Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

What Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation does

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity established on February 1, 2019, as the successor to the Highlands Cashiers Hospital Foundation, operating from Highlands, North Carolina with a 3-5 person staff led by Executive Director Dr. Myrle Grate and Director of Operations Rhonda Oakley. The foundation's core function is grantmaking to nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and government agencies serving six Western North Carolina counties (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain) plus the Qualla Boundary. Its flagship offering is the LIFT Grants program, which awards $10,000 to $50,000 per grant across three strategic priorities: Access to Primary Care, Access to Behavioral Health, and Well-being of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Since inception, the foundation has awarded 180 grants to 103 organizations totaling over $11.8 million.

The foundation's revenue model is donations-driven, funded by individual donations, legacy giving (bequests, IRA charitable distributions, charitable lead trusts), and event fundraising — most prominently the 42-year Bob Jones Invitational Golf Tournament hosted with Highlands Country Club, which raised $280,000 in 2024 and has contributed over $7 million cumulatively. The foundation deploys 100% of donated funds to community health programs with no administrative fees. Its technology stack centers on the Blackbaud Grantmaking Applicant & Grantee Portal for application and grant management, supplemented by a Legacy Grantee Portal for grants predating 2025.

Programmatically, the foundation has expanded beyond pure grantmaking into community-facing initiatives including the BEE Kind Mental Health Awareness initiative (founded May 2023 with the Counseling Center of Highlands), the Healthy Plateau community wellness program (launched 2024), the Healthy Homes Initiative for environmental health, and Hurricane Helene disaster relief that deployed over $230,000 within 67 days. The foundation maintains a Charity Navigator four-star rating and a Candid Platinum Seal (2026) for transparency. Distribution occurs through an annual LIFT grant cycle (pre-application in March-April, full application in June) targeting public charities, 509(a) organizations, and government entities in the defined Western NC service area, with out-of-area projects explicitly ineligible.

Name

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Legal name

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation

Website

https://highlandscashiershealthfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grantmaker that awards $10K-$50K LIFT Grants and operates community health programs to expand healthcare access, behavioral health, and youth wellness across six Western North Carolina counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Healthcare Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAE

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAL

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Community health funding
• Rural healthcare grants
• Behavioral health services
• Foundation philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Highlands

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to the Health Foundation, with 100% of donated funds invested directly back into community health programs. The foundation charges no administrative fees.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including the Bob Jones Invitational Golf Tournament (raising $280,000 in 2024, with over $7 million contributed over 42 years) and other community events.
3. Legacy Giving: Planned giving options including bequests, IRA charitable distributions, beneficiary designations, and charitable lead trusts for donors wishing to leave legacy gifts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides grant funding and community health program support to nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and government agencies serving Western North Carolina. The LIFT Grants program awards $10,000–$50,000 to projects in three strategic areas: Access to Primary Care, Access to Behavioral Health, and Well-being of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. The foundation also operates the BEE Kind mental health awareness initiative, the Healthy Plateau community well-being program, and Hurricane Helene disaster relief grants.

Product overview

Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grantmaking organization with a portfolio of programs and initiatives. The core offering is the LIFT Grants program, which provides funding ($10,000-$50,000 per award) to organizations addressing three strategic priorities: Access to Primary Care, Access to Behavioral Health, and Well-being of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. Supporting programs include the Hurricane Helene Relief Grants for emergency disaster recovery, the BEE Kind Mental Health Initiative for community awareness, and the Healthy Plateau community well-being program. The Foundation manages grant applications through an Applicant & Grantee Portal (Blackbaud Grantmaking) and Legacy Grantee Portal. The Foundation also partners on the annual Bob Jones Invitational Golf Tournament as a major fundraising vehicle. Since 2019, the Foundation has awarded 180 grants to 103 organizations totaling over $11,800,000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Healthy Plateau: A community-focused initiative dedicated to promoting health and well-being of residents through partnerships, community events, public education, and social media engagement. Goals include promoting regular check-ups, physical activity, proper nutrition, and community involvement.
• BEE Kind
• LIFT Grants

Products and services

• LIFT Grants

Quantifiable outcome

• 180 grants to 103 organizations totaling over $11.8 million invested in community health since 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Blue Ridge Health-Highlands CashiersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The Health Foundation provided the founding grant to establish Blue Ridge Health-Highlands Cashiers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The clinic provides comprehensive primary care to all community members regardless of ability to pay and has achieved over 10,000 patient visits since opening in June 2021. This is the Health Foundation's cornerstone investment in community healthcare access.
• Highlands Country Club (Bob Jones Invitational)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1982A 42-year partnership supporting the annual Bob Jones Invitational Golf Tournament, which has contributed over $7 million to vital health services on the Plateau. The 2024 tournament raised $280,000 to benefit Blue Ridge Health-Highlands Cashiers. The tournament honors golf legend Bobby Jones and features Walker Cup Players.
• Community Care ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree care clinics providing primary and preventive services to low-income families, reducing gaps in healthcare access in the community.
• Vecinos, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization providing free care to low-income families, with over 800 home visits conducted following Hurricane Helene to assess and address community needs.
• Southwestern Child Development Commission (Nurse-Family Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram promoting maternal and child health through partnership with first-time mothers, providing nurse home visits and support.
• Western Carolina Medical Society FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorectal Cancer Screening Initiative expanding access to cancer screenings for underserved populations in Western NC.
• Country Club of Sapphire Valley GivesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew collaborative fundraising program harnessing community giving to support youth programs and community health initiatives.
• Highlands Falls Country ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew partnership for fundraising and community engagement focused on improving lives of young people in the community.
• Healthy Homes InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram transforming living environments of vulnerable populations through mold remediation, improved ventilation, and structural repairs to reduce health risks related to poor housing.
• Counseling Center of HighlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services provider and partner in the BEE Kind Mental Health Awareness initiative, working together to reduce stigma and increase access to mental health services.
• BEE Kind InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health awareness initiative founded in May 2023 based on the premise that 'Mental Health Begins With Kindness,' promoting simple acts of kindness to boost mood and reduce stress.
• Healthy Plateau InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-focused wellness initiative promoting health through partnerships, community events, public education, and social media engagement. Goals include promoting regular check-ups, physical activity, proper nutrition, and community involvement.
• Macon County EMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary 9-1-1 EMS service receiving grants for equipment upgrades and support for the Community Care Program serving vulnerable populations.
• Swain CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency communication support through VIPER radios for seamless coordination among agencies during crises following Hurricane Helene.
• International Friendship Center (Highlands Food Pantry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood pantry receiving grant for propane-fueled standby generator following power outages during Hurricane Helene.
• HIGHTScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting at-risk youth and juvenile justice involved youth, receiving grant for licensed therapist position working with community restorative justice programs.
• Jackson County Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant for therapist position serving children in foster care, enhancing cooperation and providing timely mental health assessments.
• The Catamount SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter school receiving grant for school nurse, with 761 student visits recorded and 92% returning to class after receiving medical care.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dogwood Health Trust: Regionally focused health grantmaking foundation serving Western North Carolina. Direct peer given overlapping geography, health-only mission, and similar community-led grantmaking model, though materially larger in asset scale.
• The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina: Community-led grantmaking foundation covering the same Western NC geography as HCHF. Comparable in mission (place-based philanthropy) and donor-advised structure, though broader than health-only.
• Pisgah Health Foundation: Regional health grantmaking foundation in Western NC focused on access to care. Closely comparable geography, mission, and grantmaking approach to HCHF.
• MAHEC Foundation: Foundation supporting the Mountain Area Health Education Center, which trains healthcare providers and expands rural care across WNC. Comparable mission (rural health access) with adjacent workforce-development angle.
• WNC Bridge Foundation: Western North Carolina-focused grantmaking foundation supporting community health and well-being initiatives. Direct peer given shared geography and community-led health grantmaking approach.

Broad incumbents

• Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust: Large North Carolina-based health and well-being grantmaker. Same state, same health-equity focus, but operates at a much larger scale and broader geography than HCHF.
• The Duke Endowment: Major Charlotte-based foundation with a long-standing rural health portfolio in the Carolinas. Overlaps with HCHF on rural healthcare grantmaking but at a much larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Largest US philanthropy focused exclusively on health. Shared health-equity and rural health agenda but operates nationally and at far greater scale than HCHF.
• HCA Healthcare Foundation: Successor-affiliated foundation tied to the former Mission Health system in Asheville, NC. Similar focus on rural WNC healthcare access but tied to a large hospital operator rather than an independent community foundation.

Regional players

• Blue Ridge Healthcare Foundation: Hospital-affiliated health foundation in the broader Blue Ridge region. Similar rural health mission but affiliated with a hospital system rather than an independent community foundation like HCHF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HCHealthFnd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highland-cashiers-health-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/hchealthfnd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation