The mission of the Region A Partnership for Children is to improve the quality of life for young children and families in western North Carolina by fostering healthy family systems, promoting inclusion, and building resilient communities. We are committed to providing equitable opportunities for children and families to achieve their full potential through high-quality programming that emphasizes inclusion, equity, and belonging.
Region a Partnership for Children directs most of its funding toward NC Pre-K services across western North Carolina, with repeated awards to county school systems and early-childhood providers in the seven westernmost counties. The largest recent grants all support pre-kindergarten delivery, including $456,072 to Haywood County Schools for NC Pre-K Services and $417,733 to Jackson County Schools for the same purpose. That pattern shows a funder that is heavily tied to program administration, site funding, and service coordination rather than broad discretionary philanthropy. The foundation also supports the early childhood workforce and child care infrastructure. Recent awards include funding for child care health consultant services, subsidy services coordination, and technical assistance for child care facilities. Its active grant programs include RFP-based contracting for Smart Start funded activities, Child Care Quality Enhancement Services, WAGE$ salary supplements, and NC Pre-K site applications. Those programs point to a grantmaker that works through contracts, service agreements, and designated program channels to deliver direct services to children, families, and child care providers.
A central part of the foundation’s work is state-funded pre-kindergarten administration. Recent NC Pre-K services grants went to Haywood County Schools, Jackson County Schools, Swain County Schools, Cherokee County Schools, Macon County Schools, Clay County Schools, Cherokee Central Schools, and Graham County Schools, all for delivering NC Pre-K in western North Carolina. It also funds child care quality and health supports. Jackson County Department of Public Health received $143,714 for Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant Services, while Southwestern Child Development Center received $136,812 for Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant and Subsidy Services Coordination. Workforce support is another clear theme. The active WAGE$ program provides bi-annual professional development salary supplements to child care professionals, and the foundation’s Child Care Quality Enhancement Services RFP seeks on-site technical assistance, consultation, and coaching for child care facilities in Region A.
$3M
$1.9M
$5M
$4.9M
Most grants fall between $102K and $296K, with a median of $198K.
25th Percentile
$102K
Median
$198K
75th Percentile
$296K
Janice M Edgerton
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Recent awards cluster in the mid-six-figure range, with a typical grant size of $102,080 at the 25th percentile, a median of $197,971, and $295,576 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list shows the same public school systems and related providers receiving funding in more than one year, especially for NC Pre-K services, which indicates recurring program support rather than one-off gifts. The foundation gives through a programmatic and contractual model: RFPs, contractor agreements, and site applications are part of its active grant structure. It does not fund individuals.
Grantmaking is entirely in North Carolina, with all listed recent grants going to NC recipients. Activity is concentrated in the seven westernmost counties and nearby communities: Waynesville, Sylva, Bryson City, Murphy, Franklin, Hayesville, Robbinsville, Webster, and Cherokee. The data also shows awards linked to public health and child development organizations in Sylva and Webster, alongside school systems across the region. The recipient country distribution is 100% US.
It uses RFPs, contractor agreements, and site applications. Active programs include Smart Start Requests for Proposals, Child Care Quality Enhancement Services RFPs, NC Pre-K site applications, and WAGE$ salary supplements for child care professionals.
Among recent grants, the 25th percentile is $102,080, the median is $197,971, and the 75th percentile is $295,576. The recent awards shown are mostly in the six-figure range.
The foundation supports NC Pre-K, early care and education, family support, child care health consultation, subsidy services coordination, workforce supports like WAGE$, and child care quality enhancement services.
Recent awards go largely to school systems and child care infrastructure providers, including county schools, a public health department, and child development organizations serving western North Carolina.
Giving is local and concentrated in North Carolina, especially the seven westernmost counties and nearby communities such as Waynesville, Sylva, Bryson City, Murphy, Franklin, Hayesville, Robbinsville, Webster, and Cherokee.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAYWOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS | WAYNESVILLE, NC | $388,368 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL | MURPHY, NC | $356,624 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS | BRYSON CITY, NC | $341,744 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS | SYLVA, NC | $335,792 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| MACON COUNTY SCHOOLS | FRANKLIN, NC | $285,696 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| CHEROKEE CENTRAL SCHOOLS | CHEROKEE, NC | $228,160 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| GRAHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS | ROBBINSVILLE, NC | $223,200 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| CLAY COUNTY SCHOOLS | HAYESVILLE, NC | $222,208 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| MACON PROGRAM FOR PROGRESS | FRANKLIN, NC | $194,880 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| HAYWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CLYDE, NC | $117,197 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| LONG'S CHAPEL CHILD ENRICHMENT CENT | WAYNESVILLE, NC | $116,478 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| MOUNTAIN PROJECTS INC | WAYNESVILLE, NC | $80,640 | 2025 | NC PRE-K SERVICES |
| SOUTHWESTERN CHILD DEVELOPMENT COMM | WEBSTER, NC | $69,153 | 2025 | SMART START |
| SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS | BRYSON CITY, NC | $33,869 | 2025 | SMART START |
| Jackson County Schools | Sylva, NC | $417,733 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Swain County Schools | Bryson City, NC | $400,480 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Haywood County Schools | Waynesville, NC | $391,413 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Cherokee County Schools | Murphy, NC | $360,941 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Macon County Schools | Franklin, NC | $295,576 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Macon Program for Progress | Franklin, NC | $264,293 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Clay County Schools | Hayesville, NC | $252,779 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Graham County Schools | Robbinsville, NC | $201,550 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Cherokee Central Schools | Cherokee, NC | $197,971 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Southwestern Child Development Center | Webster, NC | $136,812 | 2024 | Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant and Subsidy Services Coordination |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde, NC | $123,575 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Long's Chapel Child Enrichment | Waynesville, NC | $111,352 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Mountain Projects Inc | Waynesville, NC | $89,702 | 2024 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Jackson County Department of Public Health | Sylva, NC | $64,988 | 2024 | Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant |
| Swain County Schools | Bryson City, NC | $56,112 | 2024 | Smart Start Parents as Teachers |
| Macon Program for Progress | Franklin, NC | $25,157 | 2024 | Smart Start Parents as Teachers |
| Haywood County Schools | Waynesville, NC | $456,072 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Jackson County Schools | Sylva, NC | $354,762 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Swain County Schools | Bryson City, NC | $343,480 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Cherokee County Schools | Murphy, NC | $323,392 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Clay County Schools | Hayesville, NC | $247,752 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Macon County Schools | Franklin, NC | $244,776 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Macon Program for Progress | Franklin, NC | $221,340 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Cherokee Central Schools | Cherokee, NC | $218,736 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Graham County Schools | Robbinsville, NC | $164,666 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Jackson County Department of Public Health | Sylva, NC | $143,714 | 2023 | Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant Services |
| Southwestern Child Development Commission Inc | Webster, NC | $131,812 | 2023 | Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant and Subsidy Services Coordination. |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde, NC | $110,246 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Long's Chapel Child Enrichment | Waynesville, NC | $102,080 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Mountain Projects Inc | Waynesville, NC | $84,079 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Southwestern Child Development Center | Webster, NC | $75,482 | 2023 | NC Pre-K Services |
| Macon Program for Progress | Franklin, NC | $73,296 | 2023 | Smart Start Parents as Teachers |
| Swain County Schools | Bryson City, NC | $52,554 | 2023 | Smart Start Parents as Teachers |
HAYWOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS
$388,368NC PRE-K SERVICES
CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL
$356,624NC PRE-K SERVICES
SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
$341,744NC PRE-K SERVICES
JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOLS
$335,792NC PRE-K SERVICES
MACON COUNTY SCHOOLS
$285,696NC PRE-K SERVICES
CHEROKEE CENTRAL SCHOOLS
$228,160NC PRE-K SERVICES
GRAHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS
NC PRE-K SERVICES
CLAY COUNTY SCHOOLS
$222,208NC PRE-K SERVICES
MACON PROGRAM FOR PROGRESS
$194,880NC PRE-K SERVICES
HAYWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$117,197NC PRE-K SERVICES
LONG'S CHAPEL CHILD ENRICHMENT CENT
$116,478NC PRE-K SERVICES
MOUNTAIN PROJECTS INC
$80,640NC PRE-K SERVICES
SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
$33,869SMART START
Jackson County Schools
$417,733NC Pre-K Services
Swain County Schools
$400,480NC Pre-K Services
Haywood County Schools
$391,413NC Pre-K Services
Cherokee County Schools
$360,941NC Pre-K Services
Macon County Schools
$295,576NC Pre-K Services
Macon Program for Progress
$264,293NC Pre-K Services
Clay County Schools
$252,779NC Pre-K Services
Graham County Schools
$201,550NC Pre-K Services
Cherokee Central Schools
$197,971NC Pre-K Services
Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant and Subsidy Services Coordination
Haywood Community College
$123,575NC Pre-K Services
Long's Chapel Child Enrichment
$111,352NC Pre-K Services
Mountain Projects Inc
$89,702NC Pre-K Services
Jackson County Department of Public Health
$64,988Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant
Swain County Schools
$56,112Smart Start Parents as Teachers
Macon Program for Progress
$25,157Smart Start Parents as Teachers
Haywood County Schools
$456,072NC Pre-K Services
Jackson County Schools
$354,762NC Pre-K Services
Swain County Schools
$343,480NC Pre-K Services
Cherokee County Schools
$323,392NC Pre-K Services
Clay County Schools
$247,752NC Pre-K Services
Macon County Schools
$244,776NC Pre-K Services
Macon Program for Progress
$221,340NC Pre-K Services
Cherokee Central Schools
$218,736NC Pre-K Services
Graham County Schools
$164,666NC Pre-K Services
Jackson County Department of Public Health
$143,714Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant Services
Smart Start Child Care Health Consultant and Subsidy Services Coordination.
Haywood Community College
$110,246NC Pre-K Services
Long's Chapel Child Enrichment
$102,080NC Pre-K Services
Mountain Projects Inc
$84,079NC Pre-K Services
Macon Program for Progress
$73,296Smart Start Parents as Teachers
Swain County Schools
$52,554Smart Start Parents as Teachers