What we fund
Syla Foundation prioritizes investments in the following impact areas:
Thriving Children & Youth
We believe that all children and youth should have access to resources and opportunities that lead to healthy, productive, and choice-filled lives. We seek partners who ensure young people have what they need to live up to their full potential.
We are interested in supporting work in these areas:
Strong Bodies
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Healthcare
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Nutrition and food security
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Physical activity for all abilities
Healthy Minds
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Social-emotional development
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Mental health and wellbeing
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Academic enrichment and personalized learning
Secure Surroundings
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Safe homes
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Supportive adults and mentors
Behavioral Health
Substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery
The Foundation funds efforts that help youth and adults achieve and maintain a healthy relationship with substances. We support strategies across the spectrum of prevention, treatment, and recovery. Our partners value the role of positive support systems and the lifelong importance of mental health.
We are interested in supporting work in these areas:
Prevention
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Educating youth and their caregivers on the risks of drug and alcohol misuse
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Early detection
Treatment
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Ensuring affordable access to effective treatment
Recovery
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Building systems of support that help those in recovery achieve and maintain a healthy, balanced life
Economic Opportunity
The life-changing impact of a stable, living wage job
Many societal problems can be improved by more people having access to living wage employment. We seek strategies that help people secure and sustain a stable job.
We are interested in supporting work in these areas:
Workforce Development
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Job training
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Upskilling
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Entrepreneurship
Systems-level Solutions to workforce barriers, such as:
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Transportation to and from work
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Accessible, quality childcare options
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Workforce housing
Geographic Preferences
The Foundation has historically funded in the areas where Board members were born and raised (Wilkes County, NC and Atlanta, GA), as well as select organizations with established connections to the Board. They will continue funding in these communities with organizations they have long-standing relationships while increasing involvement with partners and seeking new opportunities in Colorado, Utah, and Montana. Compelling proposals for funding that align strongly within our impact areas but are outside the priority geographic regions may be considered on a limited basis. Interested organizations are encouraged to fill out a letter of inquiry to explore alignment.
Discretionary Funding
From time to time, our Board members recommend grants that fall outside of our defined Impact Areas. These discretionary grants are typically made to organizations that have long-standing relationships with the Board members. Unsolicited applications outside of our focus areas will not be considered for discretionary funding.