Hurricane Helene
response and
resources
a coordinated response for relief, recovery and rebuilding
Hurricane Helene has affected the people and communities of Western North Carolina in profound and unimaginable ways.
Since the storm, the Dogwood team has been in active, close communication with funders and local leaders to coordinate a response that considers the needs of relief, recovery and rebuilding; upholds our equity commitments; and ensures that resources reach people and organizations who are most affected.
initial relief funding
application guidance
Dogwood’s initial $30 million in relief funding prioritizes support for local organizations helping local people and organizations. It (1) supports organizations that can quickly deploy resources and respond to urgent needs of people and geographic areas most affected; (2) supports assessment, navigation and legal services associated with FEMA response; and (3) maintains critical health services across the region.
Several organizations like the Community Foundation for Western North Carolina, Impact Health, AMY Wellness Foundation, Gateway Wellness Foundation and WNC Communities are helping us redistribute Dogwood’s funding. This is intentional because every funding organization – Dogwood included – has been affected by the storm and has limited staff capacity.
We are asking WNC nonprofits to approach certain organizations first for funding in this initial disaster relief phase. Our intention is to make funding distribution more efficient and responsive to your needs in the short term.
Please use the guidance below on who to approach first:
- 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 Avery, Mitchell or Yancey counties doing on-the-ground relief efforts, please reach out to AMY Wellness Foundation.
- If you are in Burke, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford counties, please inquire with the Gateway Wellness Foundation about relief grantmaking.
- If you are a member organization of WNC Communities, please reach out to them first.
- Nonprofits are encouraged to apply with the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for initial $25K emergency and disaster relief grants for frontline human service needs and the extraordinary costs of providing emergency relief services to individuals or eligible organizations affected by the storm.
Dogwood will make additional funding announcements about future recovery and rebuilding efforts. If you have any questions, you can email [email protected].
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
“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
