WS Chronicle

Staff Report

The Winston-Salem Chronicle

WINSTON-SALEM — Scott Wierman, a longtime leader in Winston-Salem’s philanthropic community, has been named a consultant with Greater Winston-Salem Inc. to support strategic alignment of the organization’s affiliated nonprofit foundations, officials announced Tuesday. His work will focus on strengthening the Greater Winston-Salem Development Corp. and the Greater Winston-Salem Inc. Foundation to better support regional economic growth and workforce development. 

Wierman’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the region pushes toward its 2030 vision of becoming “the top mid-sized city in the Southeast,” fostering equity and expanding opportunity, Mark Owens, president and CEO of Greater Winston-Salem Inc., said in the announcement. 

Deep Local Roots in Community Philanthropy

Wierman’s ties to Winston-Salem’s civic infrastructure run deep. He began his career in the city’s nonprofit sector in 1988 when he joined The Winston-Salem Foundation as senior vice president for donor services.  Over the next three decades, Wierman became one of the most influential figures in local philanthropy, leading the foundation through significant growth and community impact. 

In 1997, Wierman was named president of The Winston-Salem Foundation, the oldest community foundation in North Carolina.  Under his leadership, the foundation’s assets grew from roughly $45 million to more than $600 million, and the organization awarded more than $670 million in grants addressing local needs — from human services to the arts and education — before his departure in 2020. 

His tenure was marked by a steady expansion of The Winston-Salem Foundation’s reach and resources, cementing its role as a key partner in the region’s philanthropic ecosystem. At the time of his exit, Wierman reflected that Winston-Salem’s generous civic culture — both in volunteerism and financial support — was a defining characteristic of his work. 

After leaving the foundation at the end of 2020, Wierman served as president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he continued his philanthropic leadership before taking on the new role with Greater Winston-Salem Inc. 

Bridging Philanthropy and Economic Strategy

In his new role, Wierman will help ensure that the region’s economic and workforce development efforts are structurally aligned with investor priorities and community needs. The Greater Winston-Salem Development Corp. works to attract industry growth and new jobs, while the Greater Winston-Salem Inc. Foundation supports workforce pipelines, career readiness, and equitable access to opportunity — both central to the area’s long-term prosperity. 

“Winston-Salem has a clear vision for its future, and philanthropy plays an important role in helping communities turn vision into action,” Wierman said in the Greater Winston-Salem Inc. announcement. 

Community Impact Ahead

Local civic and business leaders view Wierman’s return — even in a consulting capacity — as a boost to efforts to link private investment with workforce development strategies that can expand job opportunities and inclusive growth across Forsyth County.

As economic development organizations and philanthropic partners recalibrate toward shared goals, residents and stakeholders will be watching how the alignment of these institutions advances Winston-Salem’s economic and community priorities in the years ahead.