All For NC Newsletter
Insights and Updates from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
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A Note from Joy
Greetings,
At ZSR, we know we can only have a positive impact when we are partnering with others.
Organizations that receive funding from ZSR are called "grant partners" because we believe our relationship with those groups is a partnership towards a shared vision and better future for North Carolina.
Sometimes, we partner with government or business because the challenges we face as a state require all hands on deck.
And often, we partner with other philanthropies to amplify impact.
This week, for example, ZSR staff celebrated the Nonprofit Internship Program, a collaboration among six NC funders, facilitated by North Carolina Network of Grantmakers, that places college students in internships with NC nonprofits.
The week before, I attended a ribbon-cutting for a new mural in Washington, NC, funded through a partnership between ZSR and the Mellon Foundation.
That same day, ZSR program officers were in Warren County, alongside colleagues from Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of NC and Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, on a joint site visit with a grant partner we have in common, exploring how our collective partnership is making a difference in that region.
These examples underscore one of our core beliefs at ZSR: that North Carolinians can accomplish more together than we can individually, and that everyone has a role to play in building a just, inclusive and sustainable future that benefits all of us.
All for NC,
Joy Vermillion Heinsohn
Executive Director
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ZSR Funding Opportunity: State-Level Systemic Change
Deadline to Apply: August 1, 2024, 12pm ET
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Get Inspired
Stories of hope and action from our partners across NC
- In 2020, Asheville became the first city in the US South to commit to a local reparations process, and the Racial Justice Coalition has been a central advocate for this work. The organization recently released the Every Black Voice Report, the culmination of a participatory research project to uncover perspectives and experiences of Black people in Asheville and Buncombe County.
- The North Carolina Local News Lab Fund is seeking grant applications from organizations that fill reporting gaps and provide critical information so people can connect with each other, participate in democracy and have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. Organizations need to fill out an interest form by August 2; the deadline to apply is August 8.
- Outside of Boone, American Rivers and MountainTrue are removing a dam and restoring 35 miles of aquatic habitat in the Watauga River. This work will allow hellbenders, trout and other animals to thrive, help keep waters colder in the face of climate change, and maintain the river’s natural beauty and biodiversity for future generations.
- Need data on NC kids’ well-being? Explore the new KIDS COUNT data. NC Child says though we have room for improvement, we also know what can help: investing in early childhood education and supporting youth mental health. (Related: Another recent report shows that NC teens’ mental health has improved since 2021.)
- The North Carolina Justice Center won a $5.75 million settlement against one of the nation’s largest debt buyers, which will immediately help 18,000 North Carolinians who had been targeted by the company’s predatory actions. The debt buyer also agreed to cancel existing default judgments worth more than $35 million.
What's New with ZSR?
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Community members from Washington, NC, participate in a ribbon-cutting for Viva La Vida, a new mural that celebrates Washington's Latine community. The project was supported by ZSR's Inclusive Public Art Initiative. Photo by Brenda Miller Holmes.
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