The Winston-Salem Foundation exists to make philanthropy and its benefits available to all. Our ability to achieve this mission depends upon our commitment to generosity, inclusion, integrity, and excellence.
We value:
- The strengths and assets of community residents
- Lasting bonds of trust and cooperation that increase social capital
- The contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives
General Information
The Foundation makes grants to charitable organizations serving the greater Forsyth County area of North Carolina through a competitive grants process. Final grant decisions rest with our volunteer governing board, The Winston-Salem Foundation Committee.
We make grants for a wide range of charitable purposes, including, but not limited to, new staff positions, capacity building projects, planning work, and new programs. We fund in areas including, but not limited to, arts and culture, education, health, human services, community development, and building social capital.*
The Foundation does not award competitive grants to support the following:
- Individuals
- Long-term operating support
- Projects that would ordinarily receive public funding
- Religious activities that serve only the members of a single congregation or promote a particular faith (guidelines for grants to religious organizations)
We make occasional grants:
- To capital campaigns in support of local facilities when the facilities will serve a wide cross-section of community members (please consult the Capital Campaign Coordinating Committee for campaigns with a local fundraising goal of $500,000 or more)
- For equipment and special events, although these are a low priority
- To match donations that help build agency endowments, if the organization is planning to place the endowment at The Winston-Salem Foundation (please request our policy for the Endowment Matching Grant Program from Philanthropic Services)
The Foundation's funding priorities may vary based on current initiatives, economic conditions, and grantmaking funds available.
* The Foundation defines social capital as connections among people, based on trust, which enhance cooperation for mutual benefit. Social capital is built when people of all races, classes, ages, and interests join together to work toward the improvement of a community. Communities where social capital is high are most successful in all measures of community health.
The Foundation is particularly interested in these aspects of social capital:
- Broadening and diversifying leadership and involvement
- Increasing trust, especially across lines of difference
- Encouraging people to do more with others rather than for others
