Cherokee Preservation Foundation

Background
The Cherokee people believe we have lived in the mountains of western North Carolina (WNC) forever — that the Creator placed our ancestors here and gave them their language and their culture. Certainly for more than 10,000 years, people have created shelter, food, medicine, tools, clothing, games and weapons from the diverse environment of the southern Appalachians. Using these resources with respect, intelligence and prayer, the Cherokees prospered for thousands of years. In more recent times, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has had to persevere great hardships and tragedy, but we have survived and thrived on our ancient homeland. Now we and our neighbors in WNC face new challenges — and opportunities —as we build a sustainable, self-determined future.

Our primary challenges include the loss of jobs from manufacturing plant closures, a potential for environmental degradation due to increased traffic and localized growth in specific areas, the deteriorating growth of small and medium sized businesses in the region, and a decline in visits from tourists to Cherokee cultural events and institutions.

The Cherokee Preservation Foundation (CPFdn) was established in the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the State of North Carolina in November 2000 to promote cultural preservation, economic development, employment opportunities and environmental preservation of Cherokee culture on the Qualla Boundary and on or near other tribal lands in western North Carolina. The Foundation will receive annual funding from the EBCI, the amount of which will be determined by net gaming revenues.

Vision for the Future: A Vibrant, Sustainable Community
While there are challenges to overcome in the WNC region, there are also many opportunities for renewal of the culture, economies and environment within the Cherokee community and the entire WNC region. It is our firm belief that renewal can take place when people who care about their community join together to find workable solutions —when we collaborate with others to enhance resources, cultivate leadership skills and focus on the next generation. The CPFdn’s role in our community’s renewal is to help plant the seeds that create an environment where local involvement is nurtured and where citizens feel a sense of ownership for the future of their community. Together, we can address local issues and create a vibrant, sustainable community.

If community groups are to be successful in their efforts to improve the quality of life of group members and their neighbors and create more vibrant communities, the CPFdn believes these groups must utilize the all-important fundamentals that serve as building blocks to improve our organizations and institutions, and ultimately, our communities.

Public Dialogue and Involvement
Effective community programs provide a forum for people to discuss and deliberate on issues that shape their common future. People must come together and commit to maintaining a constructive dialogue so that the ideas and issues are brought to life. To transform the community, it is critical to connect with other programs and projects that address shared concerns, and to motivate and engage many people. Civic participation is most powerful when it is intergenerational.
Collaborative Partnerships
Collaboration – working together, rather than alone – produces beneficial results for everyone concerned. With collaborative partnerships, people of all ages work together, sharing information, ideas, perspectives, skills and other resources — as well as responsibility — in order to remove obstacles and achieve common goals. In doing so, they reduce individual expenses in planning, research and training. Even more importantly, they share the rewards that come from their partnership.
Extend the Leadership Pool
The community must constantly find ways to broaden the pool of leaders. Programs that continually rely on the decisions of the same few key people fall short of their maximum potential. Access to leadership opportunities for many citizens who have little previous engagement is an important element in building strong communities.
Focus on the Next Generation
Effective communities are less interested in quick fixes and more concerned about long-term well-being and the future of their children. For example, they seek to attract growing industries to the community, knowing that their young people will stay in the region only if they can look forward to good jobs and a superior quality of life. Forward-looking communities focus on the future and take actions that help pave the road to the vision they have developed together.

The board and staff of the CPFdn are committed to helping the Cherokee community and our neighbors in the WNC region think long-term about the kind of society we want; and then to work proactively and collaboratively to make this dream a reality. We are dedicated to linking our past with our future on this beautiful land that is our home.
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The Foundation’s Mission
The CPFdn’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and to strengthen the WNC region by:

Protecting, preserving and enhancing the natural resources, the environmental and aesthetic appearance of Cherokee tribal lands against anticipated long-term degradation from increased traffic and growth in connection with gaming activities.
Assisting in economic development for improved public services, recreation, entertainment and community economic development.
Fostering employment opportunities on or near Cherokee tribal lands.
Providing funding for the preservation, research, restoration and/or development of the history, tradition, culture, language, arts, crafts, heritage and overall well-being of the Cherokee people.

Focus and Eligibility
The CPFdn will provide grants to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) exempt status under the IRS code, as well as schools, institutions of higher learning, federal, state, local and tribal government units. Projects funded may supplement and enhance, but not replace, existing tribal or other governmental programs. In some instances, the Foundation may consider public/private partnerships with a governmental entity if it is not seeking replacement of public support for projects which are chiefly within its mandated responsibilities. Projects shall be located on or near tribal lands in Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Clay, Graham and Cherokee counties, or any other county where tribal lands may be acquired.

It is very important that regional entities seeking Cherokee Preservation Foundation assistance form a collaborative partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). This means that ECBI and any other partners will fully participate in the proposed program/project.

Below are examples of projects associated with each of the Foundation’s four areas of focus that, if they foster collaborative partnerships and public involvement, would attract Foundation support:

Environmental Preservation - Programs/projects that involve youth and adults in conservation efforts, beautification projects, nature trail development and recreating the Cherokee ways of preserving the environment and working the land.
Economic Development - Programs/projects that involve youth and adults in small business development, diversification in the types of area businesses, locally-owned businesses, more access to resources for planning and developing business opportunities.
Employment Opportunities - Programs/projects that involve gaining the tools and skills for jobs that pay living wages. Examples might include entrepreneurial training, workforce development, and/or management and training opportunities.
Cultural Preservation - Programs/projects that involve youth and adults in enhancing and preserving the culture through educational programs, cultural events, research and planning efforts, cultural publications and other similar projects.

Grants will NOT be made to or for any of the following purposes:

Individuals
Debt retirement or operational deficits
General fund drives
Endowment or reserve funds
Influencing elections or legislation
General funding of projects of governmental units
Religious purposes

CATEGORY OF GRANTS

Small Grants - $500 - $20,000
This category has three types of grants – Planning, Capacity and Project Specific.

Planning Grants are awarded to organizations interested in working with others to find a shared vision and develop a project that makes this vision come true. The funds can be used to support travel, office and meeting expenses, planning consultants and other costs related to outreach.
Capacity Grants are awarded to aid nonprofits in their organizational development so that leaders, workers and volunteers may enhance their education and skills in order for them to serve the public more efficiently and effectively. This might include workshops on management training, budgeting, strategic planning, financial reporting, marketing services and products, human resources, technology training, communications or volunteer management. Capacity is the ability of a nonprofit to carry out a program/project.
Project Specific Grants are awarded for smaller programs/projects that fit the four areas of focus (cultural preservation, economic development, employment opportunities and environmental preservation) and engage the local community, both adults and youth, in identifying a local issue and finding ways to address the issue.

Large Grants-$20,000 and higher
Within this category, there are two types of grants-Project Specific and Preservation and Civic Enhancement Grants.

Project Specific Grants are awarded to organizations who wish to conduct larger programs/projects that fit the four areas of focus cultural preservation, economic development, employment opportunities and environmental preservation – and engage the local community, both adults and youth, in identifying a local issue and ways to address the issue.
Preservation and Civic Enhancement Grants provide resources for specific projects in Cherokee communities and the seven western counties of North Carolina. Since these grants will be larger in size, and some will help fund capital projects, they present an opportunity for the Foundation to offer a “challenge,” “matching” or “over the top” grant. The Foundation will not fund these projects for more than half of the overall budget. All proposed grants must meet the following criteria: 1) Make a contribution to enhancing the Quality of Life of the community; 2) Have broad community involvement in the development of the project; and 3) Be available for significant community usage.

How to Apply
Read through the Grant Guidelines and Application Form carefully. Answer the questions in the Application Form in the order listed, and submit the requested number of copies of the Application Form and attachments. The Cover Sheet, Proposal/Request Section and Proposed Budget Form can be typed or written. The Narrative Section and other requested attachments should be typed. Do not attach videos, publications or organization brochures. Use plain paper and do not bind or place the proposal in a fancy cover. Do not fax or e-mail the application. The CPFdn will send an acknowledgement that we have received your proposal.

Number of Applications Permitted
Organizations may apply for one grant from each category-small and large. For example, you could apply for a planning grant from the small grants category and a project specific grant from the large grants category.

Schedule and Deadline
Click on the calendar. Applications must be postmarked by the deadline to be considered. No faxed or e-mail applications will be accepted. Completed grant applications may be mailed, couriered or hand-delivered to the following address:

Cherokee Preservation Foundation
P.O. Box 504
71 John Crowe Hill Road
Cherokee, NC 28719

If Proposal Is Approved
Once a project has been approved for funding, the applicant will be notified. A legal agreement, between the Foundation and the grantee, outlining the responsibilities of each party will be signed prior to release of funds. The grantee must submit an annual report on grant activities and financial expenditures at the end of the grant period and prior to submitting another grant application to the Foundation. Project costs incurred prior to written authorization from the Foundation will be ineligible for reimbursement.

Contact
If you have questions, call 828/497-5550, and we will be happy to answer your questions.