Dogwood Health Trust

As Western North Carolina recovers and rebuilds from Hurricane Helene, Dogwood Health Trust has new opportunities to strengthen relationships and connections, attract more public and private resources, and support the leaders and organizations creating a stronger, healthier and interconnected region and economy for all people. No exceptions. We are grateful to Mark D. Constantine, Ph.D. for taking on this new role and for his leadership over the past 3+ years. We look forward to all the ways he’ll keep advancing the work of Dogwood and supporting our partners. Thank you, Mark!

Join The Hunt Institute on July 16 and explore how registered apprenticeships are transforming the early childhood education workforce. As the sector faces unprecedented staffing challenges and funding constraints, registered apprenticeships offer a proven solution to recruit, train, and retain qualified early childhood educators while providing them with debt-free pathways to lifetime credentials and career options. We’re thrilled to be joined by Ereka Williams, PhD, from Dogwood Health Trust, North Carolina State Representative Gloristine Brown, Marian Grant-Whitlock from Early Childhood Workforce Connector, Tracey Carey of Midwest Urban Strategies, and Shawntel L. Green SME, Founder and CEO of the Early Education Career Institute as they share their wisdom. Register here: https://buff.ly/DQnOQDu

Working with trusted organizations enables speed, and that was underscored in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Strong relationships and a place-based, trust-centered approach helped our WNC community respond at a large scale with speed and flexibility. Our role was clear: reinforce and deepen support for the work already happening. Our new playbook walks through both Dogwood and our partners’ experiences in the first several months after Helene and the urgency to respond to the needs of WNC communities. Read our stories and lessons learned: https://lnkd.in/es57SbUk

Congratulations to our Senior Vice President of Community Investment, Mark D. Constantine, Ph.D., on receiving the 2026 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award from Grantmakers In Health. For decades, Mark has worked alongside communities, nonprofit partners, and fellow philanthropists to advance health, equity and opportunity. At Dogwood Health Trust, his leadership has helped shape our community investment strategy, strengthen partnerships across Western North Carolina, and guide our response to some of the region's most pressing challenges. In nominating Mark for this award, Dogwood President and CEO Susan Mims MD MPH shared: “Since Mark joined our Dogwood Health Trust team, I have seen how he approaches philanthropy in an intentional and thoughtful way and inspires our team to do the same. This work is grounded in shared values and shared humanity. Led in service to people and communities, Mark weaves ideas and situations together in creative funding to empower and strengthen partners toward shared goals.” Congratulations, Mark, on this well-deserved honor! We also extend our congratulations to Gladys Vega of La Colaborativa, recipient of the Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy, for her courageous, community-centered leadership and unwavering commitment to the people she serves in Massachusetts.

Dogwood’s Next-Level Funding Webinar Series offers webinars for organizations to learn how to take their fundraising to the next level to increase grant support and diversify revenue streams. Recordings of past sessions can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gRQRGP5s The next session, Better Together: How Strategic Partnerships Advance Project Impact, will be held on June 17th at noon. Participants can register here: https://lnkd.in/ew7v3U4G

When Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina (WNC), communities needed immediate support and sustained action. Helene was not just a natural disaster; it was a systems disruption. Roads were washed out. People lost homes and loved ones. Power and water systems failed. Hospitals and nonprofits were pushed beyond capacity. What began as a storm quickly became a test of every system communities depend on, threatening the wellbeing of the entire region. If there’s one thing we learned, it’s to prepare for the unexpected. Today we published a new playbook that shares what WNC faced, how Dogwood responded and what we learned in the first several months after the storm. As a foundation that benefited from the wisdom and guidance of other communities who faced similar disasters, we hope our story will serve as a resource to peer funders and communities, especially as we enter another hurricane season. https://lnkd.in/es57SbUk

Big ideas require bold action. Our Collaboration & Innovation Grant supports community-led partnerships working to plan, pilot and scale breakthrough solutions to complex challenges in Western North Carolina. Today, Vice President of Impact and Community Investing Jerry Neal Kenney answers frequently asked questions and shares insights to help applicants navigate the application process with confidence. Letters of Intent are accepted through May 18: https://lnkd.in/esr-nNNn #innovation #communityimpact #wnc #grantopportunity

📣Now accepting applications for three open grant opportunities!     Organizational Capacity Building grants will fund activities that strengthen organizations’ internal capacity to achieve its mission and improve its effectiveness.  Collaboration & Innovation grants will support emerging or well-established collaborations spanning organizations, sectors and geographic locations to plan, pilot and scale breakthrough solutions to complex community challenges in Western North Carolina.  Digital Opportunities grants will support organizations and communities working to sustain or expand digital opportunities in Western North Carolina. Find more details, eligibility requirements, timelines and additional resources at dht.org/grantmaking.  Also open: Our Leverage Fund and Grants Help Desk for organizations pursuing funding opportunities outside of Dogwood.    💻 And check out an informational webinar recording about these opportunities – link in the comments!    #grants #fundraising #funding #WNC #NorthCarolina 

We are proud to celebrate a remarkable leader on our team. Dr. Mark D. Constantine, Ph.D., senior vice president of community investment at Dogwood Health Trust, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award by Grantmakers In Health, a national honor recognizing leadership, innovation, and exceptional achievement in health philanthropy. Since joining Dogwood, Mr. Constantine has helped advance a community-driven approach to philanthropy grounded in trust and partnership. His leadership has expanded more flexible funding approaches, including increased general operating support and longer-term investments, while shaping a comprehensive strategy across housing, education, economic development, and health & wellness. Mr. Constantine’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to health equity and to the communities of Western North Carolina. From advancing cross-sector partnerships to leading critical response efforts following Hurricane Helene, his impact continues to be both far-reaching and grounded in service. Reflecting on his leadership and impact, Dogwood Health Trust President and CEO Dr. Susan Mims MD MPH shared: “Since Mark joined our Dogwood Health Trust team, I have seen how he approaches philanthropy in an intentional and thoughtful way and inspires our team to do the same,” said Dr. Mims. “This work is grounded in shared values and shared humanity. Led in service to people and communities, Mark weaves ideas and situations together in creative funding to empower and strengthen partners toward shared goals. He is careful not to impose his own desires but trusts our grantees who are living the work toward justice and healthy communities to lead the work. Mark exemplifies a servant leader and has a history of proven results along each path of his philanthropic journey.” His leadership reflects an enduring dedication to the people and communities of our region. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved honor. Learn more about this honor: https://lnkd.in/eKH-cTG2

Welcome to the team, Brad Shore, Facilities Manager! #TeamDogwood