Search Through Volunteer Grants in Virginia in the U.S.

FirstEnergy Foundation Grant

The FirstEnergy Foundation's contributions to local nonprofit organizations help strengthen the social and economic fabric of our communities. Funded solely by FirstEnergy, the Foundation extends the corporate philosophy of providing community support.

The FirstEnergy Foundation priorities: 

• Improving the quality of life in our communities and supporting key safety initiatives
• Empowering our communities’ workforce development and educational initiatives
• Promoting local and regional economic development
• Supporting employee leadership and volunteer interests that align with our business interests

Background

The John Edward Fowler Memorial Foundation was created in 1964 by Pearl Gunn Fowler in memory of her late husband, John Edward Fowler, a Northern Virginia businessman. In recent years, the Foundation awarded about $3 million in annual grants to organizations in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Typically, first-time grants receive less than $10,000, depending on the nature and size of the applicant. Larger grant requests are commonly approved where there is a need, on-going relationship, or capital purpose grants (which are awarded only to prior grantees).

Smaller, grassroots, neighborhood-based organizations that derive at least 50% of their revenue from private sources tend to be more successful applicants. Hands-on, direct service organizations are given preference over “umbrella” agencies. The Foundation looks for evidence of sound management, fiscal responsibility, and volunteer involvement. The Foundation is delighted to receive information about grantees’ activities and programs.

Above all, Fowler is interested in working with grantees who have identified an actual need and are focused on serving that need. Fowler celebrates creative innovation and unique approaches as well as traditional forms of need-based giving.

The Fowler Foundation has historically focused giving toward empowering underserved and at-risk people; but past giving is not indicative of future potential grantees.

The Fowler Foundation has the following focus areas: 

• Adult literacy
• At risk children
• Childhood education
• Homelessness
• Hunger
• Job training & placement
• Medical and Legal Services

For more than 170 years, Washington Gas has been an integral part of the growing metropolitan Washington, D.C. region. As a responsible corporate citizen, Washington Gas has developed a Charitable Giving Program that is designed to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the communities it serves through contributions, in-kind support and volunteer resources.

Focus Areas

The Charitable Giving Program focuses on three primary areas:

Bright Futures

• Emphasis is placed on educational activities targeted toward youths in the kindergarten to twelfth grade age range. Attention is given to the development of math, science, technology and business skills. Consideration is also given to arts-related programs.

Environmental Champions

• The focus in this area is on programs that promote cleaner air and water and that protect and preserve the ecological system of the metropolitan region.

Healthy and Safe Communities

• Consideration is given to health organizations that strive to improve the health and well-being of individuals within the community.
• Emphasis is also placed on energy assistance programs for low-income residents to heat and cool their homes, reducing illness and casualties resulting from exposure to extreme temperatures.

The Encova Foundations

Encova aspires to be an outstanding corporate citizen in all locations and markets we serve. Through the Encova Foundation of Ohio and the Encova Foundation of West Virginia, we support local causes that are strategically managed and mirror the values and interests of our associates, agents and policyholders. We commit to causes greater than ourselves and partner with organizations that truly transform lives.

The Encova foundations focus on improving communities and families, promoting education and encouraging wellness. Embedded in our focus is a commitment to helping children succeed, improving our communities and supporting industry initiatives.

The Cameron Foundation strives to transform the Tri-Cities and surrounding counties into a healthy, vibrant, and economically vital region by strategically leveraging resources for community impact. This service area includes the cities of Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and Hopewell; the counties of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Sussex; and the portion of Chesterfield County lying south of Route 10.

The Cameron Foundation’s General Grants include:

• Project or Program Grants 
• General Operating Grants
• Capital Grants

See complete details of each grant type here.

Funding Interests

The Cameron Foundation’s Board and staff periodically review the Foundation’s grant priorities and make adjustments to reflect what we have learned from past grants and to respond to new sources of information, such as the Foundation’s needs assessments, regarding emerging issues. As part of the most recent review that took place in June 2013, the Foundation has consolidated from seven to six funding categories and has clarified priorities within each of the areas, which are described below. The Foundation believes that these updates will help applicants gain a clearer understanding of the Foundation’s areas of interest. In turn, the Foundation will be better positioned to focus its grantmaking resources in more impactful ways for the benefit of the community.

Whereas previously civic affairs activities were funded through a stand-alone funding area, these endeavors will now be considered through the other funding areas, depending on the type of activity. For example, a proposal to fund civic engagement in a neighborhood revitalization effort will now be reviewed under the Community and Economic Development funding area.

Health Care

The Foundation supports programs that provide access to primary health services for the poor, uninsured, under-insured and underserved. This funding area also provides for capital improvements and technology advancements in healthcare. Our grantmaking strategy supports the following priorities:

Human Services

The Foundation supports programs that provide basic human needs and promote the development of life skills in children, youth and adults in an effort to improve the quality of life for individuals and families in the service area. Our grantmaking strategy supports the following priorities:

Community & Economic Development

The Foundation supports a holistic approach to community and economic development, including revitalization of distressed neighborhoods; workforce development and increasing workforce quality; and, expanding the capacity of economic development agencies to successfully pursue local and regional economic development opportunities.

Education

The Foundation supports funding for schools, organizations, and programs seeking to improve educational outcomes in ways that support success in school and life. The Foundation’s strategy in this funding area places priority on:

Historic Preservation & Conservation

The Foundation recognizes that the unique history and unsurpassed historic architecture in the region are significant assets which contribute to the quality of life. Historic preservation has an important community development and conservation role by strengthening existing neighborhoods and conserving resources by recycling older buildings. Environmental conservation also plays a critical role in protecting natural resources and ecosystems upon which communities depend. The Foundation has an interest in the following:

Arts & Culture

Arts and culture are vital to the health and well-being of individuals and communities and also serve as a catalyst for community revitalization. Equally important is the long-term growth and viability of arts and culture organizations as part of our community. Recognizing the importance of arts organizations, museums and other cultural venues, the Foundation has a special interest in the following:

The Wawa Foundation provides financial grants on a local, regional and national level ensuring that our commitment extends from the local communities Wawa serves. Only registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations operating in Wawa’s areas are eligible to apply. Organizations must fall into The Wawa Foundation’s three key areas of focus: Health, Hunger and Everyday Heroes. To learn more, review our Criteria for Success.

Wawa Foundation Financial Grants

Our submission windows for grants over $2,500 will be the months of January, April, July and October. Qualified organizations can submit grant requests and Letters of Inquiry during those timeframes. Requests will be reviewed and organizations will receive a response before the next grant submission window opens.

Areas of Focus

Health

The Wawa Foundation will provide funding to organizations committed to saving and improving lives in the communities Wawa serves. Specifically, The Wawa Foundation will support organizations dedicated to Championing Life-saving Research & Care for People in Need by:

• Providing grants to hospitals with a focus on pediatric institutions
• Funding research
• Supporting care and comfort Initiatives

Hunger

The Wawa Foundation will play a leading role in hunger relief in the communities Wawa serves. To achieve this, we will support programs that enable us to Lead Hunger Relief Efforts by:

• Providing food donations to local pantries daily through Wawa Share
• Improving access to food through financial grants
• Enabling Feeding America Food Banks to reach more communities through annual in-store campaigns

Heroes

The Wawa Foundation is committed to Supporting the Heroes Making a Difference Every Day by:

• Showing appreciation and care to our military, veterans, first responders and other heroes in our local communities
• Enhancing the education and mentoring of at-risk youth in grades K-12.
• Supporting heroes through crisis response, blood drives, and volunteering

Scholarship At a Glance

Albert and Toni Roothbert established the Roothbert Fund to assist those in need of financial aid to further their education. Based in New York City, the Roothbert Fund operates as a volunteer organization. Through scholarship, The Fund supports fellows’ graduate or undergraduate study at an accredited institution based in the United States. The Fund seeks candidates motivated by spiritual values.

History and Mission Since 1958, the Roothbert Fund has granted scholarships to 1,350 Fellows. The Roothbert Fund seeks candidates whose daily actions are guided by spiritual motives. Fellows enjoy a life-long community with other Fellows, including annual retreats and online connections. The Roothbert Fund, Inc. is a small, nearly all-volunteer scholarship fund based in New York City. It was founded in 1958 as a living memorial to the combined idealism of two people: Albert and Toni Roothbert, both of whom emigrated from Germany in the early 20th Century. They met in New York and married in 1937. At the time, he was a retired banker, and she was a retired fashion photographer.The Roothberts shared a devotion to young people, whose idealism, they believed, was the best defense against a recurrence of the tragedies of the first half of the 20th Century. In the wake of the cataclysmic events of World War II, Albert Roothbert believed that "our young generation will create a new, more enlightened society, which will want to live democratic principles, not merely claim them." Please read the FAQ for additional informations.

WHO WE ARE: AN OVERVIEW

The mission of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington is to create strong and vibrant communities by connecting caring citizens with worthy community causes. For donors‚ this means we take the guesswork out of giving by identifying the best community-based charities in Washington D.C. and nearby Maryland and Virginia counties. For nonprofits‚ it means we raise visibility through the distribution of our annual print Catalogue‚ events‚ and campaigns‚ and we create resources and run educational workshops throughout the year to help elevate their capacity to do good.

PLEASE NOTE: The Catalogue is NOT a grant-making organization. To facilitate the giving process for donors‚ we accept donations as agents of our charities and pass these on to them‚ as directed by donors. (Donors also make direct contributions to our nonprofit partners. We ask donors to tell their recipients that they found them in the Catalogue.) We charge no fees for the work we do and are supported entirely by outside donations.

WHY APPLY

Being part of our network means you’ll be recognized as one of the best high-impact‚ community-based nonprofits in our region—something that means so much to supporters‚ both existing and new. While we do not guarantee a specific financial benefit‚ our track record shows that when nonprofits engage in a committed partnership with us‚ they receive both financial and other returns. (The Catalogue has helped raise over $40 million since 2003.)

Benefits of a Catalogue Partnership

What we'll do:

Collaborate with you on a powerful story about your work and your impact, to use in our Catalogue, and in your marketing, fundraising and other materials;

Promote your story through our direct mail efforts (70,000+ local households), media partnerships (e.g., City Paper), our Giving Tuesday campaign, a personalized webpage on our website, features in our blog, social media promotion, and more;

Give you access to our Nonprofit Portal, with access to an online resource library and marketing materials (e.g. Catalogue seal);

Invite you to professional development workshops, webinars, and collaboration events through our Learning Commons program. These trainings, which are free to our partners, include our Orientation workshop for new nonprofits, as well as workshops and collaborative sessions on development, communications, program evaluation, volunteer management, and board development;

Continue this partnership for four years.

There is no financial obligation of any kind associated with applying to or being featured in the Catalogue for Philanthropy. Leading institutions and generous individuals in the Washington region support the Catalogue as a service to the community.

What you'll do:

Work with Catalogue staff to approve written content and provide photos or other imagery for your Catalogue feature;

Meet the rest of the Catalogue network and learn how to make the most of your partnership by attending our Orientation workshop and our annual event, Community Changemakers;

Be available to participate in media opportunities and donor education events when appropriate;

Help us track our impact, by reporting Catalogue-inspired donations made to you throughout the years that you are featured in print and online;

Bring your Catalogue webpage to life by uploading information about your events, recent press hits, volunteer opportunities, and impact throughout the year;

Spread the word by using the Catalogue's co-branded materials, especially the "One of the Best" stamp, on your homepage, stationery, newsletters, and email signatures.

The American Association of Blacks in Energy proudly supports the academic achievements of students who desire careers in the energy industry, by awarding scholarships to those students who meet the minimum scholarship qualifications. Scholarships may be awarded by the National office as well as local Chapter(s) in your high school’s city or state.

Annually AABE awards more than $350,000 in scholarships to students. AABE has engaged energy-related partners to increase the number of scholarships awarded. Each of our scholars has indicated an interest in pursuing an energy-related career. AABE volunteers across the country work to provide numerous scholarship opportunities through golf tournaments, grants, and other fundraising activities.

Our mission:

To provide direct input into the deliberations and developments of energy policies, regulations, emerging technologies, and environmental issues.

This scholarship program will award seven (7) scholarships annually:

• Six (6) Regional scholarships at $3,000 each
• One (1) National scholarship at $5,000 (this is a reoccurring scholarship for up to 4 years as long as the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA and remains enrolled in an eligible Major).

Through the work of various AABE National Scholarship Committee members, Chapter Presidents, Regional Directors, Location Scholarship Committees, and many AABE volunteers nationwide, the AABE Scholarship Program is advertised, and applications are solicited from eligible candidates nationwide.

Though founded to address funding inequities in education resources for African Americans, AABE-administered scholarships are open to all ethnicities; the great majority of recipients are still African American. It provides scholarships to students attending its member colleges, technical or trade schools, or universities.

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.

 Program History or Background

AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects over 70,000 Americans every year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, health, and homeland security. AmeriCorps members serve with more than 2,000 non- profits, public agencies, and community organizations. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering.

AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make services a cornerstone of our national culture. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community services through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving.

Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans. AmeriCorps State programs in the Commonwealth are managed by Serve Virginia, within the Virginia Department of Social Services. For more information on Serve Virginia and the activities promoting volunteerism, national service, and community support programs in the Commonwealth, including AmeriCorps, please visit here.  

Operational Grant

AmeriCorps operational grants support programs that engage members in evidence-based interventions to strengthen communities. Awards may include up to $27,000/MSY (AmeriCorps Member Service Year, equivalent to one full-time term of service), with no limits on the number of MSY.

AmeriCorps Focus Areas & Funding Priorities

Over the next two years, AmeriCorps will invest in existing and new partnerships with nonprofit, faith-based, and Tribal organizations, and state service commissions. To carry out Congress’ intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national service, and to achieve the goals laid out in its Strategic Plan, AmeriCorps has the following Focus Areas: 

• Disaster Services: Helping individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of disasters and increase community resiliency.
• Education: Improving educational outcomes for underserved people, especially children. AmeriCorps is particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service learning as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes.
• Economic Opportunity: Improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals.
• Healthy Futures: Supporting for health needs within communities, including mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and other public health crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood obesity, especially in underserved communities.
• Environmental Stewardship: Supporting communities to become more resilient through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, increase renewable energy use and improve at-risk ecosystems, especially in underserved households and communities.
• Veterans and Military Families: Improving the quality of life of veterans, military families, caregivers, and survivors

 Program History or Background

AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects over 70,000 Americans every year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, health, and homeland security. AmeriCorps members serve with more than 2,000 nonprofits, public agencies, and community organizations. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering.

AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make services a cornerstone of our national culture. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community services through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving.

Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans. AmeriCorps State programs in the Commonwealth are managed by Serve Virginia, within the Virginia Department of Social Services. For more information on Serve Virginia and the activities promoting volunteerism, national service, and community support programs in the Commonwealth, including AmeriCorps, please visit here.  

Planning Grant

AmeriCorps planning grants provide resources, technical assistance, and support to develop the framework for an AmeriCorps program to propose for a subsequent operational grant. Awards range from $75,000 to $240,000 to cover the costs and staff time needed to design an AmeriCorps program. Planning grants do not support costs associated with AmeriCorps members in service.

AmeriCorps Focus Areas & Funding Priorities

Over the next two years, AmeriCorps will invest in existing and new partnerships with nonprofit, faith-based, and Tribal organizations, and state service commissions. To carry out Congress’ intent and to maximize the impact of investment in national service, and to achieve the goals laid out in its Strategic Plan, AmeriCorps has the following Focus Areas: 

• Disaster Services: Helping individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of disasters and increase community resiliency.
• Education: Improving educational outcomes for underserved people, especially children. AmeriCorps is particularly interested in program designs that support youth engagement and service learning as strategies to achieve high educational outcomes.
• Economic Opportunity: Improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals.
• Healthy Futures: Supporting for health needs within communities, including mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and other public health crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood obesity, especially in underserved communities.
• Environmental Stewardship: Supporting communities to become more resilient through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, increase renewable energy use and improve at-risk ecosystems, especially in underserved households and communities.
• Veterans and Military Families: Improving the quality of life of veterans, military families, caregivers, and survivors

In 2001, Food Lion created a 501(c)(3) foundation operated by a volunteer board of directors in order to streamline requests for financial donations to eliminate hunger.

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation supports a variety of hunger-related initiatives, including "Feeding the Hungry" grants each year. The foundation has given away more than $17.5 million across Food Lion’s operating area since its inception. Specifically, grants support children at risk of hunger and support feeding agencies by helping to increase their "fresh" capacity so families can put nutritious meals on their tables. The foundation also helps provide nutrition education to eliminate the health risks of the hungry.

 Virginia Literacy Foundation Grants

The Virginia Literacy Foundation (VLF) accepts funding request applications for grants on an annual basis.

It is a one-year grant and we look for grant proposals that focus on one project whose outcomes can be achieved in one year. Since 1987, the Virginia Literacy Foundation has funded an average of 25-30 community-based and faith-based adult literacy programs each year with grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Programs that have been steadily funded by the VLF collectively serve over 10,000 adults annually, using approximately 5,000 volunteers.

Grant Terms and Amounts

• All grants will be for one-year. Please focus your application on goals that are achievable in a year.
• Grant funds can be used for specific projects, general operating funds, or for capacity building (strategic planning, training on digital literacy, board training, etc.)
• Grant amounts are as follows:
  • CBLO’s serving 30-49 students $5,000
  • CBLO’s serving 50-149 students $7,500
  • CBLO’s serving 150+ students $10,000
• Students “served” should have at least 6 hours of annual instruction for organizations under 50 students and at least 12 hours of instruction for CBLOs serving 50+ students. CBLO’s may partner with other nonprofits to meet funding guidelines for students served.
• VLF encourages you to use this grant as an opportunity to raise more money for your work by encouraging your donors to match the grant amount. Matching grants can double (1-to-1 match) the amount of funding you receive through increased and new donations.

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

The Preservation Leadership Forum of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is a network of preservation leaders — professionals, students, volunteers, activists, experts — who share the latest ideas, information, and advice, and have access to in-depth preservation resources and training.

Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund - Mid-Atlantic States

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Henry A. Jordan, M.D., Preservation Excellence Fund provides funding to deserving organizations demonstrating commitment to the protection of natural and cultural resources in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The Jordan Preservation Excellence Fund was established in November 1996 in recognition of Dr. Jordan’s distinguished service to the National Trust and his visionary leadership of the national preservation movement. Applicants can apply for up to $5,000.

The fund awards programs and activities that:

• Facilitate positive dialogues between the diverse interests of historic preservation, land conservation, business development, transportation, and government in a search for common ground in protecting the environment
• Stimulate the development of local and state policies that protect the cultural landscape and its resources
• Heighten public awareness of or increase involvement in issues relating to the livability and sustainability of communities
• Encourage innovative partnerships and approaches to open space conservation and historic preservation

Mission and Focus

The mission of the Virginia Environmental Endowment is to improve the quality of the environment by using its capital, expertise and resources to encourage all sectors to work together to prevent pollution, conserve natural resources, and promote environmental literacy.

James River Water Quality Improvement Program (JRWQIP)

VEE continues to seek substantial proposals that produce significant water quality benefits through on-the-ground investments and initiatives. The JRWQIP Strategic Investment Plan will continue to help guide VEE’s funding decisions.

The JRWQIP funding priorities, as noted in the Strategic Investment Plan, are:

• Riparian buffer installation: The implementation of riparian forested or vegetative buffers, with a focus on agricultural and rural lands containing restoration area opportunities which will generate significant pollution reductions. Permanent protection and long term maintenance of the riparian buffers are critical elements of this investment priority.
• Accelerating implementation of agricultural pollution reduction practices: Programs that enhance and accelerate the delivery and implementation of cost-effective farming best management practices along with other agricultural initiatives that reduce agricultural pollution and improve water quality.
• Construction of living shorelines: Living shoreline construction, particularly in the Lower James River region. The provisions of the “Virginia Shoreline and Tidal Marsh Inventory,” consistency with regional and county-level conservation and shoreline management plans, the incorporation of riparian buffers, and permanent protection are important relevant elements.
• Stream restoration: Stream restoration can be expensive, so proposed location, inclusion of riparian buffers, and co-location with other water quality improvement efforts are important factors.
• Investments in the Jamestown region (“Area of Potential Effects”) and surrounding jurisdictions: The “Area of Potential Effects,” or APE, is a region upstream and downstream of Jamestown on both sides of the James River. (See Map of Area of Potential Effects.) Remediation of illicit sewage discharges and failing septic systems as well as cost-effective stormwater management initiatives are potential investments.

Applicants that submit proposals which differ from VEE’s identified funding priorities will be expected to demonstrate the significance and cost effectiveness of the proposal to improving the water quality of the James River.

Rosendin Foundation Annual Grant

All financial grants are made to community-focused non-profit organizations located in the states where Rosendin and MPS currently conducts business. Grants are awarded in support of the Foundation’s current focus areas (emotional, occupational, and nutritional health) that align with our mission.

Funding

The Rosendin Foundation has an annual financial grant cycle where qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations may apply for grants up to $50,000.

Wild East Action Fund

The Wild East Action Fund supports projects that accelerate the pace of conservation within the Appalachian Trail landscape.

Since 2018, the Wild East Action Fund has supported a variety of land protection and conservation capacity-building projects that have accelerated the pace and scale of conservation within the Appalachian Trail landscape. This funding opportunity is available to conservation organizations, including nonprofit partners and public agencies, that support the mission of the Appalachian Trail Landscape Partnership (ATLP).

In celebration of ATC’s 100th anniversary and the ATLP’s 10th anniversary, ATC is excited to host a Wild East Action Fund cycle!

The Wild East Action Fund is a private, competitive grant opportunity, administered by ATC, supporting the ATLP mission to connect the wild, scenic, and cultural wonders of the A.T. landscape. The Wild East Action Fund seeks applications that aim to accelerate the pace and scale of A.T. landscape’s conservation and resiliency.

ATC has identified needs and strategies, at multiple scales, to effectively support the acceleration of conservation and resiliency within the A.T. landscape. The program’s three grant categories are designed to catalyze new and existing conservation partners’ knowledge, abilities, and expertise to address many of these dynamic needs:

• Land Protection
• Conservation Planning
• Community Resilience

The Wild East Action Fund supports projects that contribute to the protection of lands and waters within the A.T. landscape, enhance capacity for strategic conservation activities, build community support for a conserved and resilient A.T. landscape; and champion an A.T. landscape that encourages all people to feel welcome, respected, supported and valued.

Community Resilience

Purpose - Recover from and build community capacity to address/mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Community Resilience grants are available for projects that support community resiliency in the face of weather-related impacts and a changing climate. We anticipate three types of resilient community projects to be competitive in this cycle; the most competitive applications will address more than one of the following themes:

• Recovery, rebuilding, development of outdoor recreation, cultural, or historic assets.
• Restoration, stabilization, recovery of natural resources, ecological systems, or open space.
• Community building, place-making, or preparedness.

Eligible projects can include, but are not limited to, volunteer workdays/clean-ups/events, youth leadership and workforce training related to conservation or natural resource stewardship, public education or outreach campaigns or events, downtown recovery, beautification, revitalization, and resiliency planning or pre-planning activities, and recreational/cultural/historic asset improvements. Competitive projects will advance climate resiliency, be collaborative and/or community-driven, support public access to open space and recreation opportunities, and/or address Hurricane Helene recovery. It is important that applications clearly demonstrate how the project will help the community recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene and/or strengthen a community’s capacity to respond, mitigate, or adapt to future risk and uncertainty associated with the increasing severity of weather events and a changing climate. As much as possible, project outcomes should include, or strive to strengthen community support for, conservation actions and nature-based solutions to climate change. 

Funding

Up to $400,000 will be granted through the Wild East Action Fund to qualified land protection, conservation planning, and community resiliency projects. Conservation Planning and Community Resiliency grant requests between $5,000 and $20,000 will be considered.

All funding opportunities require a cash or in-kind match. Match ratio will be considered on a case-by-case basis, evaluated on the circumstances of the organization and project context. The match should be secured or demonstrate with confidence that it will be secured during the grant period.

Funding for the Conservation Planning and Community Resilience grant categories are made possible through the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s A.T. Resiliency Fund. 

Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ SAM Grant

Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ charges its Board of Social Action and Mission with the responsibility of managing Rock Spring’s Wider Mission budget. This Board will consider 2025 grant applications for purposes that are consistent with Rock Spring’s identity as a Just Peace and an Open and Affirming Congregation that promotes ecumenical and interfaith witness.

Grant applications can request general operating support for the core programs of organizations or special projects beyond the organization’s normal budget scope. Grants are not made to individuals. Grant amounts will generally range from $500-$3,000, though larger amounts up to $5,000 may be considered in special circumstances.

Citizen Water Monitoring Grants

The primary purpose of these grants is to provide funding for water quality monitoring groups and individuals to monitor the quality of Virginia’s waters. The grant can be used in a variety of ways, including purchasing water quality monitoring equipment, training citizen volunteers, lab analysis costs, and promoting stream monitoring efforts in locations where the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is not currently collecting water quality samples. 

Purpose

The two primary purposes of the Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program are 1) to generate citizen-collected water quality data that can be used by the agency for water quality assessment, improvement or preservation; and 2) to educate citizens on water quality monitoring and the environment. The program helps to guide and support citizen water quality monitoring and stewardship activities. Funded projects may focus on any or all of the following six general goals. 

• List and delist impaired waters on the 303(d) Impaired Waters List and assess overall water quality.
• Identify sources of pollution that may help in Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development.
• Track progress of TMDL’s or other restoration activities
• Identify waters for future monitoring by DEQ.
• Educate the community on water quality monitoring and the effects of human activities on water quality.
• Provide education opportunities and support water quality monitoring in potential environmental justice communities.  

Grant Options

Mini-Grant

Maximum award up to $1,000. Open only to applicants who have not received a DEQ citizen monitoring grant in the previous three years. 

Regular Grant

Maximum award up to $5,000. Open to any applicants who wish to apply but recommended for organizations already familiar with water quality monitoring.

Coordination Grant

Maximum award up to $11,000. Open only to applicants who coordinate at least three member monitoring organizations that total 35 or more volunteers. In addition, monitoring occurs at more than 50 sample sites covering at least three Virginia localities. OR Monitoring activities generate at least 1000 total Level II & Level III data points  with a least 500 of those being Level III data.

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) administers the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant program.

Information 

DOF provides assistance through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant program. The program provides a 50% cost reimbursement for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, and equipment for rural volunteer fire departments. As a key cooperator in the suppression of nearly every Virginia wildfire, this program allows the agency to provide critically-needed federal funding to directly support fire departments in the Commonwealth.

These grants are “50-50” matched grants. This means that grant approvals provide a 50% match of the actual amount expended for the items approved, up to the total approval amount of the grant. For example, to apply for a $1500 grant under the VFA program, the volunteer fire department must be prepared to spend $3000 to receive a reimbursement of $1500 following grant approval. Receipts marked “PAID” will be required prior to any reimbursement of the approved amount. Note that Virginia Department of Forestry is not allowed to provide full or partial grant funding for any one piece of equipment over $5,000 in cost.

Our Vision

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County is a place where its people and the greater community prosper generation after generation.

Our Mission

We make it easy to give back to the community we love.

Little Swiss Fund Grants

The Little Swiss Fund was established by an anonymous donor to benefit the nonprofit community in Highland County, Virginia. Total annual grant funding exceeds $335,000.

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 Virginia Museum of History & Culture

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society—a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. For use in its state history museum and its renowned research library, the historical society cares for a collection of more than nine million items representing the ever evolving story of Virginia.

The Commonwealth History Fund

The Commonwealth History Fund (Fund) was established by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to support and encourage meaningful history education and preservation projects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Made possible by generous funding from Dominion Energy and others, the Fund is designed to provide grants of approximately $400,000 per year and nearly $2,000,000 overall in its first five years of operation.

The Commonwealth History Fund is a restricted fund owned and managed by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) and is facilitated in partnership with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR).

Grant Criteria

Preliminary grant criteria include, but are not limited to:

• The significance of the project or resource and its impact on the community and Commonwealth.
• The project’s focus on underserved people, communities, narratives, etc.
• The need for funding and the urgency of the project.
• The project’s budget, how funds will be allocated, and the applicant’s proven ability to secure all necessary funds.
• The project’s timeline, scope, scale, and level of professionalism.
• The qualifications of the key personnel, volunteers, consultants, etc. and theirproven ability to complete similar projects.
• The applicant’s history of support via the Fund, and the proximity to other Fund supported projects (multi-year grants are not given; but applications over consecutive years are allowed).
• The applicant’s ability to secure matching funds via other grants or various forms of in-kind support (not required, but encouraged).

About

Established in 1926, the Junior League of Roanoke Valley is an organization committed to promoting women, developing leaders, and investing in our community. Our 95-year legacy of leadership is built on our ability to train women leaders to tackle tough issues impacting our community. Over 400 members strong, the JLRV provides a strong foundation for civic leadership and also connects women who share a commitment to voluntarism and community service.

Known especially for our signature holiday event, Stocked Market, the JLRV is a driving force in the Roanoke Valley, offering volunteer service in the community, grants for area non-profits, and scholarships for high school students, just to name a few.

The Junior League of Roanoke Valley’s focus is addressing poverty by connecting the community to existing resources and removing barriers to healthcare and food. The JLRV welcomes all women who value our Mission. We are committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations and communities.

JLRV is a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc., an international network of 293 Leagues comprised of more than 140,000 members in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which are all engaged in transforming their own communities

JLRV Mission Statement

The Junior League of Roanoke Valley, Virginia, Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

JLRV Community Focus

To address poverty in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas by connecting the community to existing resources and removing barriers to healthcare and food. 

Apel Family Grant

Grant applications are accepted from qualified charitable organizations in the Roanoke Valley, including the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, and Craig.

This grant will fund requests that align with the current JLRV focus.