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CoThinkk supports impactful programs in Asheville and Western North Carolina with gifts of time, talent and treasure.

CoThinkk is doing social change philanthropy by bringing together community leaders who care about the economic and social well-being of communities of color in Asheville and Western North Carolina. CoThinkk started in 2014 with the intention to implement investment strategies that address education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership development towards impacting some of the most critical social issues facing African-American and Latinx communities in Western North Carolina.

All CoThinkk members and supporters are able to apply, but will not participate in the final decision-making process.
Grant funds are available for community groups that sponsor programming that is led by leaders of color and supports African American and Latinx families and communities through education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership development, with particular emphasis on cultivating the energy, passion, and talents of the next generation to create an essential pipeline of leaders. By investing in strategies that focus on education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership, we seek the following long-term impact:
Shifted Regional Landscape:
Change the economic, health, education, and poverty narrative for communities of color in Asheville and the surrounding region;
Create a paradigm shift that inspires a new picture of resilience for communities of color in Asheville and Western NC.
Strong Leadership Development/ Generational Impact :
Build and strengthen a leadership pipeline of African-American and Latinx individuals that are focused on social change for Asheville and Western NC;
Create and support new leadership opportunities within traditional and nontraditional institutions in Asheville while building new alliances to focus on issues unique to communities of color;
Build the capacity of leaders of colors to serve in important roles within the region and build an intentional community engagement strategy that is focused on inclusivity, equity, and diversity.
Collaboration:
Build strong collaborations that work across racial and generational lines;
Cross sector collaboration and shared/aligned agendas;
Create opportunities for co-learning, volunteering, and using social, political, and economic capital as means to align agendas and activities towards social good.
Applications are now closed. We will be accepting applications again in the Summer of 2018.

“Catching Dreams:” CoThinkk Video & Grant Process Workshop
In addition to the grant award, CoThinkk leadership will provide capacity building and leadership development opportunities for grant recipients including a free video and grant process workshop prior to the submission date. The Video & Grant Process workshop will focus on guiding attendees through the CoThinkk video grant process and assist participants in completing their final video submission for the September 1st, 2018 submission deadline.

CoThinkk Community Leadership Awards: Alongside grant awards, CoThinkk will award four community leadership awards, two community allies and two next generation awards. Recipients of the community leadership awards must be leaders of color who are playing a critical role in the social change ecosystem of Western NC and working to shift the narrative of communities of color. Community allies are individuals or organizations who will be recognized for their leadership in working alongside and in partnership with communities and leaders of color. Nominations are due by August 7th and the public will weigh in during August 15-30 through text and online voting. The CoThinkk membership will then weigh the voting results and make a final decision. For more information and to submit nominations, access our submission portal here.