Milestones

1919

WSF established with $1,000 gift from Col. Francis H. Fries

1923

First student aid fund - Leo Caldwell Fund

1935

Foundation receives its first donor-advised fund,  the second oldest donor-advised fund established in the U.S.

1950

Foundation's unrestricted funds total $25,000

1961

Foundation hires first staff - James A. Gray, Jr.

1962

Foundation's unrestricted funds total $1 million

1972

A leadership grant of $100,000 is made to start the Council on Drug Abuse. It still exists today as Step One.

1983

Winston-Salem Foundation, Inc. is created

1986

Foundation begins administering proceeds from the Crosby National Celebrity Golf Tournament, resulting in the Crosby Scholars Community Program and the Coalition on Drug Abuse Prevention.

1990

Foundation starts Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods.

1990

Foundation announces 75th Anniversary Grant Initiative: race relations, economic development with minority emphasis, and youth at-risk

1993

Foundation begins serving as trustee

1994

Foundation's 75th anniversary, reaches $75 million in assets

1994

Foundation increases its Committee members to 13 and revised term limits from one nine-year to two four-year terms

1995

Foundation begins serving as trustee to CRTs and CLTs

1997

Foundation leads effort to bring LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) to Forsyth County to work with community development organizations

1999

Foundation launches the ECHO Fund, a $2.5 million grant initiative

2001

First ECHO Awards are presented

2003

Foundation launches the ECHO Council and Black Philanthropy Initiative

2005

Youth Grantmakers in Action is established

2006

Foundation establishes The Legacy Society and The Winston-Salem Foundation Award

2007

First grants made by The Women's Fund of Winston-Salem

2008

Foundation's unrestricted and field of interest funds total $57 million

2010

Student Aid program provides over $1 million in scholarships, grants and loans

 2012

Foundation surpasses $300 million mark in year-end assets for the first time ($308.2 million in 2012)