Community Grants Program

The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge offers its 2026 Community Grants Program to support charitable organizations serving specific localities in Virginia. This initiative reflects the Foundation’s commitment to fostering community vitality through targeted, responsive grantmaking. Established to benefit the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, as well as Augusta, Highland, and Nelson counties, the program encourages nonprofit organizations to apply for funding that directly addresses community needs and opportunities. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and those operating under a fiscal sponsorship with such status. Grants are not issued to individuals, fraternal organizations, or sectarian organizations. While the Foundation does not impose specific funding priorities within the Community Grants Program, preference is given to proposals that demonstrate clear alignment with identified community needs and that include thoughtful planning, realistic timelines, and strategic use of resources. Applications supporting deficit reduction or endowment growth are not considered. The program awarded 143 grants totaling $571,083 in 2025, with individual awards ranging between $1,000 and $10,000. The average grant size was $3,994, indicating the Foundation’s preference for funding impactful, manageable initiatives across a broad applicant pool. The Foundation maintains a separate process for sponsorship requests related to short-term events, which must be submitted directly to the Foundation’s President and are excluded from this grant program. The grant application window opens on December 1, 2025 and closes at 11:59 PM EST on February 2, 2026. Application materials may be prepared using a downloadable worksheet before submission through the online portal. The Foundation encourages applicants to utilize its provided resource links for local and national data to strengthen proposals. Award notifications are anticipated in early May 2026, with a public awards ceremony scheduled for early June. To assist applicants, Director of Nonprofit Relations, Lora Hamp, will hold open Zoom sessions on Fridays throughout January. Applicants can contact her directly by email at [email protected] or by phone at (540) 213-2150 for support. These sessions offer an opportunity to clarify application requirements and improve proposal quality.

Emphasize alignment with community needs; demonstrate realistic scheduling and strong use of resources.