make a charitable impact

From Land to Legacy: How One Gift Will Support Community for Generations

When people think about charitable giving, they often picture a check written at the end of the year or a donation made online. But sometimes, the most meaningful gifts come in less traditional forms.

For Lois Roberson, a retired government employee and longtime resident of the Hartwood area, the legacy she chose to leave behind was rooted in the land she cared for throughout her life.

Roberson owned several parcels of land totaling more than 70 acres in Stafford County—four tracts that had been part of her life for many years. The property included an 11-acre parcel, two additional tracts of roughly 30 acres each, and a 20-acre section where family members continue to live today.

Rather than selling the land outright or allowing it to be developed, Roberson chose a different path—one that would preserve her values while also benefiting the community she loved.

Working with the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, Roberson arranged for portions of her land to become part of her charitable legacy. Through careful stewardship and planning, the assets were leveraged to create an estate value of several million..

That fund will now generate grants year after year to support nonprofits and community initiatives across the region.

This type of gift—known as non-cash or asset-based giving—is less common but can be incredibly impactful. Land, real estate, business interests, and other assets can sometimes create larger and more sustainable charitable funds than traditional cash gifts alone.

In Roberson’s case, the transformation of property into philanthropy created a powerful outcome: what was once private land will now help strengthen the broader community for generations.

The Community Foundation serves as steward of these types of gifts, working with donors and families to responsibly manage assets and translate them into long-term charitable support. While gifts of this scale are rare, they illustrate the creative ways individuals can shape a lasting legacy.

Today, Roberson’s vision lives on not just through the land she cared for, but through the opportunities it will create for others.

Her story is a reminder that legacy giving doesn’t always come from a bank account—sometimes it grows from the very ground beneath our feet.

And through thoughtful planning and partnership, those roots can support a community for decades to come.

Grant Opportunities

Please review The Community Foundation’s overall grant guidelines by visiting our Grant Guidelines page. 

Please refer to the Competitive Grant Opportunities page for important dates for all our competitive grantmaking. 

For support in designing a proposal that makes best use of available grant funds, we encourage you to contact Director of Donor Services, Casey Hu (casey.hu@cfrrr.org) or 540-373-9292 x123.

To contribute to this fund, simply click the button below:

Donations may also be mailed to:
The Community Foundation
The Lois Dickinson Roberson and Shirley Ann Helton Charitable Fund
PO Box 208
Fredericksburg, VA 22404-0208

Please make your check payable to:
The Lois Dickinson Roberson and Shirley Ann Helton Charitable Fund