Responsive Grant Program

The Responsive Grant Program is an annual initiative managed by the Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV), which is dedicated to encouraging charitable giving, fostering collaboration, and investing in long-term solutions that enhance the quality of life for all residents in the New River Valley. CFNRV provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that directly serve the needs of the community. The foundation operates with a mission to address both ongoing and emergent needs within the region by offering flexible funding to support the work of local organizations. The purpose of the Responsive Grant Program is to offer up to $4,000 in unrestricted operating support to eligible nonprofit organizations. The funding is designed to provide recipients with the flexibility to allocate grant dollars to areas of greatest need within their organizations. This approach allows nonprofits to adapt to changing circumstances and community requirements without the constraints of restricted funding. The program is specifically geared towards fostering the operational stability of local nonprofits so they can continue to deliver impactful services. Eligible applicants include organizations that serve any of the following communities: the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe, as well as the City of Radford. Applicants must be classified as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization by the IRS or be a governmental unit, such as a library or school. Civic or membership organizations that redistribute funds to other nonprofits are not eligible, and religious institutions may only apply for support that is strictly for community outreach efforts and not for activities that involve proselytizing or require religious participation. Applicants are required to submit several documents with their application, including financial statements for both the current and previous fiscal years, an IRS determination letter, and a list of their Board of Directors. Optional supporting materials such as letters of support may also be included. The application itself involves providing a confirmation that the applicant has reviewed the grant guidelines and FAQs, identifying the primary and secondary areas of interest, offering an organizational overview, demonstrating evidence of impact and effectiveness, describing challenges and efforts to address them, and providing an operating budget. Applications for the 2025 Responsive Grant cycle opened on May 30, 2025, and will close at 5 p.m. on July 18, 2025. The program does not accept late submissions. Funding decisions will be announced in late October or early November, with a grantee luncheon scheduled for November 12, 2025, where grant checks will be distributed. Applicants are encouraged to contact CFNRV well before the deadline for assistance via phone at 540-381-8999 or email at cfnrv@cfnrv.org. Resources available to assist applicants include the Grant Guidelines & Frequently Asked Questions, a list of 2025 Grant Application Questions, a 2025 Scoring Rubric, an Online Grants Portal Technical Support Guide, and sample financial documents. These resources are designed to help applicants prepare strong and complete applications and understand what is required for submission.