NCDAC Employee Foundation FAQ

1. What is the NCDAC Employee Foundation?

The NCDAC Employee Foundation, Inc. is an independent nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting the employees of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) and their families. Articles of incorporation were filed in late May.

2. Why do we need a foundation like this?

NCDAC employees have difficult, dangerous jobs – working to protect and serve the public, their colleagues, those in their custody and under their supervision, and communities across the state where they live and work. When an NCDAC employee loses their life in the line of duty or suffers a loss in a natural disaster or other circumstance, the instinct is to reach out and offer assistance. But state law limits the kind and amount of help NCDAC can provide in circumstances like these.

That is why other states (including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Indiana) have established foundations to benefit their correctional employees. It is why the North Carolina State Highway Patrol has a similar foundation for its employees – and why we need the NCDAC Employee Foundation. It is the right thing to do.

3. Who’s in charge of the foundation?

The NCDAC Employee Foundation is governed by an independent board of directors that includes current and former employees of the department; representatives of the North Carolina Correctional Association (NCCA), North Carolina Probation and Parole Association (NCPPA), and State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC); a philanthropist; and the daughter of a fallen employee. Douglas Holbrook, a retired NCDAC employee who previously served as Chief Deputy Secretary of Administration, will be the first chair of the foundation board.

4. How will the foundation assist employees?

The board of directors will determine the benefits available to NCDAC employees and their families, taking into consideration input from NCDAC employees, best practices from other states with correctional foundations, and available funds.

Correctional foundations in other states assist families of employees who lose their lives in the line of duty and aid those impacted by natural disasters or other tragedies. Some foundations offer additional benefits such as scholarships for employees or family members, awards to employees recognized for their workplace contributions, or support for employee social events.

5. How will the foundation raise money?

The board of directors will decide how the foundation raises money to support its mission, taking into consideration input from NCDAC employees and best practices from other states with correctional foundations. In a 2025 survey, NCDAC employees expressed support for a variety of fundraising strategies, including payroll deductions, fundraising events, and contributions through the State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC). To help in this effort, NCDAC Secretary Leslie Dismukes is directing half the proceeds of the 11th Annual Secretary’s Cup Golf Tournament to the foundation.

6. How is the foundation different from the North Carolina Correctional Association (NCCA), the North Carolina Probation and Parole Association (NCPPA), the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), and the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (CPOF)?

The foundation will complement the professional development work of the NCCA and NCPPA, the advocacy efforts of SEANC, and the employee support initiatives of CPOF. To promote cooperation and coordination, the foundation board includes representatives of the NCCA, NCPPA, and SEANC.

7. How can I get more information about the foundation?

The foundation is committed to transparency, accountability and open communication with NCDAC employees. In the short term, while the newly-formed board of directors works to set up a website and other means of communication, you mail email questions to [email protected].