Downtown skyline

Our Story

History

The Foundation was established in 1919 with a donation of $1,000. 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. For over a hundred years, thousands of individuals and organizations have partnered with us to improve the quality of life in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and beyond. Read more in our historical timeline.

What We Do

  • Community Investment: We offer proactive and responsive grantmaking and we build deep community partnerships to strengthen Forsyth County.
  • Philanthropic Services: We partner with generous community members to make impactful and lasting gifts, both locally and beyond.
  • Student Aid: We provide scholarships to local students in their quest for higher education.
  • Strategic Initiatives: We amplify the voices and collective impact of local youth, women and girls, and Black communities.

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

our vision

A generous and trusting community where everyone is thriving.

our mission

We inspire giving and link resources to action, strengthening Forsyth County—now and forever.

our values
  • Inclusion: we practice and champion inclusion, honoring the strengths and experiences of all in our community.
  • Accountability: we honor the intentions of our donors and partners and hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, service, and stewardship.
  • Continuous Learning: we are committed to learning and evolving with our community and our partners.

Our commitment to racial equity

Learn more about how and why the Foundation is applying a racial equity lens to its work in the community—as well as inside its own walls.

Read about our Commitment to Racial Equity

Financial impact

National rankings

Based on FY 2021 CF Insights Survey of 193 U.S. community foundations

stories of impact

Giving from the Heart

Few people knew the philanthropic side of Gordon Pfefferkorn. A simple man, he eschewed spending money on material things and instead gave his resources to empower countless young people in Forsyth County to further their education with scholarships through The Winston-Salem Foundation.

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stories of impact

A Safe Haven of Support

Nestled among 53 acres in Tobaccoville is a place where people of all ages and abilities can achieve wholeness and acceptance. For Laura Pallavicini, it is a magical place. She discovered Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center in 1999 when, fresh out of UNC-Chapel Hill, she moved to Winston-Salem for work.

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stories of impact

Focusing on Education

Richard and Becky Davis believe in education. “To me education is the key to our success,” says Richard, who believes it generates more opportunities for individuals, not only with work, but also with housing, health, longevity and overall quality of life."

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