Vibrant Community Fund

The Vibrant Community Fund (VCF) is a funding initiative administered by the City of Charlottesville to support nonprofit organizations delivering services to city residents. The program is designed to align city resources with its strategic priorities, offering financial support to agencies that contribute to public safety, climate action, transportation, justice and equity, education, economic prosperity, and cultural enrichment. Applications are reviewed by a citizen panel and city staff, with final award decisions made by the City Council. The application process begins with mandatory orientation sessions—offered both in person and virtually—followed by a competitive submission window. For FY27, applications will open on September 19, 2025, and close on October 20, 2025, at midnight. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) status or operate under a fiscal sponsor with the required designation. They must also be incorporated and registered with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), have a volunteer board, and offer programs serving Charlottesville residents under a designated city priority area. Eligible priority areas include Education, Economic Prosperity, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Transportation, Climate Action, Public Safety, and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Housing-related programs, while prioritized, do not apply through the VCF process. Applicants must demonstrate impact within these areas and provide measurable outcomes. Those requesting more than $75,000 are subject to mandatory site visits during the review period. A maximum funding request of $200,000 is allowed per applicant. Applications are submitted through the ZoomGrants platform. City staff perform a concurrent review, awarding up to 15 additional points based on organizational stewardship, feasibility, use of funds, compliance, and alignment with the city’s strategic plan. Up to 115 points can be earned in total. Funding recommendations are based on these evaluations and available budget (approx. $2.6 million). Final awards may differ depending on City Council’s decisions, and applicants are encouraged to engage council members directly throughout the budgeting process. Technical assistance is available during the open period, including weekly office hours. Contact information for city staff and ZoomGrants support is readily available, and applicants are reminded to keep their contact information up to date. Awards are announced following the completion of budget deliberations and scoring in early 2026. All grantees must submit reports through the ZoomGrants system. For questions, applicants are encouraged to reach out to Hunter Smith at smithha@charlottesville.gov or Reggie Allen at allenr@charlottesville.gov.

Applicants are advised to attend mandatory orientation, avoid jargon, use local data, provide specific examples, and ensure clear writing. Site visits are required for large requests.