Duke Energy and its Foundation surpass $30 million over 10 years to support community resilience, disaster relief efforts

• Grants, corporate giving, employee donations and volunteer hours help communities prepare for, withstand and recover from storms
• Funding supports first responders, emergency management organizations and nonprofit partners across seven states

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As we reflect on the anniversaries of hurricanes Helene and Milton, Duke Energy Foundation announced that it, together with Duke Energy and its employees, has invested $33.8 million to nonprofit organizations since 2016 to support community resilience, emergency preparedness and disaster relief.

What the grants support: These investments across Duke Energy's service territories in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee have funded:

• Training for first responders
• Lifesaving equipment such as AEDs and drones
• Emergency operations centers and shelters
• Community education and storm kits for vulnerable populations, such as seniors and income-restricted customers

How it works: The Foundation partners with state and local emergency management agencies, national relief organizations and community nonprofits to tailor support to each community – both in blue-sky days and after a storm hits. This support is made possible through a combination of corporate giving, employee donations and volunteer hours, in addition to direct grants.

"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:

• Disaster recovery and readiness efforts in North Carolina: This year, the Foundation awarded over $1 million to local organizations focused on storm preparedness across the state and long-term recovery in western North Carolina. Recovery partners have contributed to rebuilding homes and providing essential services following Hurricane Helene in 2024.
• Annual microgrants in South Carolina: In May, the Foundation awarded $500,000 through the 2025 Helping Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) grant program to bolster severe weather emergency preparedness across South Carolina. Now in its fourth year, the annual microgrant program has provided $2 million in total support, funding 137 microgrants to deliver essential aid to nonprofits and local agencies throughout the Palmetto State.
• Enhancing storm readiness in Florida: In June, the Foundation allocated $153,000 to a dozen Florida organizations and agencies to strengthen storm readiness efforts. Funding supported initiatives such as installing AEDs in high-traffic areas, expanding CPR training and providing storm kits for seniors.
• Storm relief in the Midwest: This spring, the Foundation provided more than $47,000 in grants to assist local communities in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky recovering from severe flooding and tornadoes. These funds supported nonprofits and relief agencies as they delivered critical aid and resources where they were needed most.

Learn more: For more on the Duke Energy Foundation's community impact, visit foundation.duke-energy.com/success-in-action.

Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. 

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Gina DiPietro
24-hour media line: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy