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Womens Fund of the Blue Ridge Inc

Womens Fund of the Blue Ridge is a collective giving organization formed and sustained by a group of women philanthropists who want to make a positive impact on the lives of women and girls in the High Country.

$307k
Granted FY2025still arriving
25
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$15k
Largest
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Human Services$322kFood & Nutrition$305kHousing & Shelter$200kHealth$161kEducation$96kCrime & Legal$86kYouth Development$82kRecreation & Sports$54kOther$0
02FY2025 · 25 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k4 grants · $28k
  • $10k–50k21 grants · $300k
$15,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$452k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Community Care Clinic$15,000
WAMY Community Action$15,000
Hunger and Health Coalition$15,000
Oasis$15,000
Quiet Givers$15,000
High Country Caregivers$15,000
Ashe Food Pantry$15,000
Childrens Council of Watauga County$15,000
Watauga Schools Back 2 School Festival$15,000
Ashe Outreach Ministries$15,000
Hospitality House$15,000
CARE Network$15,000
Ashe County Habitat$15,000
Pisgah Legal Services$15,000
Blowing Rock CARES$15,000
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 (FY20–25, $410k) land where the poverty rate runs at 18%, 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%Young Eisner Scholars (YES): $10k → 14%Young Eisner Scholars (YES): $8k → 14%Shoes for Kids: $7k → 14%Reaching Avery Ministries: $8k → 15%Reaching Avery Ministries: $8k → 15%Ashe Food Pantry: $15k → 14%Reaching Avery Ministries: $8k → 15%Blowing Rock CARES: $15k → 21%Ashe Food Pantry: $15k → 14%Reaching Avery Ministry: $8k → 15%Blowing Rock CARES: $14k → 21%CARE Network: $15k → 14%Blowing Rock CARES: $14k → 21%Ashe Food Pantry: $15k → 14%Ashe Food Pantry: $15k → 14%CARE Network: $15k → 14%Ashe Food Pantry: $15k → 14%ASHE SHARING CENTER: $11k → 14%Blowing Rock Cares: $5k → 21%CARE Network: $10k → 14%Oasis: $15k → 21%Oasis: $15k → 21%Oasis: $15k → 21%Oasis: $15k → 21%High Country Caregivers: $15k → 21%Oasis: $15k → 21%Western Youth Network: $15k → 21%High Country Givers: $13k → 21%High Country Caregivers: $13k → 21%High Country Caregivers: $12k → 21%WESTERN YOUTH NETWORK: $11k → 21%HIGH COUNTRY CAREGIVERS: $11k → 21%High Country Caregivers: $11k → 21%OASIS: $7k → 21%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.

94%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.2M · 26 repeat orgs$85k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +76% since the first grant, against -8% for those funded once.

26 repeat relationships: 21 still active in FY2025, 5 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

26
3

Total granted

$1.2M
$34k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+76%
-8%

Still filing today

96%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 84% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $51k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesHealthFood & NutritionEducationYouth DevelopmentHousing & ShelterOther
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

  • CC
    COMMUNITY CARE CLINIC INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $94k · revenue +15%
  • TH
    THE HUNGER AND HEALTH COALITION INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $88k · revenue +177%
  • AF
    ASHE FOOD PANTRY INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $86k · revenue +393%

Funded once

  • SH
    Safe Harbor of NC Inc
    one grant, 2022 · $15k · revenue -8%
  • CF
    CASTING FOR HOPE
    one grant, 2022 · $13k · revenue -23%
  • SF
    SHOES FOR KIDS
    one grant, 2021 · $7k · revenue +13%
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
Restoring Hope Center Inc

Restoring Hope Center, Inc. is a benovolence organization operating in Laurinburg, NC. The organization has benevolence programs providing food and supplies to the local area, supplies other smaller like-kind organizations, conducts a…

Human Services
2
Wnc Lighthouse Inc

The mission of WNC Lighthouse Inc is Changing lives, by being a light for Christ our Lord. Our vision is To be fully devoted to Jesus Christ, by opening our arms and providing Christian services to the underseved children, adults and…

Human Services
3
Western Carolina Rescue Ministries Inc

Provide food, shelter, rehabilitation and christian ministry to the poor and homeless

Housing & Shelter
4
Volunteer Avery County & Community Services Inc

Volunteer Avery County finds resources to aid families and individuals that do not qualify for public assistance and fall through the cracks.

Human Services
5
Anderson County Community Action Inc

The Anderson County Community Action Commission provides food, clothing, household foods, and essential assistance to low-income residents of Anderson County, Tennessee. The organization operates a community food pantry, clothing closet,…

—
6
Cabarrus Cooperative Christian Ministry

To respond to the growing need in our community by providing immediate assistance to residents of Concord, Kannapolis, and Cabarrus County, NC who are experiencing crisis in the areas of food, shelter or finances while providing them…

—
7
Allied Churches of Alamance County Inc

Provide food & shelter for the homeless, offer support to those that desire to develop or enhance their life goals and assist others in the community with financial assistance for emergency household utility needs.

Philanthropy
8
Hickory County Cares

Food distribution to the needy

Human Services
9
Feed-a-Child Wnc Inc

Provide food and supplies for the low income and needy

Food & Nutrition
10
NourishNC Inc

NourishNC, Inc.'s goal is to provide healthy food to hungry children, empowering them to succeed in the classroom and in their community

Food & Nutrition
11
The Community Table Inc

To provide nutritious meals to the hungry and food insecure in Jackson County, NC in a welcoming environment. We do this through our soup kitchen, food pantry and community garden programs.

Food & Nutrition
12
Safe Inc

With compassion at our core, we fight hunger and fuel hope by providing essential food support, uplifting individuals, and working hand-in-hand with partners to build a stronger, hunger-free community.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wamy Community Action Inc; the most unlike its peers is Back 2 School Festival Inc. 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

32 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. 32 of the 33 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
14
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
25/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ASHE FOOD PANTRY INC: $86,250 · Human ServicesASHE FOOD PANTRY INCOPPOSING ABUSE WITH SERVICE INFORMATION & SHELTER: $82,000 · Human ServicesOPPOSING ABUSE WITH SERVICE INFORMA…HIGH COUNTRY CAREGIVER FOUNDATION: $73,000 · Human ServicesHIGH COUNTRY CAREGIVER FOUNDATIONBLOWING ROCK CARES: $48,150 · Human ServicesBLOWING ROCK CARESCARE NETWORK INC: $40,000 · Human ServicesCARE NETWORK INCREACHING AVERY MINISTRY: $30,000 · Human ServicesREACHING AVERY MINISTRYThe Western Youth Network Inc: $26,250 · Human ServicesThe Western Youth Network IncYoung Eisner Scholars: $17,500 · Human Services+1 more: $6,750 · Human ServicesWAMY COMMUNITY ACTION INC: $70,500 · OtherWAMY COMMUNITY ACTION INCWestern Youth Network: $60,000 · OtherWestern Youth NetworkTHE CHILDREN'S COUNCIL OF WATAUGA COUNTY INC: $50,250 · OtherTHE CHILDREN'S COUNCIL OF WAT…Mountain Alliance Inc: $35,750 · OtherMountain Alliance IncHABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTL WATAUGA COUNTY: $17,500 · OtherCASTING BREAD MINISTRIES: $13,800 · OtherQUIET GIVERS INC: $43,000 · OtherQUIET GIVERS INCASHE OUTREACH MINISTRIES INC: $15,000 · OtherThe Children's Playhouse Inc: $14,929 · OtherBUFFALO COVE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER INC: $13,000 · OtherGOLF FORE FUN INC: $15,000 · OtherTHE HUNGER AND HEALTH COALITION INC: $88,200 · Food & NutritionTHE HUNGER A…BLUE RIDGE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE: $47,500 · Food & NutritionBLUE RIDGE W…FULL MOON FARM COLLECTIVE: $6,000 · Food & NutritionCOMMUNITY CARE CLINIC INC: $94,250 · HealthCOMMUNITY C…CROSSNORE COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN: $15,000 · HealthCROSSNORE C…Safe Harbor of NC Inc: $15,000 · HealthSafe Harbor…CASTING FOR HOPE: $12,500 · HealthCASTING FOR…HOSPITALITY HOUSE OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA: $82,500 · Housing & ShelterHOSPITALI…ASHE COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC: $30,000 · Housing & ShelterASHE COUN…PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES: $85,500 · Crime & LegalLEES-MCRAE COLLEGE INC: $31,000 · EducationBACK 2 SCHOOL FESTIVAL INC: $30,500 · EducationPARTNERSHIP OF ASHE: $22,000 · Education
Human Services$409,900Other$348,729Food & Nutrition$141,700Health$136,750Housing & Shelter$112,500Crime & Legal$85,500Education$83,500

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 budgetCOMMUNITY CARE CLINIC INC: $94,250 over 6y, 5.2% of budgetTHE HUNGER AND HEALTH COALITION INC: $88,200 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetASHE FOOD PANTRY INC: $86,250 over 6y, 2.9% of budgetPISGAH LEGAL SERVICES: $85,500 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetHOSPITALITY HOUSE OF NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA: $82,500 over 6y, 0.5% of budgetOPPOSING ABUSE WITH SERVICE INFORMATION & SHELTER: $82,000 over 6y, 1.0% of budgetHIGH COUNTRY CAREGIVER FOUNDATION: $73,000 over 6y, 5.0% of budgetWAMY COMMUNITY ACTION INC: $70,500 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S COUNCIL OF WATAUGA COUNTY INC: $50,250 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetBLOWING ROCK CARES: $48,150 over 4y, 18% of budgetBLUE RIDGE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE: $47,500 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetQUIET GIVERS INC: $43,000 over 3y, 13% of budgetCARE NETWORK INC: $40,000 over 3y, 35% of budgetMountain Alliance Inc: $35,750 over 5y, 2.3% of budgetLEES-MCRAE COLLEGE INC: $31,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBACK 2 SCHOOL FESTIVAL INC: $30,500 over 3y, 8.9% of budgetASHE COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC: $30,000 over 2y, 5.1% of budgetREACHING AVERY MINISTRY: $30,000 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetThe Western Youth Network Inc: $26,250 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetPARTNERSHIP OF ASHE: $22,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetYoung Eisner Scholars: $17,500 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTL WATAUGA COUNTY: $17,500 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetCROSSNORE COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGOLF FORE FUN INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetASHE OUTREACH MINISTRIES INC: $15,000 over 1y, 5.2% of budgetSafe Harbor of NC Inc: $15,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetThe Children's Playhouse Inc: $14,929 over 1y, 5.2% of budgetCASTING BREAD MINISTRIES: $13,800 over 2y, 2.4% of budgetBUFFALO COVE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER INC: $13,000 over 2y, 4.9% of budgetCASTING FOR HOPE: $12,500 over 1y, 5.4% of budgetSHOES FOR KIDS: $6,750 over 1y, 8.7% of budgetFULL MOON FARM COLLECTIVE: $6,000 over 1y, 9.7% 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.

North Carolina Community FoundationNC33.7× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: North Carolina Community Foundation · The High Country Charitable Foundation · High Country United Way · The Cannon Foundation Inc · Blue Ridge Energy Members Foundation · The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Inc · Gail Handel Family Foundation Inc · Kathleen Kennedy Foundation · Helen M Clabough Charitable Foundation · The Celia Lipton Farris and Victor W Farris Foundation · Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Nc Inc · Dogwood Health Trust

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 Womens Fund of the Blue Ridge Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Womens Fund of the Blue Ridge Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%8%15%22%30%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    11report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–30%
    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 33 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

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