FAQs about SLSC Fall 2022 and CPF 2022-2023 Open Grant Cycles

Frequently Asked Questions about the State-Level Systemic Change Fall 2022 and the Community Progress Fund 2022-23 Open Grant Cycles

On June 8, 2022, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation announced that it will not hold its State-Level Systemic Change (SLSC) Fall 2022 open grant cycle and its Community Progress Fund (CPF) 2022-23 grant cycle. Read the full announcement here. Answers to frequently asked questions are provided below.

Q. Is my current grant with ZSR affected?

A.  No. ZSR will continue to meet its funding commitments to grantees. ZSR has already awarded numerous grants for multiple years that will continue into 2023 and beyond. As examples,

• In May 2022, the Foundation awarded $2.7 million in grants to 115 nonprofit organizations located across the state. These grants will continue into 2023.

• In the fall of 2021, the Foundation awarded nearly $14 million in State-Level Systemic Change grants to 192 nonprofit organizations and 163 of these were for multiple years and will continue at least through the end of 2023.

Q. My ZSR State-Level Systemic grant funds expire in December 2022. What should I do?

A.  ZSR has already sent a communication to the contact person for each grant in this situation advising that the Foundation will review grant renewals/extensions of up to one year in November. Grantees do not need to fill out a new application. Program Officers will contact grantees this summer with more details.

Q. We didn’t receive the notification. What should we do?

A.  If you’re a current ZSR grantee, please go to our online grants portal and update your contact information. If you need assistance, please contact the office in Winston-Salem, NC, at 336-725-7541 or Toll-Free at 1-800-443-8319. You may also email or call your program officer if you have questions.

Q. Which grants are not affected by this decision?

A.  Grants ending in 2023 or later are not impacted by the cancellations of the SLSC Fall 2022 and CPF 2022-23 open grant cycles.

Q.  We’re not sure who our program officer is. Whom do I contact?

A.  Please use the table below to identify your program officer or other staff who may assist you. Our general office number is 336-725-7541 or Toll-Free at 1-800-443-8319. Questions may also be sent to info@zsr.org.

Q. Does ZSR plan to make any other grant awards this year?

A.  Yes. The Foundation is making additional grant awards for Inclusive Public Art and local Winston-Salem/Forsyth County activities, among others. ZSR will continue to make other grant awards this year as well.

Q.  Is the decision to not hold the SLSC Fall 2022 and CPF 2022-23 Open Grant Cycles because of a decline in the stock market or concerns about cash flow?

A.   No. This does not reflect stock market volatility or concerns about cash flow. The decision to not hold these two open grant cycles is because, like many organizations, ZSR is experiencing staff turnover. While we are in the process of filling those positions, we have decided not to conduct the two upcoming open grantmaking opportunities referenced above.

Q. What is an “open” grant cycle and when will ZSR resume these?

A.   During an open cycle, ZSR will accept and review applications from all qualifying non-profit organizations for charitable work performed in North Carolina that aligns with the priority areas outlined in our All For NC Framework for Grantmaking and Learning. Currently, the only “pause” to our grantmaking is to not hold the SLSC Fall 2022 and the CPF 2022-23 open grant cycles.

Q. Is ZSR headed in a new direction?

A.   We are taking time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we’re going and the best ways for moving forward as an organization. See our June 8, 2022, announcement for more details.

Q.  What’s the best way to stay informed about ZSR?

A.  Sign-up online to receive the latest news and announcements from ZSR.