Nonprofit Resources for Disaster Relief & Recovery
Many organizations around the state support relief and recovery to North Carolinians when natural disasters occur. The Center is here to support you with the information and resources below to use and share with your communities. If you know of a local organization or resource to add, please let us know. We'll continue to update this information as we receive it.
| First Steps | Financial Resources | Recovery Loans & Funds |
| Human Resources | Resource Organizations | Guides, Articles, Toolkits |
First Steps
Important first steps if your nonprofit organization is in a federally declared disaster area.
- Contact your insurance company to file a claim. If you lease your space, verify that the owner has contacted his/her insurance company. Recommendations from insurance companies:
- Take inventory and photos of damage. Make temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage. Save all your receipts and do not throw away damaged property.
- If you need to relocate, keep your receipts for all related expenses.
- Be careful of fraudulent contractors. Check credentials and/or check with your insurance company.
- Register with FEMA (through the Small Business Administration (SBA)). Relevant deadlines will be posted.
- Register (aka create an account) on the SBA website. The account must be registered to an individual to verify identity; the account allows you to file applications online on behalf of your organization.
- Complete the Disaster Loan Application online. This serves as your registration with FEMA. Filing requirements include:
- Tax Information Authorization (IRS Form 8821/4506-T), completed and signed by each applicant, each principal owning 20% or more of the applicant business, each general partner or managing member; and, for any owner who has more than a 50% ownership in an affiliate business.
- Complete copies, including all schedules, of the most recent federal income tax returns for the applicant business; an explanation if not available.
- Personal Financial Statement (SBA Form 413) completed, signed, and dated by the applicant (if a sole proprietorship), each principal owning 20% or more of the applicant business, and each general partner or managing member.
- Schedule of Liabilities listing all fixed debts (SBA Form 2202 may be used).
- Additional nonprofit requirements:
- Articles of Incorporation (if incorporated)
- By-laws
- Charter (if applicable)
- Board of Directors Resolution giving approval to apply to the SBA for disaster loan (may be provided after offer of a loan)
- Complete copies of the organization's most recent tax returns OR a copy of the organization's IRS tax-exempt certification and complete copies of the three most recent years operating results
- Current balance sheet and operating statement dated within 90 days of application
- Names and addresses of all officers, trustees, and directors
- Organization affiliation (if any)
- Name, address, and phone numbers of all insurance companies providing coverage at the date of the disaster; all policy numbers, copies of policy coverage pages, and recovery settlements to date (if any)
- Specifics of all disaster-related grants and/or funds received from FEMA
- Once filed, the SBA will follow up on your application to request additional information and/or identify disaster loan options
Helpful Guides
The Three-Step Process for Disaster Loans
Disaster Assistance Loans Fact Sheets
Fact Sheet for Businesses of All Sizes (including frequently asked questions)
Contacts
FEMA: 800-621-3362
Small Business Administration: 800-659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Financial Resources
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers tax relief for organizations recovering from disaster situations.
Helpful Guides:
Preparing for a Disaster (Taxpayers and Businesses)
Business Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook
Reconstructing Records After a Natural Disaster
Contact: 877-829-5500
Human Resources
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Offered through the NC Division of Employment Security, workers who are or may become unemployed due to a declared disaster may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). If approved, you can collect DUA for up to six months following the date of the disaster.
- Create an account on the DES website and apply for regular unemployment insurance
- If your application is declined, contact DUA to request assistance. These applications must be filed within 30 days.
Contacts
NC Division of Employment Security: 888-737-0259
Disaster Unemployment Assistance: 866-795-8877, des.dua@nccommerce.com
Coping with Emotional Crisis
Following a crisis or disaster, nonprofit staff members can experience unprecedented levels of fear and concern, especially if the organization's viability is seriously threatened. Here are suggestions on how to cope with these emotions and situations, including how they may manifest, how to identify them, and how to restore normalcy. (Nonprofit Risk Management Center)
Paying Employees During Emergencies
An outline of the federal laws and regulations employers need to pay attention to when deciding how and when to pay employees during an emergecy or natural disaster, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, National Labor Relations Act, Leave banks, Unemployment, and Federal relief. (Society for Human Resources Management)
Recovery Loans & Funds
The NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) offers free counseling and assistance to:
- Assess the financial impact on your organization
- Develop strategies for your recovery
- Reconstruct financial statements
- Evaluate options with creditors
- Prepare SBA disaster loan applications
Locations & Contacts: 800-258-0862 (county directory and regional map)
Disaster Legal Services Hotline
The Disaster Legal Services Hotline is a pro bono legal project of the NC Bar Association, Legal Aid of NC, American Bar Association, and Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide disaster legal services for NC counties approved by FEMA to receive federal assistance. The NCBA Young Lawyers Division coordinates the North Carolina Disaster Legal Services effort. Disaster victims, including nonprofits, who have disaster-related legal questions or concerns may call.
Contact: 833-242-3549 weekdays between 9 a.m. and noon
Carolina Small Business Development Loans
The Carolina Small Business Development Loans assist small business owners in preparing for disasters and recovering - immediate and long-term - if disaster occurs. They offer low-interest loans as a complement to Small Business Administration and other disaster recovery programs.
Helpful Guide:
Small Business Disaster Recovery & Resiliency Kit
Contact: contact form or 919-803-1437
Disaster Recovery Grant Program
The Golden LEAF Foundation administers the Disaster Recovery Grant Program, offering grants to nonprofits to repair or replace infrastructure and equipment damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Matthew, Florence, Michael, and Dorian. Infrastructure includes nonresidential buildings that serve the public, water, sewer, stormwater, and other publicly owned assets. This program is intended to address unmet needs following insurance and available federal assistance including FEMA Public Assistance and/or an SBA loan.
Contact: 888-684-8404
NC Rural Center
A subsidiary of the NC Rural Center, Thread Capital offers the Resilient Recovery Loan program for small organizations, providing low-interest loans up to $250,000 to meet the extended challenges faced during an organization's disaster recovery, including repairing physical damage and recouping from more significant economic losses. Eligible organizations must:
- Be a North Carolina small business affected by a declared disaster
- Have at least one employee
- Have any individual with greater than 20% ownership in the organization co-sign the loan
- Submit documentation verifying physical and/or economic injury to their business.
Contact: 919-212-4950
U.S. Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest disaster loans up to $2 million that cover physical damage and economic injury for organizations of all sizes. (If you've registered with FEMA as noted in #2 above, you've already completed the SBA loan application.) Create an account and apply online.
Contact: 800-659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Additional Resources
North Carolina Organizations
NC 2-1-1 Real-time disaster assitance, and health and human services resources and support
NC Department of Health & Human Services Health and human services resources
ReadyNC Recovery and rebuilding resources and assistance for individuals and communities
Carolina Center for Public Service
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh
Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
North Carolina Community Foundation Covers many rural parts of eastern North Carolina
North Carolina Volunteer Opportunities
Outer Banks Community Foundation
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Includes additional links for food and pet food assistance in your area
United Way of North Carolina (and local United Ways)
National Organizations
All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response
E4E Relief, LLC Employee relief programs for orgs
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Humane Society of the United States For displaced animals
IRS Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief
Disaster Philanthropy Playbook
Disaster Planning for Nonprofits Guide & Video Series (Nonprofit Association of Oregon)
Disaster Relief Resources for Charities and Contributors (IRS)
Disaster recovery resources for caregivers, clinicians, and parents (NC Child)
Disaster Response: From Relief to Resiliency (Common Impact)
Emergency preparedness checklists and safety tips (SBA)
Southeast Disaster Preparedness Resources and Hotlines (Tulane University School of Social Work)
Toolkit for Building Organization Resilience (North Carolina Center for Nonprofits)
Workplace weather and natural disaster resources (Society for Human Resource Management)