Eco-Living Fund

The Eco-Living Fund is a donor-advised fund administered by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. It supports initiatives that guide people’s daily life choices toward sustainable practices that aim for zero-footprint or a net-positive environmental impact. The anonymous donor behind the fund reviews proposals annually and recommends funding decisions to the Foundation’s Governing Board. This grant program is specifically designed not to fund isolated improvements to individual buildings but to support broad, scalable initiatives that can drive sustainable changes across many people and buildings. The fund targets projects that enact lasting behavioral changes or infrastructure updates with measurable and quantifiable results. Successful projects will incorporate specific actions designed to significantly reduce resource consumption or enhance sustainability outcomes in ways that can be verified and tracked. Projects must also be well-documented to serve as replicable models for other communities and organizations. While not required, a bonus consideration is given to projects that result in cost savings for individuals, businesses, or institutions. Applications are evaluated based on cost-effectiveness, with preference given to those demonstrating the greatest environmental return per dollar spent. For example, projects might include initiatives that improve energy or water efficiency in multiple buildings, encourage active transportation alternatives to driving, or raise awareness about impactful public policy changes. Grants are limited to a maximum of $5,000 and are available only to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies, or those with fiscal sponsorship. Eligible projects must take place within the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation’s service area, which includes the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. The application process begins with an optional Letter of Inquiry (LOI) due by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The full proposal application opens on Thursday, May 1, 2025, and must be submitted via the grantee portal by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Feedback on LOIs will be provided by May 23, 2025. All grant recipients are required to provide detailed documentation of their project’s implementation and impact, including a one-page summary report to serve as a case study for others. For questions, applicants are advised to contact Daniel Fairley, Donor Relations Manager, at dfairley@cacfonline.org or email grants@cacfonline.org. Technical issues related to the grantee portal should be directed to the Grants Administrator.