The Foundation of Greater Greensboro is incorporated, spearheaded by Cynthia Doyle, ably assisted by Thornton Brooks and W. Roger Soles, who served as the first president. Gifts of $25,000 each from the Smith Richardson Foundation and Jefferson-Pilot Corporation begin an administrative endowment fund.
1985
Endowment reaches $1 million. Dave Atwood is hired as part-time executive director.
1987
Assets top $2 million.
1989
The Administrative Endowment is named in honor of Cynthia Doyle. Worth Durgin is named the new president. Roger Kavanagh coordinates a rent-to-own program established to aid first-time homebuyers.
1990
A $2 million anonymous gift puts $1 million into unrestricted endowment. The Foundation’s first six houses are completed on Martin Luther King Drive with resources from the Kavanagh Housing Fund.
1991
The Foundation wins a Ford and MacArthur Community Leadership Program Grant. Dr. Priscilla Taylor leads the highly successful effort to raise $500,000 in matching funds. The first affiliate foundation is established in neighboring Alamance County.
1992
The Junior League donates $90,000 to launch the Children’s Trust, established in honor of pediatrician Dr. Martha Sharpless. As sponsor of the Guilford Community AIDS Partnership, the Foundation wins a matching grant from the National Community AIDS Partnership.
1993
Assets reach $15 million. An anonymous gift establishes the Revolving Loan Fund to address needs of nonprofit organizations.
1995
The Foundation officially changes its name to the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.
1996
The Planned Giving Service is launched, providing information on philanthropy for nonprofits, professional advisors and donors. Assets grow 30% to over $22 million.
1997
More than $9.5 million from Morris Howell’s bequest leads to an unprecedented increase in assets to $40.7 million. The Foundation begins a three-year project to identify and develop community leaders.
1998
Two supporting organizations are established: The Community Foundation Real Estate Management Fund and the Stanley & Dorothy Frank Family Foundation.
1999
Total assets approach $60 million and applications for grants double during the year. Walker Sanders joins the Foundation as its new president. A youth philanthropy program gets under way.
2000
Over 250 people ages 25-45 join the Future Fund, donating approximately $33,000 for an endowment fund. The Foundation spearheads a Social Capital Benchmark Study in Guilford County. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE STUDY. (NOTE: WE’LL HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE TO PUT THIS ON THE SITE).
2001
Contributions increase 95% and grants increase 35% to $7.5 million. Results of the social capital study are broadly shared with the community. The Foundation joins with other local foundations to support Action Greensboro, a community-wide initiative to revitalize economic and community development.
2002
Total grants increase 32% to a record high of almost $9.9 million. After months of working behind the scenes, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro joins forces with the High Point Community Foundation to create a county-wide education network. Both foundations pledge their commitment to help all citizens reach their maximum potential. The United Way establishes a supporting organization called The United Way of Greater Greensboro Foundation. The nonprofits participating in the Nonprofit Endowment Challenge raise over $100,000 toward their endowments, and each receive an additional $10,000 endowment from the Community Foundation.
2003
The Foundation moves into new offices at Foundation Place at 330 South Greene Street, and is joined by the Cemala Foundation in the new space. An evaluation of the Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking program finds that the Foundation’s trust and reputation in the community are highly rated, and relationships with nonprofits are strong and supportive.
2004
Foundation assets increase to $85 million, and grants to nonprofits top $8 million for the year. A $100,000 grant from W. K. Kellogg Foundation enables the Community Foundation to convene learning circles throughout diverse communities in Greensboro to study traditions of giving. The Toleo Foundation Community Scholarship Program is established at the Community Foundation by Tobee and Leonard Kaplan to provide financial assistance to seven high school seniors graduating from Guilford County public schools who will attend a public institution in North Carolina.
2005
The Fondo del Patronato Mezquital is established to support the transnational philanthropy of Patronato Mezquital – a “hometown association” of more than 200 families residing in central North Carolina who all hail from the Mexican town of Mezquital and together raise funds for charitable projects in their home land. This is the first hometown association fund in North Carolina at a Community Foundation. A comprehensive housing report is commissioned by the Foundation to assess the housing needs in Greensboro.
