In November 2012, the Trustees of Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation made revisions and refinements to the language under each of the Foundation’s five focus areas. These revisions do not indicate a significant change in the Foundation’s priorities, nor do they represent a substantial shift in direction, but are intended to lay out the Foundation’s values and more clearly convey the goals of its approach to grantmaking.

The Foundation currently focuses on the following five areas:

• Community Economic Development
• Strengthening Democracy
• Environment
• Social Justice and Equity
• Public Education

While the listed focus areas are of highest priority for its grantmaking, the Foundation also wishes to serve as a catalyst for new practices and ideas and respond to challenges and/or opportunities that are unique to North Carolina. In addition to funding projects that achieve the goals of each area of focus, the Foundation is interested in building the capacity of nonprofit organizations and the nonprofit sector. 

There are, however, a number of uses, programs and recipients to which the Foundation (with rare exception) does not make grants. The Board of Trustees of the Foundation reserve the right to remain flexible its grantmaking policies.