The Ann K. Kirby Foundation concentrates on capital and place-based philanthropy, prioritizing major capital projects, community endowments, and conservation in Virginia and nearby states. It funds community foundations and civic infrastructure (parks, ADA upgrades), higher-education facility projects tied to its namesake, and health- and youth-focused facility upgrades and services. Grants are sizable and often unrestricted or capital-focused, supporting organizations that can leverage matching or challenge funds.
The Ann K Kirby Foundation’s grantmaking is defined by large, place-based gifts that often back buildings, infrastructure, and named community assets. In the recent record, it made a $1,548,216 unrestricted grant to The Community Foundation Inc in Richmond, followed by an $800,000 commitment to Hampden-Sydney College for Kirby Field House renovations. Those gifts show a pattern of sizable support for organizations able to use flexible capital alongside project-specific funding. The foundation also backs community-serving physical improvements, such as the renovation of Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre and the installation of an ADA-accessible bathroom, which fits its emphasis on facilities that affect daily use. Conservation is another visible thread: it supported The Nature Conservancy’s Clinch Valley program and the James River Association’s James Changer campaign. The foundation’s portfolio also includes health-related capital work and youth-oriented services, suggesting a mix of civic infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. Its recent grants are almost entirely in Virginia, with a strong tilt toward Richmond-area institutions and regional partners.
Community foundations and unrestricted support are central to the Ann K Kirby Foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $1,548,216 to The Community Foundation Inc for grantmaking and unrestricted support, and later gave $171,117 and $148,726 to Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond as unrestricted support. The foundation also backs higher-education and youth development through capital and program funding: Hampden-Sydney College received $800,000 for Kirby Field House renovations and $200,000 for the shooting sports program, with part of that grant directed to operations and part to endowment. Health and human services appear as well. Childsavers received $50,000 for children’s mental health services and child development services, while Avon Old Farms School received $89,511 for a health center project.
Typical grants are large: the p25 is $199,363, the median is $346,339, and the p75 is $650,000. The recent record mixes major unrestricted grants with capital, operating, and endowment support, and several recipients appear in more than one year, including Hampden-Sydney College and Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond. That repeat giving suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a private foundation led by Roger H. W. Kirby, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking is regional, with a strong concentration in Virginia.
$611K
$51M
$1.2M
$947K
Most grants fall between $199K and $650K, with a median of $346K.
25th Percentile
$199K
Median
$346K
75th Percentile
$650K
ROGER H W KIRBY
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Concentrated, large-dollar giving with an emphasis on capital and unrestricted endowment support; multiple multi-hundred-thousand-dollar gifts, repeated support to a handful of core grantees and community foundations, and use of challenge/match leverage.
Notable grantees: THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A GREATER RICHMOND, HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, FOUNDATION FOR MORRISTOWN MEDICAL CENTER
The Ann K Kirby Foundation’s grants land mostly in Virginia, which accounts for 71% of recipient locations and is also the top state by grant count. Richmond appears repeatedly, including grants to The Community Foundation Inc, Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, James River Association, and Childsavers. Other Virginia recipients include Hampden-Sydney and Arlington. Outside Virginia, recent grants went to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Morristown, New Jersey; Avon, Connecticut; and Nashville, Tennessee. All recent grants in the file were to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants center on community foundations, capital projects, conservation, health infrastructure, and youth services. Examples include unrestricted support to The Community Foundation Inc, renovations at Hampden-Sydney College, a trauma center elevator for Foundation for Morristown Medical Center, and children’s mental health services at Childsavers.
Typical awards are substantial. The grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $199,363, a median of $346,339, and a p75 of $650,000. Recent grants range from smaller six-figure support to multi-hundred-thousand-dollar capital commitments and one $1,548,216 unrestricted grant.
Yes. Hampden-Sydney College received $800,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2025, and Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond received $148,726 in 2024 and $171,117 in 2025. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships across years rather than isolated awards.
Virginia is the main recipient state. It accounts for 71% of grants to recipients in the recent file, and Richmond appears frequently among recipient cities, alongside other Virginia locations such as Hampden-Sydney and Arlington.
The foundation lists three active programs: the R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership, the Conserve the Future Fund Grants, and the Community Impact Grants. These programs cover school leadership, conservation and energy-efficiency projects, and access-and-opportunity grants in the Richmond region.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE | HAMPDENSYDNEY, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE SHOOTING SPORTS PROGRAM: $175,000 SHALL SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND $25,000 WILL SUPPORT THE ENDOWMENT FOR THE SHOOTING SPORTS PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A GREATER RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $171,117 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE JAMES CHANGER CAMPAIGN AND THE CHALLENGE GRANT OFFERED BY THE BOB AND ANNA LOU SCHABERG FOUNDATION |
| AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL | AVON, CT | $89,511 | 2025 | FOR THE HEALTH CENTER PROJECT |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE CHIEF CARES FUND AND THEIR RELIEF EFFORTS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE HELENE |
| HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE | HAMPDENSYDNEY, VA | $800,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE RENOVATIONS OF THE KIRBY FIELD HOUSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A GREATER RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $148,726 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | RICHMOND, VA | $1,548,216 | 2023 | GRANTMAKING AND UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| CITY OF WILKES-BARRE | WILKESBARRE, PA | $500,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE RENOVATION OF THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING AND EXISTING BATHROOM, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ADA ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM AT KIRBY PARK. |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $346,339 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE CLINCH VALLEY PROGRAM. |
| FOUNDATION FOR MORRISTOWN MEDICAL CENTER | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $250,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE TRAUMA CENTER ELEVATOR |
| CHILDSAVERS | RICHMOND, VA | $50,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES |
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
$200,000TO SUPPORT THE SHOOTING SPORTS PROGRAM: $175,000 SHALL SUPPORT OPERATIONS AND $25,000 WILL SUPPORT THE ENDOWMENT FOR THE SHOOTING SPORTS PROGRAM
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A GREATER RICHMOND
$171,117UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE JAMES CHANGER CAMPAIGN AND THE CHALLENGE GRANT OFFERED BY THE BOB AND ANNA LOU SCHABERG FOUNDATION
AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL
$89,511FOR THE HEALTH CENTER PROJECT
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE CHIEF CARES FUND AND THEIR RELIEF EFFORTS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE HELENE
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
$800,000Current and upcoming funding from Ann K Kirby Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations working on conservation and related environmental projects in the Richmond region (specific criteria likely on the grants page).
Deadline: Annually announced (examples tied to Earth Day announcements).
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations serving the greater Richmond region (specific eligibility details likely on the grants page).
Deadline: Annual grant cycle (specific dates vary by year).
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TO SUPPORT THE RENOVATIONS OF THE KIRBY FIELD HOUSE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A GREATER RICHMOND
$148,726UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
$1,548,216GRANTMAKING AND UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT
CITY OF WILKES-BARRE
$500,000TO SUPPORT THE RENOVATION OF THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING AND EXISTING BATHROOM, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ADA ACCESSIBLE BATHROOM AT KIRBY PARK.
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY INC
$346,339TO SUPPORT THE CLINCH VALLEY PROGRAM.
FOUNDATION FOR MORRISTOWN MEDICAL CENTER
$250,000TO SUPPORT THE TRAUMA CENTER ELEVATOR
CHILDSAVERS
$50,000TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
