Then, Hurricane Helene struck. Western North Carolina was devastated—entire communities were wiped out, and the people who lost everything received little help in the aftermath. Now that Charlotte was their home, this disaster felt personal. It wasn’t just a national issue; it was a regional crisis impacting their neighbors. But what frustrated them most was how little support these communities received. Even years later, the effects of the hurricane were still visible, and recovery efforts remained painfully slow.

Jeremy and Diamond wanted to do something. But as they looked at existing charities, they felt unsatisfied. Many organizations had high operating costs, lacked transparency, and seemed more focused on bureaucracy than on real solutions. They knew that if they wanted to see meaningful change, they had to build something different—something built on action, accountability, and efficiency.

And so, Effort to Impact was created.

Not long after, Cole Warman and Erik Rathke joined the mission, each bringing their own passion and expertise to the team. With a shared vision of creating a nonprofit that puts people first—one that adapts to urgent needs, maximizes resources, and delivers direct, tangible impact—they built an organization dedicated to addressing both immediate crises and long-term solutions.

Today, Effort to Impact stands as a nonprofit committed to turning effort into real change. Whether it’s helping communities rebuild after disasters, providing economic opportunities to those in need, or tackling systemic issues like homelessness and addiction, we are here to make sure no problem is ignored and no effort is wasted.

Join us in making an impact.

Effort to Impact is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

EIN:33-2909587

All donations are used to support Effort to Impact’s mission and programs. While we make every effort to allocate funds as intended by donors, we reserve the right to use contributions where they are needed most.