NOTICE:
Applications for 2013 are due by Nov. 30, 2012 - Deadline extended to February 1, 2013.

All recipients of the Parsec Prize will be asked to participate in the Parsec Prize 5k, held in October each year. The 5k is a great opportunity to foster community awareness for your organization, as well as generate additional funds beyond those awarded by the Parsec Prize. We ask that Parsec Prize recipients provide volunteers and marketing assistance for the 5k. For more information please contact Ashley Woodring.

Parsec Financial has long maintained a significant commitment to charitable giving throughout the regions it serves, which include Western North Carolina and the Charlotte metro area. Parsec's directors believe that organizations focused on the broadly defined fields of education and economic development hold the most potential to improve the quality of life and provide access to meaningful opportunities for the general public. Parsec is, therefore, committed to supporting these non-profits by dedicating 2% of its revenues, half of which forms the Parsec Prize.

Applicants may choose to highlight the general operations of their organization or a specific program. In either case, to apply for funding, Parsec asks that organizations prepare a 1-3 page letter containing the following information:

• Name, address, phone number and website of organization
• A brief history and description of the organization and its mission
• Geographic area and target population served by the organization
• A description of the needs/goals to be addressed by the organization/project and the means/
  methods of addressing these needs and reaching these goals
• A description of how the money will be used
• When the money is needed
• Designated spokesperson for media questions about Parsec Prize
• Name and contact information for the person submitting this application
• To whom the Parsec Prize check should be sent
  

Organizations should also include the following as attachments:

• Annual operating budget of the organization. Applications highlighting a specific project must also include a separate project budget
• A copy of its IRS 501(c) (3) determination letter
• A copy of its latest Annual Report or Audited Financial Statements, if available, and a list of current board members
• Applications are accepted year-round, and prizes are awarded each quarter.
• Grants are made to non-profit organizations that are certified tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service codes.

Please send all applications to the following address:

Parsec Prize Program
Parsec Financial
P. O. Box 2324
Asheville, NC 28802

 

Though they may be commendable organizations, in order to keep our charitable giving more focused, the following are ineligible for application to the Parsec Prize:

• Endowments or capital campaigns
• Fundraising activities, such as benefits, charitable dinners, galas or sporting events
• Goodwill advertising, souvenir journals or dinner programs
• Individual needs, including scholarships, sponsorships and other forms of financial aid and assistance
• Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns
• Religious organizations
• Sports sponsorships
• Travel for individuals or groups
  

If your organization or project is selected for the Parsec Prize, Parsec Financial requests the following:

• Recipient to highlight Parsec Prize gift in at least one issue of its newsletter in the year the prize is received. The Parsec logo, Parsec’s URL and a supplied boilerplate paragraph will be included. Please let Parsec know the date by which these aterials must be received. (Not applicable to organizations that do not have such a platform.)
• Recipient to notify its members, clients, employees and other constituents of the award on organization website. The supplied Parsec boilerplate paragraph, Parsec Prize logo and Parsec website link will be used in this notice.
• Parsec and the recipient will work together to organize a unique and timely media strategy. Parsec will issue a press release to its media list to announce the recipients chosen for the Parsec Prize. If the recipient has other media to include, Parsec will gladly extend the release’s distribution to those outlets.
• Recipient agrees to have a spokesperson designated and accessible for media statements concerning the Parsec Prize.

Click here to download a PDF of the application.