Buncombe Seeks Applicants for Strategic Grant Committee Openings

Buncombe County on Jan. 6 invited residents to apply for two vacancies on the nine-member Strategic Partnership Grant Committee, an advisory body that reviews nonprofit grant requests and forwards funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. The notice, last updated Dec. 10, 2025, specifies that the openings carry terms through June 30, 2028.

Committee members play a direct role in county public budgeting by evaluating grant proposals and recommending how county resources should be allocated among community organizations. The committee’s scope aligns with the county’s 2030 Strategic Plan and concentrates on Growth and Development, Economic Development, Education, Community Health, Public Safety, and Energy and Environment. Those recommendations inform, but do not replace, the Board of Commissioners’ final funding decisions.

The county described the role as a public-budgeting opportunity and set clear conflict-of-interest rules: applicants may not currently serve as staff or board members of organizations applying for support from the Strategic Partnership grants. The restriction is intended to reduce potential bias and protect the integrity of the review process. The announcement also laid out the committee’s meeting cadence, noting it generally meets the first Thursday of each month, indicating a recurring monthly time commitment for members.

Residents interested in serving are directed to apply through the county’s application portal. The notice includes procedural details and the application link on the county’s NewsFlash page. Because the committee evaluates funding across multiple strategic priorities, membership offers a chance to shape which local programs receive county-backed support and to influence how taxpayer dollars target community needs.

For local nonprofits and residents, appointments to the committee matter because the advisory recommendations contribute to which services receive continued or expanded funding. Decisions influenced by the committee can affect classroom programs, workforce and economic initiatives, public health services, emergency response capacity, and environmental projects across Buncombe County.

Potential applicants should review the conflict-of-interest restrictions and the monthly meeting schedule before applying. The committee’s work is part of the county’s broader effort to align grantmaking with the 2030 Strategic Plan, and the openings represent a civic engagement opportunity for residents who want a say in local budget priorities and nonprofit partnerships.