Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is a private foundation based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Established in 1936 as a memorial to Zachary Smith Reynolds, it supports charitable work serving people in North Carolina through grants and other programs.
Key facts about Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
In short: Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc gave $21.7M across 298 grants in 2024 (avg $73K), mostly in North Carolina. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 58-6038145
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $21,748,494
- Grants made (2024)
- 298
- Average grant
- $72,982
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (94 of 298, 2024)
- Total assets
- $23,600,855
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The State-Level Systemic Change page lists a deadline of July 30 at 12:00 p.m.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.6M
-6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$21.7M
-9.9% YoY
Grant Count
298
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$73K
-7.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $488K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 94 of 298 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $89K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $70K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
ZSR’s mission is to support people and organizations working to improve the quality of life for all North Carolinians. Its vision is a just, inclusive and sustainable North Carolina. The foundation’s framework identifies three strategies: State-Level Systemic Change, Community-Based work and Special Projects. Its stated issue areas for systemic-change grantmaking are strengthening democracy, fostering a healthy and sustainable environment, advancing public education, and promoting social and economic justice.
ZSR says it makes grants to charitable tax-exempt organizations, colleges and universities, religious entities, and government units for work serving North Carolina. Out-of-state organizations may apply for projects operating in the state. Its grantees illustrate a range of supported work: Wake Forest University describes its mission as providing liberal arts and graduate and professional education; Southern Vision Alliance describes itself as supporting grassroots organizing and leadership led by directly impacted communities; and MDC says it works to challenge systemic inequities and strengthen Southern communities. Public School Forum of NC describes a mission centered on equitable public education, while Arise Collective works with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women through chaplaincy, transition education and reentry support.
Grantmaking
In 2024, ZSR reported 298 grants totaling $21,748,494. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,200,000, with a median of $50,000. Ninety-one percent of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina.
Review Cycle
and award restrictions are provided through the foundation’s website. Eligible organizations may be contacted for a site visit or interview after application review.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
State-Level Systemic Change Grant
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
Amount
US $30,000 - US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
ZSRF: Community Progress Fund Grant
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
Amount
US $20,000 - US $60,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
ZSRF: Sabbatical Program Grant
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
Amount
US $40,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ZSR serves people across North Carolina through statewide and local grantmaking. In 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to North Carolina recipients; other recipient states listed were New York, California, the District of Columbia and Virginia. Out-of-state organizations may apply for funding for projects operating in North Carolina. The Community Progress Fund places special emphasis on organizations based in one of the state’s 78 rural counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 298 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $19.6M (2021) to $24.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 298 grants totaling $21.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Wake Forest University ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $4.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,738 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 925 grants of 1,738 (53%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | 2027 annual grant, under 1990 contract, for general support, faculty development, and scholarships. | $1,200,000 |
| Legal Aid of NC Raleigh, NC | For general operating support, home defense project, wnc disaster relief | $505,000 |
| University of NC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 2024 non-profit internship program - ncgrowth (intern - michaela miles/uncg); for general operating support for kenan institute's ncgrowth program, the carolina college advising corps' summer training and professional development, for the school of government's criminal justice innovation lab, and for lfnc, institute for the study of the americas' building integrated communities project, North Carolina native leadership institute's building capacity among North Carolina's tribal communities project | $423,927 |
| Southern Vision Alliance Durham, NC | Durham beyond policing project, for general operating support of its North Carolina work only, it's our future/el futuro es nuestro project, North Carolina collaborative for strong latinx communities (NCCSLC) project, redtailed hawk collective project, refund raleigh project | $420,000 |
| MDC Inc Durham, NC | Arpa partnership project: promoting accountable, equitable, and community-driven investments of public funds, investing in leaders of color institute | $400,000 |
| Public School Forum of NC Raleigh, NC | "2024 non-profit internship program - dudley flood center (intern - darryl joseph/fsu), dudley flood center for educational equity and opportunity project, public schools matter campaign, general operating support | $379,800 |
| Democracy NC Morrisville, NC | Carolina youth partnership: youth engagement project, rapid response: nonpartisan voter guide proposal | $350,000 |
| Neo Philanthropy New York, NY | Cypress fund project, North Carolina local news lab (NCLNL) fund project | $325,000 |
| Blueprint NC Durham, NC | For General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| NC Center for Nonprofit Organizations Raleigh, NC | Capacity building grants - cms program, for general operating support | $293,549 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $23,600,855 | $25,288,862 | $26,797,686 | $21,748,494 | 298 |
| 2023 | $25,109,679 | $25,216,380 | $28,375,813 | $24,142,655 | 307 |
| 2022 | $28,269,112 | $27,918,388 | $24,079,195 | $20,399,958 | 420 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,600,855 | $25,109,679 | $28,269,112 |
| Revenue | $25,288,862 | $25,216,380 | $27,918,388 |
| Expenses | $26,797,686 | $28,375,813 | $24,079,195 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,743,835 | $28,336,477 | $24,278,166 |
| Net Investment Income | $418,425 | $386,759 | $214,782 |
| Distributable Amount | $488,296 | $694,493 | $700,694 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joy Vermillion Heinsohn as executive director and secretary; Virgil Smith as president; Anna Warburton Munroe as vice president; Piper Neal Beveridge as treasurer; Pamela Spalding as assistant treasurer; and Natalie Ditta as assistant secretary. The listed board trustees are Angela Bryant, Anita Brown-Graham, Daniel Clodfelter and David L. Neal.
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc is led by Virgil Smith, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 15 of 17 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Virgil Smith
President
Board of Trustees → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Joy Vermillion Heinsohn
Executive Director & Secretary
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$252K (2023) → $319K (2024)
Angela Bryant
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$4K (2024)
Anita Brown-Graham
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Anna Warburton Munroe
Vice President
Board of Trustees → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Daniel Clodfelter
Board of Trustees
Vice President → Board of Trustees, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $11K (2024)
David L. Neal
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Ilana Dubester
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Jane S. Patterson
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Mary B. Mountcastle
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Nancy R. Bagley
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Pamela Spalding
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$29K (2020) → $180K (2024)
Piper Neal Beveridge
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $11K (2024)
W. Noah Reynolds
Board of Trustees
President → Board of Trustees, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Natalie Ditta
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$43K (2023) → $86K (2024)
Jose Oliva
Board of Trustees
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$10K (2024)
Stephen L. Neal
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Chapel Thompson (2020–2023) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Lloyd P. Tate Jr. (2020–2023) — Board of Trustees
- Former: Maurice Mo Green (2020–2023) — Executive Director & Secretary
- Former: Jill Ray (2023) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Katharine B. Mountcastle (2020) — Board of Trustees
- Former: Terry Lockamy (2020) — Assistant Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $319K, to Joy Vermillion Heinsohn (Executive Director/Secretary). 15 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: See Foundation Website Wwwzsrorg
Mailing address: 102 West Third Street, Winstonsalem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 725-7541
Website: https://www.zsr.org
Frequently asked questions about Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc
How much does Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc give each year?
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc gave $21.7M across 298 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $24.1M across 307 grants.
What is Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $72,982, across 298 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc that year got $38K on average.
Where does Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc give grants?
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (56 grants), Durham, NC (48 grants), Winston-Salem, NC (26 grants) and Asheville, NC (18 grants).
Does Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (195 of 298) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "For Its Progress Fund Project" (26 grants), "Trustee Matching Gifts Program - Daniel G. Clodfelter" (5 grants) and "Ipa Project" (3 grants).
Who are Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Wake Forest University ($1,200,000), Legal Aid of NC ($505,000) and University of NC Chapel Hill ($423,927), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc?
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc reported $23.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $26.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $488K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc fund?
ZSR’s mission is to support people and organizations working to improve the quality of life for all North Carolinians. Its vision is a just, inclusive and sustainable North Carolina. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc's EIN?
Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6038145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Z Smith Reynolds Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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