Cumberland Community Foundation
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About Cumberland Community Foundation
Cumberland Community Foundation is a locally focused funder that prioritizes strengthening Fayetteville-area institutions — especially higher education, cultural organizations, health providers, and faith-based social services. It concentrates large, multi-grant investments in anchor organizations that serve community needs, veteran populations, and arts/cultural life. Grants are often repeat awards to the same nonprofits, supporting capital, program, and general operating needs across education, health, and community service sectors.
Focus Areas
Local higher education and workforce development (Methodist University, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville Technical Community College)Arts and cultural institutions in Fayetteville (Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville Symphony, Airborne & Special Operations Museum)Faith-based community services and congregational outreach (First Presbyterian, Highland Presbyterian, BreezeWood Church, Operation Blessing)Health access and community clinics/health systems (Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation, The Care Clinic, Hope Through Health)Veterans and military-family support and commemorative organizations (Green Beret Foundation, Airborne & Special Operations Museum, Rockfish Camp)
About Cumberland Community Foundation
Cumberland Community Foundation Inc consistently makes large charitable gifts to Fayetteville-area anchor institutions, with its biggest recent award going to Methodist University for $1,647,423 in 2025. That pattern appears across education, culture, health, faith-based service, and veterans support. The foundation’s recent support includes multiple awards to Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville State University Foundation, and Fayetteville State University, showing a strong emphasis on higher education and workforce pathways. It also backs institutions that shape civic life and community access, including Cape Fear Regional Theatre at Fayetteville Inc, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, and Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation Inc. The giving pattern suggests a funder that uses substantial charitable gifts to support established community institutions rather than many small awards. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including Methodist University, Cape Fear Regional Theatre at Fayetteville Inc, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville Urban Ministry Inc, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Inc, Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation Inc, and Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch. Alongside those repeat grants, Cumberland Community Foundation Inc also supports churches and service groups such as First Presbyterian Church, Breezewood Church, and Rockfish Camp and Retreat Center, reflecting a broad local service footprint.
What Cumberland Community Foundation Funds
Higher education is a central thread in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $1,020,589 to Fayetteville Technical Community College in 2024, $750,000 to Fayetteville State University Foundation in 2024, and $583,515 to Fayetteville State University in 2024, alongside additional support for Methodist University. Cultural institutions are another clear focus. Cape Fear Regional Theatre at Fayetteville Inc received $472,471 in 2025 and $285,557 in 2024, while Cape Fear Botanical Garden received $392,952 in 2025 and $310,809 in 2024. Health and human services also appear in the grant list. Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation Inc was awarded $232,566 in 2025 and $174,406 in 2024, and Fayetteville Urban Ministry Inc received multiple grants in 2024 and 2025. The foundation also supported faith-based service organizations such as First Presbyterian Church and Breezewood Church.
How Cumberland Community Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$8.5M
Total Assets
$149.2M
Total Revenue
$17.5M
Total Expenses
$11.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $54K, with a median of $21K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$21K
75th Percentile
$54K
Geographic Reach
Local17 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
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