Best Grayson County Grants for Nonprofits in Virginia

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s coordinating agency for higher education. As an entity of the Commonwealth of Virginia government, SCHEV exists to serve the public interest and to assist the state’s system of higher education.

Our Mission: To advocate and promote the development of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education in Virginia.

Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program

In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly appropriated funding to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to stimulate public colleges and universities to develop partnerships to provide innovative paid internship opportunities for their students. In 2019, the effort was expanded and enacted into law as the Innovative Internship Fund and Program. In 2020, through a partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the program was rebranded as the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP).

Purpose

The program aims to expand high-quality, paid, and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia employers. The program comprises institutional grants and a statewide initiative to facilitate the readiness of students, employers, and institutions of higher education to participate in internships and other work-based learning opportunities.

Transforming Federal Work-Study and On-Campus Jobs Program

Recognizing the diversity of Virginia’s higher education institutions and the fact that institutions are at various stages in the process, the intent of this call for applications is to support institutions wherever they are at in their journey to transform federal work-study (FWS) jobs and/or on-campus jobs to be internships/more internship-like while adhering to federal policy requirements for FWS.

The grants can be used for implementation planning, piloting or scaling transformed FWS programs and/or on-campus jobs, depending on where an institution is in the process.

Three competitive grant tracks for funding will be offered to meet an institution wherever they are at in the process; the tracks are summarized below. Institutions do not have to start at the beginning (implementation planning) unless necessary; otherwise they apply for the stage they are in or about to undertake.

Institutions that operate Federal Work-Study (FWS) programs must prioritize transforming their FWS positions but may also propose broader transformations of other on-campus jobs. Institutions without FWS programs may submit proposals under the tracks below focused on transforming on-campus positions to be more internship-like.

• Implementation Planning
• Piloting the Transformation
• Scaling the Transformation

Implementation Planning Grant

One-year award.

This track applies to institutions just starting to think about (or in the midst of) aligning key offices, functions, positions and shoring up leadership support for the transformation. This stage is predominately institution/internally-focused. 

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s coordinating agency for higher education. As an entity of the Commonwealth of Virginia government, SCHEV exists to serve the public interest and to assist the state’s system of higher education.

Our Mission: To advocate and promote the development of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education in Virginia.

Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program

In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly appropriated funding to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to stimulate public colleges and universities to develop partnerships to provide innovative paid internship opportunities for their students. In 2019, the effort was expanded and enacted into law as the Innovative Internship Fund and Program. In 2020, through a partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the program was rebranded as the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP).

Purpose

The program aims to expand high-quality, paid, and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia employers. The program comprises institutional grants and a statewide initiative to facilitate the readiness of students, employers, and institutions of higher education to participate in internships and other work-based learning opportunities.

Transforming Federal Work-Study and On-Campus Jobs Program

Recognizing the diversity of Virginia’s higher education institutions and the fact that institutions are at various stages in the process, the intent of this call for applications is to support institutions wherever they are at in their journey to transform federal work-study (FWS) jobs and/or on-campus jobs to be internships/more internship-like while adhering to federal policy requirements for FWS.

The grants can be used for implementation planning, piloting or scaling transformed FWS programs and/or on-campus jobs, depending on where an institution is in the process.

Three competitive grant tracks for funding will be offered to meet an institution wherever they are at in the process; the tracks are summarized below. Institutions do not have to start at the beginning (implementation planning) unless necessary; otherwise they apply for the stage they are in or about to undertake.

Institutions that operate Federal Work-Study (FWS) programs must prioritize transforming their FWS positions but may also propose broader transformations of other on-campus jobs. Institutions without FWS programs may submit proposals under the tracks below focused on transforming on-campus positions to be more internship-like.

• Implementation Planning
• Piloting the Transformation
• Scaling the Transformation

Piloting the Transformation Grant

Two-year award. 

Once implementation planning is well underway or nearing completion, an institution will determine how to pilot the transformation and where to start. The approach can vary but should be data-informed.

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s coordinating agency for higher education. As an entity of the Commonwealth of Virginia government, SCHEV exists to serve the public interest and to assist the state’s system of higher education.

Our Mission: To advocate and promote the development of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education in Virginia.

Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program

In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly appropriated funding to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to stimulate public colleges and universities to develop partnerships to provide innovative paid internship opportunities for their students. In 2019, the effort was expanded and enacted into law as the Innovative Internship Fund and Program. In 2020, through a partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the program was rebranded as the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP).

Purpose

The program aims to expand high-quality, paid, and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia employers. The program comprises institutional grants and a statewide initiative to facilitate the readiness of students, employers, and institutions of higher education to participate in internships and other work-based learning opportunities.

Transforming Federal Work-Study and On-Campus Jobs Program

Recognizing the diversity of Virginia’s higher education institutions and the fact that institutions are at various stages in the process, the intent of this call for applications is to support institutions wherever they are at in their journey to transform federal work-study (FWS) jobs and/or on-campus jobs to be internships/more internship-like while adhering to federal policy requirements for FWS.

The grants can be used for implementation planning, piloting or scaling transformed FWS programs and/or on-campus jobs, depending on where an institution is in the process.

Three competitive grant tracks for funding will be offered to meet an institution wherever they are at in the process; the tracks are summarized below. Institutions do not have to start at the beginning (implementation planning) unless necessary; otherwise they apply for the stage they are in or about to undertake.

Institutions that operate Federal Work-Study (FWS) programs must prioritize transforming their FWS positions but may also propose broader transformations of other on-campus jobs. Institutions without FWS programs may submit proposals under the tracks below focused on transforming on-campus positions to be more internship-like.

• Implementation Planning
• Piloting the Transformation
• Scaling the Transformation

Scaling the Transformation Grant

Three-year award. 

Once an institution has piloted the transformation, the next phase involves scaling the transformation. Scaling can be across a program, school, institution or to off-campus (i.e. non-profits).

About Sawyer Foundation Charitable Trust Our mission is to support partner organizations that share the gift of clean drinking water to under-resourced communities. Our vision is to see all of our global community have access to clean, safe drinking water.Through our partnership with Sawyer, our nonprofit partners have access to affordable, point-of-use filters designed to provide reliable access to clean water for 10+ years.‍

Sawyer partners with over 140 non-profits in more than 100 countries, providing clean water to families lacking access to clean water – for long-term relief and in disaster situations.About Sawyer Foundation Grant We prioritize projects that demonstrate a strong commitment to:

• Long-term sustainability in water filtration and access.
• Training, follow-up, and local engagement that strengthen best practices.
• Data collection or research that improves project implementation and outcomes.
• Unique expertise, partnerships, or approaches that enhance global impact.

Elizabeth Ratta, a brain aneurysm survivor and a Bee Foundation ‘share your story’ contributor is passionate about spreading brain aneurysm awareness and particularly in the populations they disproportionately affect- those who are Black, Hispanic and women. This research grant is named for Elizabeth’s grandma, Rita who had an unruptured brain aneurysm, but at a time when there was limited treatment and support.About Rita Skertich GrantThe Rita Skertich Grant is specifically intended to fund research topics that focus on prevention and treatment of brain aneurysms in the Black and Hispanic population and women; the populations most affected by brain aneurysms. African Americans and Hispanics are twice as likely to have a rupture compared to white Americans. Women are more likely than men (3:2 ratio) to have a brain aneurysm and 1.5 times more at risk of rupture than men. The research funded by this grant will support efforts to improve outcomes, accessibility and a greater understanding of discrepancies in the statistics for these populations with a focus on prevention. The preference is that this grant will be given to a Black, Hispanic and/or female researcher with other underrepresented research groups also considered.Grant Funding: 

• $15,000 total amount to be distributed, but not limited to only 1 awarded applicant
• Applicants may request up to $15,000

Department of Wildlife Resources 

The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is responsible for the management of inland fisheries, wildlife, and recreational boating for Virginia. We are leading wildlife conservation and inspiring people to value the outdoors and their role in nature.

Virginia Wildlife Grant Program 

The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program is a joint effort of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV). It provides funding to organizations with a common mission of connecting people to the outdoors and supports outdoor recreation activities such as archery, boating/paddling, fishing, hunting/recreational shooting, and wildlife viewing. The grant prioritizes programs that are aligned with DWR’s R3 Plan as well as the Inclusive Excellence Plan.

Priorities

The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program will prioritize the following opportunities:

• Inclusion of underrepresented, underserved, and underinvested populations
• Support of the following DWR initiatives:
• R3 Plan
• Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan
• Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan

Award Areas: Start-up and Growth

Start-up Stage

This award area is for new or emerging programs (less than 2 years) that are establishing themselves and looking to add new programs or opportunities to get people outdoors.

Department of Wildlife Resources 

The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is responsible for the management of inland fisheries, wildlife, and recreational boating for Virginia. We are leading wildlife conservation and inspiring people to value the outdoors and their role in nature.

Virginia Wildlife Grant Program 

The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program is a joint effort of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV). It provides funding to organizations with a common mission of connecting people to the outdoors and supports outdoor recreation activities such as archery, boating/paddling, fishing, hunting/recreational shooting, and wildlife viewing. The grant prioritizes programs that are aligned with DWR’s R3 Plan as well as the Inclusive Excellence Plan.

Priorities

The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program will prioritize the following opportunities:

• Inclusion of underrepresented, underserved, and underinvested populations
• Support of the following DWR initiatives:
• R3 Plan
• Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan
• Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan

Award Areas: Start-up and Growth

Growth Stage

This award area is for developed or established programs or organizations (2+ years) that are looking to add new programs or initiatives to support the work they are already doing to connect people to the outdoors.

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) partners with state, federal, local and nonprofit housing and community and economic development initiatives. DHCD programs strive to maintain the vibrancy of communities throughout the Commonwealth and include providing universal broadband access, investing in economic development initiatives, promulgating the statewide building and fire regulations, preserving the affordability and efficiency of Virginia’s homes and buildings, addressing homelessness, reducing eviction rates across the state and fostering innovative solutions to create affordable housing. DHCD invests over $350 million annually in addition to $2 billion in federal recovery programs as a partner to Virginia communities to create safe, affordable and prosperous communities to live, work and do business in Virginia.

Virginia Individual Development Accounts (VIDA) Program

The Virginia Individual Development Accounts (VIDA) program helps qualified individuals save for a down payment on a home. Eligible participants receive training, support and match funding on their savings. The current match rate is $10 for every $1 the participant saves, earning up to $10,000 in match to be used towards down payment and closings.

Individuals interested in saving should contact a VIDA intermediary listed. VIDA intermediaries determine eligibility and work with enrolled savers to prepare them to achieve their homeownership goals. Enrollment in the program will depend on eligibility, readiness, availability of funding, and having an intermediary located within your locality.

If you are interested in the VIDA program:

• Review the income eligibility criteria under the Income Guidelines document
• Review the VIDA Flyer for additional eligibility criteria
• If you meet the preliminary eligibility, please use the List of Intermediaries to find a location near you