Asheville, N.C. – Dogwood Health Trust today announces its open grant opportunities for 2025 designed to strengthen organizations, build capacity, and support innovation and collaboration within and among leaders and organizations in Western North Carolina. In addition, Dogwood’s Leverage Fund and a new Grants Help Desk will offer focused grant writing support and advice to eligible organizations who seek to apply for funds from sources outside of Dogwood.
“Dogwood Health Trust is fortunate to collaborate with and support an incredible network of leaders and organizations throughout Western North Carolina. During our first five years as a foundation and with a focused effort over the past year, both before and after Hurricane Helene, we listened closely and learned from these partners,” says Dr. Susan Mims, CEO of Dogwood Health Trust. “We heard a consistent need for more flexible funding over longer periods of time so they can advance their day-to-day missions and invest in strengthening their leaders, organizations and collaborative work for the future. These grant opportunities are designed to respond to that need.”
Stronger Organizations – General Operating Support for Strategically Aligned Organizations
Opening today, the first grant opportunity is available to strategically aligned organizations, which: (1) serve Western North Carolina; (2) advance Dogwood’s strategic priorities of housing, education, economic opportunity, and/or health & wellness; and (3) demonstrate a commitment to serve, engage with and reflect the voices and lived experiences of disinvested and disconnected people and communities.
Applications will be accepted from March 14 to April 4. The opportunity offers multi-year, general operating support that strategically aligned organizations can use to advance their core mission, build or grow programs, support advocacy or policy efforts, or other uses. The application has been simplified to make it easier for partners to submit their requests in a shorter period. Organizations decide how to use funds and grant reporting is simplified. Grant sizes will range from $50,000-$350,000/year for two years.
Grant Writing Support and Advice
Dogwood remains committed to attracting more capital to Western North Carolina from outside the region. Two offerings supporting grant proposal development to funders other than Dogwood also opened today. The Leverage Fund connects eligible organizations with grant writing consultants at no cost to the applicant. Applications for assistance will be accepted now through Oct. 2, 2025. As a new offering, Dogwood is piloting a Grants Help Desk now until Aug. 31, 2025. It offers free, expert advice and counsel on grant development to eligible organizations and municipalities.
Looking Ahead: Capacity Building, Innovation & Collaboration
In May, two more grant opportunities will open. A Capacity-Building opportunity will fund activities that help strengthen strategically aligned organizations’ internal operations to achieve long-term performance and sustainability. And an Innovation & Collaboration grant opportunity will support both emergent and established collaborations working to respond to the challenges and opportunities in the post-Helene environment. Additional details and application dates will be announced soon.
“These opportunities prioritize the kind of flexible funding and supports our grantee partners need as we rebuild and strengthen our region for the next five years and the long-term,” said Mims. “It is going to take each and every one of us to move this work forward and as a funder, we are as deeply committed to support a strong WNC.”
To learn more about these opportunities or to apply, visit dht.org/grantmaking.
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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 in the Qualla Boundary and the 18 counties of 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.
