Community Grants

Community Grants is sponsored by Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia. Supports nonprofit organizations addressing community needs in Western Virginia.

Creating Legacies. Growing Communities. Make A Grant Recommendation Make A Grant Recommendation Welcome to Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia!

We could list a dazzling array of facts and figures here about our strong and continued asset growth and our many years of life-changing grant making, but those can be found elsewhere on this site. In this space, our purpose is to simply say we enable generous people like you to easily give back to the community you love.

Whether that community is the Roanoke Valley, the Martinsville-Henry County area, the Alleghany Highlands or other parts of Western Virginia, we stand ready to serve you.

You will discover that incorporating the community foundation option into your lifetime charitable giving and your estate plans will prove rewarding while being flexible and effective in its execution, tax-wise in its benefits, and permanent in carrying on your philanthropic legacy. Nonprofits are essential to the vitality of our community – the place we all call home.

Each organization provides important and very challenging work daily… As the Community Foundation has grown over the years, we have increasingly expanded our services to different components of the philanthropic landscape… Many individuals choose to create a charitable legacy through a planned or estate gift.

When you make a commitment to strengthen your community, today or in the future… We’re proud to highlight SML Good Neighbors, Inc. , a past recipient of a $20,000 grant. Through its Internship Program and Summer Enrichment Camp, college students gain invaluable leadership experience while making a lasting difference in the lives of youth across Franklin County.

Through mentoring, hands-on responsibility, and daily coaching, interns build skills in problem-solving, teamwork, communication, resilience, and leadership. The impact extends far beyond the summer, with former interns going on to become teachers, healthcare professionals, corporate leaders, and creatives.

By investing in young adults today, SML Good Neighbors is helping develop the next generation of lifelong learners, leaders, and community changemakers. View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) Please join us in welcoming Talfourd H. Kemper Jr. to the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors!

Talfourd is a Partner at Woods Rogers and Chair of the firm’s Emerging Growth & Venture Capital practice group. Throughout his distinguished career, he has represented both growing technology companies and investors, including serving for six years as general counsel of a NASDAQ-listed technology company.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Talfourd, a Roanoke native, has served in leadership roles with a number of local organizations and initiatives. We are pleased to welcome Talfourd to our Board of Governors and look forward to the experience, insight, and leadership he will bring to our mission.

View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) Please help us welcome Jane Judah to the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors! Jane is the owner of Virginia Estate Administration, LLC, a Roanoke-based firm dedicated to helping executors, administrators, trustees, and other fiduciaries navigate the often-complex estate settlement process.

Through her work, she has earned a reputation for providing knowledgeable, compassionate guidance and helping clients ensure estates and trusts are administered efficiently, accurately, and in accordance with Virginia law. We look forward to the insight and expertise Jane will contribute as a member of our Board of Governors.

View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) Please join us in welcoming Sherry Frantz to the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors! Sherry is President of Frantz Diamonds, a family-owned business known throughout the Roanoke Valley for its exceptional craftsmanship, personalized service, and commitment to the community.

She has successfully grown the business by combining her engineering background with a lifelong passion for jewelry. Beyond her professional achievements, Sherry is deeply committed to philanthropy and community service, including her involvement with the Roanoke Women’s Foundation and support of numerous charitable organizations.

We are excited to have Sherry join our Board of Governors and look forward to the valuable insight and dedication she will bring to our mission. View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) Please join us in welcoming Chris Desimone to the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors! Chris serves as President of Anderson, Desimone, Green & Owens, P.

C. and is a nationally recognized estate planning attorney. He is known for his commitment to serving individuals and families of all financial backgrounds and has been a strong advocate for protecting older adults from financial exploitation.

A former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, Chris earned multiple commendations, including two Meritorious Service Medals. Throughout his career, he has also been an educator, author, speaker, and advocate, presenting hundreds of seminars and educational programs on estate planning, elder law, and financial protection throughout Virginia and beyond.

We are excited to have Chris join our Board of Governors and look forward to the leadership, expertise, and perspective he will bring to our organization. View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) Please join us in welcoming Lindsay Collins to the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors! Lindsay currently serves as Vice President of Medicine and Acute Care Services for Carilion Clinic.

An accomplished healthcare executive and nursing leader, she brings extensive expertise in hospital operations, nursing leadership, and patient care services. Her commitment to advancing patient care and supporting nursing excellence, combined with her depth of experience, has made her a respected leader within the healthcare community and throughout the region.

We are excited to have Lindsay join our Board of Governors and look forward to the impact her leadership and expertise will bring. View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) 🎉 We're excited to announce that the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia's Nonprofit Directory is now live!

This new resource makes it easier than ever to discover and connect with the nonprofit organizations serving our region. Whether you're looking for volunteer opportunities, community resources, or ways to support causes you care about, the Directory can help you find organizations by name or service category.

Serving Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Roanoke counties, as well as the cities of Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salem, the Directory highlights the incredible work nonprofits are doing every day to strengthen our communities. Explore the Directory today and discover ways to get involved, give back, and support local impact! Visit the Nonprofit Directory here: cfswv.

fcsuite. com/erp/donate/list/directory View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) NPO Connect: Fall Half Day of Learning Join us on Thursday, October 8 from 9:00 AM – 12:45 PM Where: Roanoke Higher Education Center Space is limited so register today! -Registration required and is limited to two participants per organization.

-Light breakfast, snacks, and beverages will be provided for attendees. -Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own parking. -Registration fees are non-refundable.

Refunds will not be issued if a participant cancels registration or is unable to attend. Session 1: Donor Retention Retaining donors is one of the most cost-effective strategies for sustainable fundraising. This session will provide nonprofit development professionals with practical tools and strategies to deepen donor relationships, improve retention rates, and build a loyal base of supporters committed to the organization's mission.

Session 2: Grant Writing Essentials This session provides nonprofit professionals with foundational grant writing knowledge and practical strategies to develop compelling proposals that secure funding for programs and services.

Participants will learn the grant writing process from start to finish, from identifying potential funders to submitting strong proposals, and gain practical tools they can apply immediately to their organization's grant efforts. To learn more visit: lp. constantcontactpages.

com/ev/reg/zwwmfeb View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) Hosted by The Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia in partnership with Kobia Consulting This three-month, application-based program includes: -Two virtual sessions per month -One in-person session per month 💲 Participant Fee: Accepted applicants will be fully funded by the Foundation.

As part of our commitment to strengthen local nonprofit organizations, the Foundation is inviting a small group of nonprofit leaders to participate in a pilot learning community, focused on fundraising strategy and leadership development. Please review the Information Page for eligibility requirements and important program details: www. cfwesternva.

org/npo-connect/npo-connect-fearless-fundraising-studio/ Applications will be submitted through Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager. If you do not already have an account, you will need to create one to access and complete the application. View on Facebook (opens in a new tab) Share by Email (opens in a new tab) What a great morning at yesterday's first NPO CONNECT event of the year!

We loved seeing the collaboration, discussion, and shared learning throughout the event. Be sure to mark your calendars for our next NPO CONNECT gathering on October 8th. More information will be available soon!

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