A NOTE FROM JOY

Friends,

What a year it’s been. 

Nonprofits have stepped up to serve North Carolinians in so many ways. 

They’ve helped people recover and rebuild after devastating storms. Protected our immigrant neighbors. Rallied for fair voting maps. Sounded the alarm on cuts to healthcare and food assistance. Defended institutions from federal attacks. Stood up for our public schools and the kids who count on them. Kept our water and air safe from pollution. Advocated for justice, inclusion and an NC where everyone feels safe and is treated fairly. 

We know it hasn’t just been busy — it’s been heavy. And we see every day how hard nonprofit leaders and employees are working.  

So, as we head into the holiday season, we hope you’re able to rest and recharge. We consider rest and rejuvenation critical to our shared mission to build a better NC. 

(And if you know someone who could use a longer break, we encourage you to share info with them about ZSR’s Sabbatical Program. Applications are open ‘til January 12th!) 

We’ll see you in 2026 — rested and ready to continue working toward a more just, inclusive and sustainable North Carolina in the New Year and beyond.

All For NC,

Joy Vermillion Heinsohn

ZSR Executive Director

GET INSPIRED

Stories of hope and action

from our partners across NC

North Carolina nonprofit organizations, including Siembra NC and Carolina Migrant Network, mobilized rapid community defense after federal agents descended on immigrant communities across the state. NC's collective response demonstrates that grassroots organizing and nonprofit leadership are critical to building a state where everyone feels safe and is treated fairly.

The University of Texas-Austin’s Civitas Institute spotlighted Duke University's North Carolina Leadership Forum (NCLF) as a model for how public leaders can work together to rebuild trust and shape better public policy. NCLF brings North Carolina’s policy leaders together across lines of difference to foster understanding, reduce polarization, and help us reimagine a political system rooted in collaboration and shared values.

A healthy democracy requires strong, local, community-centered journalism. The NC Local News Lab Fund recently announced major new investments in local reporting, newsroom sustainability and equitable access to credible information across the state. This work strengthens civic participation and ensures communities have the news they need to act and advocate for themselves.

Down Home NC is lifting up stories of families impacted by federal SNAP cuts, helping residents share how reduced benefits and the rising cost of living affect them every day. This storytelling and advocacy shine a light on how public policies can help or harm NC families.

Thriving communities depend on reliable and sustainable transportation, and Mecklenburg County’s approval of a local sales tax increase marks a step toward expanded public transit and climate-forward mobility for residents. Sustain Charlotte’s years of organizing helped bring this long-term vision into public conversation and prioritize a more connected, vibrant region.

On a recent Charlotte Ledger podcast, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy CEO Larissa Mañón Mervin highlights the organization’s work to bring direct legal representation and advocate for systemic changes in the justice system. She shares powerful client stories and a vision for expanding legal services so more families can navigate crises, assert their rights, and seek justice and stability for themselves and their loved ones.

Haw River Assembly is training volunteers to monitor the health of local waterways. Through the nonprofit’s River Watch Program, volunteers learn how to become guardians of their streams by collecting data and notifying state agencies if water quality is threatened.

WHAT’S NEW WITH ZSR?

Applications for ZSR’s Community Progress Fund will open on Monday, January 5, at 12 p.m. ET, and close on Monday, February 2, at 12 p.m. ET. This grant opportunity is open to nonprofits whose primary office is located in one of NC’s 78 rural counties. The grant application window is four weeks. To prepare, you can download a sample application here.

Applications for ZSR's Sabbatical Program are open. Every other year, ZSR offers $40,000 to up to five nonprofit leaders to take three- to six-month sabbaticals for the purpose of personal rejuvenation. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 12, at 12 p.m.

Applications for the NC Network of Grantmakers’ Nonprofit Internship Program (NPIP) are open. This summer, NPIP will provide dozens of paid nonprofit internships for Pell grant-eligible college students in NC. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 30.

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chester Williams, founder and CEO of A Better Chance, A Better Community (ABC2), a ZSR Community Progress Fund grant partner based in Halifax County. In the words of the ABC2 Board of Directors, Chester was a “visionary, mentor, devoted son, and guiding light for Northeastern NC and beyond.” Learn more about Chester’s life and legacy.