Search Through Financial Assistance Grants in Virginia in the U.S.

Purpose

The Appalachian Community Fund’s Technical Assistance Program is designed to help build strong organizations. These are small grants for specific technical assistance needs identified by the organization. By helping staff, board, and members hone their skills, ACF believes an organization’s work will be stronger and more effective.

ACF supports community-led efforts addressing systemic economic, racial, environmental, and social issues in Central Appalachia in order to ensure a more just and equitable future for our region.

Technical Assistance

We believe that building organizational capacity and skills is essential for carrying out effective social justice work. This program is designed to meet specific technical assistance needs of grassroots organizations working for social change in Appalachia.

ACF believes that building organizational capacity and skills is essential for carrying out effective social justice work.

Designed to meet specific technical assistance needs of grassroots organizations working for social change in Appalachia, this program awards grants to help build organizational capacity and train board or staff members in key skills such as:

• Leadership development
• Fundraising and planned giving
• Board responsibilities and roles
• Long range planning
• Financial management
• Legal issues, e.g. non-profit incorporation
• Community organizing
• Informing community/media about work
• Training fees, materials, and travel

Funding Criteria

ACF provides grants to community-based organizations working for social, economic, racial and environmental justice in Central Appalachia.

We look to fund organizations that have developed a realistic plan for creating social change and prioritize work that utilizes organizing and education as strategies to achieve this end. We invite projects that are startup in nature.

We fund organizations working to:

• End racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ageism, and ableism
• Promote non-violent communities
• Build organizations that are fair, inclusive, and democratic

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a unique federal-state partnership providing social and economic support for a 13-state region stretching along the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi, including western North Carolina.

Established by the United States Congress in 1965, when Appalachia was considered "a region apart" from the rest of the nation, ARC has worked to bring Appalachia's 26 million people into America's economic mainstream.

Area Development Program

ARC’s Area Development program relies on a flexible “bottom up” approach to economic development, empowering Appalachian communities to work with their state governments to design impactful investment opportunities supporting our mission and investment priorities.

Within the scope of our Strategic Plan, ARC’s Area Development program makes investments in two general areas: critical infrastructure and business and workforce development. Critical infrastructure investments mainly include water and wastewater systems, transportation networks, broadband, and other projects anchoring regional economic development. Business and workforce investments primarily focus on entrepreneurship, worker training and education, food systems, leadership, and other human capital development.

ARC Strategic Plan

A comprehensive strategic planning process involving federal, state, and local officials and citizens resulted in, Appalachia Envisioned: A New Era of Opportunity – ARC Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which focuses investments under these five general goals:

• Building Appalachian Businesses:
  • Strengthen and diversify the region’s economy through inclusive economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development
• Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem
  • Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway.
• Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure
  • Ensure that the residents and businesses of Appalachia have access to reliable, affordable, resilient, and energy efficient utilities and infrastructure in order to successfully live and work in the region.
• Building Regional Culture and Tourism:
  • Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the region’s local, cultural heritage, and natural assets.
• Building Community Leaders and Capacity:
  • Invest in the capacity of local leaders, organizations, and communities to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution.

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation only accepts unsolicited proposals for specific areas within the education, family economic stability and childhood health sectors in select countries where we work, namely the United States, India and South Africa.

As a guideline, the foundation does not fund more than 25% of a project’s budget or more than 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has always recognized the power of providing grants to partner organizations that we knew were already working hard to improve the lives of urban children living in poverty. By aligning with organizations that are already making a difference, we continue to make an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Foundation priorities:

We fund social enterprises that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, health, and family economic stability (including livelihoods and financial inclusion). These social enterprises may be structured as for-profit or nonprofit entities.

Partnerships

We collaborate with a range of organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact. Our funding advances projects already making an impact in education, health, and family economic stability. Through these enduring and long-standing partnerships, we create lasting change together.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Mission

We are a public foundation created to serve southern communities and organizations seeking social, economic, and environmental justice by providing them with financial resources, opportunities for technical assistance and training, and access to systems of information and power. 

Purpose

Develop and nurture grassroots community-based leaders and organizers. Build the capacity of their organizations. Strengthen rural communities and people. Develop equitable peer relationships, which support real transformation toward a just society.

Our Values

Using a grassroots perspective, we believe that culture is the essence of its people and should be valued, shared and preserved in the process. 

We must build our strength and unity by incorporating standards of integrity, respect, love, diversity, quality and interconnectedness.

Please note over the next four years SPF will focus on three primary issue areas in its grantmaking: Education Reform; Immigration Rights; and Voter Engagement

The Discretionary Fund

Existing grantee partners as well as organizations new to SPF may apply for funding. All applicants should fall within the scope of the SPF mission and guidelines: grassroots community organizing for economic, social and environmental justice, in rural communities in the South.

Discretionary support includes (not limited to) grants for capacity building, community organizing events and/or activities, and voter engagement activities. There are three primary funding areas within discretionary

• General Discretionary: community organizing activities or small projects that aim to create change in SPF’s 12-state region.
• Technical Assistance: capacity building, strategic planning, organizational development, trainings and technology upgrades.
• Travel Assistance: conference travel and participation or civic engagement activities.

Discretionary fund resources are limited. Organizations may submit a maximum of two requests per year for a total reward of $3,500 per year.  

We have strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Our focus areas include basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. In addition to our philanthropic investments, we also encourage our employees to make a difference by offering robust employee giving and volunteering programs, including the opportunity to direct funds to organizations they support through volunteer efforts, and a matching gifts program that doubles their individual giving to causes they care about. Last year, we invested $350 million in the communities we serve, and employees contributed more than 1 million volunteer hours and directed $65 million through individual giving and matching gifts to support nonprofits.Through our regional U.S. sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities.Sponsorships supporting communitiesBank of America welcomes your sponsorship proposal for opportunities that make our communities a better place to live and work. We are particularly interested in providing support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on:

• preserving neighborhoods;
• educating the workforce for 21st century jobs;
• addressing critical needs such as hunger and emergency shelter;
• arts and culture;
• the environment; and
• diversity and inclusion programs.

Grants are made at the Foundation’s discretion based on our current funding strategies focused on housing, jobs and hunger. 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A Womack, Sr., established the Womack Foundation in 1963 in order to provide financial assistance to improve educational and recreational opportunities for citizens of Caswell County, North Carolina and Danville and Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The stated mission of the foundation remains:

• To provide non-interest bearing loans to area individuals who wish to further their post-secondary education and/or training and who might not otherwise be able to undertake such education or training due to financial constraints; and,
• To provide grants to organizations for the planning, implementation, and/or development of programs which enhance and improve the educational and recreational opportunities for area youth who would not otherwise be able to engage in such activities or programs due to financial constraints.
• To provide funding for organizations that are not normally funded by other people and agencies.

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

What is KOVAR?

KOVAR is a Virginia Knights of Columbus 501(c) (3) tax exempt charity established in 1971 to empower nonprofit organizations with financial support to improve access to affordable housing, job training, sports participation, and personal care for Virginians with Intellectual Disabilities.

Virginia Knights have raised more than $19 million since 1971 which has made it possible for KOVAR to help Virginians with Intellectual Disabilities through:

• Home Loans – Interest free loan program to assist in the purchase of group homes
• Transportation – 20% funding to assist in purchasing vehicles needed to transport persons with intellectual disabilities
• Group Home Support – Provides grants for furniture, remodeling and renovation projects, and new roofs
• Training Programs – Necessary funding for organizations to train persons with intellectual disability to enhance their quality of community living
• Job Skill Training Programs – Grants to organizations to establish life skills training programs for persons with intellectual disabilities
• Startup Programs – Grants to establish new and innovative programs designed to assist individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families
• Special Olympics Virginia - Provide grants for scholarships to reduce local program costs to send their athletes to State Games.

Maximum grant request is $20,000 and no more than 1 grant in an 18-month period.

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice. Since our founding in 1992, the Impact Fund has made more than 800 recoverable grants totaling more than $10 million for impact litigation. We award grants four times per year, most within the range of US$10,000 to US$50,000.

Social Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants and legal support to assist in human and civil rights cases. We have helped to change dozens of laws and win cases to improve the rights of thousands. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Texas and North Carolina, incarcerated people with mental health disabilities are forced to remain in jail despite being found not guilty and unable to proceed with a criminal trial.
• In Orange County, California there are currently 13 gang injunctions under effect, which disproportionately affect young men of color.
• In Chicago, Illinois, the city’s homeless shelter program is inaccessible to people with disabilities.
• In Springfield, Oregon, the city and its police department used excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters.
• In West Virginia, the state fails to protect children in foster care from abuse and neglect. 
• In Montana, voter suppression laws disadvantage young adults and give priority to gun owners.
• In Gary, Indiana, a gun manufacturer negligently marketed and distributed its guns, leading to an epidemic of gun violence in the city. 
• In Vancouver, British Columbia, the police perpetuate systemic discrimination against Indigenous people through bureaucratic measures.

Environmental Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants to support local litigation for environmental justice. These grants are for cases aiming to help people or communities who are affected by environmental harm or who lack access to basic environmental needs, such as clean water, clean air, adequate waste treatment, and green spaces. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Centreville, Illinois, the city’s failure to maintain its sewer system has caused raw sewage to flood peoples’ homes, endangering the property and health of a predominantly Black community.
• In Fresno County, California, the California Department of Transportation approved a highway expansion project that would increase air pollution and traffic in one of the state’s most environmentally burdened communities.
• In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the proposed expansion of a highway would divide the region's Black, Asian, and Latine neighborhoods and cause pollution and ill health.
• In North Dakota, the five-month closure of a highway in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests disproportionately affected the livelihoods and health of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe members.
• In Ontario, Canada, mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon river system causes catastrophic environmental and health impacts for the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
• In Sacramento, California, the county government and Sacramento Area Sewer District violated the Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage into nearby rivers.
• In the Eastern Coachella Valley in California, 1,900 residents of the Oasis Mobile Home Park suffer from arsenic-laced drinking water, wastewater contamination, and overcharging for utilities.

Economic Justice

The Impact Fund provides financial and other forms of support to cases fighting for economic justice. From workers' rights to consumer protection for vulnerable populations, impact litigation is a powerful tool to hold corporationss and the government accountable. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Brooklyn, New York, a prominent mortgage lender engaged in predatory practices, leaving homeowners of color at risk of losing their homes. 
• In Washington, live-in caregivers are unconstitutionally excluded from the state’s wage-and-hour protections.
• In Ravalli County, Montana, the county has created a “modern-day debtors’ prison” by incarcerating people unable to afford pre-trial fees. 
• In San Diego, California, vehicle ordinances target unhoused vehicle owners even when no adequate housing alternative exists.
• In New York, a federal immigration detention facility is violating minimum wage and forced labor laws by forcing detainees to work for just a dollar a day. 
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city and county destroy the property of unhoused individuals and conduct forced evictions from public spaces. 
• In Miami, Florida, insurance companies discriminate against a nonprofit community development corporation renting to tenants with Section 8 rental subsidies.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative Grant

Across the country, descendant communities and families are engaged in exciting and groundbreaking efforts to reclaim, rescue, and share overlooked stories and places of resilience, achievement, and perseverance. The impact of these efforts deserves admiration, resources, and partnership. Grants from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund's Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative will empower and equip descendant-led and family-led organizations and projects to preserve, activate, and manage historic places. This initiative is a testament to our belief in the capacity of descendant communities and families to be full partners and leaders in the physical preservation, interpretative programming, management, and governance of historic places.

The Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative is not just another grant funding opportunity. It's a unique, multi-year partnership and investment opportunity with one grant funding category – Stewardship Project. Powered by the Mellon Foundation's Humanities in Place, the Action Fund will award five grants and invest $200,000 per grantee, providing specialized consultation and best practices support for a period of two years.

Descendant and Family Stewardship Grants support project management, capacity-building, grantmaking, and convenings for place-based organizations. In collaboration and consultation with the Action Fund, the selected grantees will engage in the following activities during the two-year grant period as we work together to preserve American history and model new approaches in historic preservation:

• Completing a Stewardship Project needs assessment to inform the scope of work, the use of the grant funds, and define project milestones and deliverables.
• Receiving $200,000 in grant funds to develop a Stewardship Plan and launch the implementation of its recommendations.
• Promoting the partnership, process, and lessons learned for other stewarding organizations to replicate.
• Participating in convenings with initiative stakeholders to share best practices, build community, and advance the field.

The Stewardship Project's scope of work, for example, can include architectural and design services, strategic and fundraising planning, interpretation and program development, community engagement and audience development, staff support, limited capital and restoration, and other priorities established through the assessment process.

The Action Fund provides consultation to meet our grantees’ organizational needs and priorities. Our role as the grantor is to work hand in hand with our grantee partners through a collaborative process focused on asset management of heritage resources and holistic stewardship visioning and planning. Project partners will work as a team to achieve the grantee's short-term and long-term stewardship goals.

Help Define Descendant in Historic Preservation

Today, the preservation field has varying views on defining "descendant," though it is often used in connection to heritage sites associated with slavery, such as a plantation, burial ground, or jail. The Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative is a collaborative effort that values the input of all stakeholders. Our work with grantees includes strategic collaboration across the historic preservation field to define “descendant” and establish more broadly-adopted language. For example, descendant communities can include a direct blood lineage or historical affiliation to a site of enslavement, like Virginia's Sharswood Plantation, or social movements in education and civil rights, such as Washington-Rosenwald Schools, Birmingham Foot Soldiers, and the Tulsa Race Massacre.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is committed to understanding the different perspectives of descendant-led organizations and projects and seeks your help. Therefore, applicants for this grant can define “descendant” for themselves and make the case that their organization and project are descendant-led and family-led on the Letter of Intent (LOI) form. We deeply respect and value the unique perspectives and experiences that each organization brings to the table.

In addition to descendant-led, family-led describes organizations where family members with direct ties to a historic place help steward the site, such as a granddaughter advocating for Virginia's Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum, siblings volunteering at Philadelphia's John Coltrane Home, or a family saving a legacy farm. It may also include property owners of a historic residence or venue associated with Black history, actively supporting its preservation, public access, and interpretation.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation is pleased to announce a new Field of Interest Grant Program. This first Field of Interest grant was established by a donor to address the exploitation of children and support individuals impacted by child labor.

Purpose

This fund will provide grants to organizations that:

• Serve individuals who have been or may be affected by child labor, or
• Work to prevent and combat the exploitation of children through labor trafficking.

Funding Priorities Include

• Basic needs assistance (e.g., housing, food, transportation, healthcare)
• Legal services and representation
• Childcare, recreation, and youth enrichment programs
• Scholarships, education, vocational training, and ESL certification
• Financial literacy and tax guidance
• Staff training, capacity-building, or service delivery support for nonprofits working with the target population

Supporting Historic Sacred Places

A program of Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Fund for Sacred Places provides financial and technical support for community-serving historic houses of worship across America.

What We Offer

The National Fund for Sacred Places provides matching grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to congregations undertaking significant capital projects at historic houses of worship, along with wraparound services including training, technical assistance, and planning support.

What We’re Looking For

The National Fund for Sacred Places assesses applicant eligibility according to the core criteria shown below, while also striving to build a diverse participant pool that reflects a broad range of geographic, cultural, and religious identities.

Historic, Cultural, or Architectural Significance

We are looking for buildings that have historic, cultural, or architectural significance—and sites that have important and relevant stories to tell. Many of our participants are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the state register, or the local register. Your building does not have to be on one of these lists, but eligibility for one or more of these lists is a good benchmark for National Fund eligibility.

As part of the National Trust’s commitment to telling the full American story, we particularly encourage congregations to apply that illuminate a unique or overlooked aspect of American history and that expand our understanding of our shared national heritage. We encourage submissions related to historic sacred places of importance to historically and contemporaneously underrepresented communities including, but not limited to, women, immigrants, Asian Americans, Black Americans, Latinx Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and LGBTQIA communities.

Successful applicants are able to demonstrate their place in history by answering questions such as:

• Does the building tell a story relevant to our history—either cultural or religious?
• Does the history highlight previously underrecognized communities, stories, or locations?
• How has the building served the community over time? Does the building have a great physical presence in its community due to its location or programming?
• Is the building the work of a notable architect? If so, is it a high-quality example of their body of work?
• Is the building an exceptional example of its architectural style or building technology?
• Does the building embody the congregation’s resilience over time?

Community-Serving Congregations

We are looking for congregations that are engaged in their communities and that are serving others. Engaged congregations operate and host programming that serves vulnerable, at-risk, and diverse populations; share space with non-affiliated groups and organizations (often at subsidized rates); work with other congregations, faith-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and/or municipalities; and have a widespread reputation for being a welcoming center of community life.

Project Scope and Need

We fund historic preservation projects addressing urgent repair needs and/or life safety. We also fund projects that increase congregations’ ability to open their buildings to new populations or to serve greater numbers of people. All projects must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which is a universally accepted framework for doing work to older and historic properties.

We prioritize congregations/projects where there is a demonstrated need (meaning that the congregation cannot raise the funds alone) or where it is clear that our grant will have a catalytic effect (meaning that our grant is likely to lead to additional monies being contributed to the project).

Readiness

Once-in-a-generation capital projects require a great deal of planning. We are looking for applicants that understand their buildings’ needs and that are ready to undertake a capital campaign. National Fund congregations typically have a history of successful capital campaigns, which demonstrate an ability to raise significant funds and complete a project.

Successful congregations come to us with a realistic fundraising goal, which has been generated with the help of qualified preservation professionals and is not too far beyond the congregation’s fundraising capacity.

Healthy Congregations

The National Fund prioritizes healthy, stable congregations so that our investment is truly impactful and lasting. We look for the following, although this is not an exhaustive list of characteristics that indicate healthy congregations: tenured, well-respected clergy; capable lay leadership; stable or growing membership; financial strength and stability; support of the judicatory or governing body, if applicable; and a history of weathering any congregational conflict or trauma with resilience.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

Background

The Virginia Main Street Program is a preservation-based economic and community development program that follows the Main Street Approach by the National Main Street Center. Virginia Main Street is a Main Street America State Coordinating Program that offers a range of services and assistance to communities interested in revitalizing their historic commercial districts. While the program was designed to address the need for revitalization and on-going management of smaller to mid-sized downtowns, aspects of the Main Street Approach may be applied successfully in other commercial settings.

Downtown Investment Grants

Downtown Investment Grants (DIGs) allow Main Street organizations to take on unique, one-time projects that measurably, creatively, and sustainably advance the organization’s goals and strategies. DIGs involve multiple downtown partners and require active leadership and participation by the organization’s board, committees, and volunteers.

Match Requirements

All projects require a 2:1 match. For every $2 of grant funding applied for, there must be $1 in match funding committed. In-kind services provided by local government, consultants, and other Main Street stakeholders and partners may be included. Time contributed solely to the implementation of the project by volunteers from the Main Street organization or the organization’s partners may be included.

Funding Priorities & Anticipated Outcomes

A strong application will clearly explain how the proposed project will result in measurable economic improvement in the Main Street district. The project will:

• Support the community’s vision for encouraging the private investment necessary for the economic revitalization of the Main Street district;
• Clearly align with the mission of the Main Street organization; and
• Address one or more of the organization’s Transformation Strategies or market-based strategic planning goals for the Main Street district.

The implementation of the proposed project will empower board and committee volunteers as leaders and help develop and capitalize on the expertise and financial support of the organization’s stakeholders and community partners.

DIGs can be used to: fund complete projects; provide seed funding for new projects; or provide gap financing that allows a project to become fully funded. As noted above (in the “VMS Grants at a Glance” section), visibly impactful, physical improvement projects that will result in one or more of the preferred outcomes will be prioritized.

About Us

Visionaries for Change, a giving circle of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, was established in 2019 by Black business and civic leaders in Hampton Roads. Visionaries donate money to a pooled fund, and together fund grants that improve life in Black communities experiencing economic distress in Hampton Roads. Members want to invest in organizations that build a healthy community, increasing everyone’s opportunity for success.

Focus Area

In 2025, Visionaries for Changewill fund Black-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Black-serving nonprofits are those with the majority (51% or more) of their clients being Black.

Grant applications should explain how the program for which funding is sought addresses one or more of the following priority impact areas:

• Strengthen businesses and current entrepreneurs by providing mentorship activities, technical assistance and access to capital.
• Create wealth and build long-term financial assets by providing financial literacy and education and employment opportunities for adults.

Grant Range

Visionaries for Change anticipates awarding grants that average $5,000. Visionaries may award grants that are smaller and larger than $5,000.

About the Foundation

The McGlothlin family began in a modest farmhouse nestled in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, in Buchanan County. Though the family was sustained in the early years through agrarian efforts and coal mining, the McGlothlins later became involved with oil, gas, real estate and financial services.

Today, The McGlothlin Foundation wishes to direct its philanthropy to worthy causes in higher education, healthcare, and the arts.

Mission Statement

The McGlothlin Foundation offers it's assistance to those who wish to maintain the beauty of their surroundings, improve the health of all peoples and prepare mankind to live in a more civil and peaceful environment, through aid to higher education, healthcare, and the arts.

Areas of Interest

Whereas The McGlothlin Foundation's higher education focus will give primary concern to proposals for private institutions, some consideration will be given for state-supported colleges and universities. Higher education grants include support for brick and mortar proposals as well as aid for programmatic needs.

The Foundation has an interest in providing grants to support hospitals and healthcare foundations with capital projects.

The Foundation will provide grants for theatres and museums for capital projects.

The Inez Duff Bishop Charitable Trust was established in 1966 under the Last Will and Testament of Inez Duff Bishop. Inez Duff Bishop, a resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, created the trust to “bring humanitarian blessings” to people. The trust primarily supports a variety of charitable organizations located in Charlottesville or Albemarle County, Virginia.

Mission

To support a broad range of activities especially assistance for the visually impaired, and hospital and medical care for those in financial need.

Program areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities
• Education
• Environment, animals
• Health
• Human services
• Public/society benefit
• Religion.

Program Limitations

The trust has a practice of supporting organizations that assist the visually impaired, and underprivileged individuals in need of hospital and medical care.

These Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) Guidelines and Application Procedures provide detailed guidance to aid applicants in determining eligibility, developing itemized budgets and budget narratives, and completing other related forms. Using the guidance presented in this document, applicants can efficiently and effectively prepare complete applications. The development of these requirements was informed by the Office on Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide.

Purpose

The Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program (SASP) was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 Technical Amendments and is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. SASP is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). Funding through SASP supports rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations or tribal programs that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is the State Administering Agency for SASP. DCJS, in partnership with other stakeholders, seeks to consider the array of needs of all sexual assault victims and available services in the Commonwealth when developing implementation strategies. Funds provided through SASP are designed to supplement other funding sources directed at addressing sexual assault.

The purpose of SASP is to support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of rape crisis centers and other nongovernmental or tribal programs and projects to assist individuals who have been victimized by sexual assault, without regard to the age of the individual (34 U.S.C. §12511(b)(2)(B)).

About the Hughes Memorial Foundation

Hughes Memorial Foundation was established by John Edward Hughes who built his fortune in the tobacco industry and upon his death in 1922 left most of his estate to build Hughes Memorial Home, an orphanage located in Danville, Virginia. He established a trust fund, which was governed by a Board that was elected and approved by the church, to financially assist with the needs of the facility. The orphanage was self-sufficient in that the staff and children raised vegetables and animals to assist with the cost of food. The agricultural program also served as a training program for the residents. Many of the individuals that were raised at the orphanage still consider it their "home". The alumnae of Hughes Memorial Home meet annually. Being a non-profit organization, Hughes Memorial also received charitable contributions from individuals wishing to help financial support the orphanage and the children. In the mid 1970's because of the reduction in need for the orphanage, Hughes Memorial became a residential treatment facility for abused and neglected adolescents. The residential treatment program was discontinued in 1999 and the Board of Hughes Memorial Home made the decision to become a private foundation that kept as its focus the example of Jesus Christ and the legacy of Mr. Hughes' original wishes which was to help children "most in harm's way" ... they chose to do this by awarding grants and scholarships that were targeted for the benefit of children. The first awards were made by the Board in November of 2000. Since then, the Hughes Memorial Foundation has awarded $5.1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations for programs benefiting children, and educational scholarships.

Our Mission

The Hughes Memorial Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization that seeks to aid deserving children in Virginia and North Carolina, and linear offspring of Hughes Memorial Home alumnae. Guided by the example of Jesus Christ and continuing the legacy of John E. Hughes, the Foundation will be prudent stewards of the resources entrusted to us and will provide scholarships and grants, support projects, and initiate programs which will provide care, training, and nurture.

Special Interest grant applicants are expected to provide financial statements in the form of either recent independently audited financials or a full 990 or 990EZ recently filed with the IRS.

Veterans

The Emil J. Gasser, Jr. Fund and The Colenda Fund support nonprofit organizations that provides support to Veterans. Preference may be given to programs that assist Veterans with disabilities. Awards will be up to $5,000. 

Conservation Stewardship Program

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation.

Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals. We can help you identify natural resource problems in your operation and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.

How It Works

If you are already taking steps to improve the condition of the land, chances are, CSP can help you find new ways to meet your goals.

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts, using new conservation practices or activities, based on management objectives for your operation. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations.

For example, if you have been planting a cover crop, you may decide to try an enhancement for a multi species cover crop or implement a deep-rooted cover crop to break up soil compaction and further improve the health of your soil.

CSP offers annual payments for implementing these practices on your land and operating and maintaining existing conservation efforts. Want to take it a step further? CSP also offers bundles where you can select a suite of enhancements and receive a higher payment rate.

Benefits

CSP is for working lands and is the largest conservation program in the United States. Thousands of people voluntarily enroll in the program because it helps them enhance natural resources and improve their business operation.

CSP participants are seeing real results.  Some of these benefits include:

• Enhanced resiliency to weather and market volatility
• Decreased need for agricultural inputs
• Improved wildlife habitat conditions

CSP Contracts

The program represents a genuine commitment to conservation – CSP contracts are for five years, with the opportunity to compete for a contract renewal if you successfully fulfill the initial contract and agree to achieve additional conservation objectives. An NRCS conservation planner will work closely with you, throughout the entire contract process.

Contract payments are based on two components:

• Payments to maintain the existing level of conservation, based on the land uses included in the contract and an NRCS assessment of existing stewardship at the time of enrollment, and

Payments to implement additional conservation activities.NRCS may provide a minimum annual payment of $1,500 in any year the Chief determines the total contract payment amount is below a base level.

Virginia Priority Resource Concern Categories

• Agricultural Land
  • Crop
    • Concentrated erosion
    • Degraded plant condition
    • Field sediment, nutrient and pathogen loss
    • Soil quality limitations
    • Terrestrial habitat
    • Wind and water erosion
  • Pasture
    • Concentrated erosion
    • Degraded plant condition
    • Field sediment, nutrient and pathogen loss
    • Livestock production limitation
    • Soil quality limitations
    • Terrestrial habitat
    • Wind and water erosion
  • Farmstead
    • Concentrated erosion
    • Storage and handling of pollutants
    • Terrestrial habitat
  • Associated Ag Land
    • Concentrated erosion
    • Terrestrial habitat
    • Wind and water erosion
• Forestry Land
  • Forest
    • Aquatic habitat
    • Concentrated erosion
    • Degraded plant condition
    • Fire management
    • Pest pressure
    • Soil quality limitations
    • Terrestrial habitat
    • Wind and water erosion
  • Farmstead
    • Aquatic habitat
    • Concentrated erosion
    • Terrestrial habitat
  • Associated Ag Land
    • Aquatic habitat
    • Concentrated erosion
    • Pest pressure
    • Terrestrial habitat
    • Wind and water erosion

EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.

EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as:

• Improved water and air quality;
• Conserved ground and surface water;
• Increased soil health;
• Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation;
• Improved or created wildlife habitat; and
• Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.

How It Works

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP.  Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.

State Priorities

• Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs), Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs) and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs)
  • Planning, design, implementation and monitoring tasks for NRCS conservation program purposes (previously known as Conservation Activity Plans or CAPs)
• Cropland
  • Practices to enhance water and soil quality while improving plant health and productivity
• Forestry
  • Practices that will lead to the conversion of marginal land (active cropland, pasture or abandoned open land) to hardwood, longleaf or shortleaf pine
• Livestock
  • Practices to improve and protect water and soil quality while benefiting plant and animal health.
• Longleaf Pine
  • Stand establishment and management within the historical range in Southeastern Virginia.
• National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
  • Targeted practices to clean up impaired streams and improve aquatic habitats.
  • The following watersheds are eligible for this fund pool: War Branch and Mountain Run in Rockingham County and Gap Creek in Rockingham and Shenandoah counties.
• On-Farm Energy
  • Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) or farm energy audits to assess energy use and recommend ways to reduce it.
• Organic
  • Practices to help certified organic growers, those working to achieve organic certification, and specialty crop producers address resource concerns on their operations.
• StrikeForce
  • Priority ranking for cropland, high tunnel and livestock practices to support program participation among underserved producers in rural communities.
• Wildlife
  • Practice to create, improve and manage habitat for wildlife. (See also Working Lands for Wildlife initiative)
    • American Black Duck Initiative
      • Focused conservation practices to restore wintering habitat in the Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay watersheds
    • Eastern Hellbender
      • Targeted conservation practices to reduce sediment and nutrient inputs for improved habitat and water quality
    • Golden-winged Warbler
      • Young forest habitat restoration in Appalachian breeding territory
    • Northern Bobwhite in Pine Savannas
      • Management strategies to convert commercial loblolly and shortleaf pine plantings to highly valuable pine savannah habitats
    • Northern Bobwhite in Working Grasslands
      • Native grass restoration to address habitat loss while maintaining or improving cattle production on the land.

National Program Initiatives

• Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs), Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs), and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs)
  • Non-Tribal
  • Tribal
• EQIP - Conservation Incentive Contracts: statewide competition for grazing lands to promote implementation of 528 Prescribed Grazing
• High Tunnel Systems (Socially Disadvantaged by NRCS Area)
  • Area High Tunnel System - competitive on an area basis
  • Beginning Farmer High Tunnel System – competitive statewide
  • Socially Disadvantaged High Tunnel System - competitive statewide
• Urban Agriculture - competitive statewide for land within an urban areas as defined by the latest U.S. Census or, or land within an Incorporated towns
• Organic Initiative (Certified and Transitional)
• On-Farm Energy (Conservation Activity Plans)
• StrikeForce Initiatives (eligible land must be within designated StrikeForce localities) Cropland and livestock ranking pools - StrikeForce Cropland
• Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership (Eastern Divide)

Landscape Conservation Initiatives

• Longleaf Pine Initiative
• National Water Quality Initiative (Smith Creek Watershed)
  • Dry Fork
  • Gap Creek
  • Mountain Run
  • War Branch
• Working Lands for Wildlife
  • American Black Duck
  • Golden-Winged Warbler
  • Northern Bobwhite in Working Grasslands

State Conservation Initiatives

• Cropland
• Forestry (competitive statewide)
  • Longleaf Pine/Shortleaf Pine and Hardwood Management
  • Tribal Longleaf Pine/Shortleaf Pine and Hardwood Management
• Livestock
• Wildlife
  • Aquatic
  • Hellbender
  • Northern Bobwhite in Pine Savannahs and
  • Terrestrial (competitive statewide)
  • Tribal Terrestrial Wildlife

Who We Are

At CarMax, our commitment to innovation and iconic customer experiences have made us the nation’s largest retailer of used cars. As the original disruptor of the automotive industry, our “no-haggle” prices transformed car buying and selling from a stressful, dreaded event into the honest, straightforward experience all people deserve. We’ve been raising the bar on customer  experiences ever since. 

Our Communities

We invest both time and resources where we live and work, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because we are passionate about helping our communities thrive. Between CarMax and The CarMax Foundation, we have invested over $65 million to date in causes important to our associates.

The Home Office Giving Program

Associates in our hometown also support many of these organizations through volunteerism and monetary donations.

The Carmax Foundation supports programs in the following areas:

Educational & Workforce Success

• Anti-bullying/character development
• Career & workforce readiness
• College preparation
• Cultural arts programs
• Dropout prevention
• Entrepreneurship
• Financial literacy
• Leadership development
• Literacy, language arts & ESL
• Mentoring & tutoring
• Out-of-school time programs
• Quality preschool and childcare
• Special needs education
• STEM
• Tools & resources to support learning

Health & Wellness

• Access to food & nutrition
• Connected & healthy older adults
• Disease research & support
• Domestic violence assistance
• Emotional health
• Health education & prevention
• Physical activity
• Prenatal care
• Trauma-informed care

Resilient Communities

• Building household income & financial stability
• Civic engagement & volunteerism
• Disaster relief & recovery
• Housing, shelter & homelessness
• Revitalizing neighborhoods
• Wraparound services to maintain housing & employment

Community Progress Makers Fund

Community Progress Makers is a Citi Foundation initiative aimed at supporting local community organizations connecting low-income communities to greater social and economic opportunity. The Foundation first launched the Community Progress Makers initiative in 2015 with a vision of empowering local community organizations to grow their transformative impact through unrestricted, trust-based funding. The Foundation is committing an additional $50 million to support a fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers. Through an open request for proposals (RFP) process, the Foundation will select 50 community organizations to receive the following over three years: 

• $1 million in unrestricted grant support
• Access to technical assistance from national experts and leading researchers
• Opportunities to connect and share learnings through webinars and local and national gatherings

Selection Priorities

For this funding opportunity, the Citi Foundation will prioritize organizations that demonstrate:

• Deep connections to the communities served
• Track record of partnering with other community organizations and stakeholders to achieve positive change
• Utilization of data to inform planning and the capacity to collect, analyze, and share data, results, and learnings
• Track record and innovative vision in one of the following areas of work: 
  • Affordable Housing and Access, such as efforts to promote housing affordability; home ownership; and resident support services to help people more easily access employment, education, health, and childcare.
  • Economic Development, including the provision of technical assistance to small businesses; commercial corridor revitalization efforts; and green economy strategies that promote job creation.
  • Financial Health, such as efforts in delivering financial coaching; integrated financial capability services; and savings and asset building strategies.
  • Workforce Readiness, including organizations preparing young people and/or adults for careers and entrepreneurship.

Mission

The mission of Southern Partners Fund (SPF) is to serve rural Southeastern communities and organizations seeking social, economic and environmental justice by providing them with financial resources, technical assistance, training and access to systems of information and power. There are two central ideas embraced in the democratic philanthropy of Southern Partners Fund: compassion and community. Compassion implies an understanding or concern for community members lacking local political power to impact the decisions that affect their lives. Community relates to the things that bring us and hold us together.

Purpose

The Purpose of SPF Grantmaking is to:

• Develop and nurture grassroots community-based leaders and organizers.
• Build the capacity of rural, grassroots community organizing groups and leaders.
• Strengthen rural communities and people.
• Develop equitable peer relationships, which support real transformation toward a just society.

Hubert E. Sapp Regular Grants Cycle

Hubert Ellis Sapp, a transformative visionary and grassroots organizer, was instrumental in turning the concept of Southern Partners Fund, a democratically led foundation directed by grassroots leaders, into a reality. To honor his legacy in the wake of his passing in February of 2021, we are honored to add his name to our Regular Grant Cycle, which from here on, will be referred to as the Hubert E. Sapp Regular Grant Cycle. 

• Applicants may request general support or project support.
• Applicants must have operating budgets of $350,000 or less to receive general support.
• Organizations with operating budgets over $350,000 can apply for project support only.

Members of SPF’s grants committee will contact organizations being considered to schedule a site visit, required for new applicants, or phone interview. SPF’s grants committee, made up of SPF members, makes grants decisions during a September grants panel meeting, which are then ratified by the Board. Groups will be notified of grants decisions after October 1st, 2024.

If an organization has received five consecutive years of regular grant cycle funding, it must take a year off before making a new RGC grant request.