To save lives and support survivors by providing financial assistance to sepsis/ARDS/TSS survivors and their families, educating communities about the signs and symptoms of sepsis and toxic shock syndrome, and supporting children and women in need.
Begin Again Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by large operating grants to Patient Advocate Foundation, including $227,300 in 2024 and $176,334 in 2023. That pairing shows a funder that supports sustained direct-service work alongside its own named funds for people affected by sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The foundation also backs children and families through CHKD Butterfly Blessings, which received $105,900 in 2024 and $50,232 in 2023, indicating repeated support for hardship relief tied to pediatric care. Its program portfolio points to a clear service model: financial aid for patients, case management, bereavement support, prevention education, scholarships, and emergency relief. The foundation’s funds include one-time assistance for rent, utilities, food, lodging, and burial or cremation expenses, as well as support for families of children in hospital care. Leadership is listed as Audrey-Ann Leishman, and the foundation reports annual grants of $584,766 with total assets of $3,496,886.
A central theme in Begin Again Foundation’s giving is direct financial help for people facing medical hardship. The Financial Aid Fund provides one-time $1,000 payments for eligible patients diagnosed with ARDS, sepsis, or toxic shock syndrome to help with rent, mortgage, transportation, utilities, food, nutritional needs, or lodging. In bereavement support, the Angel Fund and Bereavement Fund each provide one-time $1,000 grants for eligible families after a death from sepsis, ARDS, or toxic shock syndrome, with burial or cremation costs as the stated purpose. The foundation also supports prevention and awareness through the Toxic Shock Prevention Fund, which supplies safe feminine hygiene products to homeless shelters and educational materials to help protect women against toxic shock syndrome. Its Scholarship Program awards five winners $1,000 each for students whose lives have been impacted by sepsis.
Begin Again Foundation’s typical grant size is mid-market rather than small-ticket only: p25 is $23,808, median grant size is $78,066, and p75 is $158,726. The recent grant list also shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including Patient Advocate Foundation and CHKD Butterfly Blessings, which points to recurring support rather than isolated one-off awards. The foundation is not a donor-advised fund and does not fund individuals through PRIs; instead, its structure centers on direct-service grantmaking and named assistance funds. Several programs accept unsolicited requests, including the Financial Aid Fund, Angel Fund, Scholarship Program, and Bereavement Fund.
$358K
$3.9M
$1.1M
$684K
Most grants fall between $24K and $159K, with a median of $78K.
25th Percentile
$24K
Median
$78K
75th Percentile
$159K
Audrey-Ann Leishman
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Grantmaking is entirely within the United States in the recent grants list, and the foundation gives most often in Virginia. Named recipient cities include Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. The largest recent awards went to Hampton-based Patient Advocate Foundation, while Norfolk-based CHKD Butterfly Blessings also received multiple grants. Emergency relief grants reached Virginia Beach organizations as well. The structured program list also shows limited non-U.S. activity in the Emergency Response Fund and Begin Again Foundation Fund, but the recent-grants table itself is all U.S.-based.
Its core focus is sepsis, ARDS, and toxic shock syndrome, with related support for bereavement, women’s menstrual health, child and family hardship, disaster and emergency relief, and scholarships. The foundation’s named funds also cover financial aid, case management, prevention, and funeral expenses.
Yes. The Financial Aid Fund provides one-time $1,000 payments for eligible patients with ARDS, sepsis, or toxic shock syndrome, and the Angel Fund and Bereavement Fund each provide one-time $1,000 grants for eligible bereaved families for burial or cremation expenses.
Yes, some funds accept unsolicited requests. The Financial Aid Fund, Angel Fund, Scholarship Program, and Bereavement Fund are listed as accepting unsolicited applications, while other funds such as the Toxic Shock Prevention Fund and Emergency Response Fund are not.
Case Management supports survivors of sepsis, ARDS, and toxic shock syndrome in coordinating care plans and health and human services needs. The Toxic Shock Prevention Fund supports women through safe feminine hygiene products and educational materials distributed to homeless shelters.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Begin Again Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Homeless shelters or organizations serving women experiencing homelessness may receive donations of safe menstrual products and educational materials.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient Advocate Foundation | Hampton, VA | $227,300 | 2024 | — |
| CHKD Butterfly Blessings | Norfolk, VA | $105,900 | 2024 | — |
| Mercy Chefs | Portsmouth, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | — |
| The River Ellis Foundation | Virginia Beach, VA | $10,000 |
| 2024 |
| — |
| Patient Advocate Foundation | Hampton, VA | $176,334 | 2023 | — |
| CHKD Butterfly Blessings | Norfolk, VA | $50,232 | 2023 | — |
The River Ellis Foundation
$10,000