Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $2,333,662 (2023)
- Total Assets: $51.8M (2022)
- Number of Awards: 449 grants awarded in 2023
- Decision Time: 3-4 months after deadline
- Grant Range: No minimum or maximum specified
- Geographic Focus: Danville and Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Contact Details
Address: 223 Riverview Drive, Suite G, Danville, VA 24541
Phone: 434.797.3330
Fax: 434.797.3343
Email: Not publicly listed
Website: https://jtmm.org
Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday
Overview
The J.T. – Minnie Maude Charitable Trust was established in October 2007 through the generosity of James T. Emerson (1922-2005), who directed the trust through his final wishes. With assets of $51.8 million (2022), the trust has awarded over $18 million in grants since its inception. The trust operates with a dual mission: providing higher education scholarships to increase career opportunities for regional students and making charitable grants to tax-exempt organizations to improve the quality of life for residents of Danville/Pittsylvania County, Virginia. In 2023, the trust distributed $2,333,662 across 449 awards to students and organizations. The trust reflects J.T. Emerson's lifelong values of hard work, financial prudence, and community support, inspired by his mother Minnie Maude's teaching to "take care of your pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves" and his personal belief that education provides "the ability to compete."
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates a single charitable grant program with annual deadlines:
- Charitable Organization Grants: No specified range – applicants should request the full amount needed for their project
- Application method: Online portal (GOapply system)
- Rolling basis: No – fixed deadline of August 1st annually
- Grant payments distributed around December 15th
Priority Areas
The trust does not maintain a specific thematic focus. Trustees assess each grant request non-discriminatorily. Funded organizations have included:
- Emergency Services: Volunteer fire departments and rescue squads across Danville/Pittsylvania County
- Youth Development: Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, tutorial programs
- Education: Public school foundations, training centers, literacy councils
- Health & Human Services: Speech and hearing centers, Head Start programs, food pantries
- Arts & Culture: Concert associations
- Community Development: Library systems, community improvement councils, outreach centers
- Municipal Services: City and county governmental agencies
What They Don't Fund
The trust explicitly prohibits funding for:
- Political campaigns or candidates
- Influencing legislation or lobbying activities
- Establishing other scholarship programs
- Organizations not benefiting Danville/Pittsylvania County residents
- Organizations not in good standing with the IRS
Governance and Leadership
The trust is governed by trustees who make final decisions on all grant awards. Specific names of current trustees are not publicly listed on their website, though this information is available through their Form 990-PF filings.
Legacy of James T. Emerson: J.T. Emerson was the third of eight children who grew up on a tobacco farm in Caswell County, North Carolina, after his father moved the family from Danville. Following the unexpected deaths of his father and eldest brother in 1939-40, his mother Minnie Maude (1893-1979) managed the farm and raised seven children alone. J.T. served in the Army Air Force during World War II as an electrician and later graduated from the University of Alabama in 1951 with an industrial engineering degree using the GI Bill. His career included roles at Honeywell, Allied Chemical, and independent contracting work. He was passionate about investing, following his personal rule to "play the stock market just like you play poker, don't risk any more than you can afford to lose."
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
Applications are submitted online through the GOapply system accessible at https://jtmm.org/grants/
First-time applicants must:
- Create a new account selecting "Organization" as account type
- Complete the online application thoroughly
- Submit by the August 1st annual deadline
- Wait for verification email confirming submission
Application Requirements:
- Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tax-exempt entities, or government agencies
- Must be in good standing with the IRS
- Grant funds must benefit residents of Danville/Pittsylvania County, Virginia
- Applicants should disclose the total amount needed for the project and report all other revenue sources and potential collaborators
- Post-grant report required within one year of receiving funds
Decision Timeline
- Application Opens: January 1st annually
- Deadline: August 1st
- Decision Notification: 3-4 months after deadline (approximately November-December)
- Grant Payments: Distributed around December 15th
- Notification Method: Direct communication to applicant organizations
Success Rates
With 449 awards made in 2023 and total giving of $2,333,662, the trust demonstrates significant grantmaking activity. However, specific success rate percentages and total application numbers are not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
The trust accepts multiple grant requests per cycle from the same organization. Organizations with late or incomplete post-grant reports may find their future funding eligibility impacted. The FAQs note that submission of a request does not guarantee an award, and all requests are subject to trustee approval. Specific reapplication policies for previously unsuccessful applicants are not documented on the website.
Application Success Factors
Based on the trust's FAQs and application guidance:
Key Recommendations from the Trust:
- No Firm Amount Guidelines: "There is no firm guideline regarding grant request amounts. JTMM suggests that applicants disclose the total amount needed for your project and report all other revenue sources and potential collaborators. When combined with JTMM funds, there should be enough total funding that allows the project or program to be completed."
- Complete Applications: Thoroughly complete all sections of the application
- Community Benefit Focus: Clearly explain how the project benefits Danville/Pittsylvania County residents
- Accurate Contact Information: Provide up-to-date contact details for follow-up
- Responsiveness: Be prepared to respond to any follow-up requests from trustees
Types of Organizations Successfully Funded: The 2021 grant distribution of $1.24 million went to diverse organizations including Bachelors Hall Volunteer Fire Department, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Danville Area, Blairs Volunteer Fire Department, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Danville Area, Callands Volunteer Fire Department, Cascade Community Improvement Council, City of Danville, Danville Area Training Center, Danville Church Based Tutorial Program, Danville Concert Association, Danville Fire Department, Danville Life Saving and First Aid Crew, Danville Literacy Council, Danville Public Schools Education Foundation, Danville Speech and Hearing Center, Dry Fork Volunteer Fire Department, God's Pit Crew Inc., Head Start-Community Improvement Council, Northern Pittsylvania County Food Center, Pittsylvania County Public Library, Renan Volunteer Fire Department, Ringgold Volunteer Fire Department, and White Oak Mountain Outreach Center.
Award Flexibility: "JTMM may award all, some, or none of the requested amount" – trustees maintain discretion in determining final grant amounts based on available funds and project merit.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Local Focus is Critical: All funded projects must directly benefit residents of Danville/Pittsylvania County, Virginia – this geographic restriction is non-negotiable
- Request What You Need: Unlike many funders, this trust has no minimum or maximum grant amounts and encourages applicants to request the full amount needed
- Broad Eligibility: The trust funds across all sectors without thematic restrictions, making it accessible to diverse organizational types from fire departments to arts organizations
- Single Annual Deadline: With only one grant deadline per year (August 1st), timing is crucial – plan ahead for the January 1st application opening
- Post-Grant Reporting Matters: Completing required reports within one year impacts future funding eligibility, so treat reporting seriously
- High Volume Grantmaker: With 449 awards in 2023, this trust demonstrates substantial community investment and appears receptive to supporting numerous organizations annually
- Values-Driven Legacy: Understanding J.T. Emerson's values of hard work, financial prudence, and creating opportunity through education may help frame applications that resonate with the trust's mission
References
- J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust Official Website - Homepage, https://jtmm.org/, accessed January 2026
- J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust - Grants Page, https://jtmm.org/grants/, accessed January 2026
- J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust - Our Story, https://jtmm.org/our-story/, accessed January 2026
- J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust - Grant FAQs, https://jtmm.org/grants/faqs/, accessed January 2026
- "J.T.-Minnie Maude Charitable Trust awards $1.24M in grants," Danville Register & Bee, December 2021, https://godanriver.com/lifestyles/j-t--minnie-maude-charitable-trust-awards-1-24m-in-grants/article_cfaa4faa-6182-11ec-a646-6fcf2e598eba.html
- J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust - Form 990 Reports, Instrumentl, https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/j-t-minnie-maude-charitable-trust, accessed January 2026
- J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/260771142, accessed January 2026
- J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust - Grantmakers.io Profile, https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/260771142-j-t-minnie-maude-charitable-trust/, accessed January 2026