Disaster Relief Fund Grants
WNC Prepared and Resilient Communities Grant Program
The NCCF Disaster Relief Fund is seeking applications from charitable organizations working to foster more prepared and resilient communities in western North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Through the WNC Prepared and Resilient Communities Grant Program, NCCF aims to support efforts that build the ability of Helene-impacted communities to anticipate, withstand, recover from and adapt to disasters in a timely manner.
Preference will be given to applicants supporting preparedness and resilience in the most severely impacted counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey.
The application opens on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. The deadline for submission is NOON eastern time on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2026. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline. Grant decisions will be made in March 2027 depending on application volume.
Approximately $6 million is available through this program. Awards are not expected to exceed $100,000.
Promising applications will show:
- A deep understanding of a community or communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
- A clear articulation of the preparedness and resilience needs facing the local community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
- A demonstration of how the proposed activities will build preparedness or resilience of the community rather than solely the applicant organization itself.
Applications focused on recovery efforts are not eligible for this grant program. For more information, check out our frequently asked questions.
Please note: Organizations that received a grant from the NCCF Disaster Relief Fund in February 2026 may apply, but final grant reports for that program or project must be submitted by the due date of Feb. 19, 2027, to be considered for an award from this round of funding.
Virtual information sessions
Organizations considering applying are strongly encouraged to attend one of three virtual information sessions to learn more about the goals and priorities of the program, eligibility and restrictions, and the NCCF application process. Register for one of the following sessions:
Grant program details
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- 501(c)(3) public charity nonprofit organizations registered with the IRS
- Organizations with a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) public charity nonprofit organization registered with the IRS
- Local governments (including public schools)
- Faith-based organizations may apply for funding to support social outreach and charitable service programs that benefit the community at large. Review our FAQs for additional details.
- Organizations must offer programs and services without discrimination based on age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.
To qualify for funding, preparedness and resilience efforts must be focused on one or more of the following western North Carolina communities impacted by Hurricane Helene:
Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Qualla Boundary, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, Yancey.
Preference will be given to applicants addressing preparedness and resilience in the most severely impacted counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Yancey.
Applications may be submitted beginning on Oct. 13, 2026, and must be submitted no later than NOON eastern time on Dec. 14, 2026.
NCCF anticipates announcing award decisions and payments in late March 2027, depending on the volume of applications.
Download a preview of the application.
Funded organizations will be required to submit a grant report within 12 months of the award. Grantees will be asked to share how the funding was used to support preparedness and resilience in communities affected by Hurricane Helene, and to describe the impact of the work.
Please note: Organizations that received a grant from the NCCF Disaster Relief Fund in February 2026 may apply, but final grant reports for that program or project must be submitted by the due date Feb. 19, 2027, to be considered for an award from this round of funding.
Any organization that is eligible to apply and meets the stated criteria is invited to apply. A digital signature at the end of the application confirms that applicant has read and understands the information in these guidelines. Failure to adhere to any of these guidelines may result in the application being excluded from consideration.
While not required, applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to attend one of the three virtual information sessions: