Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the city of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. We believe that strong community relationships, collaborative problem-solving, and broad engagement are powerful forces for change.
A defining feature of Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is the scale of its regional grantmaking through place-based funds tied to Charlottesville and nearby counties, alongside very large awards for environment, racial equity, education, and basic needs. Recent grants include $1,217,019 to The Nature Conservancy for a tree planting campaign and general purposes, and $1,107,500 to Southern Environmental Law Center for preventing new fossil fuel infrastructure in Virginia and advancing its mission. The foundation also supports local institutions with substantial unrestricted and project funding, such as $874,000 to New Hill Development Corporation for Beacon Commercial Kitchen construction and a Black business incubator. Its portfolio reaches beyond one issue area: it funds early learning, health access, arts, housing, and nonprofit capacity building, often through unrestricted or program support. The mix of large statewide gifts and community-centered local grants suggests a funder that combines broader regional priorities with specific investments in Charlottesville-area organizations and initiatives. It funds individuals as well as organizations, and its activity is reflected in a broad annual grants total and a sizable asset base.
Environment is a visible part of the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $1,217,019 to The Nature Conservancy for a tree planting campaign and general purposes, and $425,600 to Chesapeake Bay Foundation for general purposes and engaging Virginia students in nature’s classroom. Racial equity and movement building appear through the Community Endowment Fund’s Solidarity program, which supports justice-focused groups in Charlottesville and surrounding counties. In economic opportunity, the foundation awarded $874,000 to New Hill Development Corporation for Beacon Commercial Kitchen construction and a Black business incubator. Early learning also shows up in local education funding: Piedmont Housing Alliance received $517,000 for an early learning center. Basic needs are addressed through funds such as PB&J and the Community Emergency Response Fund, both tied to immediate community support in the Charlottesville region.
Typical awards cluster around $10,000, with the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile reported at $10,000, $10,000, and $27,872. At the same time, recent activity includes six- and seven-figure grants, showing a wide range of check sizes. The foundation operates as a mixed community foundation and also funds individuals. Several grants recur across multiple years, including support for environmental and community partners, which points to repeated relationships rather than one-off awards only. Its active opportunities include both application-based and unsolicited options, and several programs explicitly accept unsolicited requests.
$27.9M
$292.3M
$39M
$34.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $28K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$28K
BRENNAN GOULD
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Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Virginia, which accounts for 80% of grants by recipient location and is the top state by grant count. The Charlottesville area appears often, including Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and nearby counties in the foundation’s regional scope. Recent awards also land in Arlington, where The Nature Conservancy received multiple grants, and in Elmsford, New York, for a mobile health center serving underserved communities on Long Island and throughout Suffolk County. Other recipient locations in the recent list include Brooklyn, Rochester, Seattle, and Annapolis, but Virginia remains the clear center of gravity.
The typical award is $10,000. The reported distribution places the 25th percentile at $10,000, the median at $10,000, and the 75th percentile at $27,872, while recent grants also include much larger commitments in the hundreds of thousands and millions.
Its active focus areas include racial equity and movement building, youth development and education, environment and eco-living, arts and humanities, basic needs, capacity building for nonprofits, and scholarships. Recent grants also show support for tree planting, fossil-fuel opposition, early learning, mobile health care, and Black business incubation.
Yes. Some recipients appear across multiple years, including The Nature Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Piedmont Housing Alliance. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time awards.
It uses a mixed community foundation structure and offers both application-based opportunities and unsolicited entry points. Active programs include Prana Fund, PB&J Fund, Enriching Communities, Community Emergency Response Fund, Party Parade Fund, Catchafire, and the Community Endowment Fund’s Solidarity program.
Grantmaking is centered in Virginia, which is the top state by grant count and receives 80% of grants by recipient location. The Charlottesville area and nearby counties such as Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange are core parts of its stated regional scope.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Charlottesville Area Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies, or fiscally sponsored organizations. Projects must be in the Foundation service area, with preference for quantifiable results.
Deadline: Applications open September 1 and close at 11:59 PM on September 30, 2026.
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization, governmental or religious entity, or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization. Proposals must affect populations in Charlottesville or Albemarle County. Organizations may submit one application unless they are public schools.
Deadline: Applications open September 1, 2026 and close at 11:59 PM on October 14, 2026.
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, school, or fiscally sponsored organization serving Charlottesville and/or Albemarle County, with emphasis on children traditionally having limited access to arts and outdoors.
Deadline: Applications open September 1, 2026 and close at 11:59 PM on October 14, 2026.
Who can apply: Priority is given to highly effective nonprofits, especially organizations led by people of color and rural or small organizations in the region. Current or prospective participants should contact Kisha Bwenge for information.
Deadline: No deadline stated; participation is arranged through inquiry.
Who can apply: Applicants must be eligible local charitable entities or fiscally sponsored groups whose work benefits residents of the specified region. Leadership and decision-making power must rest with or be accountable to people most impacted by racial inequity. Applicants must demonstrate proactive or transformative racial equity movement building.
Deadline: Call for LOIs, application co-design, and decision dates are TBD in early, mid, and late 2027 respectively.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,217,019 | 2025 | TREE PLANTING CAMPAIGN AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| STATUE OF LIBERTY ELLIS ISLAND FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,025,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | BILL HEWITT EMPLOYEE WELLNESS CENTER PAYMENT 2 OF 2 |
| NEW HILL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $874,000 | 2025 | BEACON COMMERCIAL KITCHEN CONSTRUCTION AND BLACK BUSINESS INCUBATOR |
| PIEDMONT HOUSING ALLIANCE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $791,827 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES, BLACK MOTHERS BLOOMING STEERING COMMITTEE, KINDLEWOOD ELC CONSULTANT FEE AND SUPPORT EARLY LEARNING CENTER |
| HAYGROUND SCHOOL INC | BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY | $760,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES AND FOUNDERS FUND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE WOMEN'S INITIATIVE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $688,664 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ST AUGUSTINE WILD RESERVE | ST AUGUSTINE, FL | $540,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE GIFT FUND | BOSTON, MA | $500,181 | 2025 | CLOSE FUND AND TRANSFER ACCOUNT BALANCE TO BOA CHARITABLE |
| HAMPTONS ART CAMP INC | BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | HAMPTONS COMMUNITY OUTREACH |
| UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $425,600 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES AND ENGAGING VIRGINIA STUDENTS IN NATURE'S CLASSROOM |
| ATTA IMPACT CAPITAL INC | VESTAVIA HILLS, AL | $375,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL DONOVAN |
| OLA OF EASTERN LONG ISLAND INC | SAGAPONACK, NY | $359,215 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $357,471 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED PURPOSES AND BGCCVA SUMMER LITERACY |
| FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CITY OF PROMISE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $328,200 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SUPPORT, AND HEALTHY BITES |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | BOONE, IA | $325,000 | 2025 | TOMORROW TEACHERS FUND AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PIEDMONT VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $318,754 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES, CAROL CLARKE NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, THE ANNE TENNANT BRYAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND CAPITAL PATHWAYS CAMPAIGN |
| WAGILABS | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| COMMUNITY CLIMATE COLLABORATIVE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $294,400 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT, RVA IMPLEMENTATION GRANT AND GREEN TEAM STIPENDS |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE FREE CLINIC | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $272,169 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| VIRGINIA ORGANIZING | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $253,220 | 2025 | INDIE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, SUPPORT CHARLOTTESVILLE UNITED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGER PROGRAM AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| EKVNV YEFOLECVLKE | WEOGUFKA, AL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CONNECTIONS MENTOR INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL/LINDA DONOVAN |
| SHINING LIGHT INC | ANNVILLE, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL/LINDA DONOVAN |
| YMCA OF GREATER NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTESVILLE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $243,477 | 2025 | WOMEN UNITED IN PHILANTHROPHY - 20TH ANNIVERSARY SUSTAINERS CIRCLE FROM ANN MYERS, GENERAL PURPOSES, EARLY EDUCATION AND PILGRIM BAPTIST PRESCHOOL |
| SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $221,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE FOUNTAIN FUND | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $219,750 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL | ASHEVILLE, NC | $200,000 | 2025 | $100K FOR ARTS AVL AND $100K FOR WNC TIP IT FORWARD CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF THE ARTISTS FROM THE SOULSHINE CONCERT |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL CORPORATION | BELMONT, MA | $186,200 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL/LINDA DONOVAN |
| READYKIDS | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $184,400 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES, RYAN VAUGHN FUND, READY STEPS EXPANSION AND TEEN COUNSELING PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | BOONE, IA | $177,500 | 2025 | UVA ORTHOPEDICS, UVA FUND FOR THE ARTS, LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FUND AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CULTIVATE CHARLOTTESVILLE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $168,750 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES, FOOD JUSTICE NETWORK AND DULTIVATING FOOD EQUITY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $165,000 | 2025 | AMAZON SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION RESEARCH AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| LEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $155,750 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES FROM SHELAH SCOTT |
| PROPL | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL DONOVAN |
| VIRGINIA DISCOVERY MUSEUM | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $150,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION INC | STONY BROOK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | FOODLAB EDUCATION FUND FROM MICHAEL DONOVAN |
| BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE PIEDMONT | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $145,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE GARDEN PROGRAMMING AND TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE |
| KIRCHNER IMPACT FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $145,250 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES AND SOUTHEAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE TOMORROW | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $138,100 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $126,850 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ON OUR OWN CHARLOTTESVILLE | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE ABUNDANT LIFE MINISTRIES | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $124,250 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES, FNA GROCERY STORE, K-8TH TUTORING AND FIFEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION |
| BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK | VERONA, VA | $121,850 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES AND CAPITAL RENOVATIONS |
| VIRGINIA ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL | RICHMOND, VA | $120,000 | 2025 | ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKFORCE INITIATIVE |
| BUILDING GOODNESS FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $117,500 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECTS IN HAITI AND GUATEMALA AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NELSON COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION | LOVINGSTON, VA | $116,500 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
STATUE OF LIBERTY ELLIS ISLAND FOUNDATION
$1,025,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MAYO CLINIC
$1,000,000BILL HEWITT EMPLOYEE WELLNESS CENTER PAYMENT 2 OF 2
NEW HILL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$874,000BEACON COMMERCIAL KITCHEN CONSTRUCTION AND BLACK BUSINESS INCUBATOR
GENERAL PURPOSES, BLACK MOTHERS BLOOMING STEERING COMMITTEE, KINDLEWOOD ELC CONSULTANT FEE AND SUPPORT EARLY LEARNING CENTER
GENERAL PURPOSES AND FOUNDERS FUND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
ST AUGUSTINE WILD RESERVE
$540,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CLOSE FUND AND TRANSFER ACCOUNT BALANCE TO BOA CHARITABLE
HAMPTONS ART CAMP INC
$500,000HAMPTONS COMMUNITY OUTREACH
GENERAL PURPOSES AND ENGAGING VIRGINIA STUDENTS IN NATURE'S CLASSROOM
ATTA IMPACT CAPITAL INC
$375,000GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL DONOVAN
UNRESTRICTED PURPOSES AND BGCCVA SUMMER LITERACY
GENERAL PURPOSES, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SUPPORT, AND HEALTHY BITES
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
$325,000TOMORROW TEACHERS FUND AND GENERAL PURPOSES
GENERAL PURPOSES, CAROL CLARKE NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, THE ANNE TENNANT BRYAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND CAPITAL PATHWAYS CAMPAIGN
WAGILABS
$300,000GENERAL PURPOSES
COMMUNITY CLIMATE COLLABORATIVE
$294,400OPERATING GRANT, RVA IMPLEMENTATION GRANT AND GREEN TEAM STIPENDS
INDIE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, SUPPORT CHARLOTTESVILLE UNITED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGER PROGRAM AND GENERAL PURPOSES
SHINING LIGHT INC
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL/LINDA DONOVAN
WOMEN UNITED IN PHILANTHROPHY - 20TH ANNIVERSARY SUSTAINERS CIRCLE FROM ANN MYERS, GENERAL PURPOSES, EARLY EDUCATION AND PILGRIM BAPTIST PRESCHOOL
ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL
$200,000$100K FOR ARTS AVL AND $100K FOR WNC TIP IT FORWARD CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF THE ARTISTS FROM THE SOULSHINE CONCERT
MCLEAN HOSPITAL CORPORATION
$186,200GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL/LINDA DONOVAN
GENERAL PURPOSES, RYAN VAUGHN FUND, READY STEPS EXPANSION AND TEEN COUNSELING PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$177,500UVA ORTHOPEDICS, UVA FUND FOR THE ARTS, LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FUND AND GENERAL PURPOSES
GENERAL PURPOSES, FOOD JUSTICE NETWORK AND DULTIVATING FOOD EQUITY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$165,000AMAZON SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION RESEARCH AND GENERAL PURPOSES
PROPL
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSES FROM MICHAEL DONOVAN
BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE PIEDMONT
$145,500GENERAL PURPOSES, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE GARDEN PROGRAMMING AND TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE
KIRCHNER IMPACT FOUNDATION
$145,250GENERAL PURPOSES AND SOUTHEAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC
$126,850GENERAL PURPOSES
ON OUR OWN CHARLOTTESVILLE
$125,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CHARLOTTESVILLE ABUNDANT LIFE MINISTRIES
$124,250GENERAL PURPOSES, FNA GROCERY STORE, K-8TH TUTORING AND FIFEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
VIRGINIA ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL
$120,000ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKFORCE INITIATIVE
SPECIAL PROJECTS IN HAITI AND GUATEMALA AND GENERAL PURPOSES
NELSON COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$116,500PROGRAM SUPPORT