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The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR, also searched as the Z Reynolds Smith Foundation) is a private foundation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As described on the official page on 2026-10-29, its mission is to improve the quality of life for all North Carolinians, and it funds nonprofits, colleges and universities, religious entities and government units whose work serves people in North Carolina. This guide puts its four programs, the eligibility rules they share and the review path side by side, so you can see in one place which program fits and what the process looks like.
What it is and who runs it
ZSR is a grantmaker based at 102 W Third St., Winston-Salem, NC. Grants are awarded by its Board of Trustees, and applications go through an online grants portal. As described on the official ZSR site on 2026-10-29, the foundation runs four programs: State-Level Systemic Change, the Community Progress Fund, the Inclusive Public Art Initiative and the Sabbatical Program.
It is a foundation grant source rather than a federal agency, so it sets its own application windows, review stages and rules instead of following a federal notice-of-funding cycle. For how private foundations differ from federal sponsors in general, see private foundation research funding.
Eligibility
As described on the official grants-and-programs page on 2026-10-29, ZSR funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits, colleges and universities, religious entities and government units doing work that serves the people of North Carolina. Several rules apply across programs:
- Out-of-state organizations can apply for funds that support projects operating in North Carolina.
- Individuals are not funded, with one exception: the Sabbatical Program.
- Community Progress Fund repeat applicants wait. Past recipients wait two years after a grant ends, and an organization is ineligible if it received a Community Progress Fund grant in the previous two years.
The Community Progress Fund page adds that all 100 North Carolina counties are eligible, with an emphasis on the 78 rural counties.
What it funds or requires
State-Level Systemic Change
This program mostly makes multiyear general operating support grants plus project grants. Terms are 1, 2 or 3 years, and the program page states that most grants range from $30,000 to $100,000 per year. Its focus areas are Democracy, Environment, Public Education, and Social + Economic Justice. Materials listed on the page include the IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, board information, prior, current and next-year budgets, and a project budget for project applicants. The page lists capital campaigns, building projects, scholarships, land purchases and teacher professional development among the categories it excludes, with rare exceptions.
Community Progress Fund
Grants are $20,000 to $40,000 per year for one or two years, up to $80,000 in total; about half are typically two-year grants. The page describes the fund as supporting one-time investments. Criteria are that the project is community-driven, led or centered, has existing community support, can begin immediately and aligns with the foundation’s core values. The page says the fund rarely supports athletic teams, stand-alone conferences, curriculum development, endowments, equipment or furniture, scholarships, medical research and summer camps, among other categories. The page also states an expected success rate of about 12% overall and about 70% for applicants who reach a site visit.
Not funded under any program
The grants-and-programs page states that ZSR does not fund lobbying or voter registration, supporting or opposing candidates, or promoting violence.
Application steps
- Wait for the program’s application period to open; periods are open only at set times.
- Create an account in the online grants portal and start the application from the funding option for the program.
- Upload the materials the program page lists (for State-Level Systemic Change, the items above; for the Community Progress Fund, a proposed project budget, with a sample application available on the program page).
- Staff review the application and notify you either of a site visit or interview, or that the application is no longer being considered.
- The Board of Trustees decides; the official page says it typically decides at its May and November meetings.
Typical timeline phases
The official page describes recurring seasons, not fixed dates, so treat any single year’s calendar as something to confirm on the live program page.
- Cadence: State-Level Systemic Change is annual, typically in summer; the Community Progress Fund is annual, typically in winter; the Sabbatical Program runs every other year, typically in winter; the Inclusive Public Art Initiative runs every three to four years.
- Community Progress Fund phases: the application opens in the winter and closes a few weeks later; applicants who advance are notified of site visits, which take place over the following weeks; trustees decide in May; funds are distributed in July.
- State-Level Systemic Change: the program page says trustees decide in May (invitation only) and November (open application). A cycle runs from opening, through a closing deadline, to a trustee decision some months later.
Common mistakes
- Applying as an individual. Individuals are not funded outside the Sabbatical Program.
- Assuming an out-of-state base rules you out. The foundation accepts out-of-state applicants for projects operating in North Carolina; the test is where the work happens.
- Proposing a category the page says is rarely funded. Equipment, scholarships, stand-alone conferences and endowments appear on the Community Progress Fund list, and capital campaigns and land purchases on the State-Level Systemic Change exclusions.
- Reapplying too soon. A Community Progress Fund recipient has to wait two years after the grant ends.
- Relying on aggregator listings. Third-party listings can carry outdated deadlines and amounts. For example, the Community Progress Fund range on the official page is $20,000 to $40,000 per year; always use the official page.
Related programs
The four ZSR programs side by side, as described on the official pages on 2026-10-29:
| Program | What it offers | Term and size | Typical cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| State-Level Systemic Change | Mostly multiyear general operating support plus project grants in Democracy, Environment, Public Education, and Social + Economic Justice | 1, 2 or 3 years; most grants $30,000 to $100,000 per year | Annual, typically summer |
| Community Progress Fund | Community-driven, one-time investments, emphasis on rural counties | 1 or 2 years; $20,000 to $40,000 per year, up to $80,000 | Annual, typically winter |
| Inclusive Public Art Initiative | Named program on the foundation’s site | See the program page | Every 3 to 4 years |
| Sabbatical Program | The one program open to individuals | See the program page | Every other year, typically winter |
For other foundation funders and how they compare, see major private foundations that fund institutional research and the worked example in Russell Sage Foundation grants. For the general sequence from call to submission, see how grant writing actually works.
FAQ
Is the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation the same as the Z Reynolds Smith Foundation?
Yes. The second form is a common mis-ordering of the name; the foundation’s own site uses Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.
Can an organization outside North Carolina apply?
Yes, when the funding supports a project operating in North Carolina.
Can individuals apply?
Not for grants, with the exception of the Sabbatical Program.
Who decides on funding?
The Board of Trustees awards grants, after staff review and, for some applicants, a site visit or interview.
How much does the Community Progress Fund award?
$20,000 to $40,000 per year for one or two years, up to $80,000 in total, per the official program page.
Sources
- Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation home page, https://www.zsr.org, checked 2026-10-29.
- Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Grants and Programs, https://zsr.org/grants-programs/, checked 2026-10-29.
- Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Community Progress Fund, https://zsr.org/grant/community-progress-fund/, checked 2026-10-29.
- Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, State-Level Systemic Change, https://zsr.org/grant/state-level-systemic-change/, checked 2026-10-29.
