The Reynolds American Foundation concentrates philanthropic support on local community infrastructure and broad-based charitable activity in Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County. Its grants fund community foundations and pooled-fund intermediaries (United Way), as well as emergency/disaster relief (American Red Cross), indicating a preference for organizations that coordinate local service delivery and rapid-response aid. Giving is focused, large in size, and directed toward established intermediaries that can distribute funds to many beneficiaries across the region.
Focus Areas
Local community foundation funding (Winston‑Salem Foundation support for regional charitable activities)United Way / community impact and pooled-fund initiatives in Forsyth CountyEmergency response and disaster relief (American Red Cross)General operating or program support for local nonprofit infrastructure
Who They Fund
students seeking scholarshipscommunity nonprofit beneficiaries
Giving Approach
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants primarily to local intermediaries and community institutions; funding favors established organizations that can deploy or regrant funds across the community rather than many small direct-service grantees.
About Reynolds American Foundation
A $1,250,000 grant to the W-S Foundation in 2023 points to the Reynolds American Foundation’s core pattern: large, institution-level support for community infrastructure in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Their recent giving also includes major awards to United Way of Forsyth County, the YMCA of Northwest NC, and Kaleideum, suggesting a preference for established intermediaries and local service organizations that can channel resources across a broad set of community needs.
The foundation’s grantmaking sits alongside employee-linked philanthropy and scholarship support. It funds nonprofit organizations and government agencies serving communities where Reynolds employees live and work, with a primary emphasis on Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, and surrounding areas. Recent awards show support for charitable activities, education, community development, wellbeing, and basic human needs, with some grants also tied to capital campaigns and scholarships. The recent grant list also includes support for the American Red Cross and for local organizations such as Family Services Inc and Smart Start of Forsyth County, showing that the foundation mixes emergency aid, family support, and civic infrastructure in the same funding stream.
What Reynolds American Foundation Funds
Education appears in both scholarship and program support. In 2025, the foundation gave $149,600 to Salem College, and it also awarded $55,400 to National Merit Scholarships in Chicago for scholarships.
Community and family services are another clear area. The foundation gave $100,000 to Dream Center of Forsyth County for charitable activities, and $100,000 to Imprints Cares for charitable activities.
Basic human needs and emergency response are also visible. In 2025, it gave $475,000 to the American Red Cross in Washington, DC, and $100,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC in Winston-Salem.
Arts and enrichment show up as well: the foundation awarded $60,000 to The Arts Council Inc in Winston-Salem.
How Reynolds American Foundation Gives
Typical grants are small in the full portfolio, with a p25 of $100, a median of $500, and a p75 of $1,000. The recent-grants list shows a different operational pattern at the high end, where the foundation makes occasional six- and seven-figure awards to anchor institutions and pooled-fund intermediaries. The same recipient can appear across years, as with United Way of Forsyth County and the American Red Cross, indicating repeat support rather than one-off gifts. The foundation operates as a corporate/foundation giver and also runs a matching gifts program. Unsolicited applications are accepted in several of its active grant programs.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.5M
Total Assets
$56M
Total Revenue
$3.6M
Total Expenses
$3.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $100 and $1K, with a median of $500.
25th Percentile
$100
Median
$500
75th Percentile
$1K
Geographic Reach
Regional40 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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scholarship fundinggeneral charitable supportdirect service grants
Notable grantees: W‑S Foundation (Winston‑Salem Foundation), United Way of Forsyth County, American Red Cross
Topics
postsecondary scholarships/financial aidcommunity-based charitable programsgeneral nonprofit support
Where Reynolds American Foundation Makes Grants
Giving is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with all recent grants landing in the United States. Most awards cluster in North Carolina, especially Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, which appear repeatedly in the recipient list. The foundation also gives beyond its headquarters region when a national intermediary fits its priorities, including Washington, DC, for the American Red Cross and The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, and Chicago, IL, for National Merit Scholarships. A smaller share of grants goes to other North Carolina communities such as Rural Hall, Mount Airy, Charlotte, and Crossnore.
Frequently Asked Questions About Reynolds American Foundation
What kinds of organizations does Reynolds American Foundation fund?
The foundation funds nonprofit organizations and government agencies serving communities where Reynolds employees live and work. Recent awards show support for community foundations, United Way, the American Red Cross, schools, youth-serving nonprofits, food assistance, and arts organizations.
What is the typical grant size?
The grant-size distribution is small at the center of the portfolio: p25 is $100, median is $500, and p75 is $1,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, including six-figure and seven-figure gifts.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. Multiple active grant programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including Community & Organizational Grants, General Grants, Corporate/Foundation Giving, Scholarships, and Community & Program Grants.
What areas of work show up most often in the grants?
Education, community development, wellbeing, basic human needs, capital campaigns, and scholarships appear in the active program descriptions. Recent grants also include charitable activities, emergency response, food assistance, arts, and family support.
Is the giving mostly local?
Yes. The geographic scope is regional, and 62% of grants go to recipients in North Carolina. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County appear repeatedly, with additional grants in nearby North Carolina communities and a smaller number outside the state.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Reynolds American Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Nov 15, 2026Award: $10K – $20K
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company (SFNTC) Foundation Grants
American Indian self-sufficiencyAmerican Indian entrepreneurismEducation+5 more
Who can apply: Grants are not given to individuals. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and in good standing with the IRS. Proposals must fall within the charter mandate supporting American Indian self-sufficiency and culture. General operating support is not considered.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, November 15.
Reynolds American Foundation — Community & Organizational Grants
EducationScholarships and higher education accessAcademic performance+4 more
Who can apply: Applicants must generally be nonprofit agencies with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in good standing with the IRS or appropriate government agencies. Applicants should serve residents in communities where significant numbers of Reynolds American employees live and/or work, with primary focus on Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. Organizations must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability. The Foundation generally does not fund endowments, individuals, general operating expenses, churches or religious doctrine, political candidates or organizations, travel expenses, most special events, or programs supported by the Foundation or Reynolds American for three consecutive years.
Deadline: Quarterly deadlines: February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15. Final reviews occur in mid-March, mid-June, mid-September, and mid-December.
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Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
