A new report released today, Rising Above: Resilience and Recovery Among Western North Carolina Nonprofits After Hurricane Helene, reveals the significant and lasting effects of Hurricane Helene and recent federal policy shifts on Western North Carolina’s (WNC) nonprofit sector and the people and communities those organizations serve.
WNC Nonprofit Pathways and Dogwood Health Trust commissioned the research led by Openfields. It highlights how WNC’s nonprofits are essential to the region’s recovery from Helene and what is necessary to support their overall longevity and wellbeing, drawing on survey responses from 251 nonprofit leaders across 18 WNC counties and the Qualla Boundary.
Findings show that while nearly 60% of WNC nonprofits that responded to the survey experienced physical damage to buildings or property, collectively totaling more than $100 million in losses, the social and emotional toll was just as significant. The report highlights that staff and volunteers faced personal hardship while continuing to respond to growing community needs.
“Our local nonprofits were among the first to respond to Helene in our communities – opening their doors and distributing food and supplies, often while dealing with their own losses,” said Dr. Susan Mims, CEO of Dogwood Health Trust. “According to the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, Western North Carolina nonprofits employ 32,000 people and spend more than $5 billion in our communities, with more than $1.3 billion spent on wages. Their services are essential to our region’s economy and more important than ever. Appreciating their leadership and investing in their recovery must be part of supporting Western North Carolina’s future.”
Additional findings include:
- Short-term mission pivots: Amid major operational disruptions, over half of nonprofits surveyed pivoted to frontline disaster response, providing food, supplies and administrative support such as FEMA claim filing.
- Staff burnout: Nearly half of responding organizations cited staff capacity and burnout as the greatest barriers to recovery.
- Funding for operations and mental health: More than half of respondents reported a need for operating funds, and over a third need staff mental health support.
- Federal impacts: 54% of responding organizations have altered finances, programs or staffing due to federal policy shifts in 2025, with many increasing fundraising efforts to close gaps.
- Fear and uncertainty: Respondents report high levels of fear, stress and uncertainty within the communities they serve, which in turn increases the strain on nonprofit staff and organizations.
“Nonprofits are at the heart of Western North Carolina’s recovery,” said Jeannette Butterworth, director, WNC Nonprofit Pathways. “This survey makes clear that while their buildings, budgets, and staff have been strained by Helene and federal shifts, their commitment to community remains strong. Leaders are asking for exactly what it will take to sustain that commitment – flexible funding, peer and mental health support, and investments in organizational resilience. Thanks to the collaboration of Pathways’ partner funders, we can respond with resources that build the strength nonprofits need to continue anchoring both recovery and long-term stability across the region.”
An encouraging finding is that WNC nonprofit leaders who responded to the survey remain confident in their ability to continue serving their communities, and they identify clear priorities for support: increased funding, expanded fundraising capacity, stronger peer and mental health supports, and sustained investments in staff and organizational resilience. Meeting these needs will be essential to ensure that WNC’s nonprofits continue to play their critical roles in the region’s economy, recovery and long-term stability.
About Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellbeing, with a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org.
About WNC Nonprofit Pathways
WNC Nonprofit Pathways strengthens organizations that help Western North Carolina communities succeed. Formed in 2006, Pathways is a collaboration of regional funders including the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Dogwood Health Trust, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, and WNC Bridge Foundation, with additional support from The Duke Endowment. Together, these partners make it possible for Pathways to provide accessible, high-quality capacity-building services to WNC nonprofits at low or no cost. For nearly 20 years, Pathways has worked alongside nonprofits of all sizes, missions, and stages of development across 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary. Learn more at www.nonprofitpathways.org
