celebrating a centennial

The Winston-Salem Foundation was established on October 14, 1919 with a gift of $1,000 from Colonel Francis H. Fries, president of Wachovia Bank, following a model developed in Cleveland, Ohio five years earlier. We were the first foundation of any type to be established in North Carolina, and we’re the 16th oldest community foundation in the United States. Today, the Foundation manages $565 million in assets and has over 1,500 charitable funds that positively impact communities in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and beyond.

Visit our Historical Timeline

What We Do

• Community Leadership: We collaborate with nonprofits, funders, and community leaders to build a more equitable community for all.
• Community Grants: We support charitable organizations and programs that benefit Forsyth County in many program areas.
• Philanthropic Services: We educate and assist individuals and organizations in their charitable giving.
• Student Aid: We provide scholarships to local students in their quest for higher education.

Focus Areas

The Foundation is devoting significant resources toward investments in two critical focus areas for our work in Forsyth County:

• Building an Inclusive Economy
• Advancing Equity in Education

Learn more about our focus areas