Winston-Salem Foundation Expands Funding Priorities to Advance Economic Mobility in Forsyth County

The Winston-Salem Foundation is expanding its Funding Priorities to advance economic mobility in Forsyth County. The Foundation has added Expanding Access to Housing and Fostering Civic Engagement & Inclusion to its existing Funding Priorities of Advancing Equity in Education and Building an Inclusive Economy. These Funding Priorities serve as guideposts for how the Foundation funds community solutions, convenes partners, and advocates for long-term change. 

“In order to foster meaningful and lasting change in our community, we must invest resources strategically and intentionally,” said LaTida Smith, Winston-Salem Foundation president.

“Offering grants dedicated to access to housing and inclusive civic engagement reflects our commitment to keeping pace with the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing our community today.”

Since 2018, the Foundation has highlighted Building an Inclusive Economy and Advancing Equity in Education as its Funding Priorities. Examples of these priorities at work include grants to the Do School to expand workforce opportunities, Goodwill of Northwest NC to address gaps in childcare subsidies for people seeking employment, Winston-Salem TEACH to build a diverse educator workforce, and an ongoing partnership with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools to foster a supportive learning environment in every school.  

Grant opportunities specific to Housing and Civic Engagement & Inclusion will open May 1 with applications due June 1, 2026. Information will be available in May at wsfoundation.org/grants. 

• Access to Housing Grants focus on organizations that preserve and expand affordable housing opportunities in Forsyth County. 

• Civic Engagement & Inclusion Grants focus on organizations that bridge divides to foster community connections, shared understanding, and trust, and also strengthen resident leadership and build networks for collective action. 

“It’s a challenging time for the nonprofit sector, and one foundation such as ours isn’t able to tackle all that is needed,” said Smith. “We must prioritize according to what we hear from our community. We’re grateful to our many partners across Forsyth County whose collaboration was instrumental in defining these additional priorities.” 

Read more about the Funding Priorities at wsfoundation.org/community-impact.