Funding Sources for Municipal and Utility Entities (Philanthropic)

Timing: Soon
Deadline: Rolling Admission
Who Can Apply: Governmental entities and 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits are eligible to apply.
Eligible Grant Uses: Organizations to support immediate relief for individuals and families including home repair, addressing unmet needs, and helping transition out of FEMA supported housing programs. Funds may not be used to support businesses. Grant funds may not be used to provide cash or loans to survivors, to purchase land, or for grant administration. The following uses are permitted: home repair, tools, equipment, housing assistance, utility assistance (payment of past-due utilities or deposits necessary for move-in fees), replacement of personal property, case management, volunteer support, other. Grant funds up to $100,000 may be awarded. Depending on the organization’s need and scope, the grant maximum could be increased, but discussion with Golden LEAF to increase the max is required before applying.
Website: https://goldenleaf.org/helene-relief/

Timing: Soon
Deadline: Rolling Admission
Who Can Apply: Organizations applying for a grant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or a public agency serving Polk County, NC and/or Landrum, SC residents. Must be pre-approved to apply for competitive grants from the Foundation (this means you have a successful history administering our grants and/or you have been previously approved as eligible to apply for grants through our committee evaluation process). “Public agency” includes government entities.
Eligible Grant Uses: Funds may be used to provide direct assistance to those in the community affected by Hurricane Helene and/or to provide support to the applicant organization in recovering from or responding to Hurricane Helene, according to the following priority levels:

a) Direct storm relief to meet urgent needs of local residents
b) Direct storm-related damages to nonprofit facilities and equipment needed to operate
c) Support to nonprofits to meet increased/future needs of local residents resulting from the storm

The recommended maximum grant request is $25,000. Requests in the range of $5,000-$10,000 are more likely to be fully funded.

Website: https://www.polkccf.org/disaster-recovery-grants

Timing: Soon
Deadline: Rolling Admission
Who Can Apply: A community-based nonprofit designated by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, a faith-based organization, or a public agency serving individuals and families that were affected by Hurricane Helene. Serving the following counties: Burke, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford. Public agencies include government entities.
Eligible Grant Uses: Grant funds are intended to cover the costs of providing emergency relief services to individuals or eligible organizations affected by the storm. Grant funds may be awarded between $5,000-$10,000.
Website: https://gatewaywellnessfoundation.org/grants/hurricane-relief-efforts-grants/

Timing: Soon
Deadline: Application deadlines vary throughout 2025 based on the program
Who Can Apply: 501(c)(3) public charity nonprofit organizations registered with the IRS, Organizations with fiscal agents that are 501(c)(3) public charity nonprofit organizations registered with the IRS, Local governments (including public schools), Fire and rescue departments; Religious entities, including churches, congregations and other houses of worship, and/or faith-based organizations whose core functions/operations promote religious doctrine or are restricted to members of a particular faith may apply for funding to support social outreach and charitable service programs to benefit the community-at-large, but they may not apply for general operating support. For more information, check out the FAQs.
1. Only those organizations that serve the counties within the affiliate network will be considered. If an organization serves multiple counties within the network, that organization may complete a separate application for each of those affiliates.
2. 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.
Eligible Grant Uses: Varies based on the Program (click the drop down menu for your county located next to Apply for Grants)
Website: https://www.nccommunityfoundation.org/nonprofits/community-grantmaking#search

Timing: Long-term
Deadline: Rolling Admission
Who Can Apply: A community-based nonprofit designated by the IRS as 501(c)(3), a faith-based organization or a public agency serving individuals and families that were affected by the storm in the WNC area specified below.
1. Serving the following counties and area in WNC: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey counties, including the Qualla Boundary.
2. An organization with a demonstrated track record of providing frontline human services responding to demand, or the storm has directly affected the organization’s ability to provide basic human services.
3. Priority will be given to agencies in WNC serving those most significantly affected.
As North Carolina’s Emergency Response teams complete their assessments, EDRF grant guidelines may be adjusted to align with the region’s needs. Organizations can only submit one funding request. Public agency includes government entities.
Eligible Grant Uses: Grant requests should be for frontline human service needs. They are intended to cover the extraordinary costs of providing emergency relief services to individuals or eligible organizations affected by the storm. EDRF grants are not for ongoing operational or staff costs or costs that are or will be covered by other sources. Eligibility for emergency public funding (local, state or federal) will be addressed in the application. Funding does not support debt retirement; sectarian religious purposes; partisan political purposes; individuals; or private primary and secondary schools (except for projects or programs that are not directed toward the school’s students or staff and that directly address community needs) and private clubs. Grant funds may be awarded up to $25,000.
Website: https://cfwnc.org/grants/emergency-and-disaster-response-fund

Timing: Long-term
Deadline: Spring 2025
Who Can Apply: Only counties in the ARC region are eligible. Some projects (including water and sewer) only award funds counties designated as distressed by ARC unless the applicant can prove an exception (see applcation for more details).
Eligible Grant Uses: ARC has no Helene-specific grants at this time; however, this grant could fund revocery for entities which suffered Helene damages. ADG funds can go to projects related to the following: Water and Sewer, Transportation, Energy, Local Food Systems, Downtown Revitalization, Broadband, Education etc. (more eligible projects can be found on the eligibility link). Generally projects should align with the Key Principles of that Project Type outlined by ARC. Amount of funds is not listed.
Website: https://www.arc.gov/grants-and-opportunities/area-development-program/ and https://www.arc.gov/resource/application-guidance-by-project-type/

Timing: Long-term
Deadline: Spring 2025
Who Can Apply:The state must apply for these funds and is responsible for allocating funds to communities or counties in need. You can contact your ARC state representative to request this funding. Funds are intended for counties designated as ARC Distressed and At-risk counties.
Eligible Grant Uses: ARC has no Helene-specific grants at this time; however, this grant could fund revocery for entities which suffered Helene damages. Funds must support construction of local access roads. The following activities are eligible for funds.
a. Included in construction projects: Clearing and grubbing; Grading Drainage Erosion & settlement control; Relocation of utilities if required by the construction; Base Pavement Traffic control devices; Highway lighting; Materials testing; Project management/inspection;
b. Specific items that may be included in right-of-way projects include: Appraisal Acquisition Condemnation cost; Relocation assistance.
c. Specific items that may be included in preliminary engineering projects include: Surveys Design Environmental assessments/clearance Permits Project management. States can use up to $5,000,000 annually from the balances of ADHS (Appalachian Development Highway System) funds for LAR projects.
Website: https://www.arc.gov/local-access-road-program/ and https://www.arc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Guidelines-for-Local-Access-Roads-2023-06.pdf