Search Through Grants for Community Centers in Virginia in the U.S.

Foundation Background

The Alleghany Foundation is a private foundation that came about as a result of the sale of a community non-profit hospital to a for-profit hospital. The Alleghany Foundation is a Virginia nonstock corporation exempt from income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is managed by a Board of Directors, all the members of which are residents of the community. The Foundation’s ongoing purpose is to provide financial support that primarily benefits worthy activities in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia.

Purpose

The Foundation seeks applications in key focus areas with the goal of building upon the region’s wonderful assets to provide dynamic opportunities for all its residents. Proposals should contribute to the Foundation’s strategic areas of focus for grant, including the VISION 2025 Initiative.

Strategic Funding Areas of Interest

The Foundation’s priority is to support proposals from organizations that contribute to the following outcomes:

• Economic Transformation – Harness our region’s strengths to develop a vibrant, diverse and higher-wage economy that can compete in the global marketplace.
• Educational Excellence – Seeks to invest with institutions, such as our local public schools and community college to move our school systems forward from “Good to Great.”
• Health and Wellness – Help the residents of the Alleghany Highlands lead healthier lives and access the comprehensive health care they need.
• Community Capacity – Grow local institutions and organizations with the vision, will, wisdom, and skills to work together to build a more prosperous, equitable, just and sustainable community.
• Leadership and Civic Vitality – Develop broad-based inclusive leadership that can sustain a forward-looking agenda for the community.
• VISION 2025 Initiative – A multi-pronged community-led effort for economic revitalization of the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia that is supported in partnerships with The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, The Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corporation, and Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and made up of the following working groups:
  • Real Estate, Utility Development and Marketing to Expand Industry Base
  • Alleghany Highlands Web Store and Small Business Support
  • Corridor Curb Appeal, Gateway and Main Street Enhancement
  • Community Landscaping and Destination Gardens
  • Alleghany Highlands Industrial Heritage and Technology Discovery Center

What does this program do?

This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.

How may funds be used?

Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

• Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
• Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements.
• Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing.
• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment.
• Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools.
• Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment.
• Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses.

Grant Approval

Applicant must be eligible for grant assistance, which is provided on a graduated scale with smaller communities with the lowest median household income being eligible for projects with a higher proportion of grant funds. Grant assistance is limited to the following percentages of eligible project costs:

Maximum of 75 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 5,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 60 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 55 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 12,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 70 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 35 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 80 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 15 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 90 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income. The proposed project must meet both percentage criteria. Grants are further limited.

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Digital Equity Planning Grants 

Connect Humanity’s Digital Equity Planning Grants support communities to establish a holistic plan of action to achieve their digital equity goals.

As part of the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), the US Government established Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and the Digital Equity Act (DEA). Together these programs provide $45 billion+ to support unserved and underserved communities to access the broadband, devices, and skills they need to participate fully in our digital world. Many of these communities currently lack the time, resources, and technical know-how to design the broadband plans they need to receive this funding. 

That’s why Connect Humanity supports low-income communities and communities of color to create Digital Equity Connectivity Plans. This process will identify the community’s digital needs and create a robust plan to meet them. The broadband networks that result will provide families and businesses with the reliable, affordable connectivity they need, leading to economic development, social mobility, and healthier communities.

A plan for better broadband

Efforts to bring better broadband to a community must start with a clear plan. This program provides grantees with funding and expertise to establish a holistic Digital Equity Connectivity Plan which will help them secure the partnerships and financing they need to advance internet access in their communities — and will be critical whether or not they receive government funding. We’ll tailor our support to meet you where you are, but typically we’d expect to partner with you to:

• Assess your community’s digital needs: to understand the current broadband market, where the gaps are, and the barriers to digital equity that need to be addressed.
• Create a network design: to define the technical requirements, operating and ownership model of the network.
• Build a business plan: with a sustainable revenue model, clear funding options, and a community engagement strategy.

Funding

Planning grants are a partnership effort between the community, the connectivity provider, external consultants, and Connect Humanity. The resulting Digital Equity Connectivity Plans are meant to support a community to pursue further funding for their networks and digital skills. For communities that have not completed much or any planning, more resources will be needed.

The full scope of our planning grants range from $10,000 to $120,000. This is dependent on the needs of the community. For example, while some communities have allocated public funding to support this work, others will need support for the full planning process.

Global Impact Cash Grants

Identifying and incubating innovative early-stage solutions. We identify, incubate, and develop innovative early-stage solutions with the highest potential for impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.

We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. A brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application. Please expand and carefully review each of the three sections below to learn more

Our priority social impact sectors

We focus on investing in innovative, tech-enabled solutions to the challenges and opportunities that matter most to communities in need, prioritizing four social impact sectors:

Cisco Crisis Response

Mobilizing to provide essentials to communities in need and those in crisis, including food, housing, secure connectivity, and disaster relief

By leveraging Cisco’s people, technology, financial resources, and strategic partnerships, we help strengthen community resilience and drive long-term recovery from crises.

Education

Supporting students, teachers, and schools by increasing engagement, building skills, promoting subject mastery, and expanding their capacity to thrive

Cisco is committed to inclusive access to digital skills training and supporting those who use technology to educate. Through programs like Cisco Networking Academy and social investments in education, we create new opportunities for individuals to thrive.

Economic Empowerment

Transforming communities through skill development, long-term career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial products and services

Strategic grants that unlock economic prosperity and growth for individuals and communities.

Climate Regeneration

Building an inclusive, regenerative, and resilient climate future through education, regenerative agriculture, conservation, protection, and clean energy solutions

Our efforts began in 2021, when the Cisco Foundation committed US$100 million over 10 years to fund nonprofit grants and impact investing in climate solutions. 

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

We envision a just, connected, and inclusive Greater Washington community in which systemic racism and its consequences no longer exist. The Meyer Foundation pursues and invests in solutions that build an equitable Greater Washington community in which economically disadvantaged people thrive. We apply a systems approach to achieve a just, connected, and inclusive Greater Washington. This means our work and the work we support seeks to:

• Address the root causes of racial disparities in our region
• Shift the conditions, policies, practices, priorities, culture, and power to create systems that are equitable and inclusive. 
• Build the power and leadership of the people most directly affected by inequity based on the unique context of their experiences.

Core Grantmaking

We partner with organizations and projects that build the power of Greater Washington communities to reimagine, recreate, and reform systems in the pursuit of racial equity and justice.

At the Meyer Foundation, we believe systemic racism has led to our deeply inequitable economy and unjust systems, preventing too many people from accessing prosperity and opportunity. Our social contract–the moral code by which we live–is broken.

Instead, we believe that the social contract should be redefined to become inclusive and race-centered, to support a just economy that works for people most directly affected by racial inequity and injustice, and to improve the relationship between systems and the people they serve. This vision is an important component of the framework for our core grantmaking.

Through our grantmaking, we support work that strives toward a better future–one that is rooted in equity, justice, and our shared humanity and that helps build a more racially just society where everyone in our region can thrive.

What We Support

In addition to our eligibility requirements, organizations or projects seeking funding should:

• Address the root causes of inequity through systems change work. We define systems change as challenging and changing the culture, policies, practices, and priorities that create and perpetuate inequities. These inequities have only been further exposed and exacerbated during the pandemic.
• Build power for purposes of advancing racial and/or economic justice.
• Leverage one or more of these tactics for change:
  • Organizing & Base Building - Organizing is a grassroots method for building relationships and power, particularly among people and communities who have traditionally been excluded from decision making. Organizing may also be referred to as base building—recruiting and retaining a large group of members from impacted communities who participate in and help direct and implement the work of the organization.
  • Advocacy - Any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others. It includes public education, regulatory work, litigation, and work before administrative bodies, lobbying, voter education, voter registration, and more.
  • Coalition Building - A coalition is a collection of people and organizations with similar interests working together to influence outcomes around a specific cause. Coalition building is the process by which people and organizations come together to grow their base, coordinate efforts, deploy resources, and provide leadership and guidance to achieve objectives broader than a single organization might accomplish on its own.

• Actively participate in broader organizing, movement, and/or field-building work to advance racial and economic justice in Greater Washington.

What Does Meyer Look for When Selecting Grantee Partners?

We are most interested in how your work and approach align with our strategy and vision. To evaluate Interest Forms or proposals, we look at:

• Building power and leadership: To what extent is your organization or project building and supporting the leadership and power of those closest to the issues and most affected by racial inequities?
• Tactics: How does your organization/project apply one or more of the tactics of organizing and base building, advocacy, and/or coalition building?
• Movement building: How does your organization’s work contribute to broader work in DC, Maryland, or Virginia to advance racial and economic justice?

What Types of Grants Does Meyer Make? 

Meyer awards one-year and multi-year grants for general operations and projects. Meyer’s primary grantmaking strategy is to provide general operating support. We award project-specific grants (including, in a limited number of circumstances, for capital campaigns) when a particular project aligns with Meyer’s goals, but the overall work of the organization does not, or where the organization is based outside of Greater Washington but is carrying out work in the region.

Multi-Year Grants

Organizations that are good candidates for multi-year support are those that most closely align with the approach described above. We are especially interested in multi-year support for:

• Community organizing groups who have: 1) a proven track record building the leadership of people with lived experience in the issue(s) being addressed and 2) the ability to act and make change.
• Coalitions working on multi-year campaigns that address the priorities and/or concerns identified by their constituents.
• Anchor organizations hosting multi-stakeholder coalitions focused on changing policies and institutions that perpetuate racial inequity.
• Emerging organizations that have promising ideas and/or fill a critical gap in movements to shift systems toward racial and economic justice.

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.

Purpose

To expand access to high-quality artist-led residencies throughout Virginia.

Description

Arts in Practice Grants help ensure that Virginians can experience enriching educational programming through dynamic artist-led residencies. This grant program is designed to reimburse eligible organizations who partner with artists on the VCA Teaching Artist Roster for up to 50 percent of residency/workshop fees. VCA Teaching Artists book engagements with organizations, who then apply for Arts in Practice Grants. Arts in Practice activities must be facilitated in-person but may vary in duration and format. These activities are designed to support a diverse range of learning environments for participants of all ages, and/or professional development opportunities for educators.

Up to 50 percent of the residency or workshop fees for programs listed on the Teaching Artist Roster, with a maximum reimbursement of $2,000, and subject to the overall funding limit allocated for each VCA Teaching Artist. Arts in Practice awards are made to the partnering organization applying for the grant (not to the VCA Teaching Artist), who is responsible for compensating the VCA Teaching Artist in full.

Residency Examples

• An elementary school engages a dance artist for four weeks to conduct 45-minute weekly sessions with each third-grade classroom to integrate movement with their study of migration.
• A poet is brought in by a community center to work with a group of senior citizens on memory and personal history through poetry.
• A theatre artist conducts a workshop for teachers of rural second-language English learners to develop lessons utilizing theatre performance techniques to support language development.
• A nonprofit organization coordinates a one-day military/veteran’s family event where teaching artists conduct mini-workshops and demonstrations. 

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborate with a wide range of nonprofit organizations that align with our strategic funding priorities. We prioritize our funding to activities and programs that have a broad reach and support the needs of underserved communities. We aspire to have a positive impact on the communities we serve by using our financial and volunteer resources and business expertise in collaboration with community organizations to help solve complex societal problems.

• Financial health
• Housing affordability
• Small business growth
• Sustainability

We may also support other local needs in eligible communities such as disaster relief, arts and culture, civic engagement, education, human and social services, and workforce development. However, opportunities are limited as our intent is to direct the majority of our giving within our major focus areas.

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

CNX Foundation Grant

CNX has been part of our Appalachian region for over 155 years, and the pride we have for Appalachian communities is hard to put into words. So we’re putting it into action.

CNX has committed $30 million toward improving our communities and generating long-term, sustainable returns for the region, our industry, and our company. “We are on a mission to change the trajectory of our region and to improve the lives of our neighbors,” said CNX President and CEO Nick DeIuliis. “Our industry is the lifeblood of the regional economy and the foundation of our social fabric. These investments will provide returns for our local communities for years to come. This is what sustainability and ESG mean to CNX".

Mission Statement

CNX Foundation invests tangibly, impactfully, and locally to target urban and rural communities within the Appalachian Basin facing socio-economic challenges. These investments should demonstrate a return to both the targeted community and the advancement of the goals of the Foundation.

Making a Tangible, Impactful, Local Difference

CNX Foundation is committed to meeting CNX’s broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) philosophy by creating tangible, impactful, and local differences within the Appalachian basin. We do so by charting our course to ensure we are able to quantify and measure the visible results for the communities we serve as well as the programs we fund.

Understanding our philosophy starts with understanding the meaning of the tangible, impactful, and local initiatives we support:

• Tangible: We are laser-focused on making a real, measurable, and visible difference in the communities we serve.
• Impactful: We seek to identify true needs within our community so our support will have an immediate and long-lasting impact in helping specific programs within the region meet their goals.
• Local: Our efforts are rooted in supporting communities in our operational footprint so we can foster more opportunities for growth, close to home.

Funding Priorities

• Food Insecurity
  • A lack of consistent access to enough food to support a healthy lifestyle leads to food insecurity, affecting many communities throughout the United States, including our Appalachian region. Factors that contribute to food insecurity are, but are not limited to, housing, wages, health, and social influence. CNX works within these communities to end food insecurity through education, awareness, and access to food pantries, soup kitchens, and more.
• Children's Health and Wellness
  • Habits are developed at a young age and it is challenging to break bad routines without the proper resources. CNX works to provide the children of Western Pennsylvania and surrounding areas in grades K-12 with health and wellness education and resources as a preventative action taken to support future generations, gain understanding, develop healthy lifestyles, and help them reach their maximum potential.
    • Youth Sports and Athletic Groups – We receive a large number of requests to sponsor youth sports and athletic programs. We value the importance of these groups to their communities and, as such, we have designated a specific portion of our annual budget to supporting these groups. In order to qualify for funding, the youth organization must exist in one of our immediate areas of operation.
• Broadband and Information Technology Access
  • Many communities are falling behind due to the lack of technological equity, leading to gaps in economic growth, household income, educational performance, healthcare access, and employment searches. Providing technological and infrastructural resources for education and employment opportunities helps enrich lives and strengthen society.
• Recidivism and Re-entry
  • Life after incarceration is often difficult and discriminatory for individuals attempting to reinvent themselves into society, causing an overwhelming prevalence of homelessness, unemployment, and poverty. CNX Foundation seeks to work with individuals and organizations that understand the challenges these individuals face and can help foster a pathway forward for those previously incarcerated.
• Domestic Abuse Awareness
  • A pattern of behavior that is physically, emotionally, or mentally harmful in any relationship is domestic abuse and is challenging to escape. With survivors at the center of the cause, efforts must be made to move into the future and prevent it through advocacy, awareness, education, and support.
• Opioid Epidemic and Societal Impact
  • Society continues to be harmed by the ever-growing opioid epidemic, causing tens of thousands to suffer and experience effects from addiction. In order to begin to combat rising levels of opioid abuse, education, awareness, and strong preventative actions must be taken by individuals of all ages.
• Career Awareness and Technical/Vocational Training
  • Trade and vocational careers have developed a negative stigma, causing a shortage of employees in vital realms of work. Career awareness paired with technical and vocational training gives the future workforce and incoming employees a better look at the options available allowing them to best meet their interests, skill sets, and society’s needs.
• Water Quality Safety and Awareness
  • Clean water is a vital resource in our local communities and beyond. Research, prevention, policy, and programs should continue to be funded and utilized in order to protect and improve water quality and provide equal access to basic living necessities to future generations.

Performing Arts Touring Assistance

Purpose

To expand access to high-quality arts performances throughout Virginia.

Description

Virginia Touring Grants help ensure that Virginians have access to dynamic and engaging performances. These grants support in-state touring by reimbursing eligible organizations up to 50 percent of the performance fees when showcasing artists from the VCA Touring Artist Roster. VCA Touring Artists book performances with Virginia Presenters that take place at least 30 miles from the Artist’s home base. This long-standing program broadens the reach of the arts and creates new opportunities for Virginia artists, arts organizations, and audiences throughout the state.

Amount of Assistance

Up to 50 percent of the performance fee for touring programs listed on the Touring Artist Roster, subject to the overall funding limit allocated for each VCA Touring Artist/Ensemble. Virginia Touring Grant awards are made to the Presenter (not to the VCA Touring Artist/Ensemble), who is responsible for compensating the VCA Touring Artist/Ensemble in full. Grant awards are a minimum of $100 and maximum of $7,500 per performance.

Cash Match

Grant awards to organizations must be matched 1:1. For example, if an organization requests $1,000 from VCA, it must have at least $1,000 in cash income from another source (other than state or federal funds) towards the expenses of that same project. Sources of matching funds may include revenue from the project activities such as ticket sales, contributions from foundations or corporations, government support from federal or local sources, or cash from the organization’s own accounts.

Health Access Grants

Most VHCF grants work to increase access to healthcare for uninsured Virginians and those who live in areas with limited access to care.

Barriers to healthcare access take many forms and can be caused by a variety of factors. Grant applicants are encouraged to develop initiatives in the following areas based on their local needs.

Developing or Expanding Capacity

• This includes initiatives that establish new outlets of care for uninsured or medically underserved Virginians, as well as those which enable existing programs to serve a greater number of patients. Examples include proposals to add new primary care providers (medical, mental health, dental, pharmacists); undertake a strategic expansion of physical infrastructure; utilize technology to expand access (e.g., telemedicine); or seek to implement an innovative model of service delivery.

Establishing a Broader Scope of Services

• Some organizations are interested in adding new services to those they currently offer. Proposals to add key primary care services, e.g. mental health, dental; institute programs to enhance care of uninsured, chronically ill patients; or utilize technology (e.g. telehealth or tele-mental health) to enhance and expand access to primary care in underserved areas fall within the parameters of this funding track.

Accelerating Licensure of Behavioral Health Professionals

• There is a compelling shortage of behavioral health professionals throughout the state, particularly in the 77 localities that are federally designated as mental health professional shortage areas. There are many masters-prepared social workers and counselors who require oversight for a defined period of time by a licensed professional in their field, before they can become licensed. VHCF will consider proposals for funding to pay the salary and benefits of these masters-prepared therapists from local organizations that will provide the required oversight from a trained behavioral health professional.

Creating Local Coordinated Systems of Care

• VHCF is interested in stimulating and supporting local initiatives that will result in a community-wide coordinated network of care for the uninsured and the medically underserved, and invites proposals designed to achieve this. This funding track is appropriate for communities where there are several organizations that have a vision of working more closely together to achieve greater synergies and efficiencies both for their patients/clients and for their operations by creating or enhancing interoperability among providers.

Conquering the Consequences of COVID-19 

• The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life on all fronts and created many economic and personal ripple effects that have significantly increased the number of Virginians reporting symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD (35% compared to 10% in 2019 – Kaiser Family Foundation data). Many nonprofit organizations report a significant increase in these conditions among their patients. As a result, VHCF is interested in supporting services or initiatives that increase the availability of mental health services at this critical juncture and beyond. The Foundation has a special interest in receiving proposals that will address the mental health needs of populations and individuals most impacted by the pandemic.

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.

Introduction

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is accepting applications for the Prerelease and Post Incarceration Services (PAPIS) Grant Program. DCJS administers general funds designated to support Prerelease and Post Incarceration Services (PAPIS) programs to provide direct services to incarcerated individuals nearing release into the community, or previously incarcerated individuals living in the community.

Grant Period

The grant period is for 12 months, SFY2026, July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Grant period extensions will not be considered.

Funding Source

Funding for this grant program is made available from general state funds.

Authority/Funding, Purpose, and Priority Areas 

The specific purpose of the PAPIS Grant Program is to facilitate case management, reentry planning, transitional housing, treatment, employment readiness, and employment placement for individuals returning to the community from a local or regional jail. Ideally, services start while an individual is incarcerated in a local or regional jail and continue after release. In addition to providing resources for basic needs, programs should incorporate research-informed practices that target individual criminogenic risk factors, needs, and strengths associated with both recidivism and successful reentry.

Disbursement of Funds

Disbursement of funds will occur on a cost-reimbursement basis for actual funds expended through a “claim” process. Actual expenditures must be reported quarterly and invoiced pursuant to approved line-item budget categories in the approved grant application. Subgrantees will only be reimbursed for costs that have been incurred within the grant period, and which are reported on the detail of expenditures (financial report). Grant funds may only be expended and/or obligated during the grant period. A final claim for all obligations must be submitted within 45 days after the end of the grant period. Claims and financial reports must be submitted through the DCJS On- line Grant Management System (OGMS). Grantees that need advances to maintain program operations should contact their grant monitor for approval.

Purpose

To provide opportunities for students, educators, youth, and adult citizens throughout Virginia to participate in and learn through the arts by working with highly-qualified professional artists in both traditional and non-traditional learning environments

Description

Education Impact Grants fund hands-on participatory programs/residencies that enrich instruction in-school arts curriculum, engage diverse populations in community-based settings, and provide professional development for artists and educators. There is a 1:1 required cash match for the grant.

Why it matters:

We believe that preparing our children and youth for the future is paramount to our mission.

Educational success of a region’s people is a core element of a thriving and resilient region. An educated citizenry is fundamental to strong economic development and personal prosperity. Reaching developmental academic and socio-emotional milestones is critical to a child’s early success. Lack of kindergarten readiness crosses all socio-economic levels; however, children living in poverty often have multiple barriers that inhibit their educational success. Students who graduate from high school on time and successfully transition to college and complete a degree or career-based certification have a great likelihood of living healthier and more financially stable lives.

Community Grants for Educational Success strive to improve educational achievement of under-performing children and youth from our region. They encourage growth through opportunities for all students to excel in their educational pursuits and meet the region's current and future workforce demands.

We support innovative programs that improve academic achievement of our region’s public school students in the following areas:

• Projects that prepare children, academically and/or socio-emotionally, to succeed in kindergarten.
• Programs that prevent middle and high school students from dropping out of school.
• After-school time projects that have been proven successful at increasing the likelihood of students earning advanced or standard diplomas within four years of entering high school.
• Programs that help students successfully transition from high school into collegiate education or career-based certificate programs after graduation.

Desired Outcomes:

Grant proposals should address one or more of the following outcomes:

• Young children meet age-appropriate developmental milestones
• Children succeed in kindergarten and are promoted to first grade
• The number of quality-rated center-based or home-based pre-school facilities increases
• Public school students succeed academically and are promoted to the next grade on time
• The drop-out rate for public school students decreases
• Public school students graduate from high school on-time
• Public high school graduates enroll in collegiate education or career-based certificates after graduation

Mission

To lead and encourage philanthropy in McLean by providing support for vital projects that make a difference in the lives of the citizens of greater McLean.

Purpose

The McLean Community Foundation (MCF) is a 501(c)(3) organization operating exclusively for charitable and educational purposes for the benefit of the residents of the McLean Planning District. These purposes are achieved by providing financial support for local non-profits through MCF’s grant-making process. MCF Trustees secure funding for MCF grants through annual fund-raising activities and the management of MCF’s endowment.

McLean Community Foundation Grants

In May of 1978, the McLean Community Foundation was established by the McLean Citizens Association to promote local philanthropy and advance the civic, educational and social interests of McLean through an annual fundraising and grant-making process.

​Available funds are offered as grants, seed money or challenge grants for projects that will benefit McLean residents. MCF challenge grants have helped launch efforts to add a balcony to the Community Center's theatre, to equip a kitchen and to build a community hall so that the old one could house the McLean Project for the Arts.

The historic church at Pleasant Grove and the antique fire truck were rebuilt with the help of MCF grants. McLean music groups, local PTAs, Little League and the Teen Center have all been grantees. Buses or vans have been purchased for the Community Center, Traveling Players Ensemble, a nursing home, a day care center for disadvantaged children and SHARE, Inc. The McLean Volunteer Fire Department has been able to purchase new equipment. The final piece in the long-held MCA vision of a community complex, a bandstand in McLean Central Park, was built with a grant from MCF in 1999.

Each year, MCF continues to look for projects that will enhance the McLean community for years to come.

There shall be no obligation on the part of the Foundation, nor expectation on the part of any applicant or grantee, for the Foundation to provide any additional project funding beyond the original grant. Except for the requirement that projects benefit the residents of McLean, the Foundation shall administer funds available to it on a non-discriminatory basis and in full compliance with applicable Commonwealth of Virginia and federal laws. The Foundation may on occasion choose to fund a project or make a donation that does not satisfy the Foundation's Grants Criteria but is consistent with the Foundation's purpose. A 2/3 majority vote of the Trustees will be required to fund such expenditures.

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 Inova

Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 20,000+ team members serve more than 2 million individuals annually through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes. Inova’s five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for excellence in healthcare. Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds.

Inova Health Equity Grants

The purpose of the Inova Health Equity Opportunity is to improve health equity and address community needs described in the Inova Community Health Needs Assessments. The target population is identified as under-resourced communities with unmet health needs in the listed CHNA service areas. The objectives of the proposed program/project should be clear, reasonable, and attainable, with measurable impact on the addressed need(s).

Inova is dedicated to supporting programs and opportunities that make a difference in the quality of life, health, and welfare of the communities it serves. Inova seeks to harness the collective power of community partners, agencies, and organizations to create positive social impact, however is limited in the number of programs/projects that it can support.

About if, A Foundation for Radical Possibility

if, A Foundation for Radical Possibility envisions an equitable and just region and nation in which Black people and people of the global majority live powerfully, abundantly and beautifully in healthy, self-determined communities free of social, economic and ideological violence.

We achieve our vision by centering the leadership and expertise of Black people and people of the global majority in the Washington, DC region who live at the sharpest intersection of systems of oppression, in particular race, class and gender identity. We build relationships to transform how philanthropic, nonprofit and government resources are deployed to disrupt institutions and structures that perpetuate anti-black racism and other intersectional discriminatory harms. We share power and decision-making and we support organizations that build the people’s power to demand and achieve justice. We take risks that others are not willing to take and we are comfortable seeding bold ideas and sparking innovation. We speak our truth and support platforms for communities to tell their own truths, and we heal ourselves and facilitate healing in our communities.

Within this framework, if is embedding community engagement in its Board structure, grantmaking and capacity building programs, communications, and healing justice work.

Funding Priorities

if will provide funding support for organizations that are:

• committed to racial equity and are operationalizing it
• undertaking community organizing or community engagement, and
• undertaking advocacy.

if will support the organizing of low-income patients/clients, workers, community members, immigrants, and others. if will also support community-based organizations and nonprofits that use advocacy strategies with a racial equity lens at the local, state and regional levels.

Advocacy for local, state, and regional policy change and systems reform is essential to achieve the change we envision. if defines advocacy as efforts to create local, state and regional policy change and systems reforms that benefit Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian/Pacific Islander, and people of color communities in the Washington, DC region. Activities could include community engagement and organizing among residents in low-income neighborhoods, development of policy recommendations, policy implementation and monitoring, budget and policy analysis, coalition or network building, convenings, stakeholder engagement and collective problem solving among diverse groups, campaigns, media and communication.

Background

Every community faces unique barriers that require collaborative solutions to thrive. The Dow Promise Program supports educational and economic challenges Black youth and adults face in the United States by addressing community-identified needs and advancing equitable opportunities. Through grants of up to $10,000 towards social, economic or environmental initiatives, Dow Promise not only fosters a thriving community, but a shared future.

Since 2000, this annual competitive program has committed to uplifting communities in which Dow operates by supporting their needs and investing in positive social change for long-term success.

For more than 20 years, The Baltimore Life Companies have viewed community involvement as our responsibility, not only through financial support of local organizations, but through our employees’ commitment to volunteerism. To further demonstrate our belief in good corporate citizenship, Baltimore Life has established a community grants program to help nonprofit organizations enhance the quality of life in communities—Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and the surrounding communities—where our employees live and work.

Grants of up to $500 will be awarded to multiple organizations. Our grants program is a continuation of Baltimore Life’s long-standing tradition of giving back to our communities.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation connects you with charitable causes to improve life in our region. The community foundation manages permanent funds created by people from all walks of life. Its mission is to inspire philanthropy and transform the quality of life in southeastern Virginia.

The Julian Haden Gary and Margaret Savage Gary Fund supports organizations that promote horticulture education.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education
• entrepreneurship
• enrichment of community
• environment

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities