State-Level Systemic Change Strategy

For decades, ZSR has supported positive changes to state-level systems and structures to ensure that North Carolina is a place where all people can thrive. This commitment is rooted in and driven by our mission and our core values. Over the years, our grantees have made significant gains for all North Carolinians, but we still have much to do together. Therefore, we remain committed to state-level systemic change. We desire for ALL North Carolinians to have access to high-quality public education, to benefit from a healthy and sustainable environment, to enjoy economic opportunity under just and fair rules and to be able to engage fully in civic life.

Email info@zsr.org with questions about the State-Level Systemic Change Strategy.

Watch this short video (below) that explains our State-Level Systemic Change Strategy.

Our Vision

The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation believes that all of North Carolina benefits when every North Carolinian has the resources and opportunities to achieve their full potential and when each person’s worth and dignity is affirmed. Therefore, we desire for ALL North Carolinians to have access to high-quality education, to benefit from a healthy and sustainable environment, to enjoy economic opportunity under just and fair rules and to be able to engage fully in civic life.

Our Strategy

We recognize that there are systemic and structural barriers in place, particularly regarding race, that disadvantage some North Carolinians from realizing this vision, even as they advantage others. Therefore, the Foundation, consistent with our core values, seeks to partner with others to help change state-level systems in ways that overcome those barriers and thereby help improve the quality of life for all North Carolinians. In particular, we believe that working together across issues, approaches and populations is necessary to create systemic change.*

ZSR's Four Priority Areas

As part of ZSR's State-Level Systemic Change Strategy, we focus on four priority areas that are integral to achieving this state-level vision. We recognize that each of these four areas intersect in multiple ways, and look for approaches that not only strengthen each, but also work holistically within and across them.

Advancing Public Education

Fostering a Healthy and Sustainable Environment

Promoting Social and Economic Justice

Strengthening Democracy

We will support grantees using one or more approaches, including, but not limited to:

Advocacy
Applied Research
Communications/Digital Media
Leadership Development
Legal/Litigation
Organizing/Mobilizing
Training/Education

We will give particular emphasis to work targeted at improving opportunities and outcomes for populations who have been historically marginalized, subjected to systemic discrimination, or excluded from full participation in society, including, but not limited to:

Immigrants
People who are LGBTQIA+
Individuals with low income
People of color
Women
Young people

The Foundation seeks to help build the capacity of its grantees in this strategy to work better together in service of the above-stated vision.

*What do you mean by state-level systemic change?

By “state-level systemic change,” we mean something different than reform or piecemeal policy change. Rather, we seek to support efforts aimed at making “fundamental change in policies, processes, relationships and power structures, as well as values and norms” that impair the quality of life for North Carolinians.

Gopal, Srik and Kania, John. “Fostering Systems Change.” Stanford Social Innovation Review, Nov. 20, 2015.

See More Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

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.

See the Rarely Funded Activities List

Application Process

State-Level Systemic Change grants will be made twice per year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Organizations may apply for any amount of funding during the Fall and Spring grant cycles.

Fall Grant Cycle –

Grants made in the Fall are primarily for multi-year, general operating support grants.
While there will be exceptions, the standard term for these grants will be three years.
Any eligible organization working on state-level systemic change work that is aligned with ZSR’s core values and vision may apply for a grant.
Applications are currently open.

Spring Grant Cycle –

The Spring grant cycle is an invitation-only cycle.
Grants made in the Spring can be for general operating support or for specific projects.

Grant Applications Are Currently Closed

Upcoming Deadlines

Sabbatical Applications Due

November 1, 2023 (by 12:00 p.m. NOON)