On March 1, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County disbursed $800,000 among nine organizations supporting recovery efforts in Buncombe County. This investment brings the organization’s total Helene-related funding to $5,332,547.
“Recovery from Helene is a marathon, not a sprint”, said Dan Leroy, president and CEO of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. “The nine partners receiving these funds are doing the essential work of keeping our neighbors in this community while they rebuild. From ensuring a family has a safe place to stay while their home is under construction to the literal heavy lifting of building a home, this investment is about providing stability and hope, ensuring no one has to walk this long road alone.”
Funding Breakdown
In the nonprofit world, one of the most difficult funding sources to obtain is flexible, operational monies that support critical line items such as staff salaries, facilities, equipment, and more.
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is proud to provide operational funding to the following organizations, which provide vital services such as home repair, debris removal, private road and driveway reconstruction, and financial assistance for housing.
$100,000 to Swannanoa Communities Together
$100,000 to PODER Emma
$100,000 to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
$100,000 to CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort)
$100,000 to Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders
$90,000 to Valley Hope Foundation
$90,000 to Hearts with Hands
$75,000 to Emerge Ministries
$45,000 to All Hands and Hearts
The Decision-Making Process
Driven by: Local Data, Stakeholder Input, Community Member Evaluation, and Final Board Approval.
The 2026 Helene Fund was developed through a data-driven, community-informed process to ensure that resources address the most urgent unmet needs. United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County analyzed data from disaster case management systems, NC 211, the Buncombe County Long Term Recovery Group, and internal urgent needs requests to identify priority gaps, including home repair, debris removal, private road and driveway repair, and rental assistance. Input from disaster recovery stakeholders helped refine the focus and shape an invite-only RFP supporting organizations operating in these areas. Applications were reviewed and scored by an independent team of community volunteers and recovery leaders using a decision-making matrix, with final funding approvals made by the organization’s Board of Directors.
Future Funding
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County has a long history of raising funds for important community work, but with an estimated 8-10-year recovery period ahead of the region, the organization’s board of directors felt it was important to establish a clear, long-term investment strategy for any funds dedicated to recovery efforts:
- 30% Immediate Relief Efforts (concluded) — funding to meet the urgent needs of our community
- 60% Recovery Work — strategic funding to address mid to long-term recovery efforts to be invested over the next 3 years
- 10% United Way's own Relief and Recovery Work
Ways You Can Help
- Volunteer - find opportunities with nonprofit partners working on relief efforts. And if you represent a nonprofit in need of volunteers, there's a link to request support.
- Stay in the loop with our work and the work of our partners. Sign up for our newsletter today.