Strategically Aligned Organizations in North Carolina

Dogwood Health Trust is a philanthropic organization dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of residents across Western North Carolina. The Trust’s grantmaking efforts are centered around four strategic priority areas: housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. In response to the changing landscape caused by Hurricane Helene, Dogwood has developed a refreshed grantmaking strategy for 2025–2030 that emphasizes building capacity, fostering collaboration, strengthening connections, and attracting capital to the region. Through these pillars, the Trust aims to empower strategically aligned organizations that are committed to serving disinvested and disconnected communities. Currently, Dogwood is offering the "General Operating Support for Strategically Aligned Organizations" grant opportunity, which will be open from March 14 to April 4, 2025. This grant offers flexible funding intended to advance an organization’s core mission, whether through program development, advocacy, or policy initiatives. Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $350,000 annually for two years. Applicants are encouraged to review the application questions provided by Dogwood and should note that the grant opportunity is expected to be highly competitive. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charities of any size that serve the Qualla Boundary and 18 counties in Western North Carolina. The following entities are not eligible: government and governmental organizations, colleges and universities, fiscal sponsor organizations, houses of worship, and religious organizations. Strategically aligned organizations are those that not only serve the Western North Carolina region but also promote Dogwood’s strategic priorities and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to engaging with and representing the voices of underserved communities. Dogwood also offers additional support programs including the Leverage Fund and Grants Help Desk. The Leverage Fund, open from March 14 to October 1, 2025, provides free grant writing assistance to community-based nonprofits seeking external funding. The Grants Help Desk, open from March 14 to August 31, 2025, provides advisory support to eligible nonprofits and municipalities pursuing grants beyond Dogwood’s offerings. These initiatives are designed to help local organizations compete more effectively for external resources. Looking ahead, two more funding opportunities will open in May 2025: "Organizational Capacity Building" and "Innovation & Collaboration." The Organizational Capacity Building grant will offer between $15,000 and $50,000 over two years for strengthening internal operations, while the Innovation & Collaboration grant will provide between $50,000 and $500,000 over 12 to 24 months to support collaborative efforts addressing post-Hurricane Helene challenges. These opportunities will have expanded eligibility, allowing applications from a broader range of organization types including fiscal sponsors, governments, and religious institutions. All 2025 applicants will be required to use Dogwood’s new “Applicant and Grantee Portal” to submit applications and manage grants. Organizations with ongoing grants awarded prior to 2025 will continue using the “Legacy Grantee Portal” for reporting purposes. During this transitional period, some organizations may need to manage two separate portal accounts. For questions or assistance with this new system, Dogwood provides FAQs and support resources through its website. The organization can be reached at its Asheville, North Carolina address for any additional inquiries.