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PATH Foundation (Fauquier Health Foundation)

Annual Giving
$7.7M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
1mo

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PATH Foundation (Fauquier Health Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,716,212 (2023, per 990-PF filing)
  • Total Assets: $249,967,718 (2023)
  • 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 $84 million (10-year period as of 2023)

Contact Details

Address: 321 Walker Drive, Suite 301, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: 540.680.4100
Email: bfoddrell@pathforyou.org (Grant enquiries - 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 organisation rebranded as PATH Foundation in 2016. With assets of approximately $249.97 million (2023) and an endowment strengthened by a $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott in October 2022, PATH has invested over $84 million in community health initiatives over a 10-year period (as of 2023). 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 Programmes

Flexible Funding (Twice annually)

  • Amount: Up to $75,000 in unrestricted general operating support
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines (applications typically open in January)
  • Target: Nonprofit organisations with 501(c)(3) status

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 programmes, 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: Organisational 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 organisation annually
  • Timeline: Events must occur within six months; no reimbursements for past expenses
  • Restrictions: Fundraising cannot be the sole purpose of the event

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: Destigmatising 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 programme restrictions:

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

Note: Flexible Funding is not available to schools, faith communities, governmental bodies, or fire and EMS organisations unless their proposals focus on new or ongoing community-facing programmes 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 Programmes

Key Programme 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 practising 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 programmes 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)
  • Applications typically open in January
  • 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 organisation 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 Programme 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 capacity. The foundation awarded $7,716,212 in grants paid during the 2023 tax year (per 990-PF filing).

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is publicly documented. Applicants should contact programme staff at bfoddrell@pathforyou.org to enquire 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 programmes, while Make it Happen! specifically targets innovative, new ideas. Applying to the right programme for your project type is critical.

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

Organisational Capacity (for Technical Assistance) When applying for Technical Assistance grants, clearly articulate how capacity-building will strengthen your organisation'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: Flexible Funding to address "dramatic uptick" in need amongst 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 organisations received $111,828 in Technical Assistance grants in FY2020
  • Northern Piedmont Community Foundation: First grant of $100,000 (2023)
  • Fauquier Free Clinic: $370,000 for telehealth programme for mental health services (2023)
  • Laurel Ridge Community College: $1 million towards STEM-H Building, Hazel Hall (2023)

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

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

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

  • Apply early for rolling programmes: 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 organisational 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.

  • Utilise programme 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, emphasise 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% organisational match before submitting.

References

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