Our Mission
The Community Foundation's mission is to inspire generosity, uplift nonprofits, and connect donors with community needs.
Our vision is to be a united community with an uncompromising commitment to investing in opportunity for all.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public charity governed by a dedicated volunteer board of directors, the Community Foundation has been helping donors fulfill their philanthropic dreams since 1978. Individuals, families and organizations establish funds at the Community Foundation to carry out their charitable giving now and in the future.
History of the Legacy
We began operations on May 5, 1978 as The Garrison Community Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity. Our initial funding of $726,524 came from remainder assets of the former Garrison General Hospital. As of June 2025, our total assets topped $150 million, with over $17 million of that total in unrestricted community endowments.
In 1987, we changed our name to The Community Foundation of Gaston County, Inc., to better reflect our broad community role. The historic name was preserved by simultaneous renaming of the main general fund— now known as the Garrison Fund.
In 2018, in celebration of the Foundation’s 40th anniversary, we introduced a new name, The Gaston Community Foundation, along with an updated logo to the community.
The Future of the Legacy
The Gaston Community Foundation now manages more than 400 charitable funds. The largest of these is the Allen H. and Anne R. Sims Fund—an unrestricted bequest valued at over $4 million. The Foundation also assists donors in creating a variety of planned giving options for a charitable legacy.
The Foundation manages a variety of funds. Some are flexible and can support a range of community needs, while others are set aside for specific nonprofit organizations. We also oversee donor-advised funds, which allow individuals to recommend how the money should be used to support causes they care about.