Through intentional partnerships and collaborations, Gateway Wellness Foundation focuses on on improving the health and well-being for all residents in Burke, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford Counties.
Our mission is to address the social determinants of health in western North Carolina, and provide funding to organizations that seek solutions to obstacles to health and wellness for the residents of Gateway’s four-county region.
Unfortunately, we will not be holding a grant cycle for 2022. If you have any questions or concerns you can contact Destiny Mealhouse at [email protected]

What we fund
We invest our grantmaking dollars in projects that work to support and uplift underserved and marginalized communities and people. Gateway is inviting proposals that focus on access to health care, childhood development, education, food insecurity, and housing. We have also include a “Special Projects” category. Please read below for more information on these focus areas and examples of the kinds of proposals we may fund.
Access to Health Care
Increasing access to healthcare and behavioral health care; reducing the existing disparities in access to healthcare.
Childhood Development
Nurturing the emotional, social, and/or physical development of children, thereby directly impacting their overall development into happy, healthy, productive adults.
Education
- Increasing the number of children who are developmentally ready for school
- Increasing the number of highschool graduates
- Mentoring and after school programs
- Programs that expand CTE (career and technical education) opportunities
- Other projects that enhance the success rate of students in learning environments
Housing
- Increasing affordable housing stock, providing education around purchasing and maintaining a home, and removing barriers to home ownership
- Increasing provision of home repair or rehabilitation for people in need
- Increasing access to senior housing
- Increasing access to transitional housing, emergency housing or providing shelter
Food Insecurity
Measurably decreasing food insecurity and increasing the availability of healthy food
Special Projects
Projects may address (but are not limited to) issues around job creation and job readiness, centralized coordination of case management, capacity building, substance use disorder, and hardships that communities are experiencing.

Application Process
We accept funding requests of up to $100,000. Please note, there will be a limited number of awards given out above $50,000. Organizations are encouraged to submit requests for smaller projects.
Unfortunately, we will not be holding a grant cycle for 2022. If you have any questions or concerns you can contact Destiny Mealhouse at [email protected]

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for funding, the organization:
- Must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or governmental entity
- Serve the residents of Burke, McDowell, Polk, and/or Rutherford counties
- Individuals
- Political purposes, including lobbying
- Out-of-area projects
- Grants prohibited by IRS regulations
If you have any questions or concerns you can contact our Operations Manager at [email protected]
