Red Gates Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so the realistic route is an introduction through someone already connected to it rather than a cold application.
- Its giving leans on existing relationships: in the filing, 79% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the earlier filings.
- A modest request fits its pattern, since half of its grants were about $255,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $25,000 and $3,500,000, a typical band rather than a ceiling, with the largest about $47,000,000 to Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, an organisation that regrants.
- Its stated mission favours innovative programmes and community-driven initiatives, its grants have reached schools, health, social services, veteran services, sports, culture and environment, and its awards are labelled general support.
- No geographic focus is stated, although the filing shows grants mainly in Virginia.
Overview
Red Gates Foundation is a US private foundation based in Richmond, VA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (news.vt.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its overarching mission as ushering in transformative change by supporting innovative programmes and community-driven initiatives that boldly tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges. It emphasises innovative thinking, collaborative partnerships and understanding the unique needs of those it seeks to help. Its grants have supported schools and universities, health and medical research organisations, social-service and community organisations, veteran services, sports and recreation bodies, and cultural and environmental organisations. The grant record labels its awards as general support. Giving has been concentrated in Virginia, with a smaller number of grants reaching organisations in other states.
Themes
- Innovative programmes
- Community-driven initiatives
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Virginia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 79% 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 66 grants to organisations were about $255,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation values innovative thinking, collaborative partnerships and an understanding of the unique needs of those it seeks to help. (as reported in other published sources)
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 48% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to organisations Red Gates Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 48% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 33 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $400k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research · General support$20,840,7292024 tax year
- Anna Julia Cooper School · General support$10,200,0002024 tax year
- Virginia Tech Foundation · General support$10,000,0002024 tax year
- Concordance · General support$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Ywca Richmond · General support$3,500,0002024 tax year
- Liberation Veteran Services · General support$2,372,1002024 tax year
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center · General support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Darden School · General support$1,964,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Richard J Higgerson — Board Member
- Matthew T Goodwin — Vice Chairman
- William H Goodwin JR — Chairman
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $80,269,630 | $3,278,773 | $1,405,364,412 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $154,220,255 | $71,871,654 | $1,367,916,776 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $38,417,959 | $67,338,685 | $1,521,801,051 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to Red Gates Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Richmond, VA
Applying to Red Gates Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Richmond, VA