Best Professional Development Grants for Nonprofits in Virginia

501(c)(3) organizations improving educational outcomes for children and youth, including those offering staff professional development in Virginia, can apply for Comis Foundation grants of US $5,000 - US $75,000. Funding supports pilot programs, proof-of-concept projects, and capacity building such as professional development, strategic planning, and leadership development, with some multi-year support available.

Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofits with innovative human services or social problem-solving approaches can seek funding to develop or expand their work. Creag Foundation supports organizations with new ways to address societal issues, including health, community development, literacy, safety, and related fields; interested groups may begin with a letter of inquiry.

The DanPaul Foundation aims to enhance early childhood development by training teachers and parents, protecting children from abuse, and promoting social responsibility. They provide grants to non-profits for programs that focus on education, health, and welfare of youth. Key initiatives include scholarships, environmental education, and support for underprivileged children. Grant amounts range from a few hundred dollars to $15,000 annually, with a focus on impactful, community-driven projects.

The Hearst Foundation's Social Service Grant focuses on tackling chronic poverty by funding direct-service organizations that implement effective solutions for economic independence and family strengthening. With a mission to support diverse nonprofits in the U.S., the Foundation allocates approximately 15% of its total funding to social services, prioritizing scalable programs that serve significant populations. The minimum grant size is $100,000, and special consideration is given to organizations addressing affordable housing, domestic violence, and youth development.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) entity, aims to enhance healthcare access and education for all. With grant opportunities focusing on food programs, healthcare services for underserved populations, and STEM initiatives, it seeks to support community health and well-being. Organizations eligible for funding must be U.S.-based and hold tax-exempt status. Requests are reviewed biannually, in March and September, to foster impactful community projects.

The Semnani Family Foundation, established in 1993, is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities worldwide through health, education, and disaster relief initiatives. Founded by Khosrow and Ghazaleh Semnani, it began by funding an orphanage in Romania. The foundation also operates locally, providing free healthcare through the Maliheh Free Clinic in Utah. Its commitment to human welfare drives impactful partnerships in countries such as Afghanistan, India, and South Africa, focusing on the most vulnerable populations.

Virginia schools, nonprofits, governments, and VCA teaching artists can access funding for short-term, artist-led residencies and workshops through the Arts in Practice Grants; awards up to US $2,000 reimburse up to 50% of fees. These projects can include community arts activities or professional development for arts educators in ADA-compliant Virginia facilities.

Nonprofit organizations in Virginia seeking support for community-based programs can apply for US $1,000 - US $20,000 to fund projects such as education, cultural activities, health facilities, and environmental initiatives. The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation considers IRS-qualified U.S. nonprofits, including museums, schools, youth and senior services, disability programs, and workforce training efforts.

Virginia schools, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and local or tribal government units can apply for Virginia Commission for the Arts Lifelong Learning Grants, awarding up to US $4,000 for sequential, hands-on arts education programs. Funding supports multi-session instruction, workshops, and training for teaching artists and arts educators in Virginia, including professional development and arts integration initiatives.

Virginia health and human service nonprofits can receive support to expand access to care for uninsured and medically underserved residents through Virginia Health Care Foundation. Funding can develop or grow primary care, mental health, dental, telehealth, and coordinated systems of care, including accelerating licensure for behavioral health professionals and addressing COVID-19-related mental health needs.

The Nordstrom Community Grant focuses on supporting youth and families by providing over $1 million in grants annually. It aims to assist grassroots organizations that address essential community needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as creating opportunities for economic mobility through mentorship and workforce development. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in areas where Nordstrom operates. Applications are encouraged for those meeting these criteria.

Virginia Humanities offers Opportunity Grants to support cultural nonprofits in Virginia for public humanities projects. With funding of up to $5,000, these grants are designed for projects with a shorter timeline and scope, awarded twice a year. The grants aim to encourage community engagement and storytelling, allowing organizations to implement initiatives quickly. Eligibility includes 501(c)(3) nonprofits and similar entities, while funding excludes advocacy, certain arts, and international travel.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Virginia seeking project support in education, social services, health care, civic and cultural, or environmental programs can apply for US $5,000 - US $25,000 in one-year funding. The Dr Scholl Foundation provides annual grants primarily to U.S. applicants, which may include staff training or other professional development within eligible projects.

Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofits with budgets between $100,000 and $4 million can access multi-year capacity-building, visibility, and fundraising support through the Catalogue for Philanthropy network. Focused on strengthening nonprofit effectiveness, Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington invites locally headquartered organizations serving the greater Washington region, including parts of Virginia, to apply for marketing support, professional development workshops, and donor outreach opportunities.

Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking capital funding for arts, education, environment, historic preservation, social services, or community development projects can apply for US $50,000 - US $500,000 in challenge or matching grants. Mary Morton Parsons Foundation supports organizations across the Commonwealth that meet its eligibility criteria and board giving expectations.

Virginia schools, nonprofits, and local or tribal governments can receive $1,000 - $5,000 to run hands-on arts education residencies and professional development programs across Virginia. With a mission to expand arts learning opportunities, Virginia Commission for the Arts supports new or expanded artist residencies, in-school and out-of-school arts education, and training for artists and educators, with a required 1:1 cash match.

Virginia Humanities at WHRO Grants supports public humanities projects across Hampton Roads, offering up to $6,000 for initiatives that connect local communities with their cultural heritage. The grants aim to engage broad audiences through community forums, exhibitions, and media projects, fostering dialogue and understanding. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits within the WHRO service area. The program emphasizes inclusivity, preserving local stories, and enhancing public access to humanities resources.

Virginia 501(c)(3) organizations active for over three years can seek single-year funding for programs such as education, poverty relief, health, animal welfare, disaster relief, veterans’ services, and spiritual endeavors. The Robinson Foundation provides support to southern U.S. charities whose projects show tangible, meaningful impact, which may include staff or leadership development within these service areas.

Nonprofit and community organizations in Virginia and nearby Mid-Atlantic states can seek up to US $7,500 for historic preservation planning and education projects that protect natural and cultural resources. Grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation help fund professional expertise, community forums, and public outreach that build preservation leadership and engage new audiences.

Public agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Virginia preserving battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures can access funding through National Trust for Historic Preservation. Grants of US $2,500 - US $10,000 support planning, professional expertise, organizational capacity building, and innovative public education or outreach that advance battlefield preservation efforts.

Eligible rural public entities and nonprofit organizations in Virginia can receive up to US $99,000 to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. USDA Rural Development funds projects such as leadership and entrepreneur training, business counseling, feasibility studies, and long-term strategic planning, which may include professional development activities for staff supporting rural economic development.

Fall 2026 Early Childhood Education Funding Cycle

Overall Early Childhood Education Program Blueprint

The Stranahan Foundation’s Early Childhood Education grant program supports efforts to improve access to high-quality early care and education for young children (birth to five), especially those from low-income families. We do this by investing in strategies that strengthen, support, and retain a high-quality, thriving early educator workforce.

The Foundation has a history of supporting professional development (PD) and learning systems through its Provider strategy (). We believe strong professional development systems are essential for building a skilled early childhood workforce and creating positive learning environments for young children.

The Fall 2026 funding cycle is available for organizations that align with this Provider strategy.

Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity will provide up to $750,000 to support early childhood education providers in strengthening existing professional development (PD) systems. Funding is intended to improve a specific area of an established PD system—not to build a brand-new system from scratch or put the foundational elements in place.

What kind of improvements can funding support?

Organizations should focus their projects on strengthening their professional development systems. The Stranahan Foundation defines a strong professional development system as one that includes:

• Connect learning opportunities that build on one another over time.
• Use adult learning best practices.
• Align staff learning to educator competencies, credentials, career growth, or compensation.
• Provide learning experiences that are individualized, scaffolded, and responsive to educators’ needs, experience, and goals.
• Have dedicated leadership and organizational capacity to support ongoing implementation.

• Gather regular feedback from staff and families.
• Use standardized assessment and evaluation tools to understand what is working and where improvements are needed.
• Make ongoing improvements based on what is learned.
• Support reflective practice, peer learning, and collaborative inquiry among educators.

• Offer both individual and group learning opportunities, such as training, professional learning communities, coaching, and mentoring.
• Provide learning opportunities on an ongoing basis rather than in a one-and-done situation.
• Connect internal and external learning opportunities to make the best use of available resources.
• Support classroom implementation through observation, modeling, feedback, and continuous improvement cycles.

• Provide learning experiences that are practical, relevant, and easy to apply in daily work.
• Include fundamental topics such as family engagement, effective instruction, developmentally appropriate practice, and classroom management.
• Align with established standards, research, and effective practices in the early childhood field.
• Equip educators to support all learners, including multilingual learners, children with disabilities, and children impacted by trauma or adverse experiences.

Virginia nonprofits that provide educational programming and employ teaching artists, as well as individual teaching artists, can access professional development support through the Virginia Commission for the Arts Teaching Artist Roster in Virginia. This opportunity identifies and promotes highly qualified teaching artists for school and community arts education programs and residencies.

Virginia nonprofit or government arts presenters that regularly book touring artists can access funding through Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to support participation in the Jazz Touring Network and related jazz touring activity, with awards up to US $3,000. Eligible presenters must be 501(c)(3) organizations or public units in the mid-Atlantic region seeking to develop or expand jazz programming and professional capacity.

Virginia Humanities offers Major Grants to support cultural nonprofits in Virginia that develop public humanities projects. These grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, are awarded biannually and aim to engage audiences with history, literature, and culture. Projects can include community forums, exhibitions, and curriculum resources, fostering dialogue and expanding access to the humanities. With a focus on immediate implementation, these grants are pivotal in enhancing cultural understanding across the state.

Virginia nonprofits, public schools, and local government entities near a Georgia-Pacific manufacturing community can seek funding for education, entrepreneurship, community enrichment, and environmental initiatives. These grants from Georgia-Pacific Foundation prioritize projects that enhance long-term well-being and sustainability in communities served by the company, and may include staff training or leadership development components.

The TJX Foundation Grants support nonprofit organizations located within 15 miles of a TJX store that align with their community mission. Eligible areas include basic needs, education for at-risk youth, workforce training, and safety from domestic violence. Organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) for at least 12 months and have a nondiscrimination policy. Applications are invited through a Letter of Inquiry, with funding decisions based on community impact.