The Durham Foundation appears to operate primarily as a grantmaker to community foundations, providing large one-off gifts to establish or fund donor-advised funds (DAFs). Rather than funding programs directly, the foundation routes substantial capital into local philanthropic intermediaries to support flexible, donor-directed charitable giving. Its giving is transactional and infrastructure-oriented rather than programmatic.
Very concentrated giving: two very large, nearly equal grants that appear to be pass-through/endowment-style contributions to community foundations (DAFs). Few recipients, no small or program-level grants evident; emphasis on funding intermediaries rather than direct service grantees.
The Durham Foundation’s largest recent commitments were two $2.26 million grants in 2024 to Richmond community-foundation entities for donor-advised funds, signaling a strong preference for philanthropic infrastructure over direct program underwriting. That pattern is reinforced by its recent gifts to community foundations and several unrestricted awards, showing a mix of capital for intermediary giving vehicles and flexible support for local nonprofits. Beyond the headline DAF grants, the foundation has backed Richmond-area organizations such as the Byrd Theatre Foundation, Elijah House Academy, and the Central Virginia Food Bank with operating or unrestricted support. It also made grants to organizations outside Virginia, including the Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design in Maine, the La Leche League Alliance for Breastfeeding Education in Connecticut, and the Gary Sinise Foundation in California. The foundation’s giving is regional in scope, but its recent grant list shows a clear concentration on Virginia recipients, especially in Richmond. Recent awards also include support for Maymont Foundation, Virginia Home, and Virginia Southerners on New Ground, pointing to a broad set of local charitable interests alongside its intermediary funding strategy.
A defining feature of The Durham Foundation’s grantmaking is support for donor-advised funds at community foundations. In 2024, it gave $2,260,715 to The Community Fdn Incshivel in Richmond for DAF support, and $2,260,472 to Community Foundation Incdavenport in Richmond for DAF support. The foundation also funds operating and unrestricted needs at local nonprofits. It gave $100,000 to the Byrd Theatre Foundation for unrestricted general support, and $17,225 to Elijah House Academy for operating expenses. In the food-security space, it made unrestricted gifts to Central Virginia Food Bank and Northern Neck of Virginia Food Bank. Its recent list also includes community and civic organizations. Examples include $8,000 to Maymont Foundation for operating expenses and $10,000 to Virginia Southerners on New Ground for unrestricted general support. These awards show a mix of infrastructure funding and direct support for organizations serving Richmond and nearby Virginia communities.
Typical grants are relatively modest at the lower end of its portfolio, with a p25 of $2,500, median of $5,000, and p75 of $8,250. The pattern is split between two very large DAF-related grants and many smaller operating or unrestricted awards. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Byrd Theatre Foundation, Elijah House Academy, Central Virginia Food Bank, Northern Neck of Virginia Food Bank, Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design, La Leche League Alliance for Breastfeeding Education, and Caritas, indicating repeat support rather than one-time-only giving. The foundation is a grantmaker, not an individual donor or PRI vehicle.
$4.8M
$0
$191K
$4.8M
Most grants fall between $3K and $8K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$8K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in VA.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: THE COMMUNITY FDN INCSHIVEL, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INCDAVENPORT
The Durham Foundation’s giving is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 79 recent grants listed in the United States. Virginia is the main recipient state by grant count, and Richmond appears repeatedly as the recipient city, alongside Warsaw and Farnham elsewhere in the state. Outside Virginia, recent grants reached Arundel, Maine; Sandy Hook, Connecticut; Tampa, Florida; Glendale, Arizona; Atlanta, Georgia; and Woodland Hills, California. The largest commitments were also to Richmond recipients, reinforcing the state’s central place in the portfolio.
Its recent grants show a strong emphasis on donor-advised funds at community foundations, including two mult-million-dollar grants in 2024. Alongside that, it gives operating and unrestricted support to nonprofits in Richmond and other Virginia communities, plus occasional awards outside Virginia.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $8,250 at the 75th percentile. That sits below the very large DAF-related commitments at the top of the distribution.
Yes. Several recipients appear across 2023 and 2024, including Byrd Theatre Foundation, Elijah House Academy, Central Virginia Food Bank, Northern Neck of Virginia Food Bank, Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design, La Leche League Alliance for Breastfeeding Education, and Caritas.
Virginia receives the most grants by count, and many of those are in Richmond. The recent list also includes Virginia cities such as Warsaw and Farnham, while recipients outside the state are less frequent.
Yes. Recent grants went to organizations in Maine, Connecticut, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, and California, including recipients in Arundel, Sandy Hook, Tampa, Glendale, Atlanta, and Woodland Hills.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE COMMUNITY FDN INCSHIVEL | RICHMOND, VA | $2,260,715 | 2024 | GRANT FOR DAF FOR |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INCDAVENPORT | RICHMOND, VA | $2,260,472 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR DAF FOR |
| BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY | RICHMOND, VA | $17,225 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| LANDING SCHOOL OF BOATBUILDING & DESIGN | ARUNDEL, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | GIFT IN NAME OF GLEN L |
| LA LECHE LEAGUE ALLIANCE FOR BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION | SANDY HOOK, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOOD BANK | RICHMOND, VA | $8,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA FOOD BANK | WARSAW, VA | $8,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TAMPA PREPARATORY SCHOOL | TAMPA, FL | $7,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| RICHMOND CNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | FARNHAM, VA | $6,450 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CARITAS | RICHMOND, VA | $6,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NORTHERN NECK VOCATIONAL CENTER | WARSAW, VA | $6,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MAYMONT FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $6,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | RICHMOND, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| SOLDIER'S BEST FRIEND | GLENDALE, AZ | $5,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| GARY SINISE FOUNDATION | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $4,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOWERTON'S BAPTIST CHURCH | DUNNSVILLE, VA | $3,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| SALVATION ARMY | RICHMOND, VA | $3,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| RICHMOND SPCA | RICHMOND, VA | $3,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH | WINDER PARK, FL | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FLORIDA AQUARIUM | TAMPA, FL | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PULMONARY HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATION | SILVER SPRINGS, MD | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LOWRY PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | TAMPA, FL | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | RICHMOND, VA | $2,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TUCKAHOE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD | RICHMOND, VA | $2,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA | RICHMOND, VA | $2,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| COMFORT ZONE CAMP | RICHMOND, VA | $2,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| RAPTOR CENTER OF TAMPA BAY INC | RIVERVIEW, FL | $1,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BRANDON ACADEMY | BRANDON, FL | $1,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $20,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOOD BANK | RICHMOND, VA | $15,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY | RICHMOND, VA | $15,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA FOOD BANK | WARSAW, VA | $13,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LIFTPD | RICHMOND, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LA LECHE LEAGUE ALLIANCE FOR BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION | SANDY HOOK, CT | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| VIRGINIA SOUTHERNERS ON NEW GROUND | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ENRICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GARY SINISE FOUNDATION | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LANDING SCHOOL OF BOATBUILDING & DESIGN | ARUNDEL, ME | $10,000 | 2023 | GIFT IN NAME OF GLEN L |
| THE CAMERON K GALLAGHER FDN | RICHMOND, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| VIRGINIA HOME | RICHMOND, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| MAYMONT FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $8,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION | RICHMOND, VA | $7,500 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| SOLDIER'S BEST FRIEND | GLENDALE, AZ | $6,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| RICHMOND CNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | FARNHAM, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TAMPA PREPARATORY SCHOOL | TAMPA, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CARITAS | RICHMOND, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BRANDON ACADEMY | BRANDON, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NORTHERN NECK VOCATIONAL CENTER | WARSAW, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
THE COMMUNITY FDN INCSHIVEL
$2,260,715GRANT FOR DAF FOR
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INCDAVENPORT
$2,260,472SUPPORT FOR DAF FOR
BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATION
$100,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LANDING SCHOOL OF BOATBUILDING & DESIGN
$10,000GIFT IN NAME OF GLEN L
LA LECHE LEAGUE ALLIANCE FOR BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA FOOD BANK
$8,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
RICHMOND CNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$6,450OPERATING EXPENSES
NORTHERN NECK VOCATIONAL CENTER
$6,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$5,000OPERATING EXPENSES
HOWERTON'S BAPTIST CHURCH
$3,000OPERATING EXPENSES
SALVATION ARMY
$3,000OPERATING EXPENSES
RICHMOND SPCA
$3,000OPERATING EXPENSES
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATION
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$2,000OPERATING EXPENSES
TUCKAHOE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD
$2,000OPERATING EXPENSES
RAPTOR CENTER OF TAMPA BAY INC
$1,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
BRANDON ACADEMY
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATION
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA FOOD BANK
$13,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LIFTPD
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LA LECHE LEAGUE ALLIANCE FOR BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
VIRGINIA SOUTHERNERS ON NEW GROUND
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
ENRICHMOND
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LANDING SCHOOL OF BOATBUILDING & DESIGN
$10,000GIFT IN NAME OF GLEN L
THE CAMERON K GALLAGHER FDN
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
VIRGINIA HOME
$10,000OPERATING EXPENSES
RICHMOND CNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$5,000OPERATING EXPENSES
BRANDON ACADEMY
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
NORTHERN NECK VOCATIONAL CENTER
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL