Commonwealth Foundations
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, and its filing gives no steps for seeking consideration, so a cold approach is not the route in.
- If you already have a link to it, keep the request modest: half of its grants to organisations were $5,000 or less and the median grant was $5,000, although about 8 in 10 grants fall between $1,000 and $280,000 and its largest grant was about $3,250,000.
- Repeat giving is significant, with 58% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so an existing relationship matters.
- Its filings show grants mainly in Virginia and North Carolina, but no geographic focus is stated, so this describes where it has given rather than a rule about who may apply.
Overview
Commonwealth Foundations is a US private foundation based in Richmond, VA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The available grant records describe general support to a varied group of charitable organisations, with the recorded grants concentrated in Virginia. Recipients include colleges, universities and schools; healthcare and medical research institutions; churches; social-service organisations; and cultural, arts and sports bodies. The filings record general support, rather than grants tied to named projects or costs. They do not state a thematic programme or specific eligibility criteria beyond preselection. The application information says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted; it gives no steps for other organisations to seek consideration.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Virginia and North Carolina.
How to apply
The filing says contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted; it gives no steps for organisations to seek consideration.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 58% 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 245 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to organisations Commonwealth Foundations had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 83 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Vcu School Of Engineering Foundation · General support$3,262,5002024 tax year
- Virginia Tech Foundation · General support$1,260,0002024 tax year
- Mary Baldwin University · General support$850,0002024 tax year
- Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School · General support$575,0002024 tax year
- CAV Futures Foundation · General support$328,0002024 tax year
- Up RVA · General support$312,3002024 tax year
- Washington and Lee University · General support$278,5722024 tax year
- Kenan-Flagler Business School Foundation · General support$216,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- James A Jones — Assistant Treasurer
- William H Goodwin JR — Director, President / Treasurer
- Alice T Goodwin — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $10,704,470 | $10,690,440 | $14,540 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,064,697 | $8,056,172 | $2,029,843 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,313,747 | $8,304,722 | $219,096 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Commonwealth Foundations?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Richmond, VA
Applying to Commonwealth Foundations?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Richmond, VA