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Dogwood Health Trust

Annual Giving
$147.0M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.7M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
53%

Dogwood Health Trust

Quick Stats

  • Total Assets: $2.02 billion (2024)
  • Annual Giving: $147 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: 53% (ION grants program)
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months (from initial application to award announcement)
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $700,000 (over 1-2 years)
  • Geographic Focus: 18 counties of Western North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary
  • EIN: 83-0590696

Contact Details

Address: 890 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

Phone: (828) 771-6710

Fax: (828) 771-6709

Email: [email protected] (for grantmaking questions)

Website: https://dogwoodhealthtrust.org

Application Portal: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/applications

Overview

Dogwood Health Trust was established in February 2019 following the $1.5 billion sale of Mission Health System to HCA Healthcare. With over $2 billion in assets, Dogwood is one of the largest health conversion foundations in the United States. The trust's sole purpose is to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of all people and communities in the 18 counties and Qualla Boundary of Western North Carolina. In 2024, Dogwood approved $151 million in 632 new grant commitments and distributed $147 million through 547 grants. The foundation emphasizes flexible, multi-year general operating support and has simplified its application processes to better support nonprofit partners. From 2025-2030, Dogwood's grantmaking strategy focuses on four core elements: strengthening strategically aligned organizations through unrestricted support, investing in innovative ideas and collaborative efforts (especially post-Hurricane Helene recovery), convening and connecting leaders across priorities, and helping partners attract additional resources from public and philanthropic sources.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Stronger Organizations – General Operating Support

  • Amount: $50,000-$350,000 per year for two years (maximum $700,000 total)
  • Application Window: January 20 - February 17, 2026
  • Focus: Unrestricted funding for core organizational missions
  • Eligibility: Organizations with minimum $200,000 annual operating budget

Organizational Capacity Building

  • Amount: $15,000-$50,000 over 12-24 months
  • Application Window: April 20 - May 18, 2026
  • Focus: Strategic planning, staff development, operational improvements, IT systems, community engagement, policy advocacy, resource development, learning and evaluation
  • Eligibility: Organizations with minimum $60,000 annual operating budget

Collaboration & Innovation

  • Amount: $50,000-$500,000 over 12-24 months
  • Application Window: April 20 - May 18, 2026
  • Focus: Community-led collaborative efforts addressing post-Hurricane Helene recovery

Rolling Opportunities

  • Leverage Fund: Connects organizations with grant writing consultants at no cost
  • Grants Help Desk: Free expert advice on grant development
  • Policy & Advocacy grants: Available on rolling basis

Priority Areas

Dogwood invests in four strategic priority areas:

  1. Housing: Community revitalization, supportive housing, senior housing, affordable housing development
  2. Education: Early childhood programs, K-12 support, post-secondary education, out-of-school time programs
  3. Economic Opportunity: Workforce development, entrepreneurship support, economic ecosystem building
  4. Health & Wellness: Substance use disorder support, accessible health ecosystems, food systems, behavioral health

Organizations must demonstrate commitment to serve, engage with, and reflect the voices and lived experiences of disinvested and disconnected people and communities.

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct payments to individuals
  • For-profit entities (some exceptions for impact investments)
  • Work outside the 18-county service area and Qualla Boundary
  • Organizations misaligned with Dogwood's values and guiding principles
  • Government infrastructure costs
  • 100% of capital requests
  • Programs focused on proselytizing or religious conversion
  • Organizations with active grants ending June 30, 2026 or later (for the same grant opportunity)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Dr. Susan Mims, Chief Executive Officer - Dr. Mims is a public health physician who emphasizes that "Listening with deep curiosity is the foundation in Dogwood's approach." She was elected to the Board of Directors of Grantmakers In Health in December 2024.

Jack Cecil, Board Chair - President of Biltmore Farms. Cecil emphasizes the importance of the organization's "SMIRF" (social, moral, intellectual, relational, and financial assets) in supporting the region strategically.

Janice Brumit, Founding Chair - Western North Carolina native who served as the founding chair of Dogwood's Board of Directors.

Senior Leadership Team

  • Mark D. Constantine, Senior Vice President of Community Investment
  • Heather Parlier, Senior Vice President of Operations
  • Rachel Perez Ryan, General Counsel
  • Jehan Benton-Clark, Vice President of Grantmaking & Strategy
  • Rebecca Brothers, Vice President, Leverage & Emerging Strategies
  • Jerry Kenney, Vice President of Impact & Community Investing
  • Sarah Grymes, Vice President of Community Engagement
  • Ereka R. Williams, Vice President, Education
  • Sarah Thompson, Vice President, Economic Opportunity

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Dogwood uses an online application portal powered by Blackbaud Grantmaking. All applicants must create a Blackbaud ID to access the system.

Application Portal: https://bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/applications

Portal Support: For technical issues, contact the Grantmaking Operations Team at [email protected]

Applications are accepted through specific grant cycles:

  • Initial applications submitted during designated windows (3-4 weeks)
  • Organizations invited to submit full applications receive invitations approximately 6 weeks after initial deadline
  • Full application deadline typically 3-4 weeks after invitations are sent
  • Award decisions announced approximately 12 weeks after full application deadline

Decision Timeline

Based on the 2024 grant cycle:

  • Initial applications: Submitted during designated window
  • Invitations to full application: Approximately mid-February (6 weeks after initial deadline)
  • Full application deadline: Mid-March (3-4 weeks after invitations)
  • Award decisions announced: Early July (approximately 16 weeks from full application deadline)

Total timeline from initial application to decision: Approximately 3-4 months

Success Rates

For the Immediate Opportunities and Needs (ION) grant program, 53% of applicants were awarded grants (259 out of 492 applicants), with an average award of $14,600.

In 2024, Dogwood approved 632 new grant commitments out of an undisclosed number of applications.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations with active Dogwood grants may apply for new opportunities, but cannot hold duplicate grants within the same opportunity concurrently. Organizations with grants ending June 30, 2026 or later are not eligible for the 2026 grant cycles.

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in future cycles. No specific waiting period is documented, though organizations should ensure they meet eligibility criteria and strengthen their alignment with Dogwood's strategic priorities before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Organizations must clearly demonstrate how their work advances at least one of Dogwood's four strategic priorities: housing, education, economic opportunity, or health & wellness. Applications should use language and framing that connects to these priorities explicitly.

Community-Centered Approach

Dogwood emphasizes organizations that "serve, engage with and reflect the voices and lived experiences of disinvested and disconnected people and communities." Successful applications demonstrate meaningful community engagement and centering of underserved populations.

Equity as Means and End

The foundation views equity as both a process and an outcome. Applications should articulate how equity is embedded in both organizational practices and program goals, not just as an add-on consideration.

Organizational Capacity and Sustainability

Dogwood prioritizes strengthening organizations through multi-year, unrestricted support. Applications should honestly assess organizational capacity, demonstrate thoughtful use of flexible funding, and show long-term sustainability planning.

Budget Requirements

Organizations must have an annual operating budget at least four times the minimum requested amount. For Stronger Organizations grants ($50,000 minimum), this means a minimum $200,000 operating budget. For Capacity Building grants ($15,000 minimum), this means a minimum $60,000 budget.

Funding Cap Consideration

Dogwood generally limits funding to 25% of an organization's total annual operating budget. Organizations should consider this when determining grant request amounts.

Recent Grant Examples

Organizations that received funding in recent cycles include:

  • Centro Unido Latino Americano (Marion): $150,000 over three years for out-of-school time programming
  • Camp Grier (Old Fort): $500,000 over three years for the Worx Project career exploration program in Fairview
  • Blue Ridge Hope, Asheville Area Arts Council, Boys & Girls Clubs across multiple counties, and numerous school systems received out-of-school time grants ranging from $50,000-$500,000

Post-Hurricane Helene Context

Following Hurricane Helene in 2024, Dogwood committed over $70 million to relief and recovery efforts on top of regular grantmaking. Applications should acknowledge the post-disaster environment and how organizations are responding to community needs in this context.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multi-year flexibility is the hallmark: Dogwood strongly prefers general operating support over restricted project grants. Emphasize how unrestricted funding will strengthen your organization's core mission rather than focusing narrowly on a single program.

  • Budget thresholds matter: Ensure your organization meets the minimum budget requirement (4x the minimum grant amount) before applying. A $75,000 budget organization cannot apply for Stronger Organizations grants but could apply for Capacity Building support.

  • Geographic eligibility is strict: Your organization must serve populations within the 18 counties of Western North Carolina or the Qualla Boundary. Organizations based outside this region are not eligible.

  • Equity must be authentic, not performative: Dogwood emphasizes that equity is "both means and end." Show how disinvested communities are centered in your governance, staffing, and decision-making—not just as service recipients.

  • Leverage additional resources: Organizations that demonstrate capacity to attract matching or additional funding from other sources align well with Dogwood's goal of helping partners build broader fundraising capacity. Consider applying to the Leverage Fund for grant writing support.

  • Simplified reporting builds trust: Dogwood has streamlined reporting to focus on "learning and relationship-building" rather than burdensome compliance. This reflects their trust-based approach—mention how your organization values partnership and mutual learning.

  • Don't wait for perfection: The foundation values honest organizational assessment. Capacity Building grants specifically support internal development, so acknowledge areas for growth rather than presenting a perfect facade.

References

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