About Jackson Foundation
The Jackson Foundation gives almost entirely in the metro Richmond region, with 98% of grants going to recipients in Virginia. Its mission centers on honoring the founder’s legacy by investing in education and services for those most in need, and the recent record shows that approach in practice: flexible support for community institutions, schools, social-service providers, and neighborhood organizations. Recent awards include $75,000 to Childsavers and $70,000 to YWCA of Richmond, alongside repeated support for Richmond-area groups working in education, housing, and safety-net services.
The foundation’s work is broader than a single program line. It funds K-12 and post-secondary education, workforce development, youth development, community development, affordable housing, refugee and immigrant services, behavioral health, arts and historic preservation, and capacity building. The recent grants list also shows repeat support for organizations such as Friends of Richmond Community High School, Humankind, Better Housing Coalition, Family Lifeline, Sacred Heart Center, and Greater Richmond Scan, suggesting ongoing relationships with local nonprofits rather than one-off transactions.
Grantmaking is tied to a local geography and a practical service orientation. The foundation uses both unrestricted and programmatic support, and its active grant programs emphasize operating support, capacity building, and sustainable programs for the metro Richmond region.
What Jackson Foundation Funds
Education and workforce development are central to The Jackson Foundation’s grantmaking. It awarded $50,000 to J Sargent Reynolds Community College Educational Foundation for general purposes and $50,000 to Partnership for the Future for general purposes, both in the Richmond area. The foundation also backed school-linked work with $65,000 to Friends of Richmond Community High School and repeated $50,000 grants to Communities in Schools of Richmond.
Housing and social services are another clear thread. Better Housing Coalition received $60,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2024, while Family Lifeline received $60,000 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2024. In the safety-net space, Humankind received $60,000 in both 2024 and 2025.
The foundation also supports civic inclusion and cultural work. Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities received $50,000 in 2025, Sacred Heart Center received $50,000 in 2023 and 2025, and Greater Richmond Scan received $50,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025.