Dogwood Alliance Inc
Dogwood Alliance Inc is an Asheville, North Carolina-based public charity that advances environmental justice and climate action by mobilizing diverse voices to protect Southern forests and communities from industrial logging. The organization was formed in 1998.
Dogwood Alliance Inc at a glance
In short: Dogwood Alliance Inc gave $233K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), top state South Carolina. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $232,500
- +29.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,375
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,874,357
- +19.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (2 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dogwood Alliance Inc
- How to Apply
-
Dogwood Alliance states that grant partners go through an application process and must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status, financial statements, and other background documentation before funds are disbursed. Grantees sign memorandums of understanding; grant goals are established during the application process and reported on in an end-of-year report.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 7645, Asheville, NC 28802
Phone: (828) 251-2525
Website: https://dogwoodalliance.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dogwood Alliance Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New Alpha Community Development ($80K). Together the top 10 received $213K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 47 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Dogwood Alliance describes its work as focused on Southern forests and communities, with organizing and conservation work across the South. In 2024, its grants went to recipients in South Carolina, Mississippi, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and West Virginia. The reported share of grant dollars by recipient state was South Carolina 45%, Mississippi 17%, North Carolina 13%, Georgia 12%, and Alabama 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Dogwood Alliance Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 12 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $13K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $122K (2020) to $233K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $233K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Alpha Community Development Florence, SC | Community Solutions | $80,000 |
| Georgia Interfaith Power and Light Decatur, GA | Bioenergy | $27,500 |
| Eeecho Gulfport, MS | Bioenergy | $20,000 |
| KMartin Group Gloster, MS | Bioenergy | $20,000 |
| Pee Dee Indian Tribe Latta, SC | Community Solutions | $15,000 |
| Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League Franklin, WV | Bioenergy | $10,000 |
| Cultivator Inc Murfreesboro, NC | Community Solutions | $10,000 |
| Gaston Youth Pleasant Hill, NC | Community Solutions | $10,000 |
| Southern Vision Alliance Durham, NC | Bioenergy | $10,000 |
| The People's Justice Council Birmingham, AL | Forest & Climate | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Dogwood Alliance Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,874,357 | $3,866,258 | $2,928,380 | $232,500 | 12 | $195,077 |
| 2023 | $4,910,089 | $2,749,505 | $2,507,762 | $180,000 | 10 | $97,439 |
| 2022 | $4,693,995 | $2,653,922 | $2,664,572 | $164,700 | 11 | $19,075 |
| 2021 | $4,669,914 | $2,991,809 | $2,143,313 | $125,300 | 8 | $8,041 |
| 2020 | $4,045,094 | $2,523,565 | $1,846,251 | $122,000 | 6 | $17,142 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Dogwood Alliance’s stated mission is to advance environmental justice and climate action by mobilizing diverse voices to protect Southern forests and communities from industrial logging. Its focus areas include forest protection and climate policy, opposing the use of forests for biomass energy, community solutions, and justice conservation.
The organization says it collaborates with nonprofit organizations on racial and environmental justice and supports community organizing, education, conservation participation, and local solutions. Among its 2024 grantees, New Alpha Community Development Corporation describes its mission as building environmental economic justice and improving health in low-income communities through organizing, education, policy change, and equitable programs. Southern Vision Alliance describes itself as a justice-centered grassroots intermediary that provides capacity-building and other support to frontline projects and collaborations led by directly impacted communities in the U.S. South. Other 2024 grantees include Cultivator Inc, whose stated mission is community enrichment for underprivileged people, and Blackbelt Women Rising, whose focus areas include domestic violence and sexual assault, HIV awareness, poverty, and the environment.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Dogwood Alliance reported 12 grants totaling $232,500. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $80,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant was $80,000 to New Alpha Community Development in Florence, South Carolina, for Community Solutions. Other notable grants included $27,500 to Georgia Interfaith Power and Light for Bioenergy; $20,000 each to EEECHO and KMartin Group for Bioenergy; and $15,000 to the Pee Dee Indian Tribe for Community Solutions.
The organization’s reported grantmaking was $180,000 across 10 grants in 2023 and $164,700 across 11 grants in 2022. Its website says the community grants program began in 2019 and has supported activities including educational programs, rallies, volunteer opportunities, and disaster relief.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Margaret Danna Smith as Executive Director and Stephanie Powell as Director of Finance & Operations. Board officers were Jacob Blass, Chair; Joe Jackson, Vice Chair; Abigail Rome, Secretary; and Damie Sesay, Treasurer. Other board members listed were John Beal, Florence Aroruo, Richie Harding, and Jonathan Phillips.
Dogwood Alliance Inc is led by Margaret Danna Smith, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 3 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margaret Danna Smith
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$95K (2021) → $125K (2024)
Jacob Blass
Chair
Governance Chair → Board Member, 2023
Board Member → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Powell
Director of Finance & Operations
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$100K (2024)
Richie Harding
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$9K (2023) → $8K (2024)
Florence Aroruo
Board Member
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Jackson
Vice Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Slater
Board Member
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Rome
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Starbuck
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Damie Sesay
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Beal
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Phillips
Board Member
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aanahita Ervin
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Hollowell
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marvin Burns
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebekah Miel
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Judy Kinney (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Leo Woodberry (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Sami Grover (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Joseph Jackson (2023) — Chair
- Former: Thomas RaShad Easley (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Xavier Boatwright (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Elise Nabors (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Lynne Young (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: RaShad Easley (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Morgan Hash (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Alison Czeczuga (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Heglar (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Morgan Rowdan (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Olufemi Lewis (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Ulla Reeves (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Michelle Lewis (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Sara Ochoa (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Danna Smith (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $125K, to Margaret Danna Smith (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Dogwood Alliance Inc
How much does Dogwood Alliance Inc give each year?
Dogwood Alliance Inc gave $233K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $180K across 10 grants.
What is Dogwood Alliance Inc's typical grant size?
Dogwood Alliance Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,375, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dogwood Alliance Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does Dogwood Alliance Inc give grants?
Dogwood Alliance Inc's top state is South Carolina, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Mississippi (17%) and North Carolina (13%).
Does Dogwood Alliance Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Dogwood Alliance Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Bioenergy" (5 grants) and "Community Solutions" (4 grants).
Who are Dogwood Alliance Inc's largest grantees?
Dogwood Alliance Inc's largest 2024 grantees include New Alpha Community Development ($80,000), Georgia Interfaith Power and Light ($27,500) and Eeecho ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Dogwood Alliance Inc?
Dogwood Alliance Inc reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.9M.
What does Dogwood Alliance Inc fund?
Dogwood Alliance’s stated mission is to advance environmental justice and climate action by mobilizing diverse voices to protect Southern forests and communities from industrial logging. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dogwood Alliance Inc?
Dogwood Alliance states that grant partners go through an application process and must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status, financial statements, and other background documentation before funds are disbursed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dogwood Alliance Inc's EIN?
Dogwood Alliance Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2139120. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 2, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dogwood Alliance Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
Winston-Salem, NC
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation funds North Carolina nonprofits and other eligible organizations working on democracy, the environment, public education, social and economic justice, and community-led efforts, including rural communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $1.2 million, with a median of $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are submitted through its portal when opportunities are open.
Assets
$23.6M
Grants
298
Total Given
$21.7M
Common Counsel Foundation
Oakland, CA
Common Counsel Foundation supports community-led social justice, organizing, movement building, and structural change, with national reach and some funds focused specifically on California. Its 2024 grants had a median of $30,000, while its Grassroots Exchange Fund typically awards $1,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$67.5M
Grants
621
Total Given
$101.2M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Foundation For The Carolinas funds education and youth development, environmental and wildlife work, health and human services, and animal welfare, with a reported median grant of $25,000 in 2024. Its competitive programs focus on Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Carolinas, and specific local communities, while donor-advised funds may support eligible nonprofits more broadly; it accepts applications for some competitive grants, but most grants are recommended by fund advisors and have no application process.
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
Solutions Project Inc
Los Angeles, CA
Solutions Project Inc funds grassroots climate justice organizations led by Black, Indigenous, immigrant, women, and other people of color, supporting work such as clean energy, safe water, affordable housing, and green jobs across the United States and Puerto Rico. Its 2024 grants ranged from $8,000 to $100,000, with a median of $30,000. Its grantmaking is described as invitation-based; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$28.8M
Grants
146
Total Given
$5.0M
Triangle Community Foundation Inc
Durham, NC
The foundation supports nonprofits in cultural arts, education and youth, nonprofit capacity building, and sustainable communities, with grants also benefiting fields such as health, conservation, and human services. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000 and ranged from about $5,000 to $1.39 million; it primarily serves Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties in North Carolina. It accepts applications for competitive discretionary programs during open grant cycles; donor-advised fund grants are also made.
Assets
$335.8M
Grants
599
Total Given
$26.7M
The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation
Arlington, VA
The Conservation Fund supports land and habitat conservation, water and food-system initiatives, and community projects that advance sustainable economies, through grants, loans, and technical assistance. In 2025, grants ranged from $6,000 to $755,000, with a median of $20,000; it works nationwide, with the largest share of recent grant dollars going to North Carolina and Virginia. Unsolicited requests are not addressed generally in the profile; some programs have specific application requirements.
Assets
$942.8M
Grants
191
Total Given
$15.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dogwood Alliance Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dogwood-alliance-inc-morg_f0103097d79245e690e2583e1aa22602
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_562139120_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dogwood Alliance Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dogwood-alliance-inc-morg_f0103097d79245e690e2583e1aa22602},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Dogwood Alliance Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Dogwood Alliance Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?