HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION OF WILSON ACQUIRES DOWNTOWN PROPERTY TO SUPPORT FOUNDATION EXPANSION EFFORTS
The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson (HFW) purchased approximately six acres of downtown real estate close in proximity to the Warbirds stadium in July 2026. The purchase of this property supports the Foundation’s efforts to expand programming for nonprofits and to improve the health and wellness of Wilson.
“This expansion supports the Foundation’s vision for organizational growth and increased capacity to serve Wilson County,” said HFW President Paula Benson. “In the last year alone, HFW has expanded its impact through strategic investments, expanded programming, and educational trainings for the nonprofit leaders in our community.”
To support this investment in growth, the Foundation has increased its staffing significantly, hiring three employees in 2025 and two more in 2026. All staff live in Wilson County and work collaboratively to implement the mission and vision that was established in 2014.
While grant funding remains central to its mission, the Foundation has focused on programming to offer additional tools and opportunities beyond traditional grant support. This includes new capacity-building classes, which have already provided 58 hours of learning to 179 local participants. HFW also launched the Wilson Institute for Nonprofit Executives this year, expanding its investment in Wilson’s nonprofit leadership.
The Foundation’s youngest partners have also benefited from expanded programming. HFW has broadened its youth programming beyond scholarships by launching a paid summer internship program, where 13 local college students completed 54 hours of professional development and 2,401 paid hours working at local nonprofits. That growth continues this fall with the launch of Young Leaders in Philanthropy, which gives high school students the opportunity to learn more about leadership, civic duty, and the importance of philanthropic organizations.
“We are thrilled with the substantial growth the Foundation has achieved this past year,” said board chair Kurt Schmidt. “The new facility will only strengthen our ability to serve the community at the highest level of impact”.
Part of that impact will come from expanded meeting and event space, giving local nonprofit organizations, coalitions, and government agencies more opportunities to host learning sessions, meetings, and retreats free of charge. This year, the Foundation hosted 7 organizations for a combined 65 hours of meeting time in its single existing meeting space, highlighting the need for expanded capacity. Supporting community partners will remain a priority as the new facility is developed.
HFW’s current office space within Foundation YMCA will provide an opportunity for the YMCA to expand its offerings and better serve members, who have already exceeded membership projections since opening. This transition represents a strong partnership between the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson and Foundation YMCA, offering both organizations another opportunity to collaborate and plan for the future.
“The Healthcare Foundation of Wilson has been an incredible partner to the Foundation YMCA, and we are deeply grateful for the years we’ve shared under one roof, said Foundation YMCA CEO Sara Nuñez. Their unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community has made a lasting impact, and we are excited to see them continue to grow in their new home. At the same time, this transition creates new opportunities for the Foundation YMCA to expand our own impact. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership as we work together to build an even healthier, stronger Wilson.”
While still in the early stages of development, the Foundation plans to design a facility that reflects the needs of the community and its nonprofit partners, drawing on models from similar philanthropic organizations to guide its approach. As planning continues, HFW remains focused on creating a space built to serve Wilson County well into the future. Additional details will be shared as the project progresses.