Community Partner Fund

Blue Ridge Pride Community Partner Fund

Dedicated to supporting the organizations, groups and projects that support western North Carolina’s LGBTQ and allied communities.

Donate to Partner Fund
Apply for a Grant
Past Recipients

Building a Community Together

Blue Ridge Pride envisions a thriving LGBTQA community in Western North Carolina that welcomes and elevates us all. We advocate, celebrate, educate and serve – through our own programs, and through support and partnership with like-minded organizations serving our community.  We have established the Blue Ridge Pride Community Partnership Fund to fund organizations.  All donations to the fund go to community partners.

We welcome organizations and individuals to apply for funds to support qualifying programs, projects and events.  We make funding decisions throughout the year.

  • Eligibility
  • Criteria
  • Amounts
  • Terms
  • Application
  • To be eligible, applicants must have a 501(c)(3) non-profit status as described by the IRS or be able to demonstrate that they function as a 501(c)(3).
  • Grant-funded projects must demonstrate a benefit to the WNC LGBTQA community.
  • As a rule, applicants should have a 501(c)(3) non-profit status or be able to demonstrate that they function as a 501(c)(3). However, we also consider applications from individuals to support specific projects and studies.
  • Our number one criterion is the benefit that the organization or project will bring to the WNC LGBTQA community. We give special weight to benefits to marginalized groups, those in need, and communities that are underserved.

Each quarter, we set a funding target based on available funds.  Generally, we target grants and sponsorships of $100 to $500 apiece.  However, we will consider other amounts.  We will increase the number and size of grants as the fund grows.

As a condition of being considered for any grant from the Blue Ridge Pride Community Partner Fund, you agree to the following:

  • The Blue Ridge Pride Center may make public the fact that your organization is a grant applicant, the activities or purposes for which such grant was requested, and the amount and manner in which any such funds will be used.
  • All funds provided to your organization by the Blue Ridge Pride Center Community Partner Fund will be used for the purpose, and within the time period, stated in your Grant Application.
  • If requested, you will provide an accounting of fund use and project outcomes – within the scope of your application – to Blue Ridge Pride Center, Inc. at the end of the grant period.

Our form is simple.  Give us as much or as little information as you think appropriate to support your request.  We ask the following questions:

  • Targeted Audience: What community are you trying to serve?
  • Targeted Need: What need are you trying to meet?  Why is it important?
  • Targeted Impact: What outcome are you trying to produce?  What measures do you have?  What targets?
  • Your Qualifications: Why your group?  Does it have experience? Special qualifications?
  • Your Approach: Does your approach model diversity? Equity? Inclusion? Do you partner to bring normally separate communities together?

Fund News

Community Partner Fund Grants By Year

2020 In 2020, Blue Ridge Pride reduced fundraising efforts, encouraging our sponsors to lend their support to organizations most affected by COVID.  Our board also elected to draw down our resources to bare bones in order to fund our partners’ COVID relief programs. Organization Type Description Amount Campaign for Southern Equality Grant COVID Relief Fund $6,025 Tranzmission Grant COVID Relief

2020 Grants to WNC Community Partners

In 2020, Blue Ridge Pride reduced fundraising efforts, encouraging our sponsors to lend their support to organizations most affected by COVID and to those supporting COVID relief.  Our board also elected to draw down our own resources to a minimum in order to fund our partners’ COVID relief programs. We funded over $11,000 to support to 9 organizations. This included emergency aid grants to over 60 people affected by COVID.

Blue Ridge Pride Issues Additional COVID-19 Grants

This week, Blue Ridge Pride issued $2,000 in additional grants to community partners who are on the front lines addressing the impact of COVID-19 on the local LGBTQ Community. These two grants target a population that is especially hard-hit by COVID-19: transgender and non-binary people. Western North Carolina Community Health Services says that almost 90% of its transgender / non-binary

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Mental Health Providers

Eric Davis  MS, LCPA, NCC, Counselor

Willow Wellness and Recovery, PC 9 All Souls Crescent  Suite B, Asheville, North Carolina 28803  Phone: (828) 490-4137 | Website I am a firm believer in empowerment and self-determination. In the past, I have worked well with folks experiencing a range of issues, such as anxiety, depression, substance-use, sleep disturbances, relationship issues, and issues unique to the LGBT community.

Scott Thomas,  Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, LCAS

Silver Lining Therapy 70 Woodfin Place  STE 21, Asheville, North Carolina 28801  Phone: (828) 705-3084 | Website I believe humor can be a powerful tool for healing and seek to incorporate this into our time together. Unique to my practice is an approach that truly puts you at the center of the counseling experience, and I draw from a wide variety of techniques to help you see and experience real change in your life. To see if therapy might be a good fit, I offer free phone consultations.

James Harrison, PhD Psychologist

12 Westridge Dr , Asheville, North Carolina 28803  Phone: (828) 348-6300 | Website I enjoy helping people achieve physical and emotional intimacy whether they are young or old, straight or gay, in healthy, responsible, and mutually affirming ways. I also enjoy helping people improve their earning and manage their assets. And I like working with older people. I offer free phone consultations.

Judy Maris, Counselor, LPC, LCPC, MA, MS

Maris Psychotherapy 41 Clayton St, Suite 301, Asheville, North Carolina 28801  Phone: (828) 537-4489 | Website We can explore troublesome patterns that tend to repeat themselves in your life or look at new issues that have just come up. The important thing is for us to work together to get to the bottom of your difficulties and resolve them. I will assist you in becoming more aware of what you are feeling and thinking in the present moment. The untapped wisdom within you is a powerful healing force. Let me help you gain access to your full inner resources. I offer free phone consultations.

Elizabeth Heaney, Counselor, MA, LPC 

166 E Chestnut Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801  Phone: (520) 447-3319 | Website I work with individual adults with concerns like: family history issues, relationship concerns, life satisfaction issues (related to jobs, living situations or relationships), anxiety and depression. I’ve had a particular focus on working with couples, addressing every aspect of relationship challenges – relationship dissatisfaction/boredom, affairs, sexual/intimacy issues, etc. And I was a civilian counselor on military bases for several years, so I have a clear understanding of the unique pressures and challenges facing service members and families. I offer free phone consultations.

Siljoy Maurer

Holistic Perspectives P.O. Box 333, Enka, NC 2872  Phone: (828) 333-0103  | siljoy@me.com or  www.HolisticPerspectives.com For many years now I have been mentoring men and women from all walks of life. It continues to be my greatest joy to accompany someone from “just being ok” into thriving! As a Mentor & Healer I partner with my clients in creating authenticity, wellness and deep contentment, in whatever area of their lives they are seeking change. The combination of giving very practical, livable tools for direct “next steps” while “holding the big picture” and then manifesting that big picture often feels like this: a new client brings me their life or life situation in a jigsaw puzzle box, they lost the lid and forgot what the picture on it looked like. I am good at knowing that picture and then guiding my clients/mentees to put all the puzzle pieces together.