BPI Announces $159,190 in Grants

BPI Announces 2026 Grant Recipients

The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) has awarded $159,190 in grants to 11 Black-led organizations in Forsyth County. The funding supports education equity, economic mobility, and community resilience, bringing BPI’s total 2026 grantmaking to $259,190.

The combined Advancing Equity in Education and Building an Inclusive Economy grant cycle supports organizations working to expand access to learning, economic mobility, and long-term prosperity for Black individuals, families, and communities in Forsyth County.

Grant recipients and funded project proposals include:

Liberty East Redevelopment: To support DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) in strengthening math and literacy skills for K–5 students attending schools with historically low proficiency rates, helping students reach grade-level benchmarks and close persistent achievement gaps. (Awarded $10,000)

NC EmpowerUp: To support a creative literacy camp for a cohort of 10–12 students that teaches creative writing, book publishing, and entrepreneurship to middle school students. (Awarded $14,190)

Be Well Foundation: To support a Black Maternal Health Ecosystem pilot that advances economic stability and workforce sustainability through culturally grounded care for Black mothers provided by Black practitioners. (Awarded $15,000)

The Dream Team Foundation, Inc.: To support The Dream Team Foundation’s Leadership Academy (D.T.L.A.), advancing academic achievement, leadership development, and equitable access to opportunity for middle school students. (Awarded $15,000)

Versatile Development Group: To support trauma-informed re-entry, violence prevention, and transitional housing services, addressing the critical need for safe, affordable housing. (Awarded $15,000)

Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce: To support Cohort #3 of the Youth Empowerment Initiative (YEI) and membership programming—creating a blueprint for resilience and success beyond high school. (Awarded $15,000)

Heart Math Tutoring: To support relationship-based math tutoring that advances academic confidence and promotes educational equity for Black and economically disadvantaged elementary students in Winston-Salem. (Awarded $15,000)

Grace Presbyterian Church: To support a Summer Enrichment Program that advances academic achievement, identity development, and real-world learning. (Awarded $15,000)

Youth Life Skills Institute, Inc.: To support a culturally affirming leadership and mentoring program that advances school connectedness, self-advocacy, and educational success for Black boys in Forsyth County. (Awarded $15,000)

New Hope Resource Center of Winston-Salem, Inc.: To support the Fresh Hope Workforce Development Ecosystem® in advancing career pathway training, employment placement, and long-term economic mobility for underserved residents. (Awarded $15,000)

Union Community Development Corporation: To support efforts to Break The Chain of Illiteracy through intensive K–3 small-group instruction using evidence-based, real-time assessments and certified instructional coaches, integrating STEAM project-based learning. (Awarded $15,000)

The Advancing Equity in Education Grants and Building an Inclusive Economy Grants are a testament to the power of collective giving, with Forsyth County community members pooling resources to support meaningful change.

To learn more about BPI grant programs and to find ways to contribute to this work, visit bpiws.org.

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The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) is a 100% Black-led initiative of The Winston-Salem Foundation launched in 2003 that explicitly, not exclusively, focuses on its grantmaking and programming on needs identified in the local Black community. Since 2007, BPI has provided $1.14 million in grant funding to local organizations.    

For more information on The Winston-Salem Foundation and the Black Philanthropy Initiative, visit bpiws.org.  