← Back to US Funders Directory

Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

Annual Giving
$24.1M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $24,142,655 (2023)
  • Total Assets: Over $330 million
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $30,000 (Community Progress Fund); varied amounts for State-Level Systemic Change
  • Geographic Focus: North Carolina (statewide, with special focus on 78 rural counties)
  • Total Impact Since Founding: Nearly $700 million invested
  • Recent Awards: 305 grants in 2023; 108 grants totaling $19.2 million in November 2024

Contact Details

Website: https://zsr.org

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Grant Inquiries: Email the foundation through their website for questions about specific programs

Overview

Established in 1936 by the children of RJ and Katharine Smith Reynolds as a memorial to their brother Zachary Smith Reynolds, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR) has been investing in North Carolina communities for nearly 90 years. Tax-exempt since May 1939, ZSR is the fourth-largest philanthropic organization in North Carolina with assets exceeding $330 million. In 2023, the foundation awarded $24.1 million across 305 grants. ZSR's mission is to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable North Carolina where people embrace their common humanity and work together to shape their collective future. The foundation operates through a trust-based philanthropy model, valuing grantee expertise and maintaining flexibility to meet evolving community needs. Led by Executive Director Joy Vermillion Heinsohn since March 2023, ZSR has committed to allocating the majority of its grantmaking dollars to marginalized communities and at least 25 percent to social justice strategies including advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

State-Level Systemic Change

  • Multi-year grants ranging widely in amount
  • Funds organizations working to change policies, power structures, and root causes of challenges
  • Applications open annually, typically in summer
  • In November 2024, awarded 108 grants totaling $19.2 million
  • 73% of grants are for general operating support; 81% are multiyear grants
  • Rolling basis application process when open

Community Progress Fund

  • Amount: $20,000 - $30,000 per year for one or two years
  • Short-term grants for local nonprofits in NC's 78 rural counties
  • Funds organizations to meet direct community needs, test new ideas, or expand promising efforts
  • Applications open annually, typically in winter (January 5 - February 2, 2026 for next cycle)
  • In May 2024, awarded 35 grants totaling $1.4 million
  • Online portal application process

Sabbatical Program

  • Amount: Up to $30,000 per recipient
  • Supports experienced nonprofit leaders with paid sabbaticals
  • Awards go to both individuals and their organizations
  • Applications open every other year, typically in winter
  • Interview required for selected applicants

Inclusive Public Art Initiative

  • Invests in public art projects that share under-told stories of North Carolinians
  • Applications open every 3-4 years
  • Sparks new conversations and highlights common humanity

Priority Areas

ZSR focuses on four strategic priority areas:

  1. Strengthening Democracy: Supporting civic engagement, advocacy, and efforts to ensure government represents and responds to all North Carolinians
  2. Healthy and Sustainable Environment: Promoting clean air and water, environmental justice, and sustainability
  3. Advancing Public Education: Investing in public schools and educational equity for all children
  4. Promoting Social Justice & Equity: Addressing systemic inequities and supporting marginalized communities

The foundation invests through three primary strategies:

  • State-Level Systemic Change (policy and power structure transformation)
  • Community-Based and Exploratory (local solutions and new ideas)
  • Visionary Ideas (bold, cutting-edge approaches)

Special Emphasis:

  • Strongly encourages applications from organizations led by and primarily serving people of color
  • Prioritizes community-driven, community-led, and community-centered proposals
  • Focuses on NC's 78 rural counties through Community Progress Fund, recognizing resource disparities between urban and rural areas

What They Don't Fund

Legal Prohibitions:

  • Lobbying activities (earmarked funds)
  • Voter registration (earmarked funds)
  • Supporting or opposing individual candidates
  • Work to influence election outcomes

General Restrictions:

  • Grants to individuals (except Sabbatical Program)
  • Organizations outside North Carolina
  • Non-tax-exempt entities (must be 501(c)(3), government, or religious organizations)

Rarely Funded Activities (State-Level Systemic Change Program):

  • Individual schools or limited school projects within districts
  • Individual early childhood centers or out-of-school time programs
  • Organizations focused exclusively on direct services (e.g., homeless shelters, health care services, child abuse treatment)
  • Supplemental educational programs (summer camps, athletic teams, drop-out prevention programs, youth vocational/character development programs)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn, Executive Director (since March 2023)

  • Succeeded Maurice (Mo) Green who retired after seven years
  • Provides strategic direction for grantmaking, partner engagement, operations, and communications
  • On education priorities: "The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation believes that each child deserves a high-quality education that prepares him or her to be successful in life"
  • On supporting young leaders: "Investments in the next generation of up and coming leaders are an investment in the future of North Carolina"
  • On collaboration: "We are proud to work alongside our grant partners and others who bring courage and boldness to the work of making our state a better place for everyone"

Board of Trustees

Virgil L. Smith - President of the Board

Jane S. Patterson - Vice President

Noah Reynolds - Board Treasurer; Executive Director of the Reynolds Family Office

Additional Trustees:

  • Nancy Bagley
  • Piper Beveridge
  • Ilana Dubester
  • David L. Neal
  • José F. Oliva (joined the board in recent years)

Board meetings occur at least twice annually, in May and November, when final funding decisions are made.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

ZSR holds open application periods for specific grant programs. When a program is open, applicants can set up an account and submit applications through the foundation's online grant portal accessible at zsr.org.

Before Applying:

  1. Review the foundation's About page and core values at zsr.org
  2. Carefully review the specific grant or program page you're interested in
  3. Check the Current Grant Partners database to see organizations currently receiving funding in your area
  4. Review sample applications provided for each program (available on program pages)

Application Process by Program:

Community Progress Fund:

  • Applications open January 5, 2026 (12 p.m. ET) with deadline February 2, 2026 (12 p.m. ET)
  • Click "Apply For A Grant" button on the program page
  • Complete and submit application through online portal
  • Selected applicants will be invited for site visits with ZSR staff

Sabbatical Program:

  • Applications open every other year in winter
  • Submit application through online portal
  • Selected applicants will be invited for interviews with a committee of ZSR staff, trustees, and former sabbatical recipients

State-Level Systemic Change:

  • Applications open annually, typically in summer
  • Online portal application when open

Decision Timeline

Notification of Site Visit/Interview:

  • By the end of the month following the application deadline, applicants are notified if they are selected for a site visit or interview, or if they are no longer being considered for funding

Final Decisions:

  • Trustees make final funding decisions at board meetings in May and November
  • Applicants are notified of funding decisions as soon as possible after the board meets
  • For Community Progress Fund: Applicants notified in May

Implementation:

  • Community Progress Fund requires ability to begin implementation immediately upon award

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, recent award data provides context:

  • 2023: 305 grants awarded from total applications received
  • November 2024 Board Meeting: 108 grants totaling $19.2 million awarded (State-Level Systemic Change)
  • May 2024 Board Meeting: 35 grants totaling $1.4 million awarded (Community Progress Fund)

The foundation receives a significant number of applications across programs, making the process competitive.

Reapplication Policy

  • There is no limit on the number of applications an organization may submit within or across grant programs
  • However, it is rare for an organization to receive more than one grant in a given year
  • No specific restrictions on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants mentioned in public materials

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance

Demonstrate Community Momentum and Readiness: For the Community Progress Fund, applicants must demonstrate how they will move an idea, issue, organization, or project forward to improve their community, show existing momentum within the community, and be able to begin implementation immediately upon grant award.

Alignment with Trust-Based Philanthropy: ZSR roots its grantmaking in trust-based philanthropy, valuing the knowledge and expertise of grantees. Applications should demonstrate the organization's expertise and deep understanding of the community and issue being addressed. The foundation aims to stay humble, flexible, and adaptable to meet grantees' evolving needs.

Community-Centered Approach: Proposals that receive priority are community-driven, community-led, and community-centered. Show how the community is involved in decision-making and leadership, not just as beneficiaries.

Racial Equity Lens: The foundation strongly encourages applications from organizations that are led by and primarily serve people of color. They want to see a North Carolina where racial and ethnic identity does not predict life outcomes, and acknowledge that many institutions were set up to benefit some North Carolinians and not others.

Focus on Systems Change or Local Progress:

  • For State-Level Systemic Change grants: Show how the work addresses root causes, changes policies, or shifts power structures
  • For Community Progress Fund: Demonstrate local impact and community-specific solutions

Recent Funding Examples:

  • November 2024: 108 grants totaling $19.2 million to organizations working toward state-level systemic change across four priority areas
  • May 2024: 35 grants totaling $1.4 million to rural NC organizations working for local progress
  • Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: $350,000 in grants to support students and educators following a district financial crisis
  • Support for beginning teachers through investment in instructional capacity and professional development

What ZSR Values in Applications:

  • Bold and cutting-edge ideas
  • Work that brings "courage and boldness to the work of making our state a better place for everyone"
  • Organizations demonstrating they "embrace our common humanity and work together to shape our collective future"
  • General operating support requests (73% of recent grants were for general operating support)

Questions and Pre-Application Support

If you have questions about your proposal or idea:

  1. First, carefully review the grant page, including the list of rarely funded activities
  2. Email the foundation through their website
  3. Note: Due to the significant number of applications received, ZSR may not be able to respond to every question

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Rural Focus Matters: For the Community Progress Fund, your organization must be located in one of NC's 78 rural counties as defined by the NC Rural Center—this is a hard requirement to address resource disparities
  • General Operating Support is Welcome: 73% of recent grants were for general operating support, and 81% were multiyear—ZSR trusts organizations to know how to best use funds
  • Demonstrate Immediate Readiness: Especially for Community Progress Fund, show existing community momentum and ability to begin implementation immediately upon award
  • Lead with Equity: Applications from organizations led by and primarily serving people of color are strongly encouraged; racial equity is central to ZSR's values
  • Think Systems, Not Just Services: For State-Level grants, focus on changing root causes, policies, and power structures rather than direct service provision
  • Review Sample Applications: ZSR provides sample applications for each program—use these to understand what successful applications look like
  • Timing is Critical: Application windows are limited and specific (Community Progress Fund opens in January, State-Level typically in summer)—plan ahead and don't miss deadlines

References

← Back to US Funders Directory