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    5. Commonwealth Foundations

    Commonwealth Foundations

    ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
    RICHMOND, VAWebsite8046434200

    About Commonwealth Foundations

    Commonwealth Foundations directs large, targeted gifts primarily to Virginia-based higher-education institutions and a few high-profile cultural and service organizations. Their support emphasizes STEM and professional schools, campus initiatives, and civic cultural assets, with occasional funding for disability services and botanical/public garden infrastructure. Grants are few but sizable and often repeat to the same institutions, signaling sustained partnerships rather than broad grassroots giving.

    Focus Areas

    Major capital and program support for Virginia universities (state flagship and private colleges)Engineering and STEM school development and research capacity (e.g., school of engineering)Business education and management programs (Darden/graduate business support)Botanical garden and public green-space capital and programming (Lewis Ginter)Services and program support for people with developmental disabilities/autism (The Faison Center)

    Giving Approach

    Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of repeat grantees in Virginia—typically multi-million dollar gifts for capital projects or major program initiatives rather than many small grants.

    About Commonwealth Foundations

    Commonwealth Foundations’ largest recent gift is a $3,262,500 grant to VCU School of Engineering Foundation for general support, which captures the scale and emphasis of its giving: substantial, multi-year support for Virginia institutions, especially higher education. The foundation’s recent record also shows repeated commitments to the same organizations, including Virginia Tech Foundation, Mary Baldwin University, and Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, suggesting sustained relationships rather than one-off awards. Several of its largest grants go to universities and professional schools, with Virginia institutions receiving the bulk of support. Beyond campuses, the foundation has also backed organizations serving people with developmental disabilities and autism, as well as civic and cultural institutions such as Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The pattern is largely unrestricted general support, which gives recipients flexibility to use funds across operating needs, program work, or institutional priorities. Commonwealth Foundations’ giving is regional and heavily concentrated in Virginia, while still including some grants to North Carolina-based recipients.

    What Commonwealth Foundations Funds

    Higher education is the clearest theme in Commonwealth Foundations’ recent giving. They awarded $1,260,000 to Virginia Tech Foundation in 2025 for general support, and made repeated grants to Mary Baldwin University, including $1,250,000 in 2023, $1,050,000 in 2024, and $850,000 in 2025. Professional schools also receive support: Darden School Foundation received $615,000 in 2023 and another $615,000 in 2024, while Kenan-Flagler Business School Foundation received $602,000 in 2023, $552,000 in 2024, and $216,000 in 2025. Outside higher education, the foundation backed Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden with $1,502,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for general support. It also supported disability services through The Faison Center with a $2,000,000 grant in 2023.

    How Commonwealth Foundations Gives

    Grant sizes are wide-ranging but skew toward large awards: the typical grant is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $6,750 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows a pattern of repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, especially Virginia Tech Foundation, Mary Baldwin University, Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, Sheltering Arms Foundation, Up Rva, and Washington & Lee University. Grants are consistently listed as general support, indicating flexible funding rather than project-only awards. Commonwealth Foundations does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $8.3M

    Total Assets

    $219K

    Total Revenue

    $6.5M

    Total Expenses

    $8.3M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $3K and $50K, with a median of $7K.

    25th Percentile

    $3K

    Median

    $7K

    75th Percentile

    $50K

    Geographic Reach

    Regional15 states funded

    About 79% of grants go to recipients in NC.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

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    EIN (Tax ID): 46-5103846Latest Form 990: 2025Total assets: $219K3 filings on recordFind their full 990 filing →
    See If You're a Fit — FreeFree account · instant fit score · similar funders

    Funding Style

    unrestricted / general operating supportcore operating supportflexible / multi-purpose funding

    Notable grantees: Virginia Tech Foundation, VCU School of Engineering Foundation, Mary Baldwin University, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, The Faison Center

    Topics

    no programmatic focus specifiedorganizational sustainability (implied)administrative and overhead support (implied)

    Where Commonwealth Foundations Makes Grants

    Commonwealth Foundations’ grants land overwhelmingly in Virginia: 79% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. The top state by grant count is North Carolina, reflecting some cross-border support. Recipient cities that appear repeatedly include Richmond, Charlottesville, Blacksburg, Staunton, Chapel Hill, Lexington, Henrico, and Glen Allen. All listed grants in the recent sample go to U.S. recipients.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Commonwealth Foundations

    What kinds of organizations does Commonwealth Foundations support most often?

    The recent record is dominated by higher-education institutions and related foundations, especially Virginia universities and professional schools. It also includes support for a botanical garden, disability-service organizations, a school, and civic-service groups, all listed as general support.

    Are Commonwealth Foundations’ grants usually restricted to specific projects?

    The recent grants are consistently labeled general support, including awards to VCU School of Engineering Foundation, Virginia Tech Foundation, Mary Baldwin University, and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. That points to flexible funding rather than tightly designated project grants.

    Does Commonwealth Foundations fund outside Virginia?

    Yes, but Virginia is the main focus. North Carolina is the top state by grant count, and recent grants include Kenan-Flagler Business School Foundation in Chapel Hill, NC. Even so, 79% of grants go to recipients in Virginia.

    What is the typical grant size?

    The grant-size distribution is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $6,750 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent sample also includes several much larger awards, showing that the foundation’s giving can scale well above the median.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    VCU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING FOUNDATIONRICHMOND, VA$3,262,5002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATIONBLACKSBURG, VA$1,260,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    MARY BALDWIN UNIVERSITYSTAUNTON, VA$850,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    ANNA JULIA COOPER EPISCOPAL SCHOOLRICHMOND, VA$575,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CAV FUTURES FOUNDATIONCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$328,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    UP RVARICHMOND, VA$312,3002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITYLEXINGTON, VA$278,5722025GENERAL SUPPORT
    KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESS SCHOOL FOUNDATIONCHAPEL HILL, NC$216,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    SPORTS BACKERSRICHMOND, VA$130,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    AMERICAN RED CROSSRICHMOND, VA$100,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    VIRGINIA ATHLETICS FOUNDATIONCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$96,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    ST MARY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCHRICHMOND, VA$67,5002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    MASSEY CANCER CENTERRICHMOND, VA$50,9002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    HIGH STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCHFRANKLIN, VA$50,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    LAFAYETTE COLLEGEEASTON, PA$50,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATIONCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$50,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    UVA CENTER FOR POLITICSCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$50,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETYNEWSOMES, VA$50,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE VIRGINIA HOMERICHMOND, VA$49,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    ST ANNE'S - BELFIELD SCHOOLCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$48,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$47,7002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    COLLEGIATE SCHOOLRICHMOND, VA$40,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    FIRST TEE OF GREATER RICHMONDRICHMOND, VA$27,8002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    UNITED WAYRICHMOND, VA$25,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATIONNEW YORK, NY$20,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    TALL TIMBERS FOUNDATIONTALLAHASSEE, FL$16,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    DARDEN SCHOOL FOUNDATIONCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$15,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    MUSIC RESOURCE CENTERCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$11,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    HEALTHNET FOUNDATIONCHAGRIN FALLS, OH$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    UVA HEALTH FOUNDATIONCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    MUSC FOUNDATIONCHARLESTON, SC$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTEBOSTON, MA$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    US SKI AND SNOWBOARD FOUNDATIONPARK CITY, UT$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIACHARLOTTESVILLE, VA$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATIONJACKSON, WY$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    AN ACHIEVABLE DREAM INCNEWPORT NEWS, VA$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    OPERATION HEALING FORCES INCCLEARWATER, FL$10,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    BON SECOURS RICHMOND HEALTH CARE FNDTNRICHMOND, VA$8,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENRAL VIRGINIARICHMOND, VA$7,5002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTSRICHMOND, VA$7,2002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    MCV FOUNDATIONRICHMOND, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE GATHERING PLACEBRUNSWICK, GA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    RIVERSIDE SCHOOLNORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATIONRICHMOND, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    RICHMOND ACADEMY OF MEDICINE TRUSTRICHMOND, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    THE VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN FOUNDATIONVIRGINIA BEACH, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    CHILDSAVERSRICHMOND, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    LITTLE HANDS VIRGINIARICHMOND, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    ILLUME FAMILY RECOVERY INCNORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT
    WESTMINISTER CANTERBURY FOUNDATIONRICHMOND, VA$5,0002025GENERAL SUPPORT

    VCU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING FOUNDATION

    $3,262,500
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION

    $1,260,000
    BLACKSBURG, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    MARY BALDWIN UNIVERSITY

    $850,000
    STAUNTON, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    ANNA JULIA COOPER EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

    $575,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CAV FUTURES FOUNDATION

    $328,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    UP RVA

    $312,300
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY

    $278,572
    LEXINGTON, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    KENAN-FLAGLER BUSINESS SCHOOL FOUNDATION

    $216,000
    CHAPEL HILL, NC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    SPORTS BACKERS

    $130,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    AMERICAN RED CROSS

    $100,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    VIRGINIA ATHLETICS FOUNDATION

    $96,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    ST MARY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

    $67,500
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    MASSEY CANCER CENTER

    $50,900
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    HIGH STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

    $50,000
    FRANKLIN, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    LAFAYETTE COLLEGE

    $50,000
    EASTON, PA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOUNDATION

    $50,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    UVA CENTER FOR POLITICS

    $50,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

    $50,000
    NEWSOMES, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE VIRGINIA HOME

    $49,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    ST ANNE'S - BELFIELD SCHOOL

    $48,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

    $47,700
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    COLLEGIATE SCHOOL

    $40,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    FIRST TEE OF GREATER RICHMOND

    $27,800
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    UNITED WAY

    $25,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION

    $20,000
    NEW YORK, NY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    TALL TIMBERS FOUNDATION

    $16,000
    TALLAHASSEE, FL2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    DARDEN SCHOOL FOUNDATION

    $15,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    MUSIC RESOURCE CENTER

    $11,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    HEALTHNET FOUNDATION

    $10,000
    CHAGRIN FALLS, OH2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    UVA HEALTH FOUNDATION

    $10,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    MUSC FOUNDATION

    $10,000
    CHARLESTON, SC2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE

    $10,000
    BOSTON, MA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    US SKI AND SNOWBOARD FOUNDATION

    $10,000
    PARK CITY, UT2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

    $10,000
    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

    $10,000
    JACKSON, WY2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    AN ACHIEVABLE DREAM INC

    $10,000
    NEWPORT NEWS, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    OPERATION HEALING FORCES INC

    $10,000
    CLEARWATER, FL2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    BON SECOURS RICHMOND HEALTH CARE FNDTN

    $8,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENRAL VIRGINIA

    $7,500
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

    $7,200
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    MCV FOUNDATION

    $5,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE GATHERING PLACE

    $5,000
    BRUNSWICK, GA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    RIVERSIDE SCHOOL

    $5,000
    NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATION

    $5,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    RICHMOND ACADEMY OF MEDICINE TRUST

    $5,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    THE VIRGINIA GENTLEMEN FOUNDATION

    $5,000
    VIRGINIA BEACH, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    CHILDSAVERS

    $5,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    LITTLE HANDS VIRGINIA

    $5,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    ILLUME FAMILY RECOVERY INC

    $5,000
    NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT

    WESTMINISTER CANTERBURY FOUNDATION

    $5,000
    RICHMOND, VA2025

    GENERAL SUPPORT