WNC Nonprofit Pathways was formed as a funder’s collaborative in 2006 as a division of the Community Foundation of WNC with support from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation and Mission Hospital. 

According to WNC Nonprofit Pathways Senior Consultant Jeannette Butterworth, community foundations exist to help build wealth as well as help fund holders be philanthropists. Not a funder itself, Pathways exists as a path-builder as funders seeing the same needs of nonprofits collaborate to meet those needs.

There is a historical lack of resources in the area according to Butterworth. Rural regions of Appalachia didn’t originally have their own resources for social services, food distribution, and other health and wellness needs, and community foundations help set the stage to create support.

“We think about it as a bridge,” Butterworth said. “There’s a strong firewall between the Community Foundation and nonprofits, and Pathways is a safe space to discuss issues. Our position goes both ways — Pathways provides resources to nonprofits from funders as well as provides information to funders from nonprofits.”

Pathways also evaluates nonprofit needs other than capital by determining processes and helping connect organizations to resources. Through assessments, onsite training, and financial and sustainability coaching, Pathways’ Wheel of Capacity Building helps organizations define their unique selling points and keep them front and center, leading to the ability for the organization to become stronger.

“Nonprofits may approach Pathways with a need for board training, and Pathways will figure out what the board needs to be engaged,” Butterworth said. “We help determine what to do with that knowledge, and will help them make plans to put what they learned into action.”

After training sessions are complete, Pathways ensures there is a clear plan of action and checks in with the organization to evaluate changes and keep them moving toward their goals. Feedback from nonprofits givesPathways a sense of the effectiveness of the training in identifying issues and improving processes.“Asheville is a very progressive city, and the folks that live here are very mission-driven,” Butterworth said. “Nonprofits really fill in the gaps for what area governments can’t or won’t be able to fund or take care of for these residents. Pathways has helped create those connections, and it’s part of our culture to connect and support wherever we can.”