The Winston-Salem Foundation is much more than a collection of funds. As a convener and community leader, we convene people and connect resources with opportunities that will address various critical issues.

Academic research shows that when social capital is high, people in communities work better together, neighborhoods are safer, schools are more effective, healthy and mortality improve, government runs more smoothly, and resources are more equally shared.  That's why in 1999 The Winston-Salem Foundation created the ECHO Fund - Everyone Can Help Out.  The Foundation committed a minimum of $2.5 million over 5 years to be used for grants to organizations that increase our community's stock of social capital.

The final ECHO grant was awarded in June 2005, but the Foundation's commitment to building social capital remains strong. In 2003 the Foundation created the ECHO Council, which it officially launched in November 2005.  The ECHO Council, which has been charged by the Foundation to work as a promoter, incubator, facilitator, and advocate for social capital models diverse and inclusive leadership and is working to create a culture of the common good where decisions are made to benefit the many rather than the few. (learn more)

The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) of The Winston-Salem Foundation was created to acknowledge and celebrate the traditions of sharing in the Black community and to expand the models of charitable giving through education and engagement. (learn more)

Youth Grantmakers in Action (YGA) of The Winston-Salem Foundation is a diverse group of youth from across Forsyth County that comes together to gain leadership experience, represent youth in their community, voice their opinions, and make grants to youth-directed projects that address community issues and challenges in Forsyth County. This project was created to engage young people and their critical insight into the needs of other youth in the community. (learn more)

The Women's Fund provides grants specifically targeted to those organizations and programs that address the needs of women and girls in our community.  In addition, the Women's Fund of Winston-Salem builds a community of female philanthropists by raising awareness and educating women and girls about the power of philanthropy.  The Women's Fund embraces a model of inclusiveness that invites all women and girls of this community to realize their power to make a difference. (learn more)