current funds

apply

The Community Foundation's 25th Anniversary Grants - A Vision for the Future

We are celebrating 25 years of advocating for philanthropy in the Rappahannock River Region with five, $25,000 grants. Since our founding in 1997, we have granted over $15 million to nonprofits in our region. The foundation’s grantmaking reflects the generosity of our community and the transformative power of philanthropy.

For more than 25 years, The Community Foundation has been a devout advocate for the advancement of philanthropy in our region. This major milestone in the foundation’s history has empowered us to reflect on our past and craft a vision for the future. Over the past year, the foundation has undergone a vigorous strategic planning exercise culminating in a new vision to boldly address the needs of our community and lead the region in philanthropy. Our vision is to be a trusted leader in engaged charitable giving and provide accessible, inclusive and sustainable philanthropy.

Simple and to the point, this vision guides the work of the foundation. Grants will be awarded in three cycles focusing on (1) preservation/arts and culture, (2) environment/animal welfare and (3) education/health/human services.

These grants are intended to support the long-term vision of our region's nonprofits. Nonprofit applicants are asked, how will this grant help you invest in your future and how will this investment enhance your organization’s accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability?

Preservation, Arts and Cultural Organizations
Application Opens: April 18, 2022
Grant Proposals Due: May 16, 2022
Award Announcement: July 26, 2022

Environment and Animal Welfare Organizations
Application Opens: September 26, 2022
Grant Proposals Due: October 24, 2022
Award Announcement: December 19, 2022

Education, Health and Human Services Organizations
Application Opens: December 19, 2022
Grant Proposals Due: January 23, 2023
Award Announcement: March 20, 2023

Funding Eligibility
To qualify for a 25th anniversary grant, applicants must be a formally organized tax-exempt nonprofit organization serving Caroline County, King George County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County and/or the City of Fredericksburg.

Applicants must either be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or have a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization act as a fiscal sponsor for the proposed project.It is important for applicants to demonstrate:

Significant impact
Fiscal responsibility
Innovation/creativity collaboration
Outreach to traditionally unappreciated populations
Commitment to racial diversity and equity, and engagement

What We Do Not Fund

The Community Foundation will not award grant support to organizations that, in their constitution, bylaws or practices, discriminate against a person or group because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Grantees, however, may target services to a particular population when the targeted groups require specialized programs to meet specific needs not shared by the general population.

Additionally, in alignment with Community Foundation guidelines, this grant opportunity does not fund:

Organizations with fewer than three board members
Grants directly to individuals
Political campaigns or lobbying activities
Advancement of capital or endowment campaigns
Projects that exclusively serve religious or sectarian purposes. Religious organizations providing non-religious community services will be considered.
Annual fundraising campaigns or events Debt payment or legal settlements
Reimbursement for completed projects, programs, and equipment
National and statewide organizations that cannot demonstrate a strong local presence
Re-granting organizations, and service clubs

Process

Application: The Community Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Grants will be awarded in three cycles. All applicants must complete the application online. Additional information may be requested once your application is reviewed. Learn more here.

Grant Evaluation: The Community Foundation’s Donor Services Committee will conduct an initial review and final funding decisions will be made by the committee, Board of Governors and staff.

Terms & Conditions

Grant Agreement: If approved, each grant recipient must sign an agreement that includes the following obligations:

Public acknowledgment of The Community Foundation’s support through its 25th Anniversary Grants
Expenditure of the funds as specified in the application
Return of any unused portion of the grant
Complete final narrative and financial grant reports
Any special conditions as mutually agreed

Final Report: Grantees must submit a final report on the use of grant funds using the foundation’s online report form. Final Reports must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the grant term.

Check -in Call/Virtual Site Visit: Grant recipients may receive one virtual site visit and/or check-in call over the course of the funding period. Grantees may be asked to provide informal updates on funds expended, numbers served, and immediate impact. Virtual site visits may be used for future foundation marketing.

Award Payments: To expedite grantmaking, all Community Foundation grant payments are made electronically by ACH transmittal. Nonprofits receiving grant awards must submit their agency’s banking information to the foundation’s Finance Officer to initiate the transfer of grant funds.

Please note grant guidelines are subject to change without notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instructions

Log into your account to access saved and submitted requests. *Note that your confirmation email will include a link to your account.
We recommend you draft your request in a Word Document and copy/paste the information into the portal.
Limit your use of bullets and other formatting.
Add info@cfrrr.org and casey.hu@cfrrr.org to your safe senders' list to ensure you receive all system communications.

We are here to help! All applicants are invited to contact our Director of Donor Services, Casey Hu (casey.hu@cfrrr.org),to discuss a proposed project or application.

Preparing Your Application
Proposals should address the question, how will this grant help you invest in your future and how will this investment enhance your organization’s accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability? Applicants will be asked to submit an introduction, organizational description, statement of need, methodology and budget.

Executive Summary: Please provide a short executive summary. Include the name of your organization, the amount of money being requested, and a description of your project. Indicate how the project fits with the grant focus.

Organizational Description: Be concise and concentrate on your organization's ability to meet the need that you've stated. Please share your organization’s mission and vision. Give a brief history of your nonprofit and give a capsule of your programs. Make sure to directly connect what you currently do withwhat you want to accomplish with the funding that is requested.

Statement of Need: Explain the need that will invest in your organization's capacity to enhance accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability. Describe the target population and geographic area. Provide a few significant statistical facts and several examples.

Methodology: How will you invest in your future? Describe the project succinctly and include the major activities, names and titles of key project staff, and your project's objectives. Explain how you expect to support the project activities after the initial investment.

Tell Us Your Story: Frame your effort as a story or case study. Once you have shared your project from the perspective of data, statistics, budget and measurement, help us see your work through the eyes of a beneficiary of your program, a local citizen, an employee at your agency, etc. This is your opportunity to *show* your work after you tell us your plan.

Budget: Provide an itemized budget for your project. Include brief narrative descriptions of each of the costs associated.