemized in this filing. The $1,974,767 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $1,589,329 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k12 grants · $92k
  • $10k–50k22 grants · $293k
$10,686
Median grant
1
States reached
$1.3M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
LEAF GLOBAL ARTS$26,562
ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION INC$21,765
ASHEVILLE SYMPHONY SOCIETY INC$18,417
UMOJA HEALTH WELLNESS AND JUSTICE COLLECTIVE$17,500
PACK PLACE PERFORMING ARTS INC$14,500
LOCAL CLOTH INC$14,250
ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE INC$13,375
NORTH CAROLINA GLASS CENTER$12,500
ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC$12,500
BLUE RIDGE PRIDE CENTER INC$12,225
ASHEVILLE CREATIVE ARTS INC$12,000
ARTS FOR LIFE$11,375
BLACK MOUNTAIN SWANNANOA VALLEY ARTS CENTER$11,375
THE CENTER FOR CRAFT CREATIVITY & DESIGN INC$11,375
NORTH CAROLINA STAGE COMPANY$11,375
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY21–25, $50k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%ASHEVILLE CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE: $10k → 12%Urban Arts Institute: $6k → 12%UMOJA HEALTH WELLNESS AND JUSTICE COLLECTIVE: $18k → 12%Umoja Health Wellness and Justice Collective: $6k → 12%Raices Emma - Erwin: $6k → 12%Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre: $5k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

79%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$734k · 25 repeat orgs$197k to everyone else

25 repeat relationships: 22 still active in FY2025, 3 since wound down; 12 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

25
14

Total granted

$734k
$79k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+46%
+95%

Still filing today

96%
71%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 69% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $118k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesEducationEnvironmentHousing & ShelterPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • AS
    Asheville Symphony Society Inc
    4× · 2021–2025 · $57k · revenue +376%
  • PP
    PACK PLACE PERFORMING ARTS INC
    4× · 2021–2025 · $43k · revenue +64%
  • TC
    THE CENTER FOR CRAFT CREATIVITY & DESIGN INC
    4× · 2021–2025 · $41k · revenue +61%

Funded once

  • BA
    BELOVED ASHEVILLEgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $8k · revenue +799%
  • HC
    Hola Carolinagraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $8k · revenue +85%
  • CL
    Colaborativa La Milpagraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $6k · revenue +146%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Greenville Theatre Arts Center
—
2
Wilkes Playmakers Inc

Provide cultural and artistic programs for the public of Wilkes County, NC and the surrounding area

Arts & Culture
3
North Carolina History Theater

The North Carolina History Theater, Inc., is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to expressing and exploring the unique history of North Carolina through the performing arts, and celebrating the rich diversity of our…

Arts & Culture
4
Performing Arts Center Inc

To provide high quality venues and performing arts for the Highlands - Cashiers community.

Arts & Culture
5
Ashe County Arts Council Inc

The ashe county arts council exists to enrich the cultural life of ashe county by nurturing and supporting the arts.

—
6
The Piedmont Arts Association

To provide experiences in the visual and performing arts

—
7
North Carolina Presenters Consortium

The mission of the North Carolina Presenters Consortium is to advance the performing arts by bringing artists and audiences together through collaboration and shared resources.

Arts & Culture
8
Caswell Council for the Arts & History Inc

Our mission is to sponsor and encourage cultural education and activities in Caswell County and the surrounding areas by increasing art awareness, educating our citizenry, providing positive opportunities for exposure to the arts, and…

—
9
Transylvania Community Arts Council

To promote arts in the community and local schools.

Arts & Culture
10
The Arts Council of Henderson County Inc

The Arts Council of Henderson County is a community organization that promotes advocates for and nurtures the arts in Henderson County and western North Carolina.

—
11
Ashe County Little Theater Inc

Produce amateur community theater

—
12
Arts Council of Moore County

Inspire and strengthen our community through the arts

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Asheville Creative Arts Inc; the most unlike its peers is Playground Stage Childrens Theatre. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

45 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 45 of the 51 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
21
Early backer (in before they grew)
44/45
Grantees still filing
29/45
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

LEAF GLOBAL ARTS: $65,007 · Arts & CultureLEAF GLOBAL ARTSAsheville Symphony Society Inc: $57,317 · Arts & CultureAsheville Symphony Society IncPACK PLACE PERFORMING ARTS INC: $43,370 · Arts & CulturePACK PLACE PERFORMING ARTS INCTHE CENTER FOR CRAFT CREATIVITY & DESIGN INC: $40,965 · Arts & CultureTHE CENTER FOR CRAFT CREATIVITY & DESIGN INCAsheville Art Museum Association Inc: $39,425 · Arts & CultureAsheville Art Museum Association IncASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE INC: $39,095 · Arts & CultureASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE INCNORTH CAROLINA STAGE COMPANY: $33,800 · Arts & CultureNORTH CAROLINA STAGE COMPANYAsheville Music School Sound Education: $31,191 · Arts & CultureBLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM AND ARTS CENTER INC: $29,695 · Arts & CultureArts For Life: $24,125 · Arts & CultureBLACK MOUNTAIN SWANNANOA VALLEY ARTS CENTER: $23,440 · Arts & CultureSOUTHERN HIGHLAND HANDICRAFT GUILD: $23,061 · Arts & CultureOPEN HEARTS ART CENTER INC: $21,858 · Arts & CultureASHEVILLE CREATIVE ARTS INC: $21,500 · Arts & Culture+14 more: $125,967 · Arts & Culture+14 moreDelta House Life Development of: $30,038 · OtherDelta House Life Devel…MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS: $27,775 · OtherMONTFORD PARK PLAYERSASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION INC: $21,765 · OtherASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN ASS…Arteria Collective: $21,158 · OtherArteria CollectivePLAYGROUND STAGE CHILDRENS THEATRE: $20,060 · OtherPLAYGROUND STAGE CHILD…ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC: $12,500 · OtherASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS…MONTFORD MOPPETS YOUTH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: $8,131 · Other+8 more: $43,196 · Other+8 moreUmoja Health Wellness and Justice Collective: $29,500 · Human ServicesAsheville Contemporary Dance Theatre: $15,120 · Human ServicesBlue Ridge Pride Center Inc: $12,225 · Human ServicesColaborativa La Milpa: $5,720 · Human ServicesAsheville Glass Art School: $31,882 · EducationBlue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc: $15,250 · EnvironmentAsheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation: $9,643 · PhilanthropyBELOVED ASHEVILLE: $7,500 · Housing & Shelter
Arts & Culture$619,816Other$184,623Human Services$62,565Education$31,882Environment$15,250Philanthropy$9,643Housing & Shelter$7,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetLEAF GLOBAL ARTS: $65,007 over 5y, 1.0% of budgetAsheville Symphony Society Inc: $57,317 over 4y, 2.4% of budgetPACK PLACE PERFORMING ARTS INC: $43,370 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR CRAFT CREATIVITY & DESIGN INC: $40,965 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetAsheville Art Museum Association Inc: $39,425 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE INC: $39,095 over 4y, 1.3% of budgetNORTH CAROLINA STAGE COMPANY: $33,800 over 4y, 1.9% of budgetAsheville Glass Art School: $31,882 over 4y, 1.9% of budgetAsheville Music School Sound Education: $31,191 over 4y, 4.3% of budgetDelta House Life Development of: $30,038 over 4y, 15% of budgetBLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM AND ARTS CENTER INC: $29,695 over 4y, 1.3% of budgetUmoja Health Wellness and Justice Collective: $29,500 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetMONTFORD PARK PLAYERS: $27,775 over 4y, 3.3% of budgetArts For Life: $24,125 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetBLACK MOUNTAIN SWANNANOA VALLEY ARTS CENTER: $23,440 over 3y, 2.3% of budgetSOUTHERN HIGHLAND HANDICRAFT GUILD: $23,061 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetOPEN HEARTS ART CENTER INC: $21,858 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION INC: $21,765 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetASHEVILLE CREATIVE ARTS INC: $21,500 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetArteria Collective: $21,158 over 3y, 3.2% of budgetPLAYGROUND STAGE CHILDRENS THEATRE: $20,060 over 3y, 13% of budgetLocal Cloth Inc: $19,390 over 2y, 3.5% of budgetBlue Ridge National Heritage Area Inc: $15,250 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetDifferent Strokes Performing Arts Collective: $15,240 over 2y, 14% of budgetAsheville Contemporary Dance Theatre: $15,120 over 2y, 21% of budgetWestern North Carolina Historical Association Inc: $14,955 over 2y, 4.0% of budgetASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC: $12,500 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetTerpsicorps Theatre of Dance: $10,000 over 1y, 4.1% of budgetAsheville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Foundation: $9,643 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetBELOVED ASHEVILLE: $7,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetHola Carolina: $7,500 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetColaborativa La Milpa: $5,720 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetIMMEDIATE THEATRE PROJECT: $5,570 over 1y, 18% of budgetTHE MAGNETIC THEATRE INC: $5,470 over 1y, 3.7% of budgetTOE RIVER ARTS COUNCIL INC: $5,300 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetWomansong of Asheville Inc: $5,290 over 1y, 10% of budgetBLUE RIDGE ORCHESTRA: $5,200 over 1y, 11% of budgetATTIC SALT THEATRE COMPANY: $5,130 over 1y, 10% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Community Foundat…Dogwood Health TrustCommunity Foundation …Richard Eckerd Founda…Wnc Bridge FoundationSouth Arts IncHarry F Chaddick and …The Frances & William…Walnut Cove Members A…Windgate Charitable F…Foundation for the Ca…The Cannon Foundation…
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina IncNC67.8× affinity33 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc · Dogwood Health Trust · Community Foundation of Henderson County Inc · Richard Eckerd Foundation Inc · Wnc Bridge Foundation · South Arts Inc · Harry F Chaddick and Elaine Chaddick Foundation Inc · The Frances & William H Beattie Fdn · Walnut Cove Members Association Inc · Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc · Foundation for the Carolinas · The Cannon Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Asheville Area Arts Council funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Asheville Area Arts Council. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    21report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 51 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Asheville Area Arts Council’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home