Last Updated on June 27, 2024
In Western North Carolina, our mountains are inextricably linked to our way of life. Traditionally, our landscape has guided farming practices, town traditions, and community cultures. Today, the Blue Ridge Mountains serve as a backdrop for our outdoor adventures and lifelong memories.
Enjoying the beauty of our mountains is one way you can find what feels like home. For those who love our mountains, that means preserving their beauty for years to come. This month, let’s take a look at organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the local environment. We encourage you to learn more about the nonprofits on this list and consider a gift of time or money to support the programs that ensure these mountains remain a fantastic place to call home.
Every natural resource deserves protection. Here is just a short list of our many favorite WNC environmental nonprofits dedicated to protecting the local land.
Skip ahead! Find local environmental nonprofits near you:
- 4 environmental nonprofits near Asheville
- 3 environmental nonprofits near Brevard
- 2 environmental nonprofits near Hendersonville
- 3 environmental nonprofits near Waynesville
- 2 environmental nonprofits near Highlands-Cashiers
- 3 environmental nonprofits supporting WNC
- Support what feels like HOME
4 environmental nonprofits near Asheville
Asheville GreenWorks
Asheville GreenWorks is our area’s Keep America Beautiful affiliate, working to turn the community green and clean through environmental volunteer projects. Their priority projects include planting trees, protecting native pollinators, cleaning up rivers and roads, and reducing waste. And their numbers show the results. Since 1973, more than 150,000 volunteers have completed 3,646 projects, including planting more than 50,000 trees, cleaning 6,860 miles of river, and collecting 2.4 million pounds of trash!
2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville | (828) 254-1776 | ashevillegreenworks.org
Dogwood Alliance
For more than 25 years, Dogwood Alliance has fought threats to local forests and frontline communities. The organization promotes forest protection as the best solution to climate change. They partner with communities to develop economic solutions that protect and restore endangered forests across the South, end unsustainable forestry practices, and increase the paper industry’s use of post-consumer recycled and other environmentally preferable sources of fiber in the production of paper.
P.O. Box 7645, Asheville | (828) 251-2525 | dogwoodalliance.org
Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
From resource management projects and science programs to artists in residence and visitor protection groups, there’s always something going on in America’s most visited national park. Friends of the Smokies assists the National Park Service by raising funds and public awareness, as well as by providing volunteers for needed projects. Since 1993, they have raised more than $75 million to fund historic preservation, wildlife management, environmental education, and more in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn more.
84 Coxe Ave Suite 200, Asheville | (828) 452-0720 | friendsofthesmokies.org
RiverLink
RiverLink promotes the environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River and its watershed. The nonprofit accomplishes its mission by providing permanent public access to the river through conservation and recreation easements, reclaiming contaminated lands for public use and enjoyment, and educating the public about the importance of the French Broad River watershed. By providing hands-on learning experiences for more than 3,000 children annually, as well as additional adults, RiverLink stands by its three-word mission: experience, learn, conserve.
170 Lyman Street, Asheville | (828) 252-8474 | riverlink.org
Plant a seed! Find what feels like home in a community protected by these environmental nonprofits in WNC. Search homes for sale in Asheville.
3 environmental nonprofits near Brevard, NC
Cradle of Forestry
Did you know that the Southern Appalachians are the birthplace of scientific forestry? The 6,500-acre Cradle of Forestry site was established to “preserve, develop, and make available to this and future generations the birthplace of forestry and forestry education in America.” The site’s trails allow visitors to explore seven historical buildings from the time of the Biltmore Forest School (1898–1914), climb aboard and ring the bell of a 1914 Climax logging train engine, and interact with historical interpreters through programs and special events.
11250 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest | (828) 877-3130 | gofindoutdoors.org/sites/cradle-of-forestry
Mountain Roots
Mountain Roots provides discovery and outdoor learning experiences with a focus on environmentally responsible (i.e. sustainable) and community-centered living. The organization offers intentional, hands-on outdoor learning experiences to local K–8 students to foster curiosity about the natural world and a deeper sense of place. Mountain Roots Leadership Education lessons also teach students to respect each other and work together as a community. From workshops to day camps, Mountain Roots takes folks outside to explore and make connections.
P.O. Box 248, Cedar Mountain | (828) 384-4629 | mountainroots.org
Muddy Sneakers
Muddy Sneakers teaches the NC core curriculum by taking kids out of the classroom and into the forest. In Muddy Sneakers’ first ten years alone, they worked with more than 2,500 fifth grade public school students from 39 schools in eight WNC counties, three counties around their second location in Salisbury, NC, and the South Carolina Upstate. Students are led by a field instructor through protected lands in the hopes of enhancing not only their academic achievement, but of cultivating a life-long love of nature. Learn more.
44 W Jordan Street, Brevard | (828) 862-5560 | muddysneakers.org
Plant a seed! Find what feels like home in a community protected by these environmental nonprofits. Search homes for sale in Brevard.
2 environmental nonprofits near Hendersonville
Conserving Carolina
Even though it was created in July 2017, Conserving Carolina is an organization with roots that reach back nearly 35 years. Conserving Carolina hosts regular educational workshops, volunteer opportunities, outdoor adventures, and community events to promote stewardship and an understanding of the natural world. But much of their impact comes through conservation easement. To date, the organization has conserved almost 49,000 acres in WNC and Upstate South Carolina, regularly monitors more than 200 conservation easements, and has developed 38 miles of trails. Learn more.
847 Case Street, Hendersonville | (828) 697-5777
2060 Lynn Road, Columbus | (828) 697-5777
Saluda Community Land Trust
The mission of the Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) is to preserve Saluda’s rural character by preserving farm and forest land through conservation easements and land acquisition. They also establish greenways designed to connect people, land, and community. Active projects include controlling invasives, preserving the legacy of Sullivan’s Temple, and completing the trail to the summit of Round Mountain. Most importantly, SCLT empowers Saluda community members to take ownership of their land and use it for the best practices. Learn more.
P.O. Box 732, Saluda | (828) 749-1560 | saludaclt.org
Plant a seed! Find what feels like home in a community protected by these environmental nonprofits. Search homes for sale in Hendersonville.
3 environmental nonprofits near Waynesville
Haywood Waterways Association
The mission of Haywood Waterways Association is to improve surface water quality in the Pigeon River Watershed of Haywood County through two objectives: education and implementation of water improvement strategies. Education and outreach instill environmentally responsible behaviors to provide the best long-term benefits to our waterways. Critical partnerships with public agencies, conservation interests, businesses, community groups, and public and private landowners allow the nonprofit to assist with regional, state, and even national conservation efforts. Learn more.
P.O. Box 389, Waynesville | (828) 476-4667 | haywoodwaterways.org
Lake Junaluska: Friends of the Lake
A significant part of experiencing Lake Junaluska includes slowing down and finding true connections with family, friends, faith, and especially nature. Not only does the lake have unparalleled vistas of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, but it also has places like Inspiration Point where visitors can immerse themselves in a spectacular garden and a sense of wonder. Friends of the Lake ensures that Lake Junaluska continues to be a beloved place where the community can enjoy the walking trail, gardens, and breathtaking vistas for years to come.
P.O. Box 67, Lake Junaluska | (828) 454-6749 | lakejunaluska.com
Mainspring Conservation Trust
Formed in 1997, Mainspring is the land trust for seven counties across WNC and Georgia. Their goal is to conserve and restore the lands and waters of the Southern Blue Ridge, and to connect people to these natural treasures. They work with landowners to create conservation easements for agriculture, beauty, and other values. Streambank restoration initiatives ensure that waterways continue to support rich aquatic life. And their education and citizen science initiatives teach hundreds of adults and kids about the importance of clear, healthy streams.
557 E Main Street, Franklin | (828) 524-2711 | mainspringconserves.org
Plant a seed! Find what feels like home in a community protected by these environmental nonprofits in WNC. Search homes for sale in Waynesville.
2 environmental nonprofits near Highlands-Cashiers
Highlands Biological Foundation
The Highlands Biological Foundation is dedicated to public education programs available to all ages. In partnership with the State of North Carolina and Western Carolina University, the foundation runs year-round environmental education programs, including summer nature camps, monthly Nature 101s, evening lectures from expert speakers, and more. HBF also supports academic research on mountain ecosystems, communities, and species. Since 2020, their MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) bird banding efforts have helped researchers better understand the underlying causes of bird population trends across the region.
265 N 6th Street, Highlands | (828) 526-2221 | highlandsbiological.org/foundation
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
The Highlands-Cashiers plateau sits at the headwaters of six different watersheds, so conserving land here protects drinking water throughout the Southeast. Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) conserves more than 4,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and vistas in Jackson and Macon Counties that are home to the greatest number of rare and endemic plants and animals in the Southern Appalachians. HCLT originated in 1883, making it the oldest land trust in North Carolina and among the first 20 in the United States.
348 S 5th Street #214, Highlands | (828) 526-1111 | hcltnc.org
Plant a seed! Find what feels like home in a community protected by these environmental nonprofits. Search homes for sale in Highlands and Cashiers.
3 environmental nonprofits supporting WNC
Conservation Trust for North Carolina
For the past 30 years, Conservation Trust for North Carolina has inspired and enabled people to build resilient, just communities. At their core, they are focused on conserving land in collaboration with communities, adapting to a changing climate, and seeding equity and inclusion throughout conservation. From the mountains to the sea, CTNC has proven that strategic conservation, like their work along the Blue Ridge Parkway, has its rewards.
1028 Washington Street, Raleigh | (919) 828-4199 | ctnc.org
Mountain True
MountainTrue empowers residents to engage in community planning, policy, and project advocacy, as well as on-the-ground projects. To achieve their goals, MountainTrue focuses on a core set of issues across 23 WNC counties: sensible land use, restoring public forests, protecting water quality, and promoting clean energy—all of which have a high impact on the environmental health and long-term prosperity of the region. MountainTrue is the home of the French Broad Riverkeeper, the Watauga Riverkeeper, and the Broad River Alliance.
29 N Market Street, Suite 610, Asheville | (828) 258-8737 | mountaintrue.org
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
SAHC conserves unique plant and animal habitats, clean water, farmland, scenic beauty, and places for people to enjoy outdoor recreation in ten counties across the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Since 1974, SAHC has protected more than 80,000 acres of land. They work with landowners, responsibly steward protected lands and conservation easements, and connect people with land. Additional programs, like the Farm Incubation Program, provide land to initiate or expand agricultural businesses.
372 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville | (828) 253-0095 | appalachian.org
Support what feels like HOME
At Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks, we believe that everyone has a right to find what feels like home. In real estate, that generally means finding the right property to live your best life. But we also know that “home” is so much more than four walls and a roof—it’s about how a community really lives.
At the foundation of every successful community are great local nonprofits. Local nonprofits serve many purposes, even beyond their mission statements. They showcase the best of what is available for residents, and they reflect the values that locals hold dear.
What’s more, active, thriving nonprofits indicate active, thriving communities. More active communities are more desirable communities. And desirability equates to enhanced property values. That’s one of the many reasons why we at Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks support dozens of nonprofits across Western North Carolina each year.
We treasure the communities where we work and play. Hundreds of local organizations work tirelessly to make our region one of the most desirable places to live, and we take our responsibility to support their efforts seriously.
This year, we’re committing to sharing some of our favorite WNC causes through a series of blog posts, including today’s post on environmental nonprofits. Check back throughout 2024 to learn more about organizations that enhance our home and how to support nonprofits near you, including:
- Animal welfare nonprofits
- Arts & creativity nonprofits
- Youth-focused nonprofits
- Health & wellness nonprofits
- Social Justice nonprofits
