Announcing $159,190 in Grants

BPI Announces 2026 Grant Recipients

The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) has awarded $159,190 in grants to 11 Black-led organizations in Forsyth County. The funding supports education equity, economic mobility, and community resilience, bringing BPI’s total 2026 grantmaking to $259,190.

The combined Advancing Equity in Education and Building an Inclusive Economy grant cycle supports organizations working to expand access to learning, economic mobility, and long-term prosperity for Black individuals, families, and communities in Forsyth County.

Grant recipients and funded project proposals include:

• Liberty East Redevelopment: To support DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) in strengthening math and literacy skills for K–5 students attending schools with historically low proficiency rates, helping students reach grade-level benchmarks and close persistent achievement gaps. (Awarded $10,000)

• NC EmpowerUp: To support a creative literacy camp for a cohort of 10–12 students that teaches creative writing, book publishing, and entrepreneurship to middle school students. (Awarded $14,190)

• Be Well Foundation: To support a Black Maternal Health Ecosystem pilot that advances economic stability and workforce sustainability through culturally grounded care for Black mothers provided by Black practitioners. (Awarded $15,000)

• The Dream Team Foundation, Inc.: To support The Dream Team Foundation’s Leadership Academy (D.T.L.A.), advancing academic achievement, leadership development, and equitable access to opportunity for middle school students. (Awarded $15,000)

• Versatile Development Group: To support trauma-informed re-entry, violence prevention, and transitional housing services, addressing the critical need for safe, affordable housing. (Awarded $15,000)

• Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce: To support Cohort #3 of the Youth Empowerment Initiative (YEI) and membership programming—creating a blueprint for resilience and success beyond high school. (Awarded $15,000)

• Heart Math Tutoring: To support relationship-based math tutoring that advances academic confidence and promotes educational equity for Black and economically disadvantaged elementary students in Winston-Salem. (Awarded $15,000)

• Grace Presbyterian Church: To support a Summer Enrichment Program that advances academic achievement, identity development, and real-world learning. (Awarded $15,000)

• Youth Life Skills Institute, Inc.: To support a culturally affirming leadership and mentoring program that advances school connectedness, self-advocacy, and educational success for Black boys in Forsyth County. (Awarded $15,000)

• New Hope Resource Center of Winston-Salem, Inc.: To support the Fresh Hope Workforce Development Ecosystem® in advancing career pathway training, employment placement, and long-term economic mobility for underserved residents. (Awarded $15,000)

• Union Community Development Corporation: To support efforts to Break The Chain of Illiteracy through intensive K–3 small-group instruction using evidence-based, real-time assessments and certified instructional coaches, integrating STEAM project-based learning. (Awarded $15,000)

The Advancing Equity in Education Grants and Building an Inclusive Economy Grants are a testament to the power of collective giving, with Forsyth County community members pooling resources to support meaningful change.