April 2025

Welcome to Nantahala Health Foundation's monthly newsletter. If you find value in this content, please share this information with your friends and colleagues. Also, consider sharing your feedback with a quick email to our newsletter editor.

In This Edition

• A Message from Our Executive Director
• YYA Application Deadline is May 8
• Hurricane Relief Update
• Now + Next to Focus on YYA
• Partner Resources Available

The Power of Collaboration

At Nantahala Health Foundation, we believe lasting impact begins with meaningful partnerships. In times of challenge, the strength of our community shines brightest when we work together.

Last year, we were honored to work with six extraordinary nonprofits across our region—organizations supporting youth and young adults through programs built on shared vision, pooled resources, and mutual trust. These partnerships are not just powerful, they are transformative. This year, we expect even greater outcomes from our Youth and Young Adult Initiative.

Together, we are creating pathways to brighter, healthier futures for the next generation.

Our region’s response to the devastation of Hurricane Helene is another shining example. No single organization can meet every need in a crisis of that scale. But through collaboration—across sectors, across missions—we’ve helped provide shelter, food, mental health services, and hope.

We are reminded that recovery is not a solo journey; it’s a collective one.

Whether we are building new opportunities for young people or responding to a regional disaster, collaboration is the heartbeat of progress. It multiplies our efforts, broadens our reach, and deepens our impact.

To our partners—THANK YOU. Your commitment to working hand-in-hand for the good of our region is what makes this work not only possible but powerful.

To our community donors—we are deeply grateful for your support. Your investment in our work is helping reshape what is possible.

With gratitude and hope,

Lori Bailey

Executive Director

Nantahala Health Foundation

Youth + Young Adult Grant (Part I) Application is Due Thursday, May 8

Thank you to those who attended one of our Youth + Young Adult grant information sessions in Robbinsville, Hayesville or Sylva. We enjoyed reconnecting with friends and meeting several new people. Your ideas for supporting at-risk young people in our region were inspiring.

Organizations with aligning interests are invited to apply for up to $50,000 to fund successful existing or innovative solutions to issues facing at-risk youth. Organizations with projects that are particularly innovative or embrace a regional approach are encouraged to consider higher requests, up to $100,000.

Those intending to submit a Part I application are reminded to do so before the 11:59 p.m. deadline on May 8.

Thanks to our partners at Dogwood Health Trust and generous community donors, our Foundation has successfully funded 17 organizations a total of $200K to address emergency needs across our region resulting from Hurricane Helene.

These aid organizations (linked below) were hard hit by the September 2024 storm and needed to quickly enhance their efforts to serve those impacted most, including the elderly, disabled, and families and individuals with limited resources. Three of the organizations we funded are using their grant dollars to plan for the next emergency.

Summer Now + Next Cohort to Focus on Youth + Young Adults

In recognition of offering our 10th training session and our foundation's priority to support Youth and Young adults through our grantmaking work, this summer's Now + Next cohort will focus on YYA initiatives.

"Now + Next participants continue to tell us how helpful these sessions have been to enhancing their leadership skills," said NHF Executive Director Lori Bailey. "With this summer's focus on Youth and Young Adults, we are looking forward to bringing professionals together to strengthen their efforts toward finding and implementing meaningful solutions for those most at-risk."

Now + Next Benefits



●     Improving listening skills and presence to create more intentional leadership.

●     Developing coaching skills to support growth throughout the organization.

●     Becoming aware of change processes to bring organizational alignment.

Applications are being accepted now for the YYA-focused cohort, in which only 16 seats are available. Our next general Now + Next session is planned for this fall, again with 16 seats available.

Our grant-making priorities are designed to create a strong network of organizations by investing in your strategies to remove barriers to health.

At Nantahala Health Foundation, we build partnerships with forward-thinking organizations focused on improving the overall health of the region. 

Our Values Statement

Our values speak to who we are as an organization and how we intend to achieve our mission. Read our full statement of values and let us know what you think.

Grantmaking | Capacity Building | Elevating Leaders

About Us | Our Priorities | Our Values

You are receiving this information from Nantahala Health Foundation because you registered for our communications, applied for a grant opportunity, or otherwise expressed an interest in supporting our work to improve health and well-being in far Western North Carolina. If you are no longer interested in receiving this material, please use the unsubscribe link below.

Financial information about our organization and a copy of our license are available from the N.C. State Solicitation Licensing Section at (919) 807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.