Dogwood Health Trust

Quick Stats

• Total Assets: $2.02 billion (2024)
• Annual Giving: $147 million (2024)
• Success Rate: 53% (ION grants programme)
• 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 emphasises 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 organisations 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 Programmes

Stronger Organisations – General Operating Support

• Amount: $50,000-$350,000 per year for two years (maximum $700,000 total)
• Application Window: Typically opens in January and closes in February
• Focus: Unrestricted funding for core organisational missions
• Eligibility: Organisations with minimum $200,000 annual operating budget

Organisational Capacity Building

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

Collaboration & Innovation

• Amount: $50,000-$500,000 over 12-24 months
• Application Window: Typically opens in April and closes in May
• Focus: Community-led collaborative efforts addressing post-Hurricane Helene recovery

Rolling Opportunities

• Leverage Fund: Connects organisations 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 revitalisation, supportive housing, senior housing, affordable housing development
2. Education: Early childhood programmes, K-12 support, post-secondary education, out-of-school time programmes
3. Economic Opportunity: Workforce development, entrepreneurship support, economic ecosystem building
4. Health & Wellness: Substance use disorder support, accessible health ecosystems, food systems, behavioural health

Organisations 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
• Organisations misaligned with Dogwood's values and guiding principles
• Government infrastructure costs
• 100% of capital requests
• Programmes focused on proselytising or religious conversion
• Organisations with active grants ending after specified cutoff dates (for the same grant opportunity)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Dr. Susan Mims, Chief Executive Officer - Dr. Mims is a public health physician who emphasises 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 emphasises the importance of the organisation'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)
• Organisations 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 typical grant cycles:

• Initial applications: Submitted during designated window
• Invitations to full application: Approximately 6 weeks after initial deadline
• Full application deadline: 3-4 weeks after invitations
• Award decisions announced: 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 programme, 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

Organisations with active Dogwood grants may apply for new opportunities, but cannot hold duplicate grants within the same opportunity concurrently. Organisations with grants ending after specified cutoff dates are not eligible for the same grant cycles.

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

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Organisations 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-Centred Approach

Dogwood emphasises organisations 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 centring 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 organisational practices and programme goals, not just as an add-on consideration.

Organisational Capacity and Sustainability

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

Budget Requirements

Organisations must have an annual operating budget at least four times the minimum requested amount. For Stronger Organisations 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 organisation's total annual operating budget. Organisations should consider this when determining grant request amounts.

Recent Grant Examples

Organisations 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 programme 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 organisations 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. Emphasise how unrestricted funding will strengthen your organisation's core mission rather than focusing narrowly on a single programme.

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

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

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

• Leverage additional resources: Organisations 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 organisation values partnership and mutual learning.

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

References

• Dogwood Health Trust Official Website - Accessed December 16, 2025
• Dogwood Health Trust Grantmaking Information - Accessed December 16, 2025
• Dogwood Health Trust FAQ for Grantseekers - Accessed December 16, 2025
• Dogwood Health Trust 2024 Annual Report - Accessed December 16, 2025
• Dogwood Health Trust Leadership Team - Accessed December 16, 2025
• Dogwood Health Trust - Our Roots and History - Accessed December 16, 2025
• "Mission Health System Announces the Creation of Dogwood Health Trust" - Accessed December 16, 2025
• "Dogwood Health Trust Now Operational with Close of $1.5 Billion Mission Health Asset Sale" - February 1, 2019
• "Dogwood Health Trust Announces 2025 Open Grant Opportunities" - Accessed December 16, 2025
• "Dogwood Health Trust Awards More Than $3.7 Million in ION Grants to 259 WNC Organisations" - Accessed December 16, 2025
• "Dogwood Health Trust provides more than $15 million to strengthen out-of-school time programmes" - Mountain Xpress, Accessed December 16, 2025
• "Dogwood Health Trust Contact Information" - Accessed December 16, 2025