Foundations Contribute to Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

Here are notable new grant awards compiled by the Chronicle:

Brown Foundation, DeBakey Medical Foundation, and Sarofim Foundation

$51 million to the Baylor College of Medicine to complete construction on the Lillie and Roy Cullen Tower, which will house the medical school and Baylor’s School of Health Professions.

The Brown Foundation gave $25 million, the DeBakey Medical Foundation granted $16 million, and the Sarofim Foundation donated $10 million to match a previous gift of $10 million from the late Fayez Sarofim, a billionaire investor in Houston who died in 2022.

Dogwood Health Trust

$30 million in emergency funding to support relief aid in areas of North Carolina that were hit by Hurricane Helene.

Of the total, $10 million will back the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund. The remaining $20 million will be shared among local direct-service nonprofits and organizations that work on the community level.

Walmart, Sam’s Club, and the Walmart Foundation

$10 million commitment to support emergency relief efforts in communities hit by Hurricane Helene in Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

$9 million over three years to eight arts and culture organizations in Seattle.

The largest grant of $5 million went to Friends of Waterfront Park for community-led cultural programs at Waterfront Park, which is expected to open next year.

Dana Foundation

$8.6 million over five years to Mass General Brigham to establish the Neurotech Justice Accelerator, a new program at the hospital to improve equity in access to neurotechnologies and back research on how to mitigate medical, legal, and ethical risks for practitioners of neuroscience.

Ballmer Group

$8 million to Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation to continue its work to improve access to digital government benefits and services and create new opportunities at the center to develop ideas that advance civic technology.

Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament

$5 million to the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area to back the Hurricane Helene Community Crisis Fund for recovery efforts in Georgia.

W.M. Keck Foundation

$5 million matching grant to Loyola Marymount University to help build the new Engineering Innovation Complex that will house the university’s Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering.

The funding is coming as a match of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation’s $25 million grant in June to back the construction project.

Carnegie Corporation of New York

$4 million to three libraries in New York City to back English language instruction and work-force development for adults, and expand civic-engagement programs and college and career coaching for teenagers.

The foundation granted $1 million to the Brooklyn Public Library, $1.2 million to the Queens Public Library, and $1.8 million to the New York Public Library.

State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation

$3.75 million in disaster-relief grants to assist hurricane-hit communities in North Carolina.

The SECU Foundation gave $1 million to Feeding the Carolinas, $1 million to the Salvation Army of the Carolinas, $1 million to Baptists on Mission, $500,000 to the American Red Cross North Carolina, and $250,000 to Meals on Wheels North Carolina.

Ferman Motor Car Company and Lightning Foundation

$3 million to give direct cash support to first responders including Coast Guard officers, police and sheriff’s officers, firefighters, and teachers in the Tampa Bay region during Hurricane Helene relief and recovery efforts.

The Lightning Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Tampa Bay Lightning professional hockey team, is giving $2 million. The owners of the team, Celia and Jim Ferman, also own the Ferman Motor Car Company, which is donating an additional $1 million.

Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund

$2.2 million through its Everytown Community Safety Fund to support 34 community-based violence intervention organizations that are working in 27 cities across the United States.

Home Depot Foundation

$2 million commitment for disaster relief in communities across the Southeast that are recovering from Hurricane Helene.

The grantees include Convoy of Hope and Operation Blessing, which are distributing food, water, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, meals, and other aid; World Central Kitchen, to provide emergency meals in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina; the American Red Cross, which is operating shelters for more than 9,000 people who lost their homes; Team Rubicon and Inspiritus to remove debris from roadways; and ToolBank Disaster Services to supply tools and equipment for cleanup efforts across Florida.

JPMorganChase

$2 million to local organizations in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee that are meeting critical needs of people in the path of Hurricane Helene.

The bank is also offering a dollar-for-dollar match of employee donations to the recovery effort.

Charlotte Hornets Foundation

$1 million to the American Red Cross and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina for relief efforts in communities affected by Hurricane Helene.

Duke Energy Foundation

$1 million commitment to nonprofits across the Southeast that are providing food, shelter, and other urgent aid to people in need following Hurricane Helene.

Humana Foundation

$1 million toward hurricane relief and recovery efforts in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.

The health insurer’s philanthropic arm gave $400,000 to World Central Kitchen, $350,000 to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, and $250,000 to the Florida Disaster Fund.

New York Yankees Foundation

$1 million to the American Red Cross for its hurricane-relief efforts.

In addition, the New York Yankees Tampa Foundation gave $250,000 specifically for the American Red Cross’s work in Florida.

Publix Super Markets Charities

$1 million to the American Red Cross, United Way, and the Florida Fund for relief aid in communities affected by Hurricane Helene.

Chronicle of Philanthropy subscribers also have full access to GrantStation’s searchable database of grant opportunities. For more information, visit our grants page.