During its November board meeting, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR) awarded 102 grants totaling $9.4 million to organizations working toward systemic change at the state level in North Carolina. Most grants began on January 1 under ZSR’s State-Level Systemic Change strategy, supporting nonprofits that aim to address root causes of challenges, influence policies, and transform power structures to ensure all North Carolinians can lead fulfilling lives.
The funded organizations focus on advancing public education, fostering a healthy and sustainable environment, promoting social and economic justice, and strengthening democracy. These grants include 74 awards for general operating support and 57 multi-year grants, providing organizations with flexible resources to sustain their work. The funding helps nonprofits implement programs that create meaningful, long-term progress across the state.
In the field of education, grant recipients work to improve public schooling, support early childhood development, enhance teacher and leadership capacity, expand language programs, and promote equity in educational access. Environmental grants support projects that address energy efficiency, water quality, flood management, conservation, and climate-focused community initiatives.
Grants aimed at social and economic justice help organizations improve housing security, expand workforce development, promote immigrant and civil rights, support economic inclusion, strengthen restorative justice programs, and foster minority-led enterprises. Meanwhile, democracy-focused grants support voter education, civic engagement, non-partisan journalism, leadership development, and initiatives that encourage equitable participation in public life.
The foundation also awarded grants to other initiatives that support community resilience, skills training, and resource development, ensuring a wide range of projects receive support to drive systemic change. By providing these funds, ZSR strengthens the capacity of North Carolina nonprofits to create lasting social impact and promote a more equitable and thriving state.
