News

Dogwood Trust announces $1M in racial equity grants

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 23, 2020

The Board of Directors for the Dogwood Health Trust has approved $1 million for Racial Equity Community Grants to benefit historically underfunded organizations serving Black, indigenous, and communities of color.

Grants of up to $25,000 are available for one-time needs, program support, general operations, and for purposes that the organizations deem important. These grants are part of a $5.5 million allocation by the Dogwood Health Trust Board of Directors to address racial equity in Western North Carolina.

The Racial Equity Community Grants are designed as a first step from Dogwood Health Trust to infuse capital into historically underfunded organizations whose primary purpose is serving Black, indigenous and communities of color, and whose leadership is representative of the communities they serve.

“Our goal is to recognize and support the great work and leadership that is already taking place, and help to solidify or expand that work,” said Jackie Simms, Dogwood Health Trust board member and chair of the Programs and Grants Committee. “The hope is for the grants from this fund to be used for any purpose that the applying organizations believe will best support their work and increase their impact.”

Dogwood seeks organizations that demonstrate deep cultural connections to the communities they serve and encourages applications from smaller, grassroots organizations that are primarily led and staffed by people of color. There is no minimum requirement for budget size, staffing, or service area. Both 501(c)(3) organizations and government agencies are welcome to apply.

The grant application is short, simple, and available online at dht.org/regrants. The deadline for Racial Equity Community Grants is Oct. 23. Grant decisions will be made by the end of November and funds will be distributed in December 2020. Interested organizations are invited to participate in a webinar on Monday, Sept. 28, from noon to 1 p.m. learn more. Registration information can be found online at dht.org/regrants.

Dogwood Health Trust is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation with the sole purpose of
dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust was created from the net proceeds of the sale of Mission Hospital and focuses on innovative ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellness. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org.