Community Initiatives Application
We remain committed to aligning our community initiatives with the urgent and evolving needs of our communities.
As of February 20, 2025, WNC Bridge has assisted 256 individuals affected by the storm, distributing $128,496 in funding through our Community Initiatives Hurricane Helene Relief program.
Our Community Initiatives (CI): assist underserved individuals in the 18 counties and Qualla Boundary of Western North Carolina with basic and medical needs to remain safely in their homes.
For Community Initiatives application questions email request@wncbridge.org or call 828.277.4815.
Children’s Services empowers children and adolescents to reach their potential development through:
- Hearing aids up to $2,500.
- Specialized mobility equipment up to $1,500. For children’s higher cost mobility equipment, we will match up to $2,500.
- Dental or Mental Health services for up to $1,000.
- Developmental and Behavioral Screening Tests up to $1,000.
- Visual or Educational aids up to $500.
WNC Greatest Needs provides emergency funding to underserved individuals for specific, immediate basic needs:
- Home modifications up to $1,500 such as appliance replacement or emergency home repair projects.
- Specialized medical equipment up to $1,500 for adults.
- Dental or Mental Health services up to $1,000.
- Rental assistance up to $1,000 for individuals facing eviction.
- Utility assistance up to $500 for individuals facing disconnection of service, seeking domestic safety, or impacted by temporary job loss.
- Backdated medical bills that prevent necessary medical services up to $500.
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME) up to $500.
- Transportation:
- Vehicle repairs essential for earning income or transporting children to school up to $1,500.
- Gas gift card up to $200 to make essential long distance medical appointments.
Who We Will Serve
- Underserved individuals living in the 18 counties and Qualla Boundary of WNC.
- Individuals and families experiencing poverty.
- Preference will be given to:
- Individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene
- Individuals living in underserved populations
- Domestic survivors
- Children requiring necessary medical or educational aids
What We Cannot Fund
- Requests relating to taxes, mortgage, personal, or auto loans.
- Requests relating to recovery and substance abuse.
- Medical Services outside of Dental and Mental Health.
- Payments cannot be made directly to individuals seeking reimbursements.
Please Read Before Completing Application
- An advocate, not an individual, must complete the CI application. Examples of advocates include case managers, clinicians, and social workers in organizations that support our 3 focus areas: Basic Needs, Mental Health, and Youth Development.
- A household is eligible for assistance once per year.
- Applications must be submitted using our online platform.
- Advocates are allowed multiple submissions with a limit of two approvals per month.
- Applications cannot be held and must be completed within 60 days after approval.
- All documentation and requested follow-up documentation should be uploaded using our online platform. Documentation requirements can be found within Detailed Instructions for Each Focus Area found below.
- For immediate assistance, a reimbursement can be made payable to the advocate’s organization and not the individual. Once the application is approved, Advocate must provide the invoice and receipt of payment or a copy of check that was made payable to landlord, provider, or vendor on individual’s behalf. This eliminates the need for W9 and Certificate of Insurance.
- When requesting equipment or appliances, our preferred vendors are Amazon and Lowe’s. Please include a product link of the requested item in the application.
- If you are an individual seeking assistance and do not have an advocate, we suggest you contact your local Department of Health and Human Services branch. You will need an advocate to submit an application on your behalf.
- If you are an individual seeking assistance related to Hurricane Helene, additional resources can be found by clicking here for Home | disasterassistance.gov.
- A team member will reach out within 48 hours if any additional documentation is needed. Decisions will be made and communicated within two weeks of the application submission date.
Detailed Instructions for Each Focus Area:
WNC Bridge can commit up to $1,500 towards vehicle repair and home repair projects that are deemed hazardous. Examples of hazardous conditions:
- Damage caused by Hurricane Helene
- Leaking roof
- Plumbing leaks
- Mold
Advocates must upload the following documentation:
- Estimate from contractor.
- A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is needed for contractors or mechanics that will be working on the property of the individual.
- W9 Click here for a downloadable W9.
- For immediate assistance, a reimbursement check can be made payable to the advocate’s organization and not the individual. Once the application is approved, Advocate must provide the invoice and receipt of payment, or a copy of check made payable to contractor/mechanic on individual’s behalf. This eliminates the need for W9 and COI.
*Contractors and mechanics cannot be related to the individual as this creates a conflict of interest.
WNC Bridge can commit up to $1,000 towards Rental Assistance with the following documentation:
- W9 from the Landlord or Apartment Complex Click here for a downloadable W9.
- Letter or statement from the landlord that includes:
- Rental Amount
- Tenant address
- Landlord’s address
- For immediate assistance, a reimbursement check can be made payable to the advocate’s organization and not the individual. Once the application is approved, Advocate must provide the invoice and receipt of payment, or a copy of check made payable to landlord or vendor on individual’s behalf. This eliminates the need for landlord’s W9.
- Documentation must be received by Monday to have a check sent on Thursday of the same week. Work order invoices must be uploaded using the online platform.
*Landlord and tenant cannot live at the exact same address, as this creates a conflict of interest and violates the established landlord-tenant relationship; while they may share a building, the landlord must occupy a separate unit with a distinct address, usually identified by a different apartment number or suite designation.
WNC Bridge can commit up to $1,000 towards therapy sessions or assessment testing with the following documentation:
- Estimate from the provider’s office.
- Provider’s W9 Click here for a downloadable W9.
- For immediate assistance, a reimbursement check can be made payable to the advocate’s organization and not the individual. Once the application is approved, Advocate must provide the invoice and receipt of payment or a copy of check made payable to provider on individual’s behalf. This eliminates the need for provider’s W9.
- WNC Bridge can commit up to $500 towards DME, $1,500 towards specialized equipment for adults and children, and will match up to $2,500 for higher cost children’s adaptive or specialized equipment.
- Our preferred vendors are Amazon and Lowe’s. When completing the application, please include a product link to the requested item.
- When requesting appliance replacement, please provide the individual’s mobile number for text alerts regarding delivery along with preferred delivery days.
- When using another vendor for specialized equipment or service, the advocate must upload a quote from the vendor and the vendor’s W9.
- For immediate assistance, a reimbursement check can be made payable to the advocate’s organization and not the individual. Once the application is approved, Advocate must provide the invoice and receipt of payment, or a copy of check made payable to vendor on individual’s behalf. This eliminates the need for vendor’s W9.
- A work order invoice will be required along with all necessary documentation on Monday to have a check sent on Thursday of the same week.
WNC Bridge Foundation can commit up to $500 towards backdated medical bills that are preventing them from necessary medical services and utility bill expenses for individuals facing service disconnection.
- When applying for utility assistance, advocates must upload a copy of the utility bill that shows the account number and address of the client. Companies like Duke Energy allowing “Pay as Guest” credit card payments are the quickest turn around with requested information.
- For medical bills, please provide a copy of the provider’s W9 click here for a downloadable W9, medical bill, and preferred mailing address of provider.
- For immediate assistance, a reimbursement check can be made payable to the advocate’s organization and not the individual. Once the application is approved, Advocate must provide a copy of utility bill and receipt of payment, or a copy of check made payable to provider’s office or vendor on individual’s behalf. This eliminates the need for provider’s W9.
- All documentation must be submitted on Monday to have a check sent on Thursday of the same week.
New Online Application Portal
WNC Bridge Foundation is using a new online application portal beginning January 27, 2025.
This portal will simplify the application process. To access it, you must sign in securely with a new Blackbaud ID or use an existing Blackbaud ID if you already use Blackbaud products.
Please bookmark https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/applications for easy access to your applications.
Additionally, add noreply@yourcause.com to your safe senders list to ensure you receive all communications.
Please note that your application history will not carry over to the new portal. We recommend downloading any previous applications before August 25, 2025, for your records. You can access your submitted applications by clicking here.
New Online Application Portal FAQ
If you have questions, please email request@wncbridge.org or call 828.277.4815.
Quick Links:
There are two ways you can support our work.
Tell Your Story
If you have received support from our Community Initiatives, allowing us to share your story helps WNC Bridge communicate with our donors the impact of their gifts. The first step to sharing your story is completing our consent form and emailing it to request@wncbridge.org.
Donate
WNC Bridge Foundation raises funds to support our Community Initiatives work. Unlike our grants, which are funded through endowment investments, our Community Initiatives rely on the generous support of individuals who donate money and support our fundraising efforts. Our Children’s Services Fund and WNC Greatest Needs Fund are the two Community Initiatives that directly support this work.
