Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia

Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia is a US private foundation based in Abingdon, VA.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia makes project grants to not-for-profit organisations and governmental entities serving Washington, Grayson, Russell or Smyth counties in Virginia. Its areas of interest are health, children and families, workforce development, education and economic development. It works through purposeful partnerships to enhance the health and wellbeing of residents. The HOPE grant supports one-time projects; the IMPACT grant supports single-year or multi-year transformational projects. In its decisions, the Foundation prioritises community benefit, collaboration, measurable outcomes, feasibility and sustainability, funding from other sources, and avoiding duplication of services.

Themes

• Health
• Children & Families
• Workforce Development
• Education
• Economic Development

Geographic Focus

Washington; Grayson; Russell; Smyth.

What They Don't Fund

• Projects unrelated to the Foundation’s vision and mission
• Purposes that are identified as agency ongoing operational expenses not related to the requested project (salary, benefits, rent, etc.)
• Routine financial responsibilities, such as capital and operating budgets (e.g., payroll expenses, ongoing routine maintenance, etc.)
• Fundraisers or other ticketed special events
• Corporate sponsorships
• Amateur athletic organizations
• For-profit organizations
• Individuals
• Religious organizations for religious purposes
• Political purposes or for lobbying activities
• Organizational debt reduction
• Endowments
• Organizations that discriminate in any manner
• Activities that incite or engage in violence, intimidation, harassment, threats or defamation targeting an individual or group based on their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability
• Organizations that the Foundation believes intend to support or engage in hateful activities, whether online or offline
• HOPE grant only: recurring projects previously funded by a Wellspring Foundation HOPE grant; Specific projects can only be funded one time

Applicants should review the guidelines and complete the eligibility survey before submitting an application. IMPACT applicants must also schedule a meeting with the Director of Engagement before submitting.

Deadlines:

• HOPE grant application cycles recur in May and October each year.
• The IMPACT grant has one application window each year.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
• Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 49 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

• The Foundation prioritises projects that provide a tangible benefit to the community.
• The Foundation prioritises projects that ensure measurable outcomes.
• The Foundation prefers projects that avoid duplicating services provided by another agency.
• For IMPACT grants, the Board prioritises projects receiving funding from other sources.
• For IMPACT grants, the Board prioritises collaboration in service delivery with other not-for-profit organisations.
• For IMPACT grants, the Board prioritises projects with measurable objective data and evidence of feasibility and sustainability.
• IMPACT applicants must schedule a meeting with the Director of Engagement before applying.
• HOPE grantees provide annual reports and IMPACT grantees provide semi-annual reports.