Ujima Legacy Fund

The Ujima Legacy Fund is a philanthropic initiative operating under the umbrella of the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond. Formed as a collective giving circle by and for civic-minded African American men, the Fund is a community-driven effort focused on fostering equitable outcomes for youth and young adults in the Richmond region. The fund's work centers on supporting Black and African American youth between the ages of 12 and 21 by financing nonprofit-led projects with a clear educational focus. The Ujima Legacy Fund reflects a commitment to community uplift and racial equity through strategic grantmaking aimed at youth empowerment. The primary mission of the Fund is to support initiatives that promote educational advancement and equity among young people of color, especially those identifying as Black or African American. Funded projects must serve youth within the targeted age group and demonstrate a measurable impact on improving outcomes in education, personal development, or career readiness. While the Fund is open to a broad range of educational programming, it places emphasis on efforts that challenge systemic inequities and contribute to long-term community wellbeing. Applicants must be recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and must directly serve residents in the City of Richmond and/or the surrounding counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, Goochland, or Powhatan. The Fund also accepts proposals for capacity-building support, which may include planning, strategic development, financial management systems, fundraising strategies, staff or volunteer training, and technological upgrades. These capacity-building requests are intended to strengthen the infrastructure and sustainability of both established and emerging organizations. Certain entities and uses of funds are explicitly excluded. The Fund will not consider applications from individuals, scholarship applicants, private foundations, religious institutions, or institutions of higher education. Additionally, it does not fund debt reduction, operational deficits, endowments, memorials, bridge funding, interim financing, or legal expenses. These exclusions ensure that funding is aligned with direct service and impact-oriented programming. The application review process is overseen by a volunteer committee within the Ujima Legacy Fund. Selected organizations are invited to participate in site visits during October and November. Approximately five finalists will be chosen to present their proposals to the full Ujima membership. Final grant decisions are made through a live voting process during a membership meeting, with the grant recipient announced at the Fund’s annual celebration event. Applicants and interested parties are encouraged to connect with Foundation staff for assistance and additional information. Inquiries can be directed to the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond at their Moore Street location in Richmond, Virginia, or via email at [email protected]. The Fund does not list a specific opening or closing date on its current materials; however, it references recurring annual cycles aligned with site visits in the final quarter of the year, suggesting an annual cadence. Site visits in fall 2026 would imply an application deadline that precedes October, likely in early fall. The Fund's ongoing commitment to education and equity ensures a consistent cycle of support for youth-focused initiatives in the Richmond region.