Led by young professionals who contribute their time, energy, and an annual donation of $150 to improving Greensboro, Future Fund seeks to grow the next generation of philanthropic leaders in our community while also growing the endowment so it can award as much money as possible to nonprofits that are making an impact in Guilford County.
Growing the next generation of community leaders.
Future Fund is a group of community-minded, forward-thinking young professionals who are invested in the future of Greensboro and Guilford County. This initiative is made possible through the Ann Lineweaver Future Fund Endowment, currently valued at nearly $1.4 million. Members of the Future Fund raised this endowment through their annual investments.
Members of Future Fund, or Funders as they’re known, make an annual investment of $150 into the Future Fund. In return, members can attend social and networking events with other Funders and Future Fund alumni. Active members plan and produce the Future Fund 10 Program and Future Fund 10 LIVE, which awards over $45,000 to local nonprofits each year.
Why is this initiative important to our community?
In addition to supporting local nonprofits through $45,000 worth of grants each year, Future Fund is a pipeline for Greensboro’s next generation of philanthropic leaders. Participation in Future Fund provides its members with opportunities for leadership experience, mentoring and being mentored, and developing new skills as they work on various subcommittees to plan the program and event. Funders also have the chance to become part of something bigger than themselves and to truly make Greensboro what they want it to be.
Visit the Future Fund's Site NowWhat is the impact of this initiative?
Over the years, Future Fund has provided grants to support everything from STEM education for girls to Triad Stage programs for Title 1 teachers to scholarships for immigrant families.
In 2019, Future Fund changed the way it gave out grants to local nonprofits to a program that is part incubator, part nonprofit Shark Tank. During the Future Fund 10 LIVE event—the final stage of the contest—ten nonprofits give a 3-minute pitch in front of hundreds of attendees from across our community. The audience votes to decide who is awarded the top prize of $20,000. Runners up receive smaller grants. No matter where they place in the competition, participants gain valuable connections for donations, volunteers, board members, and greater visibility for their cause.
"Future Fund has allowed me to get involved with the community I grew up in with the added bonus of meeting new people!"
— Kris Crosby, Future Fund Funder (Member)
Ways you can support Future Fund
Become a member
If you’re a young professional under the age of 40, you can join Future Fund for just $150 annually. Undergraduate students can join for only $50.
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Become a sponsor
The generosity of local corporations, foundations, and individuals make our efforts possible. For details on becoming a sponsor, contact us.
Contact Us
Donate via check
A check made out to “Ann Lineweaver Future Fund Endowment” can be sent by mail to the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro at:
CFGG
301 North Elm St., Suite 100
Greensboro, NC 27401
Applying for a grant from Future Fund
Future Fund’s grant application process is called Future Fund 10. Ten nonprofits are chosen from the applicant pool to become the next Future Fund 10. Each nonprofit representative will receive four sessions of coaching from local community mentors. Then, the ten nonprofits present their final three-minute pitches to hundreds of community members at an event called Future Fund 10 LIVE. The audience members vote on the top prize, and that winner will walk away with $20,000. Other prizes will be awarded based on a community vote and Future Funders’ vote. No matter what happens, each nonprofit will walk away with connections for donations, volunteers, board members, and greater visibility for their cause in the community.
Each Future Fund 10 member receives:
- Free 1-year membership to Guilford County Nonprofit Consortium
- Coaching from three (3) community mentors who help advise on your pitch
- Training on marketing, business, speaking, and more
- Fellowship with nine (9) other outstanding nonprofit leaders
- Promotion from the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and Future Fund
- Professional headshot
For eligibility information as well as application instructions, process, and timeline:
Visit future fund’s site now