Virginia Private Grants

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations planning new special events in the Richmond Region that will attract visitors from outside the area.

This grant provides financial support to local sports organizations in the Richmond Region to enhance their events and attract more visitors, boosting tourism and the local economy.

This program provides financial support to small businesses in Portsmouth, Virginia, to help them grow and expand through reimbursement for eligible professional services, equipment, and technology investments.

This grant provides financial assistance to new and recently established small businesses and non-profit organizations in Portsmouth, Virginia, to help them grow and enhance their operational capabilities.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Richmond area for projects focused on healthcare, education, human services, arts, culture, and religion.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area for projects in healthcare, education, human services, arts, culture, and religion.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations in Northern Virginia that aim to improve health equity and reduce disparities for low-income, uninsured, or underinsured residents through capacity building and community engagement initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Roanoke, Virginia, and nearby areas that focus on the humane treatment, care, and protection of animals.

This grant provides funding for Virginia non-profits, American Indian tribes, and local government agencies to support various history education and preservation projects, with a focus on inclusive narratives for the upcoming United States semiquincentennial.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County that empower children and families through culinary education and improve access to healthy food for under-resourced community members.

The Ursula Landsrath Animal Rescue Fund (ULARF) is now accepting applications for its 2024 grant cycle. Donor Name: Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties State: Virginia County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Ursula Landsrath Animal Rescue Fund was founded in 2019 as a tribute to Ursula Landsrath. In addition to her career as a fashion model, movie stunt driver, skydiver, hotel manager, fashion boutique manager, and real estate investor, Ursula was a steadfast animal welfare advocate. In 2001, she founded the Animal Rescue Fund of Virginia that distributed more than $1 million in grants around the Commonwealth. ULARF continues her legacy and will consider applications from nonprofit organizations serving or rescuing animals in Virginia. Funding Priorities Spay/neuter, Trap Neuter Return programs for feral cats; Emergency medical funds, supplies, and equipment for farm, domestic, or wild animals; Costs of emergency repairs to organization facilities (unanticipated electrical/plumbing/water heaters, etc); Public outreach and education program expenses; and/or, Virginia-based regional animal assistance organizations providing support to smaller, local animal rescue or assistance organizations. Funding Information  Grants are expected to range from $1,000 to $3,000 per organization. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity in good standing with the IRS; Applicants must be an animal welfare organization; Applicants must be incorporated and operational in Virginia, Applicants must be in operation for a minimum of 12 full months prior applying. Organizations may only submit one application to ULARF per year. Ineligibility ULARF will generally not consider funding for wages, salaries, personnel, or training expenses. ULARF will not provide funding for fundraising or development costs. ULARF will generally not consider funding for vehicle purchases. ULARF will generally not consider funding for animal-assisted human therapy services; however, animal-assisted therapy organizations may be considered only if animal rescue is a considerable part of their mission, programming, and funding request. For more information, visit CFLNFC.

The Business Women’s Giving Circle (“BWGC”) of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia awards grants to support innovative STEM opportunities for girls and young women in their region. Donor Name: The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia State: Virginia County: Arlington County (VA), Fairfax County (VA), Loudoun County (VA), Prince William County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/18/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Since 2014, the Business Women’s Giving Circle awarded more than $520,000 in grants to organizations providing exciting experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Leadership and Entrepreneurship with measurable impact on the lives of over 3,500 girls and young women in Northern Virginia. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or organizations providing charitable or educational services including preschools, K-12 public schools, and colleges and universities. Local, state and federal government entities are not eligible to apply. The BWGC grant cycle supports nonprofit organizations and schools that provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs to girls and young women, preschool through college-age in Northern Virginia, with an emphasis on innovative program components such as entrepreneurship, leadership or mentorship. Grant requests for program support will be considered; applications for general organizational support were not considered. Funding for both existing and new programs was considered. Applications for capital improvements, endowments, or scholarship awards were not considered. Grants were made to organizations providing services in Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park). Only one application per organization will be considered. For more information, visit CFNOVA.

This funding opportunity provides up to $5,000 for nonprofit organizations and government entities to implement projects that enhance parks, recreation, and arts and culture in the greater Virginia area.

The Louise R. Lester Foundation seeks to effect positive change in the communities and lives of the people who are served through the philanthropic support. Donor Name: The Louise R. Lester Foundation State: Virginia County: Henry County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/12/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Louise R. Lester Foundation is to support nonprofit religious, scientific, literary, humanitarian or educational organizations. The Foundation does not grant financial support to individuals, sport teams/events or political candidates/organizations. The Foundation is interested in providing resources to areas of need not adequately served by the local charitable communities. All organizations receiving a grant award must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. Grant Application Guidelines The requesting organization must be tax-exempt. The Foundation’s Directors are interested in supporting organizations that engage in sound financial planning and solid management practices. The Foundation reserves the right at any time to request detailed information on the use or financial well-being of any organization to whom funds are granted. Organizations are only eligible to receive one grant per calendar year. The Foundation Directors are currently interested in grants to be spent in the Foundation’s geographic areas of interest, which include the Roanoke Valley area of Virginia, the greater Henry County area of Virginia, and the Smith Mountain Lake region of Virginia.  Other areas of consideration are at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Since the Foundation receives funding requests in excess of its funds available for grants, not all or only a portion of the requests received can be approved. A decision not to fund a request does not necessarily reflect on the merits of the applicant or the value of its request. For more information, visit LRLF.

Whether you’re expanding a business, innovating your industry, or aspiring to be an entrepreneur, the Idea Factory powered by Startup Virginia helps you build solutions people want based on insights, not assumptions. Donor Name: Startup Virginia State: Virginia County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/06/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Creating a new business or product is an exciting journey, but having a great idea is not enough. Ideas must be based on insights, not assumptions, to ensure you build solutions people really want. At the Idea Factory, you’ll learn about customer discovery – the entrepreneur’s secret weapon. It’s the process of uncovering customers’ needs, wants, and pain points before building the product. It’s about getting out of your own head and into the minds of your potential customers. Increase Your Chances of Success Startups that actively engage in customer discovery are twice as likely to succeed as those that don’t. Become a Better Communicator Learn to ask the right questions, listen actively, and build customer relationships. Develop Products Customers Love Identify the problems your customers are struggling with and create solutions they want. Gain a Competitive Edge Understanding your customers is what sets you apart, giving you a significant advantage over competitors. Who’s it for? Anyone in Virginia with an innovative idea for a new or existing business Considering building a new product, service, or way to scale your business? Working on an innovative solution to a problem and considering starting a business? Passionate about solving a particular problem and don’t know how to begin? What are the outcomes? Learn the customer discovery process Identify your potential customers Build a target customer database Hone your interviewing and surveying skills Gain customer insights and identify the best business ideas Receive guidance for the next steps for your idea. For more information, visit Startup Virginia.

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is seeking applications for its Bama Works Fund to support community initiatives. Donor Name: Charlottesville Area Community Foundation State: Virginia County: Albemarle County (VA), Buckingham County (VA), Fluvanna County (VA), Greene County (VA), Louisa County (VA), Nelson County (VA), Orange County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/29/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding Information Up to $10,000. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization, governmental or religious entity, or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation will consider applications from organizations working to benefit the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. Public schools may submit one application each cycle.  For more information, visit CACF.

Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is seeking proposals for projects that provide new or expanded public access to open space, such as parks, preserves, trails, greenways, outdoor classrooms, beaches, and boat launches, as well as projects that protect exceptional natural and cultural resources for the benefit of the Commonwealth. Donor Name: Virginia Outdoors Foundation State: Virginia County: All Counties Deadline: Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Details: Established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1997 and administered by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), the Open-Space Lands Preservation Trust Fund (PTF) provides grants for acquisitions, easements, rights of way, and other methods of protecting open space for farming, forestry, recreation, wildlife, water quality, and more. In most cases, a right, privilege, or interest in real estate must be conveyed to either VOF or a locality, pursuant to Virginia’s Open-Space Land Act, to be eligible for PTF funding. Project Prioritization While VOF is offering grant awards for both public access and exceptional natural and cultural resource protection projects, VOF is prioritizing those projects in which the interest in real estate includes a provision to provide access to the property by the public. Successful proposals will protect and preserve open green space. Funding for resource protection easements will be prioritized for those projects that show exceptional characteristics in the following categories: historic and cultural, water quality, scenic and open space, habitat, agriculture and forestry, and policy alignment. Deed restrictions will protect the highest conservation values of a property. Funding Information There is approximately $1.7 million available for the first grant round of fiscal year 2025. In recent cycles, grant awards have averaged $150,000 per project. Eligibility Criteria PTF grants may be awarded to any person, organization, or locality with a real estate interest to convey on either public or private land. Land already under locality ownership may be eligible for PTF funding as long as the parcel is not already protected through certain existing deed restrictions. For more information, visit VOF.

The Twice is Nice Fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation seeks innovative proposals from local nonprofit agencies who provide services to local seniors in need. Donor Name: Charlottesville Area Community Foundation State: Virginia County: Albemarle County (VA), Fluvanna County (VA), Greene County (VA), Louisa County (VA), Nelson County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/29/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Twice Is Nice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to raise revenue to support programs that benefit seniors in need. They do this by promoting sustainability through the resale of donated clothing, furniture, and household items. These grants will support specific programs/activities or general operations, thus advancing solutions to solve caregiving challenges and enhance the well-being of seniors in the community. Partnerships between organizations are encouraged, but optional, as are letters of support from partners, community members, and other stakeholders.                 Funding Information Requests that align with TIN’s stated emphasis and do not exceed $15,000 are encouraged. Eligibility Criteria Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) organization, governmental agency, faith group, or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization. Twice is Nice will consider applications from organizations working to benefit vulnerable seniors in the City of Charlottesville and/or the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. Twice is Nice does not support building or capital campaigns through its discretionary fund grant programs. Small scale renovations that improve home safety and promote aging in place are permissible. Organizations may submit one application per TIN’s annual grant cycle. Evaluation Criteria The TIN Grants Review Committee will use the following criteria when reviewing proposals. Community Benefit – the proposed activity is responsive to the real needs of vulnerable seniors and advances equity and inclusion for that part of the community. Leadership – the leadership and personnel of the organization have the requisite skills and experience to carry out the proposed activities. Capacity and Feasibility – the organization has the programmatic approach and resources to conduct the proposed activity. Ideally, the value of gift-in-kind and volunteer resources are captured to demonstrate the full capacity of an applicant. Financial Health/Stability – the organization has a healthy budget and can complete the proposed activity with the available internal and external resources, including the use and results of previous TIN grants. Partnerships – the organization is aware of other organizations working on similar or related issues, and, when appropriate for achieving shared goals, has developed partnerships that are contributing to the success of the initiative. For more information, visit CACF.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is excited to announce the Norfolk Southern Hampton Roads Community Fund Grant. Donor Name: Hampton Roads Community Foundation State: Virginia County: Isle of Wight County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Norfolk Southern has been a long-standing supporter of the Hampton Roads nonprofit community. While it has transitioned its corporate headquarters to Atlanta, the company is committed to the Hampton Roads community and engaging with nonprofit organizations in the region. Norfolk Southern and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation will be distributing $1 million each year over five years through the Norfolk Southern Hampton Roads Community Fund to nonprofits working to make life better in the region. Grantmaking Priorities Grant applications should explain how your organization addresses one or more of the following priority impact areas: Education and Workforce Development Preventing middle- and high-school students from dropping out of school Engaging youth in successfully transitioning from high school into collegiate education or career-based certificate programs Creating pathways to employment for adults with barriers to self-sufficiency Enriching the Community Providing support for organizations addressing food insecurity Improving access to mental health support Preventing and ending homelessness and housing instability Enhancing equity and inclusion by accelerating the advancement of historically underrepresented groups and people Enriching the human experience through arts and culture Improving public health and safety Sustainability Restoring and protecting the region’s land, forests, and natural waterways Improving the region’s ability to adapt to the impacts of sea-level rise. They strongly encourage organizations that are led by and serve historically underrepresented groups and communities to apply. Funding Information Organization Budget Size: Under $1,000,000 Grant Award Range: $5,000 – $25,000 Organization Budget Size: $1,000,000 – $5,000,000 Grant Award Range: $10,000 – $50,000 Organization Budget Size: Over $5,000,000 Grant Award Range: $15,000 – $100,000. Eligibility Criteria  Nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations, with some limitations (see below) may apply that are:  Serving residents in South Hampton Roads, which includes Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight County, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach.  In good standing with the Internal Revenue Service and have been operational since at least January 1, 2022.  Be governed by a board with membership of at least four individuals not including the CEO or Executive Director. Can provide financial statements for a completed fiscal year and an operating budget with revenues and expenses, with a preference for audited financial statements or a recent IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ. For more information, visit HRCF.

The Fredericksburg Savings Charitable Foundation Fund is intended to support not-for-profit programs that contribute to the quality of life in Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Fredericksburg. Donor Name: The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region State: Virginia County: Caroline County (VA), City of Fredericksburg (VA), King George County (VA), Spotsylvania County (VA), Stafford County (VA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The fund’s fields of interest are wide-ranging and include: community development housing scholarships education medical community groups cultural organizations other similar types of organizations and civic-minded projects Funding Information >$2M: $60,000 $1M – $2M: $30,000 $200K – $1M: $15,000 <$200K: $7,500 Eligibility Criteria To qualify for a grant from the Fredericksburg Savings Charitable Foundation Fund, applicants must be formally recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization or have a fiscal agent. All grants will be made for organizational support. The Community Foundation will not award grant support to organizations that, in their constitution, bylaws or practices, discriminate against a person or group because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, different ability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Grantees, however, may target services to a particular population when the targeted groups require specialized programs to meet specific needs not shared by the general population. For more information, visit CFRRR.