Strengthening the behavioral health crisis system, addressing behavioral health needs among homeless and vulnerable populations, expanding health care access, and investing in entrepreneurship and innovation.
WILMINGTON, N.C. The Endowment is investing $5,240,934 through four grants that address critical needs many New Hanover County residents experience every day while also investing in the county’s long-term economic vitality by helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses.
Two of these grants build directly on The Endowment’s behavioral health strategy and a comprehensive landscape assessment that identified the need to strengthen New Hanover County’s behavioral health crisis system and help address behavioral health needs among homeless and vulnerable populations. The assessment’s findings are shaping how The Endowment invests in crisis response and ongoing care, work that also advances community safety by connecting residents experiencing homelessness to stability. A third grant promotes access to care among underserved residents as a part of The Endowment’s preventive care portfolio of work, and a fourth grant reflects The Endowment’s community development focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
“These grants put The Endowment’s strategic direction into action for the residents of New Hanover County and the organizations serving them,” said Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO of The Endowment. “They reflect our disciplined focus on the priorities we’ve identified through listening, learning and assessment. Together, these investments address urgent needs today while building the partnerships and infrastructure New Hanover County needs for long-term vitality.”
Strengthening New Hanover County’s Behavioral Health System
A $4,039,073 grant to Coastal Horizons Center, Inc., will fund the launch and operation of a Tier IV Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center, and will support one of the few permanent supportive housing programs and the only rape crisis program in the county, and the integration of the Trauma Institute into Coastal Horizon’s operations. The new urgent care center will provide timely assessment, crisis stabilization, and connections to ongoing care for people experiencing acute behavioral health crises. The grant builds on a $6 million appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly, which will fund the purchase of land and construction of a standalone facility serving both adults and children. Together, these investments will establish an urgently needed service and provide a foundation for its long-term growth. Because crisis stabilization is only one part of a coordinated system of care, sustained recovery, particularly for residents experiencing homelessness, also depends on stable housing, employment, and ongoing behavioral health support.
“The center will serve residents regardless of insurance status and give hospitals, first responders, law enforcement and community partners another option for connecting people with the right level of care,” said Leigh Quarles, Senior Network Officer, Social and Health Equity. “People experiencing a behavioral health crisis need timely assessment, stabilization and a clear connection to ongoing care. This investment adds an important resource to New Hanover County’s crisis response system and helps ensure residents receive the support they need when they need it.”
A $226,861 grant to The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope will help provide intensive social work case management and connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness to employment and training opportunities, physical and behavioral health services, substance use recovery resources, and stable housing.
“The Center of Hope’s intensive case management helps individuals and families address complex challenges related to housing, employment, physical and behavioral health, substance use recovery, public benefits, financial insecurity, family stability and involvement with the justice system,” said Mary Vail Ware, Director of Social and Health Equity and Community Safety. “The Center’s holistic approach is especially important for residents who may face barriers to engaging in services or sustaining progress. This funding strengthens that work and helps residents and families take the next steps toward a more secure future.”
Expanding Health Care Access
An $850,000 grant to Cape Fear Clinic will build on a three-year grant awarded by The Endowment in 2023. This investment will bolster the clinic’s ability to sustain its range of health care and pharmacy services, including preventive care, and operate a satellite clinic. The grant also supports strategic planning.
“Cape Fear Clinic connects residents to care that considers the whole person, not just one health concern,” said Quarles. “This grant helps preserve services many residents rely on while reinforcing a model that has demonstrated meaningful reach and impact.”
Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation
A $125,000 grant to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington will fund three initiatives that help entrepreneurs test ideas, receive mentorship and connect with Wilmington’s startup community: the Idea Test Lab, the CIE Mentor Program and 1 Million Cups Wilmington.
The Idea Test Lab is a cohort-based, five-week program designed to build a pipeline of high-growth entrepreneurs and startups. The CIE Mentor Program brings together 140 mentors, including founders, C-suite executives, and professionals with deep expertise in fields such as business, law, and technology. Mentors volunteer in teams to advise early-stage startups, while the program gives students opportunities to observe and participate in entrepreneurial problem-solving and build professional networks.
1 Million Cups Wilmington provides a free, accessible entry point into the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Open to the public, the program meets at 9 a.m. each Wednesday and gives local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their businesses and receive feedback, connections and guidance from the community.
“When local entrepreneurs have access to coaching, experienced mentors and a strong network, they are better positioned to build durable businesses that create jobs and strengthen our local economy,” said Terri Burhans, Senior Network Officer, Community Development.
About The Endowment
The Endowment’s mission is to improve the health, education, safety, and economic opportunity of every person in New Hanover County. For more about The Endowment and to stay informed about upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.theendowment.org.
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GRANT AWARDS:
Cape Fear Clinic, Inc. – $850,000 (one year) To support and strengthen Cape Fear Clinic’s proven collaborative healthcare model, delivering integrated medical, behavioral health, pharmacy, and care coordination services through trusted community partnerships. Funding will support key personnel, program optimization, and strategic planning to ensure long-term sustainability while laying the operational foundation for a more fully integrated community health campus.
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) via University of North Carolina at Wilmington – $125,000 (one year): To support three core programs for NHC entrepreneurs: Idea Test Lab, the CIE Mentor Program, and 1 Million Cups.
Coastal Horizons Center – $4,039,073 (two years): To build and strengthen NHC’s trauma-informed behavioral health continuum by supporting implementation of a Tier IV Behavioral Health Urgent Care, providing matching funds for one of the county’s few permanent supportive housing programs to leverage HUD funding, sustaining the county’s only rape crisis program, and supporting the integration of the Trauma Institute into its operations.
The Salvation Army – $226,861 (one year): To retain and attract qualified Center of Hope Social Service Professionals who provide intensive case management to connect unsheltered individuals and families to employment and training opportunities, health/mental health services, and sustainable housing.