Asheville, N.C. – Today, Dogwood Health Trust held its Annual Meeting on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College before a crowd of more than 400 nonprofit leaders, community members and partners. Expert philanthropy consultant and former president of MDC in Durham, David Dodson was the keynote speaker. Dogwood CEO Dr. Susan Mims announced that the organization is in the process of fulfilling completed grant requests for 2022 and has finalized focus areas and updated its grantmaking process for 2023.
In her opening remarks, Mims shared how the organization arrived at its new focus areas and grantmaking process. She noted that in 2021 Dogwood used insights from partners and communities, combined with additional research and data, to create 17 goals and 13 objectives across its four strategic priority areas of Housing, Education, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Wellness.
“Dogwood immediately began working with partners and community organizations to invest in initiatives and projects that would support our priority areas, goals and objectives,” said Mims. “As a result of that work, I’m proud to say that Dogwood Health Trust has made or committed roughly $74 million in grants and more than $12 million in impact investments for 2022.” Mims went on to note that Western North Carolina hasn’t always been able to claim its fair share of federal and state dollars for the region, so Dogwood also worked with partners “to bring more than $10 million dollars from outside sources, with more than $50 million in additional funds pending awards.”
Mims added that Dogwood continues to build on that momentum and its commitment to listening to community partners, studying past grants and sourcing new data. As a result, the Dogwood leadership team and Board recently finalized its new focus areas to support its four strategic priorities. In addition to the overviews provided in the meeting and below, community members are encouraged to explore each of the new focus areas by visiting the Dogwood website.
Affordable housing needs in Western North Carolina are well-documented in the Bowen Regional Housing Needs Assessment commissioned by Dogwood and in other sources. This shortage is particularly acute for those who require permanent supportive housing and for seniors. In addition to working with partners to leverage multiple sources of expertise and funding to create new affordable housing, Dogwood looks forward to helping groups of partners preserve and rebuild existing housing as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization.
In 2022, Dogwood focused its efforts around education by supporting research on the early care and education (ECE) landscape capturing those issues for the region. In 2023, Dogwood will launch a multi-year effort with partners focused on growing and sustaining the ECE workforce for WNC communities, as well as exploring opportunities to expand quality out-of-school time experiences for K-12 students.
Dogwood recognizes that economic opportunity in Western North Carolina relies on a complex economic ecosystem that includes small business entrepreneurs and international manufacturing centers. The challenge is to address barriers to economic sustainability – improving connectivity across the region, increasing access to capital, and building a workforce that is ready to engage in jobs that offer both fulfillment and financial security to help individuals and families build wealth. In 2023, Dogwood will focus on job training, recruitment and retention efforts, building entrepreneurial networks, leveraging opportunities for business development in rural and/or communities of color, and increasing broadband access and adoption across the region.
The factors that influence the health and well-being of individuals and families are nearly countless and weave throughout all of Dogwood’s strategic priority areas. An ever-growing body of research, as well as stories from across the region, shows that trauma and toxic stress play a critical role in shaping health outcomes, particularly for marginalized populations and children. The region’s struggle with mental health and addiction is a key indicator of the levels of trauma and stress currently at play. Dogwood seeks to provide support for parents and children that reduce trauma and stress, work compassionately to address those dealing with mental health challenges and substance use disorder, and create welcoming and interconnected communities for people of all ages; with the hope of creating a healthier Western North Carolina.
To help clarify and simplify the grantmaking process, Dogwood will be moving to two grant cycles in 2023. The first cycle is anticipated to open in January, with funding distributed by June/July. The second cycle is planned for May, with funding distributed by the end of the year. Within each cycle, Dogwood’s strategic priority areas may include open community opportunities, invitation-only calls, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), partner convenings and learnings, to name a few.
A recording of the annual meeting will be available on the Dogwood Health Trust website within a week.
About Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellbeing, with a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org.
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Dogwood Health Trust
