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The Community Foundation For Northern Virginia Inc

Annual Giving
$10.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
25%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,400,000+
  • Total Assets: $107,386,497
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $30,000
  • Geographic Focus: Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William Counties; Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park)
  • Application Method: Annual grant cycle with online portal

Contact Details

Website: www.cfnova.org

Phone: 703-879-7640

Email: info@cfnova.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 10005, McLean, VA 22102

Grant Inquiries:

  • Jennifer Cochran, Grants Manager: 703-879-7639
  • Sari Raskin, VP of Grants and Community Leadership: 703-879-7641

Note: The foundation is currently operating virtually (as of December 2025) until a new location is identified in 2026.

Overview

Founded in 1978, The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is a tax-exempt public charity that has grown from a single volunteer staff member to a ten-member team managing over $107 million in charitable assets. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $100 million in cumulative grants and scholarships, achieving this significant milestone in 2024. In fiscal year 2024, the foundation awarded more than $10.4 million in grants and scholarships, with approximately $960,375 from discretionary funds and $8.8 million from donor-advised funds. The foundation's mission is to advance equity across Northern Virginia through philanthropy and community leadership, guided by a five-year strategic plan (2023-2027) centered on four strategic pillars. The foundation engages 95 knowledgeable volunteers annually who play key roles in reviewing grant applications, ensuring a transparent and community-driven grantmaking process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Investment Funds (Annual cycle):

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $30,000
  • Focus Areas: Child and youth development, intellectual and developmental disabilities, education, Latino engagement and achievement, mental health, aging, military personnel and their families, safety net support
  • Type: General operating support grants

Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts (Annual cycle):

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $30,000
  • Focus: Celebrates, promotes, and supports the arts in Northern Virginia

Environment Fund (Annual cycle):

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $30,000
  • Focus: Protects, restores, and improves the natural environment of Northern Virginia

Micron Opportunity Fund:

  • Focus: STEM learning opportunities

NOVA Parks Outdoor Kids Grants:

  • For Title-I schools in Northern Virginia
  • Covers costs for field trips to parklands
  • Rolling basis

Our Children Fund:

  • Focus: Foster care support
  • Rolling basis

Business Women's Giving Circle:

  • Focus: Programs promoting business innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunities for women and girls

Loudoun Impact Fund:

  • Focus: Strategic investments in Loudoun County for education, arts, environment, and support for families, children, and youth

Priority Areas

All grants must align with one or more of the foundation's four strategic pillars:

  1. Social and Economic Mobility: Programs serving underserved communities, financial benefits, living wage job training, elevating underrepresented voices
  2. Opportunities for All (Racial Justice and Equity): Support for Black and minority-led advocacy organizations, addressing racial and ethnic inequities
  3. Inclusive Systems of Economic Growth: Workforce training in under-resourced communities, minority-owned business resources, diverse business leadership
  4. Community Resilience: Programs helping communities adapt to change, civic engagement, community dialogue, emergency support

What They Don't Fund

  • Local, state, and federal government entities are not eligible to apply
  • Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and provide charitable or educational services in Northern Virginia

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Renée Byng Yancey (appointed 2025)

Renée Byng Yancey stated: "The power of philanthropy to advance positive change in Northern Virginia is alive and well and filled with possibilities. Together, we will continue to help build a community that works for everyone."

Board Chair: Harry Klaff (as of July 1, 2025)

Former President and CEO: Eileen Ellsworth (18-year tenure, retired 2025)

Paul Leslie, former board member, said of Ellsworth's leadership: "Eileen's vision was always bold and fearless. When she came in, she said that she wanted to transform the organization into an anchor institution that could help lead Northern Virginia."

Governance Structure: Volunteer Board of Directors representative of the Northern Virginia region. The board conducts formal orientation for new members, requires signed written agreements regarding roles and responsibilities, conducts annual assessments of the chief executive, reviews conflict-of-interest policies annually, and conducts formal self-assessments every three years. An Investment Committee oversees management of the foundation's assets, setting investment policies and monitoring investment managers.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Visit www.cfnova.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants to explore current grant opportunities
  2. Access the online Grant Application Portal when grant cycles are open
  3. Set up an organizational profile (or access existing profile if your organization has applied previously)
  4. Submit one application per focus area per grant cycle
  5. Organizations may apply to multiple grant cycles annually but are limited to one application per focus area within each Community Investment Funds cycle

Important: Do not set up a new organizational profile if your organization has applied previously. Check with other staff members to access the existing profile, which contains grant history and past applications.

Decision Timeline

  • Applications open annually (most recent cycle opened January 8, 2025)
  • Application periods typically run for several weeks (e.g., January 12 - February 2, 2026 for Arts and Environment Funds)
  • Proposals are reviewed annually or more frequently if needed
  • Grant awards are typically announced in the first quarter of the calendar year
  • The 2025 grant cycle resulted in awards announced in early 2025

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed, the foundation's recent grant cycles show:

  • 2025: 51 organizations funded
  • 2024: 197 awards
  • 2023: 191 awards (44 organizations through CIF)
  • 2022: 212 awards

The foundation awarded $855,000 in discretionary grants to 51 nonprofits in the 2025 cycle, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply in subsequent grant cycles. The foundation reviews applications annually or more frequently if needed, suggesting that unsuccessful applicants can reapply in future cycles. Organizations are limited to one application per focus area within each specific grant cycle but may apply to multiple different grant cycles throughout the year.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

The foundation emphasizes that grant selection focuses on "quality programs that have a strong impact on our communities and the region." Each grant awarded must align with one or more of the foundation's four strategic pillars.

Recent Funding Examples

2025 Grant Recipients demonstrate the types of projects the foundation values:

  • Virginia Bronze (Arts): Promoting the art of handbells through concerts, festivals, workshops, and outreach to Title I schools in Fairfax County
  • Voce (Arts): Performance and recording of a new major work for choir and chamber orchestra honoring those lost in the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Earth Sangha (Environment): Native Plant Propagation program to restore native plant communities while training conservation professionals
  • Clean Fairfax (Environment): Reaching more Fairfax County residents, students, and businesses online and in several languages
  • Aspire (Youth Development): Critical afterschool and summer learning programs serving 150 students in South Arlington
  • Girls on the Run (Youth Development): Addressing youth mental health challenges
  • Rock Recovery (Mental Health): Providing life-saving mental health treatment
  • Home Care Partners (Aging): Supporting home care aide services for Arlington seniors

Grant Type

The foundation provides general operating support grants, giving nonprofits flexibility to use funds at the discretion of their staff and board. This strategic approach recognizes that nonprofit leaders understand their organizations' needs best.

Community-Driven Review Process

Applications are reviewed by 95 engaged, knowledgeable volunteers including donors, issue area experts, foundation board members, and community representatives. This ensures grants are directed appropriately and reflects community priorities.

Emphasis on Equity

The foundation's updated mission (2023) centers on advancing equity across Northern Virginia. Applications that demonstrate alignment with equity goals—particularly serving underserved communities, elevating underrepresented voices, supporting minority-led organizations, and addressing racial and economic inequities—align strongly with current strategic priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strategic alignment is essential: Clearly articulate how your project aligns with one or more of the four strategic pillars (Social and Economic Mobility, Opportunities for All, Inclusive Systems of Economic Growth, Community Resilience)
  • General operating support: The foundation provides flexible funding that organizations can use at their discretion—emphasize your organization's overall impact rather than a single program
  • Equity focus: Demonstrate how your work advances equity, serves underserved communities, or addresses racial and economic inequities in Northern Virginia
  • Geographic specificity: Your services must benefit residents of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, or Prince William Counties, or the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, or Manassas Park
  • One application per focus area: Choose your focus area carefully, as you can only submit one application per area in each Community Investment Funds cycle (though you can apply to other fund cycles like Arts or Environment in the same year)
  • Check your organizational profile: Before applying, coordinate with colleagues to access any existing organizational profile—don't create duplicates
  • Community impact matters: With 95 volunteer reviewers including community members and issue experts, applications must demonstrate clear, measurable community impact and quality programming

References

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