Disaster Relief Fund Grants Awarded

Updated: Feb. 25, 2026

NCCF began allocating funds from its Disaster Relief Fund to support Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina in February 2025. The fund supports long-term recovery, addresses unmet needs and builds community resilience and preparedness for future disasters. Grantmaking will continue over the coming months and years.

PHOTOS: From left: Participants in the Mountain BizWorks Recover Forward Program; Volunteers prepare to celebrate Lansing Day as the town reopened following damage from Helene; David Sawyer, chief of the Alarka Volunteer Fire Department, whose department faced Hurricane Helene and two wildfires in just six months.

NCCF Disaster Relief Fund

Grants awarded from the Disaster Relief Fund in response to Hurricane Helene

In February 2026, NCCF awarded a total of $9 million in grants to 108 charitable organizations. This program accepted applications and was focused on long-term recovery efforts with a preference for organizations serving the 16 most-severely impacted counties.

Grants awarded include:

$100,000 to A Bridge Home Inc. for staff and materials to repair roads and culverts in Buncombe, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties
$100,000 to Appalachia Service Project to rebuild homes for low-income survivors in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties
$100,000 to Appalachian Disaster Coalition for home repairs and winterization for survivors in Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties
$100,000 to Ashe County Recovery & Restoration to repair damage at primary residences of hurricane survivors in Ashe County
$95,000 to Ashe County Schools for learning recovery and emotional health services for students in Ashe County
$100,000 to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity for critical home repairs for low-income homeowners in Buncombe County
$50,000 to Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust for rental assistance for displaced residents and case management in Buncombe County
$25,000 to Avery County Council on Aging/volunteer Avery County to cover unmet needs for survivors in Avery County, including furniture, appliances and tree removal
$100,000 to Avery County Long-Term Recovery Group to cover unmet needs for families in Avery County, including housing access repair and well and septic replacement
$100,000 to Barnardsville Area Resilience Network (BARN) to purchase local food from hurricane-affected farmers in Barnardsville for distribution to impacted families
$100,000 to Beacon to support volunteer coordination and communications for long-term recovery efforts in Yancey County
$75,000 to BeLoved Asheville to repair, rebuild or replace homes damaged by Hurricane Helene in Madison County
$50,000 to Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission Inc. to repair housing and restore access for low-income Ashe County households
$100,000 to Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development Council to help landowners reduce brush and woody debris in Avery, Buncombe, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties
$100,000 to Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture to support farmer recovery and increase food access in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties
$70,000 to Boone United Methodist Church Inc. to address unmet needs in Ashe County, including home repairs, heating support and necessities
$75,000 to Bounty & Soul to expand food distribution and related services to families in disproportionately impacted communities in Buncombe County
$100,000 to Buncombe County for mental health training and support to benefit survivors in Buncombe County
$100,000 to Burke Long Term Recovery Group for staffing and administrative expenses to enable recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Burke County
$100,000 to Camp Grier for staffing and administrative expenses required to support recovery in Old Fort and McDowell County
$32,635 to Carolina Mountain Club to equip and deploy volunteers to restore and reopen trails in several impacted counties
$100,000 to Casting Bread to rebuild the flooded food pantry and soup kitchen that serves counties in and around Watauga County
$100,000 to Children and Family Resource Center to support disaster case management and unmet needs for affected families in Henderson County
$100,000 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County to assist Madison County residents with Helene-related home repairs
$100,000 to Community Technical Assistance Inc. for the Smoky Mountain LTRG’s efforts to provide emergency housing and transportation assistance in Haywood and Jackson counties
$100,000 to Conservation Corps North Carolina, a program of Conservation Legacy, to equip and train members to support restoration of trails, forests, and recreational resources across western NC.
$75,000 to Co-operate WNC to support small farmers and rural landowners impacted by Hurricane Helene in several WNC counties
$75,000 to Eblen Charities for Helene rebuilding projects and rental assistance for impacted families in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and Yancey counties
$95,000 to EcoForesters to restore Helene-damaged forests in several WNC counties
$95,000 to Egypt Ramseytown Volunteer Fire Department to replace key equipment destroyed by Hurricane Helene
$100,000 to Elk River Helping Hands for unmet needs for families in Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Mitchell and Watauga counties displaced or otherwise affected by Hurricane Helene
$100,000 to Emerge Ministries for home construction for Hurricane Helene survivors in Buncombe County
$100,000 to Fairview Strong to support home repair and replacement and unmet needs of survivors in the Fairview community of Buncombe County
$50,000 to Feeding Avery Families to support long-term food relief operations for households in Avery County impacted by Hurricane Helene
$100,000 to Foothills Conservancy of NC to rebuild recreation infrastructure along Wilson Creek, a recreation destination benefitting the local economies of Avery, Burke and Caldwell counties
$99,600 to Foscoe Home Team for equipment to procure and deliver food to impacted residents in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties
$100,000 to Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders to support core infrastructure for 56-unit affordable workforce homes for survivors in Buncombe and McDowell counties
$100,000 to Greg Lentz Ministries (doing business as Hearts With Hands International) for home repairs in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and McDowell counties
$100,000 to Haywood Waterways Association for cleanup, recovery, monitoring and restoration of Helene-impacted areas of the Pigeon River watershed in Haywood County
$100,000 to Henderson County to support removal of storm-related debris preventing access or affecting safety of residents in Henderson County
$50,000 to Henderson County and Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity for well repairs or replacements for Helene-impacted homeowners in Henderson and Polk counties
$100,000 to High Country United Way Inc. to address priority well and septic repair projects for survivors in Watauga County
$100,000 to Hola Carolina for bilingual case management, direct assistance and resource navigation for immigrant families in Henderson County affected by Hurricane Helene
$100,000 to Hopeful Restoration Group Inc. (doing business as Spokes of Hope) to fund construction and administrative staff for the long-term recovery group serving Rutherford County
$65,000 to Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina to support food access programs serving Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties
$100,000 to Hunger and Health Coalition for staff and food purchase for programs serving Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties
$100,000 to Lansing’s Bridge to Recovery for recovery programs, including private road and bridge repair, debris removal and stream banks stabilization in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties
$100,000 to LDR Carolinas for temporary housing for volunteer recovery teams repairing or replacing homes in multiple impacted counties
$75,000 to Long’s Chapel Methodist Church Inc. to repair and replace damaged food storage equipment and purchase food to serve Haywood and surrounding counties
$45,000 to Lord’s Harvest for Hungry Inc. to purchase and deliver food to families in food deserts in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, McDowell and Yancey counties
$100,000 to Madison Alliance for Rebuilding Communities to fund staffing and operations critical to Disaster Case Management in Madison County
$70,000 to Madison County Arts Council to support renovation of the flooded Arts Council building in Madison County
$63,550 to Madison County Public Libraries for repair and renovation of the flooded library in Hot Springs
$100,000 to McDowell County to extend public water service to low-income households in McDowell County whose wells failed during Helene
$50,000 to McDowell County Schools Family Resource Centers to repair and provide temporary housing for impacted families in McDowell County
$100,000 to Mennonite Disaster Service for building materials for construction of affordable workforce homes for survivors in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Yancey counties
$100,000 to Ministry Seven (doing business as Hendersonville Rescue Mission) to replace the damaged roof of the Good Samaritan Clinic serving residents of Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties
$100,000 to Mitchell County Long-Term Resilience Group for home repairs and immediate unmet needs for impacted Mitchell County residents
$44,927 to Mitchell Giving Gardens to rebuild critical infrastructure damaged by flooding
$65,000 to Mountain Aging Partners to expand the meal delivery program to address long-term recovery needs among older adults impacted by Hurricane Helene in Henderson County
$100,000 to Mountain Child Advocacy Center for a mobile therapy unit to serve displaced children and families in rural Helene-impacted areas of western North Carolina
$75,000 to Mountain Housing Opportunities to provide critical repairs for very low-income homeowners in Buncombe County
$100,000 to Mountain Valleys RC&D to assist landowners in several impacted counties with debris removal and stabilization of scoured stream banks
$100,000 to MountainTrue to expand the Appalachian Design Center’s community-led recovery planning and implementation work
$50,000 to NAMI Western Carolina to expand mental health support to rural communities in Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties
$75,000 to Nanostead Foundation (doing business as Marshall Relief Alliance) to fund staff serving in core roles supporting long-term recovery in Marshall
$50,000 to New Hope of McDowell for operating costs and essential relief supplies for a distribution center serving survivors in McDowell County
$79,615 to New River Conservancy to support cleanup and restoration of the New River in Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties
$27,000 to Novusway Inc. for support staff for disaster response groups and transportation to work sites in Avery, Buncombe and Henderson counties
$100,000 to Pigeon River Cooperative Wider Circle for infrastructure and staffing to provide meals and food for impacted residents of Haywood County
$100,000 to Pisgah Health Foundation for staffing and recovery work conducted by the long-term recovery group supporting Transylvania County
$100,000 to Polk County Long Term Recovery Group to support transitional and temporary housing needs for impacted households in Polk County
$92,300 to Polk Referral Center for staffing and supplies needed to sustain long-term recovery services for impacted households in rural Polk County
$60,000 to Rebuild Hot Springs Area for repairs to damaged public parking in downtown Hot Springs
$50,000 to Recovery Ventures Corporation to repair the roof of the women’s center, which serves Rutherford County
$75,000 to ReGroup WNC to provide essential replacements and repairs for impacted families in Buncombe and McDowell counties
$99,998 to Resources for Resilience to provide resiliency-focused mental wellness support and direct services to people in McDowell and Rutherford counties
$66,000 to Riverview Community Center to replace kitchen equipment damaged or destroyed by flooding at the center, located in Ashe County
$100,000 to Rutherford Housing Partnership to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Helene in Rutherford and Polk counties
$65,000 to Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards for equipment to reach and repair remote trails across the region
$63,480 to Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Burn Association for staff and supplies to assist impacted landowners with prescribed burns to reduce storm debris
$35,000 to Spring Mountain Community Club Inc. for repairs and equipment at the club’s playground serving rural Buncombe County
$82,000 to Stateline Resource Station to purchase building supplies for home rebuilds in Ashe, Avery, Mitchell and Watauga counties
$100,000 to Swannanoa Communities Together for rental assistance, food and mental health services for impacted residents of Swannanoa
$60,000 to Swannanoa Resilience Hub for temporary relocation assistance for Swannanoa residents during home rebuilds
$50,000 to The Beacon of Hope Services to support the food pantry, which serves impacted residents in Buncombe, Madison and Yancey counties
$100,000 to The Community Kitchen to help rebuild a kitchen facility that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene and serves residents of Buncombe and Haywood counties
$25,000 to The Community Table to purchase food for food pantry and meals programs serving impacted residents of Jackson, Macon and Swain counties
$50,000 to The Hope Center of Hendersonville to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Henderson and Polk counties displaced by flooding of a community facility
$84,000 to The Housing Assistance Corporation to fund case managers and supplies for home repairs in remote rural areas of Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties
$75,000 to The Valley Hope Foundation to purchase local food for distribution to families recovering from Hurricane Helene across the impacted region
$100,000 to Toe River Aggregation Center Training Organization Regional Inc. to purchase food from impacted small farmers for distribution in Avery, Mitchell, Yancey and neighboring counties
$65,000 to UNETE Inc. to support community health navigation and direct support for survivors in Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties
$100,000 to United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County to strengthen Disaster Case Management and address unmet needs for survivors in Buncombe County
$100,000 to United Way of Caldwell County for the Caldwell County Long Term Recovery Group’s efforts to address unmet needs of survivors
$100,000 to United Way of Haywood County Inc. to provide furniture, appliances and household goods for families returning to restored or rebuilt homes in Haywood County
$100,000 to United Way of Henderson County, Disaster Recovery Partnership to provide transitional housing for Helene survivors in Henderson County during home repair and construction
$40,000 to Utopian Seed Project for equipment, supplies and staff to distribute locally grown food in rural communities in Buncombe County
$100,000 to Valle Crucis Community Park Inc. to rebuild the park maintenance building destroyed by flooding
$100,000 to W4H Asheville (doing business as Working Wheels) to provide affordable vehicle repairs for rural residents in several counties who were heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene
$60,000 to We Give a Share Inc. (doing business as Equal Plates Project) to purchase food from impacted farms in six counties to prepare meals for distribution to low-income families affected by Helene
$100,000 to Western Conference of the United Methodist Church to support materials, labor, and coordination costs to repair and rebuild storm-damaged homes across the impacted region
$99,120 to White Horse Stepstone to provide free day programs for seniors displaced after the Lakeview Senior Center in Black Mountain was destroyed by Helene
$80,000 to Wine To Water to provide water quality testing and treatment for impacted households across the region
$100,000 to WNC Food Systems Coalition Inc. to purchase food from local farmers for distribution by Community Health Workers to rural residents in several impacted counties
$75,000 to WNC Lighthouse Inc. to provide home remediation and food support for families impacted by Hurricane Helene in several counties
$100,000 to Yancey County Health Department to restore safe and reliable drinking water to low-income residents in Yancey County whose wells were damaged by Helene
$100,000 to Yancey Long-term Recovery Group to support disaster case management staff

Throughout early 2025, $3 million was awarded to organizations through the advisory boards of NCCF’s western affiliate community foundations serving 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary.

Grants awarded include:

Alexander

$50,000 to Alexander County Emergency Management
$50,000 to Alexander Rescue Squad & EMS
$35,000 to Christian Crisis Center
$25,000 to Legal Aid of NC (serving Alexander, Caldwell & Catawba counties)

Alleghany

$25,000 to Alleghany Sparta Trail Association
$30,000 to Alleghany Rescue Squad
$25,000 to Cherry Lane Fire Department
$25,000 to Glade Creek Fire Department
$25,000 to Laurel Springs Fire Department
$25,000 to Piney Creek Fire Department
$25,000 to Sparta Fire Department

Ashe

$25,000 to Ashe County Advantage Project
$30,000 to Ashe County Habitat for Humanity
$25,000 to Ashe County Recovery and Restoration
$25,000 to CARE Network
$25,000 to Greater Lansing Area Development (GLAD)
$25,000 to Lansing’s Bridge to Recovery
$25,000 to New River Conservancy

Avery

$30,000 to Avery County EMS
$35,000 to Avery County Fire Commission
$40,000 to Feeding Avery Families
$35,000 to Toe River Health Department
$40,000 to Volunteer Avery

Caldwell

$50,000 to Caldwell County Emergency Services
$25,000 to Collettsville Fire and Rescue
$100,000 to United Way of Caldwell County
$25,000 to WNC Communities

Catawba

$50,000 to Catawba County Emergency Management
$25,000 to Conover Community Partners
$50,000 to Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry
$25,000 to Hickory Fire Department
$30,000 to Strong Life

Cherokee

$75,000 to Cherokee County Emergency Management

Clay

$25,000 to Cherokee Clay Food Alliance
$30,000 to Clay County Fire and Rescue
$25,000 to Clay County Food Pantry
$25,000 to Hinton Rural Life Center
$25,000 to Matt’s Ministry
$25,000 to Tri-County Community College Public Safety
$25,000 to WNC Communities

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

$50,000 to Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
$25,000 to Jackson County Schools for Smokey Mountain Elementary School backpack program
$75,000 to Qualla Fire Department
$30,000 to WNC Lighthouse

Graham

$37,500 to Five Point Center
$37,500 to Graham County Emergency Services

Haywood

$25,000 to Clothes to Kids of Haywood County
$25,000 to Community Kitchen
$25,000 to Haywood Christian Ministries
$25,000 to Haywood Pathways Center
$25,000 to Longs Chapel Firewood Ministry
$25,000 to Mountain Area Pregnancy Services
$30,000 to Mountain Projects

Jackson

$25,000 to The Community Table
$25,000 Fishes and Loaves
$25,000 to HERE of Jackson County
$25,000 to HIGHTS
$30,000 to Jackson County Emergency Management
$25,000 to Mountain Projects
$25,000 to UNIDXS

Macon

$30,000 to Community Care Clinic of Highlands and Cashiers
$30,000 to International Friendship Center
$30,000 to Macon County Care Net
$30,000 to Macon County Emergency Management
$30,000 to Vecinos
$30,000 to WNC Communities

Madison

$25,000 to Beacon of Hope
$50,000 to Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
$40,000 to Marshall Relief Alliance
$40,000 to Rebuild Hot Springs
$25,000 to Walnut Volunteer Fire Department

SURRY

$15,000 to Dobson Rescue Squad
$15,000 to Elkin Emergency Rescue Squad
$15,000 to Mountain Park Rescue Squad
$15,000 to Mount Airy Rescue Squad
$15,000 to Pilot Mountain Rescue and EMS

Swain

$25,000 to Alarka Volunteer Fire Department
$27,500 to Bryson City Fire Department
$25,000 to Camp Living Water
$25,000 to Friends of the Smokies
$25,000 to Restoration House
$25,000 to Swain County Rescue Squad
$27,500 to West Swain Fire Department

Watauga

$26,000 to Hospitality House
$26,000 to the Hunger & Health Coalition
$26,000 to Immigrant Connection of the High Country
$26,000 to Mountain True
$25,000 to State Line Resource Center
$25,000 to Quiet Givers
$26,000 to WAMY Community Action

Wilkes

$30,000 to Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission (BROC)
$30,000 to H.O.P.E. Ministries (Brushy Mountain Baptist Association)
$30,000 to Samaritan’s Kitchen
$30,000 to Wilkes Community Partnership for Children
$30,000 to Wilkes Recovery Revolution
$30,000 to Wilkes Youth Life Development (WYLD)

Yadkin

$75,000 to Magnify Ministries

NCCF Disaster Relief Fund

Long-term disaster recovery grants – February 2026

Region-wide recovery grants – 2025 & 2026

Local affiliate-directed grants – March 2025

Disaster Relief and Resilience Scholarship