Better Communities and Better Lives: A Conversation with David Brooks
WE'VE BEEN PLEASED by the community's interest in our Centennial Keynote and Conversation with New York Times columnist David Brooks on Thursday, December 5. There has been such a strong response that we've already met our seating capacity and closed the event registration process.

If you have already registered to attend, doors will open at 5:30 pm — please give yourself enough time to park in either the designated Reynolds High School parking lots or neighborhood street parking. Seating is general admission and the program will begin promptly at 6:30 pm .

David will join us to address some critical community questions given what he calls our " age of fragmentation and division." Bookmarks will be selling presigned copies of his book, The Second Mountain , before and after the keynote.

We look forward to sharing more about his presentation after the event!
Building an Inclusive Economy: The Benefits Cliff
FURTHERING OUR WORK to Build an Inclusive Economy , we recently collaborated with the Asset Building Coalition, Forsyth Futures, Forsyth County Department of Social Services, and several other partners to create the November 12 event,  Dismantling the Benefits Cliff in Forsyth County .

A full house of 200 attendees learned about the benefits cliff and launched collaborative learning groups to explore three different approaches:
  • Policy Solutions: Changing the Cliff
  • Employer Solutions: Avoiding the Cliff
  • Nonprofit Solutions: Easing the Drop

The Foundation has invested in a facilitator to guide the groups toward local solutions and will provide grant funding to test prototypes in spring 2020.

DID YOU KNOW? The benefits cliff occurs when a small pay increase disqualifies a worker from public benefits and abruptly reduces their household resources — a major barrier for achieving financial stability.
Learn more at cliffeffectfc.org
One-Stop Scholarship Application Opens December 15
Help spread the word that our one-stop scholarship application goes live on December 15, and most merit-based scholarship applications are due by March 15. (Note: These dates are earlier than in years' past.)

Want to help local students achieve higher education? Make a gift to our scholarship fund or email us to establish your own fund.
Forsyth County Teacher Grants
Join the Foundation Team
Educators in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools can apply for Forsyth County Teacher Grants, up to $2,500. Apply online through December 31.
We're seeking a Philanthropic Services Manager to join our team, help us spread the word! Applications are due December 11.
Staff and Board News
Charlie Gardner  (left) has joined our staff as Program Officer, Inclusive Economy, and Josh Crane (right) has recently joined our governing board, The Winston-Salem Foundation Committee. We're excited to welcome them to our work!
Year-End Giving Tools
AS YOU CONTEMPLATE your end-of-year tax decisions, don't forget to consider options that can reduce your tax liability:

  • Stock Market Growth can lead to tax liabilities. Donating appreciated stock (owned for more than a year) can be a tax-effective asset to establish a variety of charitable funds. Current fundholders: please notify Angela Breathette of any impending stock gifts.

  • Non-Endowed Donor Advised Funds can be established in a day and offer an immediate tax deduction while providing flexibility in the timing of future charitable distributions. Learn more

  • IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD): individuals 70 ½ and older can direct up to $100,000 each year to nonprofits. (This distribution is not considered federal taxable income.) Donors can use a QCD to establish an endowment providing a perpetual income stream for their favorite nonprofit or a scholarship fund for local students. Read more

  • Donations of any size can be made to the Next Century Fund (including a QCD or stock gift) to help the Foundation adapt to emerging challenges and opportunities in the community over time.
Broadening Philanthropy
in Our Community
Black Philanthropy Initiative
This week, BPI partnered with the WS/FCS Social Studies department to host community listening sessions around the K-12 African-American Infusion Curriculum.

We also encourage you to read a recent article written by BPI Advisory Committee member and Foundation staff member Tamisha Keith , entitled Planned Giving in the African American Community .
The Women's Fund of Winston-Salem
The Women's Fund awarded nine grants totaling nearly  $107,000 at its November luncheon, which drew over 700 community members. Congratulations to BEE Geek, Inc; Children’s Home Society; Delicious by Shereen; Eliza’s Helping Hands; Financial Pathways; LEAD Girls of NC, Inc; Planned Parenthood; Salvation Army; and Shalom Project.
Youth Grantmakers in Action
Funding is available for youth-led projects in Forsyth County. Apply by January 31.

YGA will host a  Grantwriting Workshop  to help groups refine their ideas and write grant applications on January 8, 5:00-5:30 PM.

Thanks to a third-year, $5,000 grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation , YGA will be able to fund even more youth-led projects!
More Foundation News
– 2019 Zach Smith Teacher Grants awarded $16,473 to 12 teachers in Mount Airy

– Watch FOX8 segments featuring our grants to Hispanic League and Piedmont Business Capital .

– Save the date for our Community Luncheon on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 .
THE WINSTON-SALEM FOUNDATION
751 West Fourth Street, Suite 200, Winston-Salem NC 27101