Duke Energy Foundation offers $500,000 to strengthen emergency preparedness across South Carolina

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) Foundation is investing $500,000 in South Carolina through its fifth annual HERO microgrant program to strengthen weather-related emergency preparedness and response.

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) Foundation is investing $500,000 in South Carolina through its fifth annual HERO microgrant program to strengthen weather-related emergency preparedness and response.

Grants up to $20,000 are available to South Carolina government agencies and qualified nonprofits from March 19 to April 25 to fund training, equipment and shelters; the five-year program totals $2.5 million and has funded 137 microgrants since 2022.

Positive

• Duke Energy Foundation committing $500,000 to South Carolina HERO grants
• Individual grants available up to $20,000 for training, equipment, shelters
• Five-year program total reaches $2.5 million, demonstrating sustained support
• 137 microgrants funded in South Carolina since 2022

Negative

• Individual grant cap of $20,000 may limit funding for large-scale infrastructure projects
• Program funding restricted to South Carolina, leaving needs in other service states unmet

Argus Mar 11 session

+0.26% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – DUK

On Mar 11, the day this news came out, DUK closed 0.26% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 11 session.

Market Context

This announcement highlights a targeted $500,000 HERO microgrant program to bolster emergency prepar...

Analysis

This announcement highlights a targeted $500,000 HERO microgrant program to bolster emergency preparedness in South Carolina, extending a five-year, $2.5 million commitment. It reinforces Duke Energy Foundation’s annual giving of more than $30 million and follows earlier resilience and environmental grant rounds. Investors monitoring DUK may track how such initiatives tie into broader grid-hardening efforts, regulatory relationships in key states, and the company’s ongoing capital plans and funding tools, including its registered PremierNotes program.

Key Figures

HERO grants 2026: $500,000 Max grant size: $20,000 Program duration: 5 years +5 more

HERO grants 2026

$500,000

South Carolina emergency preparedness microgrant funding

Max grant size

$20,000

Per eligible South Carolina government or nonprofit applicant

Program duration

5 years

HERO microgrant program operating history

Total HERO support

$2.5 million

Cumulative HERO microgrant funding across five years

HERO microgrants

137 grants

Number of South Carolina microgrants funded since 2022

Shelter capacity

25 people

Capacity per shelter trailer funded for Oconee County

Foundation giving

>$30 million

Annual Duke Energy Foundation philanthropic support

Electric customers

8.6 million

Customers served by Duke Energy electric utilities

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 09

5 events

1. Mar 09

   Debt offering announcement

   24h Move

   -1.1%

   Proposed $1.0B convertible senior notes due 2029 to refinance maturities.

2. Mar 06

   Customer support update

   24h Move

   +0.7%

   Explained higher winter bills and highlighted $95M assistance to 110,800 households.

3. Mar 03

   Reliability metrics

   24h Move

   -0.1%

   Reported record-low 64-minute 2025 outage duration from grid hardening efforts.

4. Feb 23

   Foundation grants

   24h Move

   +0.8%

   Committed $500,000 for up to 20 North Carolina environmental resilience projects.

5. Feb 20

   Nuclear performance

   24h Move

   +0.3%

   Nuclear fleet hit 96.9% capacity factor and generated ~$600M in tax credits.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

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Add on Google Not now

• HERO grant program will pay for training, equipment and resources that strengthen readiness, response and resilience to severe weather.

• Now in its fifth year, the program helps first responders fill critical gaps and better protect the communities they serve.

GREENVILLE, S.C., March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Foundation is investing $500,000 in South Carolina communities through its Helping Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) grant program to support weather-related emergency preparedness and response across the Palmetto State.

Why it matters: Earlier this year, South Carolina experienced severe weather across the state, including in communities that were hard-hit by Hurricane Helene. As extreme weather grows in intensity, first responders constantly work to find ways to increase their resiliency and prepare for future major weather events. Duke Energy Foundation micro grants help local government and nonprofits fill the gap when storms create overlapping emergencies.  

How it works: Beginning March 19, South Carolina government agencies and qualified nonprofits can apply for grants up to $20,000 to fund training, equipment and materials to increase resiliency to major weather events and recovery operations. Applications close April 25.

• Funding is available to support community storm preparedness training, materials, kits or shelters, specialized training for first responders and equipment necessary for severe weather rescues and scenarios.
• Learn more and apply at duke-energy.com/SCHEROgrants.

By the numbers

• This is the fifth year of the $500,000 microgrant program – bringing total support to $2.5 million.
• Since 2022, Duke Energy's HERO grants have funded 137 microgrants in South Carolina. Read more about the impact of these investments.

What they're saying

• Tim Pearson, Duke Energy's South Carolina president: "When severe weather impacts communities across our state, we work alongside first responders and understand the challenges they face to restore life back to normal. This year's HERO grants continue to help fill gaps in storm response identified by severe weather events and help provide additional tools and training to our fellow first responders."
• Joshua Hawkins, Director, Anderson County Emergency Management: "Thanks to the Duke Energy HERO Grant, we were able to deploy a traffic trailer with 300 cones to our local volunteer fire departments during the recent winter storms. This may have been a simple purchase, but it makes a big impact countywide. We truly appreciate Dukes partnership with all responders."
• Richard Pring, Director of Public Works, City of Sumter: "The Salt Dogg spreader we purchased this year through the grant provided by Duke Energy significantly enhanced our ability to respond to the winter weather events we experienced in February. Thanks to the addition of this new spreader, we were able to double our treatment capacity and effectively manage more than three inches of snowfall across the city."
• V. Aaron Smith, Coordinator, Oconee County Emergency Services: "The investment that Duke Energy continues to place in emergency preparedness and response is essential to bolstering our local capabilities and we are grateful for the partnership! The ability to have a second shelter trailer has been an invaluable addition. During our recent winter weather, we were able to open two simultaneous shelters with 25-person capacity, one also able to accommodate special medical needs."

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: Catherine Ramirez
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-foundation-offers-500-000-to-strengthen-emergency-preparedness-across-south-carolina-302711143.html

SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is the Duke Energy Foundation HERO grant program for South Carolina (DUK) in 2026?

The HERO program provides microgrants to boost weather emergency readiness and response. According to Duke Energy, grants fund training, equipment, shelters and materials to improve first‑responder resiliency between March 19 and April 25.

How much funding is Duke Energy Foundation offering in South Carolina (DUK) HERO grants in 2026?

Duke Energy Foundation is offering a total of $500,000 in HERO grants for South Carolina. According to Duke Energy, this is part of a five‑year $2.5 million commitment to local emergency preparedness.

What is the maximum award per applicant for the DUK HERO grants and who can apply?

Applicants can request up to $20,000 per grant for eligible projects. According to Duke Energy, South Carolina government agencies and qualified nonprofits are eligible to apply for the microgrants.

When can South Carolina organizations apply for Duke Energy (DUK) HERO grants in 2026 and when is the deadline?

Applications open on March 19, 2026 and close on April 25, 2026. According to Duke Energy, applicants should submit proposals during that window to be considered for funding.

How many HERO microgrants has Duke Energy funded in South Carolina since the program began?

Since 2022, Duke Energy's HERO program has funded 137 microgrants in South Carolina. According to Duke Energy, the grants support local first responders with equipment and training for severe weather events.

What types of projects do Duke Energy HERO grants (DUK) support in South Carolina?

HERO grants support storm preparedness training, materials, kits, shelters and specialized rescue equipment. According to Duke Energy, funding can be used for training, shelters, equipment and recovery operations after severe weather.