Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant Round 3 (2027)

North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) - Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant – Round 3 (VORG)

North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) is now accepting applications for grants funded through the N.C. Joint Conference Comm. Report on the Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2026 (companion to S.B. 257), at E 44 (2026) for housing projects by nonprofit organizations that are actively involved in actual and ongoing repair and reconstruction projects from Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina.

Eligible Applicants

Any nonprofit actively involved in actual and ongoing repair and reconstruction projects in North Carolina Counties within the Tropical Storm Helene Federal Disaster Declaration.

Eligible Categories of Work

Ongoing and proposed TS Helene housing repair and reconstruction project work.

Initial funding for this notice is anticipated to be $35,000,000. There is no maximum grant request limit, funding will be allocated to maximize the potential capacity needed.

Projects can be 100% funded with no local cost share and are paid on a reimbursement basis.

NCEM will consider temporary relocation assistance as a direct cost for residents whose homes are actively being repaired or reconstructed and exhausted all other options for housing, including friends, family, and volunteer organizations.

Grantees’ funds for general administrative costs are capped at less than or equal to 3% of the amount of funds awarded. Administrative cost will be classified into two main categories (1) financial management such as budgeting, accounting, and payroll as well as (2) governance and oversight which includes audits, grant monitoring, report writing, and legal services.

How to Submit Application Materials

Applications must be submitted to the following email address: NCEMLTR.Grant@ncdps.gov by close of business (5PM) on 16 October 2026.

Applications will be reviewed for completeness with completed applications scored and ranked; prioritization will be given to project proposals in areas that are underserved by previous grant awarded for housing recovery efforts. These counties include but are not limited to Avery, Ashe, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yancey counties. If your application proposes work in an underserved area that is not listed among the counties above, please clearly demonstrate how the area is underserved and identify the specific unmet needs your project will address.

Key Target Dates

Key DatesNotes
01 September 2026NOFO Released
17 September 2026Technical Assistance Workshop (10:00 AM-11:00 AM)
22 September 2026Technical Assistance Workshop (10:00 AM-11:00 AM)
16 October 2026Application Deadline
03 November 2026NC Review Panel Scoring Completed
17 November 2026Applicant Notifications
December ‘26 - January ‘27Complete and Sign Grant Agreements

The Period of Performance (POP) is up to 36 months, starting on the date of the recipient’s award. This process starts with the application referenced below.

Process to Submit Your Application

Application/Submission Information and Instructions


Application deadline: 16 October 2026 (5PM)

Application to be submitted to NCEMLTR.Grant@ncdps.gov with subject line Applicant name – Project name – VORG Round 3 Disaster Recovery Grant Program.

The application email should include a pdf attachment containing the application materials outlined in the five components below. Please follow the outline for the structure of the PDF, including the necessary information for each component.

(Scoring weight in parentheses):

    1) Applicant Name, Address, Contact Information, and Project Name. Nonprofit corporations should also include the Certificate of Existence from the NC Secretary of State and bylaws.

    2) General description of the Project, including which counties will be served (30)

    3) Scope of Work (SOW) and cost estimate budget for the project to achieve #2 above, including an understanding of how the estimate was achieved. (40)

    4) Timeline from approval of Grant to project completion. (15)

    5) How and who will manage the project if awarded, and what are their qualifications? Additionally, the applicants should include their experience in managing a grant award. (15)

Competitive proposals likely will include:

The GRANTEE shall include, in narrative, outline, and/or graph form, a general description of the project and its approach to accomplishing the tasks outlined in the Scope of Work section of the application. A description of each task and delivery and the schedule for accomplishing each shall be included.

The GRANTEE shall describe if they intend to use some of the award for general administrative cost. If so, the expenditure(s) must be directly related to the project. Provide details in the project's scope of work about what those administrative costs will be in the budget section or provide attachments showing how the funds support it. These funds are not meant to support administrative activities already being done but instead could support new administrative tasks that the project and grant require.

The GRANTEE shall describe the organizational and operational structure it proposes to utilize for the management of this grant and identify the responsibilities to be assigned to each person the GRANTEE proposes to staff the work.

The GRANTEE shall describe in narrative, outline, and/or graph form, the GRANTEE’s system of tracking and monitoring project progress. The GRANTEE will be required to report tangible progress monthly to North Carolina Emergency Management including the number of homes in process and completed.

The GRANTEE must certify that it has the financial capacity to perform and to continue to perform its obligations under the Grant Agreement; that the GRANTEE has no constructive or actual knowledge of an actual or potential legal proceeding being brought against it that could materially adversely affect the execution of this agreement; and that entering into this agreement is not prohibited by any contract, or order by any court of competent jurisdiction.

The GRANTEE shall demonstrate experience with similar or greater size and complexity projects as proposed in the grant application. The GRANTEE shall also show past efforts to do outreach to and to collaborate with partners to gain support for projects similar or greater in size and complexity of the proposed project.

The GRANTEE shall provide information as to the qualifications and experience of all executive, managerial, legal, and/or professional personnel to be assigned to manage this project, including resumes citing experience with similar projects and the responsibilities to be assigned to each person.

The GRANTEE shall be required to meet at least quarterly for Project Review meetings with the assigned NCEM Grant Manager. The purpose of these meetings will be to review project progress reports, discuss GRANTEE performance, address outstanding issues, review problem resolution, provide direction, evaluate continuous improvement and cost-saving ideas, and discuss any other pertinent topics. If the NCEM Grant Manager finds that a site visit is appropriate they and the GRANTEE should work together to coordinate their visit with the necessary NCEM and GRANTEE staff.

Projects that are selected will require applicants to sign a Grant Agreement (MOA) and will be expected to comply with the terms of the agreement, including quarterly reporting and interim and final inspections as necessary or risk timely payment or funding. Also, applicants will be required to submit the below listed North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management required documents/forms with the signed MOA if awarded a grant under this funding opportunity:

    i. State of NC Substitute W-9 Form
    ii Supplier Electronic Payment Request Please email the completed form directly to OSC for 
       processing: ncfsepay@osc.nc.gov with copy to NCEMLTR.grant@ncps.gov
    iii. Conflict of Interest Policy (G.S. 143C-6-23.(b))
    iv. Sworn (Notarized) No Overdue Tax Debt Certification (G.S. 143C-6-23.(c))

For more information, please send any questions to NCEMLTR.grant@ncdps.gov

Technical Assistance Workshop #1 - Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant – Round 3 (VORG)
Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Microsoft Teams meeting
Meeting ID: 240 193 484 386 464
Passcode: iK7Hp3sb

Dial in by phone
+1 984-204-1487,,490436329# United States, Raleigh
Phone conference ID: 490 436 329#
Technical Assistance Workshop #2 - Volunteer Organization Recovery Fund Grant – Round 3 (VORG)
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Microsoft Teams meeting
Meeting ID: 219 239 277 852 117
Passcode: nW2tL63p

Dial in by phone
+1 984-204-1487,,134904626# United States, Raleigh
Phone conference ID: 134 904 626#
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