Duke Energy Foundation, along with Duke Energy and its employees, has contributed $33.8 million to nonprofit organizations since 2016 to support community resilience, emergency preparedness, and disaster relief efforts across seven states. The funding is distributed through grants, corporate giving, employee donations, and volunteer hours.
The investments have supported training for first responders, provided lifesaving equipment such as AEDs and drones, enhanced emergency operations centers and shelters, and supplied storm kits for vulnerable populations including seniors and income-restricted customers. The Foundation works with state and local emergency management agencies, national relief organizations, and community nonprofits to customize support based on each community’s needs before and after storms.
“When disaster strikes, it’s critical that we respond quickly and show up with humanity,” said Amy Strecker, president of the Duke Energy Foundation. “By supporting the nonprofits and first responders who stand beside our neighbors in their most difficult moments, we help ensure communities have the tools they need to respond and rebuild.”
Recent examples of this work include over $1 million awarded this year to North Carolina organizations focused on storm preparedness statewide and long-term recovery in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene in 2024. In South Carolina, the Foundation’s annual Helping Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) grant program provided $500,000 in May 2025 for severe weather preparedness; since its inception four years ago, the microgrant program has delivered $2 million across 137 grants to nonprofits and agencies throughout the state.
In Florida this June, $153,000 was allocated to a dozen organizations for storm readiness initiatives such as installing AEDs in public areas, expanding CPR training programs, and distributing storm kits to seniors. In Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky this spring, more than $47,000 was granted to assist local communities recovering from flooding and tornadoes by supporting nonprofits delivering essential aid.
The Duke Energy Foundation provides over $30 million annually in philanthropic support funded by Duke Energy shareholders. Duke Energy serves 8.6 million electric customers across six states—North Carolina, South Carolina,Florida, Indiana,Ohio, Kentucky—and supplies natural gas service to 1.7 million customers in North Carolina,South Carolina, Tennessee,Ohioand Kentucky.
For more information about the Duke Energy Foundation’s impact or company activities visit foundation.duke-energy.com/success-in-action or duke-energy.com.
