As our city continues to evolve and grow, these Triangle-based groups are helping our area flourish through their good work.
by Susanna Klingenberg
After this year’s chilly winter, the signs of spring are especially welcome, even if they do arrive with a dusting of yellow. If the spirit of starting fresh nudges you to give back, consider supporting one of these 25 local organizations, whether they’re nurturing the soul, helping neighbors in crisis or simply stocking elementary school classrooms. This list is not meant to be comprehensive; the Triangle has many organizations worthy of your support. But as you focus your resources, we hope you’ll use this list as inspiration for generosity with your time, talents and donations to help our community thrive.
ArtGivers
ArtGivers purchases art from emerging artists and offers it, for free, to shelters, drug rehab centers and free medical clinics to hang in their facilities. “It’s a new concept that benefits both the viewers and makers of art,” says co-founder Adam D. Cohen. “So, essentially two causes in one!” artgivers.org
The Barbershop Therapy Foundation
“We cut through the problems,” says executive director Jimmy Evans. The Barbershop Therapy Foundation equips barbers to be mental health advocates, disseminates mental health resources and provides vouchers for regular cuts and styles for kids living at or below the poverty level in North Carolina. barbershop-therapy.org
BELONG NC
Forced to flee their country due to persecution, war or violence, refugees can face significant barriers to integration. BELONG NC helps pave a path forward, providing free preschool, job training, English-language instruction and early employment to support refugee integration into our community. belongnc.org
CAHEC
Safe, high-quality, affordable housing is increasingly hard to come by in the Triangle. CAHEC, a community investment organization, aims to change that. They provide affordable housing and create opportunities for growth and revitalization of communities through collaborative partnerships, innovative investments and supportive service initiatives. cahec.com
Cake4Kids
Cake4Kids partners with human service agencies to bake and deliver cakes marking milestones for at-risk kids who wouldn’t otherwise have a celebratory treat. “It’s humbling, the sense of purpose that comes from being a part of such a worthy cause,” says Cake4Kids Triangle chapter ambassador Mashavu Gordon. cake4kids.org/chapters/raleighdurhamtriangle
The Camel Club
This welcoming space has been part of the recovery community in Raleigh since 1985. The Camel Club is a hub for 12-step meetings, support for teens and affected families, fun events, recovery resources of all kinds and strong, hot coffee — always on the house. camelclubraleigh.org
Caring Community Foundation
An unexpected cancer diagnosis can undo even the most carefully tended finances. That’s when the Caring Community Foundation steps in. They provide cancer patients in North Carolina with emergency financial assistance for essentials such as rent, utilities and transportation. caringcommunityfoundation.org
Carolina Cares
Started by a small Facebook group of moms who wanted to help other parents, Carolina Cares has grown into a thriving nonprofit focused on increasing dignity and decreasing food insecurity. They support locals by providing food, clothing, hygiene products, diapers, formula, school supplies, holiday gifts and meals. carolinacaresnc.org
Consult Your Community
This student-run nonprofit at North Carolina State University organizes diverse student teams to solve problems for local business owners in the Raleigh area. Their pro-bono consulting practice has helped over 150 small businesses and nonprofits in the area through access to resources and services. cycncstate.org
Cooper Charitable Foundation
For those experiencing illness, mental health crises, divorce or domestic violence, it can be difficult to stay ahead of monthly housing expenses, even with a steady paycheck. In these challenging circumstances, the Cooper Charitable Foundation provides housing grants, with the goal of preventing homelessness or getting people into stable housing. cooperfoundation.com
DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care
“Pets are important for many people’s well-being,” says DEGA founder and veterinarian Dr. April Gessner. “Especially unsheltered people, who may have no one else in their lives.” DEGA (Determined for Everyone to Gain Access) Mobile Veterinary Care provides free basic care to low-income and unhoused pet owners across North Carolina. degamobilevetcare.org
FIGS of Wake County
The 70,000 Wake County residents without health insurance often have to choose between paying rent, purchasing food and buying their medicine. FIGS, which stands for Filling in the Gaps, provides prescription assistance, over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies at no cost to people who need them. figsofwake.org
First Tee Triangle
“Golf is our vehicle, but character is our destination,” says Matt Furlough, vice president of marketing and engagement for First Tee Triangle. Their programs use the game of golf to build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience — skills that help kids succeed not just on the course, but also in life. firstteetriangle.org
Friends of the NC Accessible Books and Library Services
Did you know even people with visual disabilities can enjoy WALTER, thanks to volunteer readers at North Carolina’s Accessible Books and Library Services? Friends of the Library supports this and many more services for readers in NC with visual, physical or reading disabilities. friendsnclbph.org
Gardens for Everyone
Home gardening yields delicious, convenient healthy produce but requires substantial investment and knowledge. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Gardens for Everyone program removes barriers by providing garden boxes, healthy soil, seeds and ongoing support at a pay-what-you-can price from $25 to $200. foodshuttle.org/gardens-for-everyone
The Grey Muzzle Organization
“In 2024, Grey Muzzle awarded $1.1 million to 100 nonprofits helping senior dogs,” says its executive director, Denise Fleck. “This helps older best friends find forever homes and get much-needed medical care, so they thrive in their senior years.” Based in Raleigh, Grey Muzzle’s passion for helping senior dogs extends nationwide. greymuzzle.org
Layers of Dignity
When a survivor of sexual assault seeks help in an emergency room or advocacy center, Layers of Dignity provides them a tote filled with clean clothes, toiletries, a resource packet and a handwritten note — tangible reminders that the community stands with them. layersofdignity.com
MAAME, inc.
MAAME, Inc. is dedicated to improving maternal and infant health for Black and brown families as well as others historically excluded from services in North Carolina. They provide culturally tailored doula care, mental health support, lactation assistance and community programs to empower families as they welcome new life. maameinc.org
NC Arts in Action
Children love to dance, and NC Arts in Action is harnessing that enthusiasm in the classroom. They provide curriculum-integrated dance residencies in elementary schools statewide, helping students develop self-esteem, resilience, critical thinking and collaboration, regardless of ability or socioeconomic status. ncartsinaction.org
SaySo NC
Life can be unpredictable for teens and young adults navigating substitute care systems like foster care, group homes or mental health placements. SaySo (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out) is a youth-led advocacy organization that champions this vulnerable population, working to improve the substitute care system and offering tangible, ongoing support and resources. saysonc.org
Survivor Friendly
Cancer treatments can wreak havoc on the body, and those changes can reduce quality of life for patients. Survivor Friendly provides women with breast prostheses, wigs, hairpieces and compression garments to help them reclaim their positive body image during and after their fight with cancer. survivorfriendly.com
Tools4Schools
Teachers in North Carolina spend an average of $1,300 each year on school supplies out of their own pockets — Tools4Schools combats that. “Since opening in January 2022, WakeEd Partnership’s Tools4Schools has distributed more than $1 million in new classroom supplies to over 11,000 teachers across 100% of Wake County Public Schools,” says president Keith Poston. wakeed.org/tools4schools
We Plant it Forward
With a focus on tree planting and reforesting diverse communities of Raleigh, We Plant It Forward facilitates hands-on environmental work, from education to sapling giveaways to community tree plantings. Says executive director Maggie Bailey: “Now more than ever, we need to work together to preserve and restore our tree canopy.” weplantitforward.org
Wheels 4 Hope
In a city with little public transit, a car is key to keeping a job, meeting family obligations and pursuing education. Wheels 4 Hope repairs donated cars, turning them into reliable transportation. Each refurbished car is then sold for a reduced rate to applicants who couldn’t otherwise afford one, opening a world of opportunity for a deserving neighbor. wheels4hope.org
Youth Ambassadors of Service
Run by youth, for youth, YAS (formerly General Services Foundation) mobilizes high school students by teaching them how to execute community service projects and connecting them to nonprofits through internships. In this way, they get to use their unique talents in civic-
minded service to their community. youthambassadorsofservice.org
This article originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of WALTER magazine
