Community Investments: What’s Changing
As we enter our centennial year, we recognize how much our community has changed. We must keep pace with these changes in order to meet the most pressing needs currently facing Forsyth County. So we are adapting and growing in the ways we invest in the community, while continuing to collaborate with donors and invest in local nonprofits and community groups.
Two New Focus Areas
In late 2017, we announced two new broad focus areas—Building an Inclusive Economy and Advancing Equity in Education. We arrived at the decision to focus much of our programmatic work in these two areas after extensive discussion with our partners and reviewing data showing significant racial, economic, and residential disparities among communities of color.
Priority Areas Defined
In 2017–2018, Foundation staff conducted listening and strategy sessions with grantees, partners, and directly impacted community members, and we identified six priorities within our two new focus areas. These priorities reflect areas where significant levels of inequity persist, where the community says our resources are most needed, and where we believe we can make the greatest impact now and for the foreseeable future.
Building an Inclusive Economy
- Access to efficient and affordable transportation (Read about our latest transportation grant rounds.)
- Reduction in the racial wealth gap
- Inclusive pathways to family-sustaining careers
Advancing Equity in Education
- Anti-bias culture and practices in educational settings (Pre-K to Post-secondary)
- Positive/constructive behavior intervention strategies (Pre-K to 12)
- Racially and economically diverse public schools (K to 12)
Initial Responsive Grant Funding
Our initial responsive grant funding will work toward addressing:
- Access to efficient and affordable transportation (Spring 2019)
- Reduction in the racial wealth gap (Fall 2019)
How You Can Support These Efforts
As we move forward, the Foundation will be directing a portion of our resources to meet these community challenges through both proactive and responsive grantmaking. We invite community members to join us by supporting the Next Century Fund to help us succeed in our efforts to create a generous and trusting community where everyone is thriving!
