The Red Gates Foundation concentrates its giving in Virginia—especially Richmond and Blacksburg—through very large, often repeat, transformative grants. Major commitments steer toward cancer and specialized medical research, along with substantial support for K–12 schools (including independent/charter and school-startup efforts) and higher-education institutions. Smaller but notable support goes to veteran homeless services and local youth/student services. Overall the pattern reads as strategic, high-dollar local philanthropy likely driven by a private/family donor with sustained interests in health and education.
Concentrated giving with a few very large, multi-million-dollar and repeat grants to select major institutions; mix of transformational single gifts and recurring support
Notable grantees: Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, Virginia Tech Foundation, Anna Julia Cooper School, Northstar Academy, Liberation Veteran Services
Red Gates Foundation’s recent giving is defined by unusually large support for cancer research in Richmond, including two seven-figure-plus general-support grants to Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research in 2024 and 2025. That pattern sits alongside major commitments to education and medical institutions, showing a funder that backs a small number of Virginia-based organizations at a very high level. The foundation’s recent grants include multi-million-dollar support for Virginia Tech Foundation in Blacksburg, Anna Julia Cooper School in Richmond, and Darden School in Charlottesville. General support is the dominant grant purpose in the recent record, which points to flexible funding rather than project-specific awards. The size of the commitments suggests a foundation that works through large institutional grants and often returns to the same recipients across multiple years. Alongside health and education, its portfolio also reaches veteran services, healthcare access, and school-startup efforts, but the most visible thread is sustained, high-dollar support for organizations in Virginia.
Cancer research is the clearest theme in the recent record. Red Gates Foundation gave $47,226,852 in 2024 and $20,840,729 in 2025 to Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, both for general support. Education is another major area: the foundation awarded $12,500,000 to Virginia Tech Foundation in 2024 and $10,000,000 in 2025, again as general support, and also gave $10,200,000 to Anna Julia Cooper School in 2025. Higher education appears in Charlottesville as well, with Darden School receiving $2,036,000 in 2024 and $1,964,000 in 2025. Outside those core areas, the foundation gave $2,372,100 to Liberation Veteran Services for general support, linking the grant program to veteran homeless services.
Red Gates Foundation’s typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $50,000, the median is $225,000, and the 75th percentile is $789,371. The recent record is heavily weighted toward general support, which appears across the grants list as the stated purpose. Repeat awards are common; several recipients appear in more than one year, including Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, Virginia Tech Foundation, Darden School, Crossover Healthcare Ministry, and Liberation Veteran Services. The foundation does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments. Its public profile fits a private or family-style grantmaker using direct institutional grants rather than smaller, open application awards.
$28.8M
$1.5B
$79.3M
$38.4M
Most grants fall between $50K and $789K, with a median of $225K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$225K
75th Percentile
$789K
About 88% of grants go to recipients in VA.
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Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Virginia, which accounts for 88% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Richmond is the most visible city in the recent grants list, with awards to Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, Anna Julia Cooper School, YWCA Richmond, Liberation Veteran Services, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond, Richmond Fisher House Foundation, Crossover Healthcare Ministry, New Schools for Virginia Corporation, and First Tee Greater Richmond. Blacksburg also appears repeatedly through Virginia Tech Foundation. Outside Virginia, recent grants include Charlotteville, Nashville, Chicago, and St. Louis, but the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation’s typical grant size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $50,000, the median is $225,000, and the 75th percentile is $789,371. The recent list also includes several multi-million-dollar awards, showing a wide range within a generally high-dollar giving pattern.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research in 2024 and 2025, Virginia Tech Foundation in 2024 and 2025, Darden School in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Crossover Healthcare Ministry in 2024 and 2025.
The recent grants point to cancer research, education, higher education, veteran services, healthcare access, and school-startup or school-support work. Named recipients include Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, Virginia Tech Foundation, Anna Julia Cooper School, Liberation Veteran Services, and Crossover Healthcare Ministry.
Virginia is the main recipient state, with 88% of grants going to recipients in Virginia. Richmond appears most often in the recent grants list, followed by Blacksburg and Charlottesville.
The recent grants are described as general support throughout the list. That pattern shows up across large awards to research, education, and service organizations, suggesting flexible funding rather than project-specific grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH | RICHMOND, VA | $20,840,729 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL | RICHMOND, VA | $10,200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC | BLACKSBURG, VA | $10,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONCORDANCE | STL LOUIS, MO | $5,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YWCA RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $3,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIBERATION VETERAN SERVICES | RICHMOND, VA | $2,372,100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DARDEN SCHOOL | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $1,964,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $1,960,629 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RONALD MCDONAOLD HOUSE CHARITIES OF RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $1,350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RICHMOND FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $1,100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHSTAR ACADEMY | RICHMOND, VA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CROSSOVER HEALTHCARE MINISTRY | RICHMOND, VA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW SCHOOLS FOR VIRGINIA CORPORATION | RICHMOND, VA | $850,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CRISTO REY | RICHMOND, VA | $600,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIRST TEE-GREATER RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN CORPORATE PARTNERS | NEW YORK, NY | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMONWEALTH AUTISM | RICHMOND, VA | $375,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PATRICK HENRY SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS | RICHMOND, VA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY | RICHMOND, VA | $256,227 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIRST TEE CHARLESTON | MOUNT PLEASANT, SC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VIRGINIA LITERACY FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERATION PATRIOTS FOB | OKATIE, SC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GOOCHLAND CARES | GOOCHLAND, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPORTS BACKERS | RICHMOND, VA | $225,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UPRVA | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST ANDREWS SCHOOL | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF HISTORY & CULTURE | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SWIMRVA | RICHMOND, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY COALITION OF SUSSEX | STONY CREEK, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CIRQUE LODGE FOUNDATION | OREM, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION | RICHMOND, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH | RICHMOND, VA | $47,226,852 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION | BLACKSBURG, VA | $12,500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHSTAR ACADEMY | GLEN ALLEN, VA | $3,500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DARDEN SCHOOL | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $2,036,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CROSSOVER HEALTHCARE MINISTRY | RICHMOND, VA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | NASHVILLE, TN | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $789,371 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIBERATION VETERAN SERVICES | RICHMOND, VA | $783,931 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CRISTO REY | CHICAGO, IL | $600,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW SCHOOLS FOR VIRGINIA | RICHMOND, VA | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIRST TEE GREATER RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UP RVA | RICHMOND, VA | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOSEPH'S VILLA | RICHMOND, VA | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY | RICHMOND, VA | $225,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL | RICHMOND, VA | $187,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPORTS BACKERS | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST ANDREWS SCHOOL | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
$20,840,729GENERAL SUPPORT
ANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL
$10,200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC
$10,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CONCORDANCE
$5,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YWCA RICHMOND
$3,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LIBERATION VETERAN SERVICES
$2,372,100GENERAL SUPPORT
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
$2,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DARDEN SCHOOL
$1,964,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION
$1,960,629GENERAL SUPPORT
RONALD MCDONAOLD HOUSE CHARITIES OF RICHMOND
$1,350,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RICHMOND FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION
$1,100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTHSTAR ACADEMY
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CROSSOVER HEALTHCARE MINISTRY
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW SCHOOLS FOR VIRGINIA CORPORATION
$850,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CRISTO REY
$600,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FIRST TEE-GREATER RICHMOND
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN CORPORATE PARTNERS
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMONWEALTH AUTISM
$375,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PATRICK HENRY SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS
$300,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY
$256,227GENERAL SUPPORT
FIRST TEE CHARLESTON
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VIRGINIA LITERACY FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OPERATION PATRIOTS FOB
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GOOCHLAND CARES
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPORTS BACKERS
$225,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UPRVA
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST ANDREWS SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF HISTORY & CULTURE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SWIMRVA
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY COALITION OF SUSSEX
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CIRQUE LODGE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH
$47,226,852GENERAL SUPPORT
VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION
$12,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTHSTAR ACADEMY
$3,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DARDEN SCHOOL
$2,036,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CROSSOVER HEALTHCARE MINISTRY
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION
$789,371GENERAL SUPPORT
LIBERATION VETERAN SERVICES
$783,931GENERAL SUPPORT
CRISTO REY
$600,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW SCHOOLS FOR VIRGINIA
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FIRST TEE GREATER RICHMOND
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UP RVA
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOSEPH'S VILLA
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY
$225,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL
$187,500GENERAL SUPPORT
SPORTS BACKERS
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST ANDREWS SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT