$30,000 Funding available for Community Progress Fund

Deadline: 6-Dec-21

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is offering Community Progress Fund to provide an infusion of short-term funding at the right moment and is intended to build on existing momentum to help move an issue, an idea or an organization forward.

The goal is to award a significant portion of grants to organizations that are run by and primarily serve people of color, therefore ZSR strongly encourages applications from these organizations.

The Progress Fund allows communities to test ideas, expand promising efforts, or achieve greater impact. ZSR hopes that engaging with community members through the Progress Fund grant cycle will allow the Foundation to support communities and to better understand how different communities experience change, opportunity, and challenges in unique ways. Thus, the parameters for this approach are intentionally broad. In addition, ZSR desires to be accessible to areas of the state that have relatively higher needs and fewer resources. Consequently, preference will be given to those areas of the state.

Funding Information

Grant amounts range from $ 20,000- $ 30,000 per year for one or two years.

What is the definition of a Community Progress Fund?

ZSR’s Community Progress Fund is intended to support organizations and projects that are trying to affect meaningful change in communities. ZSR leaves the definition of "progress" intentionally broad, so that they can learn more about what is happening in communities across the state. Have a proposal or idea that aligns with ZSR's core values. ZSR’s core values call for a commitment to Stewardship, Integrity, and Excellence, and could be embodied through one or more of the following values: Fairness and Justice, Dignity and Equity, Civic Participation, Sustainability, or Collaboration.

Preference is given to:

proposals from areas of the state that have relatively higher needs with fewer resources;
proposals that have the greatest potential to impact a community with the $20,000-$30,000 grant award(s); and
proposals that demonstrate strong potential for “progress.”

Eligibility Criteria

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is restricted to making grants to charitable, tax-exempt, 501 (c) (3) organizations, colleges / universities, religious entities and government units for programs and projects that serve the people of North Carolina.
Out-of-state charitable organizations are eligible to apply for funds to support projects operating in North Carolina.

Criteria

Proposals must demonstrate that there is existing momentum within the community.
Proposals must demonstrate how, with an infusion of funds, they will move an issue OR an organization forward in order to test an idea OR achieve greater impact.
ZSR awards Community Progress Fund grants once per year.
ZSR gives preference to areas of the state with limited philanthropic resources.
ZSR will review applications and contact select applicants who will move to the next phase of the process, which includes ZSR staff scheduling visits in these communities, or virtually if necessary, in Spring 2022.