Foundations that fund arts and culture in Virginia
These 25 foundations made grants to arts and culture in Virginia in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
- $345,425 to Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, Richmond: Grant to support centerstage facility on grace street
- $250,000 to Virginia Commemorations Inc, Williamsburg: Virginia american revolution 250 commemoration
- $200,000 to Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, Fairfax: Northern virginia science center title partner sponsorship
How to apply: For grants: grant requests should be submitted online www.dominionenergy.com/foundation. The application includes the following: information about the organization including a copy of most recent financial statements; the purpose and amount of the grant request; and anticipated...
Deadlines: Grant applications will be accepted online during two annual grant cycles, spring and fall.
Restrictions: For grants: grants are limited to organizations that are: defined as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code; within the dominion operating area; focused on health and human services, education, culture and...
E Rhodes and Leona B Carpenter Foundation
- $500,000 to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, Richmond: Establish a department at the museum to be called "e. Rhodes and leona b. Carpenter...
- $250,000 to Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond: Help with (i) operating costs of its 2023-24 season ($175,000), and (ii) capital campaign...
- $215,000 to Richmond Ballet Inc, Richmond: To help with general operating expenses for fiscal year 2026
How to apply: See grant making guidelines as of 1/19/24 on website and prior to that date 6/21/19 available upon request.
Deadlines: January 31, july 15
Restrictions: See grant making guidelines as of 1/19/24 on website and prior to that date 6/21/19 available upon request.
Rea Charitable Trust
- $30,000 to Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Merrifield: Support for daily operation
- $25,000 to Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Amherst: Support for daily operation
- $25,000 to Robinson Theater Community Arts Center, Richmond: Support for daily operation
How to apply: Formal grant application must be completed, in addition to the grant application
Deadlines: Grants awarded in june & december deadline 4-15 & 10-15
Restrictions: Geographical area generally
Fauquier Health Foundation Dba the Path Foundation
- $40,000 to Piedmont Dispute Resolution Center, Warrenton: Flexible funding
- $20,000 to Foothills Forum, Sperryville: Community engagement
- $15,000 to Windmore Foundation for the Arts, Culpeper: Flexible funding
How to apply: Application information is available at www.pathforyou.org
Deadlines: Submission deadlines are available at www.pathforyou.org
Restrictions: The path foundation invests in the virginia counties of fauquier, culpeper and rappahannock by providing grants related to four priority areas: access to health, childhood wellness, mental health and senior services.
The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
- $500,000 to Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond: Support the great stages campaign and capital projects
- $320,000 to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg: Restore the powder magazine
- $105,000 to Stratford Hall, Stratford: Support the semiquincentennial roof restoration project
How to apply: Letter
Alleghany Foundation
- $184,119 to The Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation, Clifton Forge: General operating support and building maintenance
- $45,000 to Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center, Clifton Forge: Matching funds - learning art by way of experiencing
- $36,663 to The Masonic Theatre Preservation Foundation, Clifton Forge: Enhancing operational efficiency at the masonic theatre
How to apply: See statement 16 eligibility criteria: the alleghany foundation is organized for charitable purposes, and grants are awarded to organizations which are tax-exempt under the irs section 501(c)(3) and are not private foundations as described under section 509(a) as well as to...
Deadlines: Applications are accepted year-round.
Restrictions: Grants are generally awarded only to organizations within the foundation's geographic area (alleghany county, clifton forge & covington areas). Grants are not made to individuals or religious organizations.
The Al Stroobants Foundation
- $50,000 to Avoca Museum and Historical Society, Altavista: Program support
- $50,000 to The Sedalia Center, Big Island: Support to replace original roof
- $25,000 to Academy Center of the Arts Inc, Lynchburg: Program support
How to apply: Varies - no set format
Restrictions: Depends on purpose
The Cameron Foundation
- $75,000 to Lamb Center for Arts and Healing, Hopewell: Cultural enrichment:operating support
- $45,000 to Petersburg Area Art League, Petersburg: Cultural enrichment:operating support
- $30,000 to Swift Creek Mill Theatre Inc, Chesterfield: Cultural enrichment:program support
How to apply: See organizations website at www.camfound.org
Deadlines: See organizations website at www.camfound.org
Restrictions: See organizations website at www.camfound.org
Charles G Thalhimer & Family Foundation
- $10,000 to Richmond Symphony, Richmond: To further the exempt purpose of the organization
- $10,000 to Richmond Symphony, Richmond: To further the exempt purpose of the organization
- $6,000 to Richmond Symphony, Richmond: To further the exempt purpose of the organization
How to apply: By letter
Restrictions: Must be a publicly supported tax exempt charitable organization
The Shubert Foundation Inc
- $145,000 to Signature Theatre Inc, Arlington: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
- $75,000 to Virginia Stage Company, Norfolk: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
- $60,000 to Virginia Repertory Theatre, Richmond: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
How to apply: All requests must be submitted on the foundation's application form and include a copy of the applicant's letter from the u.s. Treasury department granting federal tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the u.s. Internal revenue code. To be eligible for a grant and if audited...
Deadlines: See general explanation attachment
Restrictions: The shubert foundation exclusively provides funds for general operating support. Funds are not provided for project support, nor allocated for capital or endowment campaigns, nor to individuals or conduit organizations.
Herndon Foundation
- $50,000 to Science Museum of Virginia Foundation, Richmond: Helwig knoll - payment #5 - $250,000 remaining
- $50,000 to The Richmond Ballet, Richmond: General operating support
- $25,000 to Art 180, Richmond: General operating support
How to apply: Visit herndonfdn.org
Deadlines: August 1st
Restrictions: The foundation awards grants to organizations which are tax-exempt under irs section 501(c)(3) and are not private foundations as described under section 509(a). Qualified nonprofit organizations throughout the commonwealth of virginia are...
Robert G Cabell Iii and Maude Morgan Cabell Foundation
- $400,000 to Richmond Ballet, Richmond: To support richmond ballet capital initiatives including four new hvac units, new...
- $250,000 to Maymont Foundation, Richmond: To support maymont 2025 campaign; long term resiliency of the maymont mansion and the...
- $75,000 to Studio Two Three, Richmond: To support campaign homecoming
How to apply: No special form; explanation of use of grant
Deadlines: March 1st, september 1st
Restrictions: State of virginia
Franklin P and Arthur W Perdue Foundation Inc
- $145,000 to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, Richmond: Capital Campaign
- $20,000 to Art for the Journey, Richmond: General & Unrestricted
- $5,000 to Virginia Living Museum Inc, Newport News: General & Unrestricted
How to apply: Https://corporate.perduefarms.com/company/foundation/
Deadlines: Https://corporate.perduefarms.com/company/foundation/
Restrictions: Https://corporate.perduefarms.com/company/foundation/
Manning Family Foundation
- $25,000 to Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Charlottesville: General
- $25,000 to The Front Porch Cville, Charlottesville: General
- $20,000 to Virginia Discovery Museum, Charlottesville: General
How to apply: Applications can be submitted through the manning family foundation website, www.themanningfamily foundation.org. Applications should include profile of organization, description of funding request, explanation of how work relates to the foundation's focus areas, operating...
Deadlines: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed three times a year (january, may, septembe
Restrictions: Please see website for eligibility.
Louise B Cochrane Charitable Founda
- $20,000 to Richmond Ballet, Richmond: General fund
- $15,000 to Richmond Symphony, Richmond: General fund
- $5,000 to Ashland Museum, Ashland: General fund
How to apply: No specific format required
Deadlines: No specific deadline observed
Restrictions: Gifts generally awarded to central va charities
Blank Allan and Margot Fdn
- $18,000 to Greater Richmond Childrens Choir, Richmond: General operating
- $10,000 to Art 180 Inc, Richmond: General operating
- $8,000 to Belvedere Series, Richmond: General operating
How to apply: APPLICATION TO APPLY FOR GRANT THAT CAN BE FOUND AT www.wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/blank-foundation/
Deadlines: April 15
Restrictions: Must be exempt org under sec 501(c)(3) of internal revenue code, org must be chamber group, choral group, contemporary soloist, or artistic org from the greater richmond area
Noland Foundation
- $10,000 to Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Charlottesville: Culture and art
- $5,000 to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg: Historical preservation of culture and art
- $2,500 to Paramount Theater of Charlottesville Inc, Charlottesville: Culture and art
How to apply: Statement of charitable purpose and accompanying financial information.
Restrictions: Noland foundation makes contributions to donees as determined by the trustees. There is no formal application process.
The Clara Weiss Fund
- $5,000 to Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville: To support non-profit operations
- $3,000 to Winchester Little Theatre, Winchester: To support non-profit operations
- $1,558 to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg: To support non-profit operations
How to apply: None specified
Deadlines: None specified
Restrictions: None specified
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
- $681,000 to Weta, Arlington: Arts and humanities
- $220,000 to Signature Theatre Inc, Arlington: Arts and humanities
- $35,000 to Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Vienna: Arts and humanities
Virginia Sargeant Reynolds Foundation
- $100,000 to Valentine Museum, Richmond: General purposes
- $25,000 to Art 180, Richmond: General purposes
- $25,000 to American Civil War Museum, Richmond: General purposes
How to apply: Applications can be submitted by letter or by completing the grant application form on the foundation's website at vsrfoundation.com/how-to-apply/
Fatherree Foundation C/O Anne W Kenny
- $23,000 to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, Richmond: Unrestricted
- $19,900 to The Richmond Ballet, Richmond: Unrestricted
- $12,000 to The Valentine Museum, Richmond: Unresticted
How to apply: Applications must be in writing and include specific details regarding the purpose for the request. After consideration of the initial request, further information may be requested.
Restrictions: Applicants must be organizations exempt under internal revenue code section 501(c)(3).
Shelton H Short Jr Trust
- $20,000 to Art 180 Inc, Richmond: General operating
- $15,000 to Cadence Theatre Company Inc, Richmond: General support
- $12,500 to Richmond Ballet, Richmond: General support
How to apply: www.wellsfargo.com/privatefoundationgrants/short Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form.
Deadlines: September 15
Restrictions: Primary consideration is given to organizations in the southeast region of virginia.
Dimick Foundation John M Lynham Jr Trustee
- $7,500 to Signature Theatre, Arlington: General operating support
- $4,000 to Traveling Players Ensemble, Great Falls: General operating support
- $3,500 to Weta, Arlington: General operating support
How to apply: Letter
Deadlines: Six weeks prior to semi-annual grant decision making meeting
Tesco Foundation
- $10,000 to Dancing Classrooms of Greater Richmond, Midlothian: Operations
- $3,000 to Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, Richmond: Annual Fund
- $2,000 to Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond: Operations
How to apply: Applications should be in written form, and applicants should be qualified section 501(C)(3) organizations. A copy of the IRS letter determining charitable tax-exempt status should be attached.
Deadlines: Applications are accepted year-round.
Restrictions: Grants are limited to qualified section 501(C)(3) organizations that are described in section 509(A)(1), (2), or (3) as publicly supported organizations.
The Blocker Foundation
- $99,947 to Virginia Living Museum, Newport News: General operating
- $75,366 to The Community Outreach Coalition, Portsmouth: General operating
- $60,000 to Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Williamsburg: General operating
How to apply: Contact whitney saunders for requirements
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