Hurricane Helene
response and
resources
a coordinated response for relief, recovery and rebuilding
Dogwood has invested just over $70 million in relief efforts so far across Western North Carolina, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
Uniting with leaders from across the region and state, we are committed to a sustained and coordinated response that upholds our equity commitments and ensures that resources reach the people, organizations and small businesses most affected by this disaster.
Relief investments are helping:
- Support organizations deploying resources quickly to people and areas most affected
- Support FEMA assessment, navigation and legal services
- Maintain critical health services across the region
- Provide relief support for housing stability
- Respond to the urgent financial needs of local, small businesses
- Early Childhood Education
- Out-of-School Time
- Mental and Behavioral Health
- Care for Grantees and Support for Individuals
Dogwood anticipates the response to this unnatural event will take both short-term relief and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Dogwood is committed to helping Western North Carolina communities through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
updates and
announcements
relief funding for nonprofits
To make funding distribution more efficient and responsive, the organizations noted below are helping Dogwood coordinate and redistribute funding. WNC nonprofits are encouraged to follow the recommendations below to apply for relief funding. Organizations may apply to one or more of any of the opportunities.
- If you are part of Impact Health’s Health Service Organization (HSO) network, you will receive an application directly from Impact Health about support.
- If you are in Polk County, you can also reach out to Polk County Community Foundation about disaster recovery.
- If you are in Henderson County, please apply with the Community Foundation of Henderson County.
- If you are in the Qualla Boundary or Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon or Swain counties, please apply with the Nantahala Health Foundation.
- If you are a member organization of WNC Communities, please reach out to them directly.
- Nonprofits that meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for grants up to $50K.
Dogwood will make additional funding announcements about future recovery and rebuilding efforts in the months to come. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
relief funding for small businesses
Dogwood invested $10 million to create the Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative (WNCSBI), led by Appalachian Community Capital (ACC).
The initiative offers immediate relief grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses in Dogwood’s 18 counties that meet the following criteria:
- Experienced physical damage to their business from the storm
- Have less than $1 million in annual revenue.
looking to donate in wnc?
consider these response
and recovery funds.
Many are asking Dogwood for ideas about where to donate for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina. The list below is not exhaustive but is our best recommendation at this time.
WNC
Pooled, regional fund distributing resources directly to place-based members/partners, covering all impacted areas in the Appalachian region
Henderson County, Hendersonville, NC
Immediate relief and long-term recovery
Regional
Relief funding for cooperatives and their members recovering from natural disasters
Regional
Immediate relief for family child care educators impacted by Hurricane Helene
WNC
Providing supplies and funds through their 14 community-based organizations in WNC
WNC
Contributions help with the unmet
needs of hurricane victims – Fiscal Agent is the United Way of NC
WNC
School support – assisting students, staff and school systems dealing with the loss of housing, supplies, technology and school facilities
“Several networks of organizations were created from Dogwood’s previous investments that are now helping us deploy resources for health care, legal services and healthy food distribution. We are fortunate to have this nonprofit infrastructure in place.”
- Dr. Susan Mims, CEO
Dogwood Health Trust
