North Carolina Craft Brewers Launch New
501(c)(3) Non-Profit to Support the Brewing Community

First Initiative to Provide Grant Funding for Breweries Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Raleigh, NC. 11/12/2023 — The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild proudly announces the launch of the NC Craft Brewers Foundation (NCCBF), a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the growth and resilience of North Carolina’s craft brewing industry.

The new charitable Foundation will focus its programming on initiatives in three primary areas: providing emergency hardship grants to assist breweries facing unexpected challenges, offering workforce development grants to strengthen industry skills, and awarding educational scholarships to foster the next generation of craft beer professionals.

Today, the NCCBF released its first initiative: the Business Recovery Grant Program. The Business Recovery Grant Program, funded by the NC Craft Brewers Foundation (NCCBF), will provide critical financial assistance to North Carolina craft breweries recovering from the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. Grants will provide funding to compensate for both revenue loss, as well as property damage, replacement, and restoration. To apply for the grants, a brewery must be located in one of the 25 North Carolina counties designated as a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster area due to Tropical Storm Helene, and have demonstrated revenue loss and/or property damage, as a result of the storm.

“Our western NC brewing community has shown incredible resilience, but the toll of Hurricane Helene has been and continues to be devastating for many of our businesses”, said Lisa Parker, Executive Director of the North Carolina Craft Brewers Foundation. “Through the Foundation’s new Business Recovery Grants, our goal is to help ensure that breweries not only have the opportunity to rebuild and recover, but ultimately have the capacity to continue serving as vital contributors within their communities.”

The NC Craft Brewers Foundation (NCCBF) is a public charity supported by donor funding. In addition to individual contributors, several fundraising initiatives are additionally helping to generate funding for the new Foundation:

  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Company has pledged $1 of every barrel brewed of its winter seasonal beer, Celebration Fresh Hop IPA, to the NC Craft Brewers Foundation. Celebration IPA is the company’s most beloved and best-selling seasonal. The company has also encouraged its wholesaler and retailer partners to contribute to the effort.
  • Higher Calling is a collaborative brewing project, spearheaded by the Asheville brewery DSSOLVR, to raise funds for those impacted by the storm. Breweries nationwide will brew the hazy IPA recipe, and donate 100% of the net profits to the NC Craft Brewers Foundation.
  • Pouring for Neighbors is a nationwide initiative that asks breweries, taprooms, restaurants, and bars to pledge a portion of the sales from one of their existing beers on tap to the NC Craft Brewers Foundation or other relief organizations providing recovery relief to the devastated communities of western NC. Breweries impacted by Hurricane Helene are encouraged to apply for the NCCBF Business Recovery Grants through a streamlined application designed to provide support as quickly as possible. Visit drinkncbeer.org/foundation for more information.

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The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild (NCCBG) is a 501c6 not-for-profit advocacy group supporting the independent craft brewers of our state through advocacy and education.

The North Carolina Craft Brewers Foundation (NCCBF) is a 501c3 public charity supporting the growth and resilience of North Carolina’s craft brewing industry through grant funding and scholarships.

North Carolina has over 420 independent craft breweries and brewpubs, and is truly the State of Southern Beer™.

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