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PATH Foundation (Fauquier Health Foundation)

Annual Giving
$8.0M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
1mo

PATH Foundation (Fauquier Health Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,046,726 (2024)
  • Total Assets: ~$186.5 million (2021)
  • Decision Time: 30 days (Make it Happen! grants)
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $75,000
  • Geographic Focus: Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Culpeper counties, Virginia
  • Total Community Investment: Over $95 million since inception

Contact Details

Address: 321 Walker Drive, Suite 301, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: 540.680.4100
Email: bfoddrell@pathforyou.org (Grant inquiries - Beth Foddrell, Program Officer)
Website: https://pathforyou.org
Grants Portal: https://pathforyou.my.site.com/grantsportal/s/

Overview

The PATH Foundation (Piedmont Action to Health), formerly known as the Fauquier Health Foundation (EIN 30-0219424), became a charitable grantmaking foundation in 2013 through a joint venture between Fauquier Health and LifePoint Hospitals. The organization rebranded as PATH Foundation in 2016. With assets of approximately $186.5 million and an endowment strengthened by a $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott in October 2022, PATH has invested over $95 million in community health initiatives. The foundation awarded $8,046,726 across 330 grants in 2024. PATH's mission is to strengthen the health and vitality of communities in Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Northern Culpeper counties through four strategic health priorities: access to health, childhood wellness, mental health, and senior services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Flexible Funding (Twice annually)

  • Amount: Up to $75,000 in unrestricted general operating support
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines (next cycle opens January 5, 2026)
  • Target: Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status
  • Recent Awards: $1.2 million to 54 organizations in latest cycle

Make it Happen! (Year-round, rolling basis)

  • Amount: Up to $25,000
  • Application Method: Rolling, first-come, first-served until annual funding exhausted
  • Decision Time: 30 days from submission
  • Target: Innovative community projects that create new opportunities
  • Restrictions: Cannot fund past or ongoing programs, sponsorships, or team equipment

Technical Assistance (Year-round, rolling basis)

  • Amount: Up to $25,000 (requires 20% match from applicant)
  • Application Method: Rolling, first-come, first-served until annual funding exhausted
  • Target: Capacity-building for nonprofits (planning, technology, leadership, collaboration)
  • Categories: Organizational assessments, strategic planning, marketing/communications, fundraising, technology upgrades, leadership training

Better Together (Year-round)

  • Amount: $2,500
  • Application Method: Rolling
  • Target: Community-facing events that bring people together
  • Limit: One award per organization annually
  • Timeline: Events must occur within six months; no reimbursements for past expenses

Priority Areas

PATH Foundation focuses on four interconnected health priorities:

  1. Access to Health: Improving access to healthcare services and health resources
  2. Childhood Wellness: Enhancing nutrition, fostering growth, and encouraging education for children
  3. Mental Health: Destigmatizing mental health challenges and providing support
  4. Senior Services: Supporting the health and vitality of older adults

As President/CEO Christy Connolly stated: "Food impacts all four of the PATH Foundation's health priorities and plays an important role in overall community health."

What They Don't Fund

Based on specific program restrictions:

  • Past or ongoing programs (Make it Happen! grants)
  • Sponsorships (Make it Happen! grants)
  • Team equipment (Make it Happen! grants)
  • Events where fundraising is the sole purpose (Better Together)
  • Organizations outside Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Culpeper counties

Note: Flexible Funding is not available to schools, faith communities, governmental bodies, or fire and EMS organizations unless their proposals focus on new or ongoing community-facing programs aligned with one of the four priority areas.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

  • Christy Connolly, President/CEO - Returned to the foundation in 2013 to lead its conversion to a modern health legacy foundation
  • Elizabeth B. Henrickson, Chief Operating Officer
  • Julie Lerudis, Chief Financial Officer
  • Andy Johnston, Director of Programs

Key Program Staff

  • Beth Foddrell, Program Officer (primary grant contact: bfoddrell@pathforyou.org)
  • Margy E. Thomas, Senior Program Officer
  • Amy Petty, Vice President of Communications

Board of Directors

  • Doug Marshall, Chair
  • Rodger Baker, Former Chair - Joined Fauquier Hospital in 1977 as assistant administrator and was named its president in 1987
  • Betsy Dietel, Immediate Past Chair
  • Daphne B. Latimore, Vice Chair
  • Hanna Lee Rodriguez, Secretary/Treasurer
  • Powell Duggan, Legal Counsel - Partner in Walker Jones, P.C.
  • Joy Willey, Board Member - President of the Mental Health Association of Fauquier County
  • Patricia Woodward, Board Member - Attorney practicing law in Fauquier County since 1980
  • John W. McCarthy, III, Board Member - Senior Advisor and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Piedmont Environmental Council
  • Roque Castro, Board Member
  • Philip RC Dudley, Board Member
  • Josh Headley, Board Member
  • Marcia Marsh, Board Member
  • Sallie Morgan, Board Member
  • Mary Leigh McDaniel, Board Member

Leadership Insights

Christy Connolly on Flexible Funding: "Flexible Funding provides unrestricted support, empowering nonprofits to direct funds where they're needed most."

On General Operations grants: "Our purpose for offering these grants is twofold – we want to empower exceptional nonprofits so they can expand the good work they're doing in our area, as well as establish a shared standard of best practices that can be a goal for all nonprofits, no matter their size or scope."

On funding priorities: "We always get excited about funding community projects and programs that meet our four priority areas."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the PATH Grants Portal: https://pathforyou.my.site.com/grantsportal/s/

For Flexible Funding:

  • Fixed application cycles (twice annually)
  • Next cycle opens January 5, 2026
  • Submit through online grants portal
  • Limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating in service area

For Make it Happen! and Technical Assistance:

  • Year-round rolling applications
  • First-come, first-served basis until fiscal year funding is exhausted
  • Submit through online grants portal
  • Available to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, religious institutions, and local government entities

For Better Together:

  • Year-round applications
  • Submit through online grants portal
  • One award per organization per year

Application Support: Contact Beth Foddrell at bfoddrell@pathforyou.org or 540.680.4100 for questions or assistance with submissions.

Decision Timeline

Make it Happen! Grants: Applicants receive notification within 30 days of submission

Flexible Funding: Decision timeline not publicly specified; awards announced after each cycle closes

Grant Implementation:

  • Projects must be completed within six months of award
  • Final reports due within 30 days of grant term conclusion
  • For larger Program and Planning grants (historical): funding must be used within one year, with interim progress reports and final analysis required

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not published, PATH Foundation's recent activity demonstrates significant grantmaking:

  • 330 awards in 2024
  • 289 awards in 2023
  • 230 awards in 2022
  • Recent Flexible Funding cycle: 54 organizations received funding
  • Another cycle: 38 organizations received more than $1.2 million

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is publicly documented. Applicants should contact program staff at bfoddrell@pathforyou.org to inquire about reapplication guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on PATH Foundation's documented priorities and leadership guidance:

Alignment with Four Priority Areas Projects must clearly connect to at least one of PATH's four health priorities: access to health, childhood wellness, mental health, or senior services. The foundation looks for meaningful impact in these specific areas.

Unrestricted vs. Innovative Funding Understand the distinction: Flexible Funding supports general operations and established programs, while Make it Happen! specifically targets innovative, new ideas. Applying to the right program for your project type is critical.

Community Impact As Connolly emphasized, the foundation seeks projects that "inspire and motivate the community, creating new opportunities or addressing existing challenges." Applications should demonstrate tangible community benefit.

Organizational Capacity (for Technical Assistance) When applying for Technical Assistance grants, clearly articulate how capacity-building will strengthen your organization's ability to serve the community. The foundation supports planning, technology, leadership development, and collaboration.

Geographic Focus All projects must serve populations in Fauquier, Rappahannock, or Northern Culpeper counties. Demonstrating deep understanding of local community needs strengthens applications.

Recent Funding Examples

  • Fauquier Community Food Bank and Thrift Store: 2025 Flexible Funding to address "dramatic uptick" in need among older adults and families
  • First Baptist Church, Warrenton: Better Together grant for Back-to-School Fun Night with crafts, games, and school supply giveaway
  • PATH granted $68,125 across four grants to Fauquier County Government in 2023
  • Multiple capacity-building grants: 12 organizations received $111,828 in Technical Assistance grants in FY2020

Application Quality The foundation offers pre-application support through program staff. Utilizing this resource demonstrates commitment and allows you to refine your proposal before submission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Choose the right program: Match your project type to the appropriate grant stream - established programs to Flexible Funding, new innovations to Make it Happen!, organizational development to Technical Assistance, community events to Better Together.

  • Apply early for rolling programs: Make it Happen! and Technical Assistance operate first-come, first-served until annual funding exhausted - submit as early in the fiscal year as possible.

  • Leverage unrestricted funding: Flexible Funding's unrestricted nature is a significant advantage; articulate how general operating support will strengthen your overall organizational effectiveness.

  • Connect to health priorities: Even if not immediately obvious, draw clear connections between your work and PATH's four priority areas - access to health, childhood wellness, mental health, and senior services.

  • Utilize program staff: Contact Beth Foddrell before applying to discuss project fit and strengthen your proposal through their feedback.

  • Demonstrate innovation where relevant: For Make it Happen! grants, emphasize what makes your project new, different, and transformative for the community.

  • Plan for the 20% match: If applying for Technical Assistance, ensure you can secure the required 20% organizational match before submitting.

References

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