The homeowners we represent and the guests who choose us for their Outer Banks vacations make it possible for us to give back to the community that hosts our visitors year after year.
Our area is home to amazing non-profits that channel support where it matters. While this list isn’t exhaustive, these organizations help shape and preserve the Outer Banks’ unique essence. If you cherish this coastal paradise, consider supporting these community champions.
N.E.S.T.
The Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of sea turtles and other protected wildlife from Nags Head to North Carolina’s border with Virginia.
Outer Banks Forever
Outer Banks Forever is an official non-profit partner of the Outer Banks’ three national parks (Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore) that helps protect and enhance them through public engagement, programming, and project support.
Friends Of Jockey’s Ridge
Friends Of Jockey’s Ridge is the non-profit partner of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. The organization supports, enhances, and promotes Jockey’s Ridge State Park as a significant geologic feature of the Outer Banks by helping to fund educational programs, exhibits, activities, events, equipment, supplies, and more at the park.
The Outer Banks Surfrider Foundation
The Outer Banks chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is an environmental non-profit that passionately protects the ocean, waves, and beaches we all enjoy.
First Flight Society
The First Flight Society is a non-profit organization that preserves the legacy of the Wright Brothers and their historic first flight through education, promotion of aviation, and support of the National Park Service at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
Dare Education Foundation
The Dare Education Foundation is an educational non-profit focusing on supporting the students, teachers, and schools of Dare County.
Outer Banks Community Foundation
The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a non-profit established to help meet local needs across the Outer Banks. The organization increases charitable giving in the area by managing funds for individuals and agencies and targeting grants and scholarships toward the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities.
Outer Banks Relief Foundation
The Outer Banks Relief Foundation is a non-profit organization that eases financial burdens for members of the community when tragedy strikes.
Outer Banks Health
Outer Banks Health (OBH) provides a range of health and wellness services for the Outer Banks Community, and those services continue to grow. What began as a community hospital has become one of the nation’s top rural health systems, including emergency services, urgent care, primary care, cancer care, women’s health, orthopedics, sports medicine, rehabilitation therapy, and so much more. Carolina Designs Realty is proud to have participated in funding the construction of OBH’s Cowell Cancer Center facility.
Interfaith Community Outreach
Interfaith Community Outreach is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to individuals in the local community facing a temporary emergency crisis.
Food For Thought
Food For Thought is an all-volunteer non-profit that reduces academic risk due to hunger by providing weekend meals during the school year for all Dare County Pre-K through 12th-grade students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The organization provides additional support through grocery gift cards, hygiene supplies, clothing, and shoes for students in need.
Beach Food Pantry
Beach Food Pantry is a non-profit organization that strives to end hunger in Dare County by providing healthy and nutritional food items to those in need.
Food Bank Of The Albemarle
Food Bank Of The Albemarle is a regional clearinghouse for the collection and distribution of food and grocery items to over 100 non-profit and faith-based organizations in 15 counties in northeastern North Carolina, including Dare County.
Outer Banks Hotline
Outer Banks Hotline is a non-profit organization of professional advocates that provides a 24/7 crisis line and offers emergency shelter and support services for those in the community affected by domestic violence and more.
Dare2Care OBX Shred Fest
Dare2Care OBX Shred Fest is an annual event in partnership with the Motu Music Foundation non-profit that helps bring awareness and support to over 5,000 Dare County veterans and increases community inclusion for people of all ability levels. Funds raised provide free music programs to these deserving communities.
Outer Banks Seafood Festival
The Outer Banks Seafood Festival is an annual event that provides a fun and educational experience celebrating our area’s seafood heritage and community. The festival benefits the Outer Banks Seafood Festival Fund, which provides support for commercial fishermen, fish houses, charter/head boats, and other entities supporting our local seafood industry.
Outer Banks Brewtag
Outer Banks Brewtag is an annual celebration of flight and beer that raises funds for the Rogallo Foundation. The Rogallo Foundation preserves Francis and Gertrude Rogallo’s priceless records, artifacts, and research, interprets their incredible story, and protects the legacy of free flight. There is a long-range plan to build a Rogallo Museum on the Outer Banks. At Brewtag, attendees can watch contestants compete to see who can launch and fly an empty 1/6 keg barrel the farthest!
Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition
The Outer Banks Dementia Friendly Coalition is a local non-profit organization that provides support services and training to educate area businesses, restaurants, employees, and managers about the challenges caregivers and people living with dementia face in the community and appropriate responses to help alleviate those challenges.
Outer Banks, Currituck, & Elizabeth City Chambers
The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce empowers the local business community by promoting and developing economic prosperity; they are our area’s leader in providing comprehensive resources for the Outer Banks business community. The Currituck Chamber of Commerce serves as a source of information for businesses, newcomers, and visitors of Currituck, North Carolina, which includes the town of Corolla on the northern Outer Banks. Elizabeth City is located west of Currituck, and the Elizabeth City Chamber of Commerce promotes, supports, and enhances both Pasquotank and Camden counties’ economic growth and business climate.
Outer Banks Restaurant Association
Our area is home to a multitude of diverse restaurants known for their culinary creativity and southern hospitality. The Outer Banks Restaurant Association (OBRA) is a non-profit organization supporting the industry through promotion, philanthropy partnerships, and the OBRA Culinary Education Scholarship Fund. Carolina Designs Realty is a proud associate member.
Coastal Humane Society
Founded by caring locals and fueled by community generosity, the Coastal Humane Society is an Outer Banks non-profit that helps ease the burdens of pet healthcare costs for families in Dare County and lower Currituck County. As a pet-loving company, Carolina Designs Realty has long supported this organization and its annual “OBX Fur Ball” fundraiser event.