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Charlottesville Area Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.4M
Decision Time
3mo

Charlottesville Area Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.4 million+ (based on Solidarity program alone)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 3-6 months
  • Grant Range: Varies by program
  • Geographic Focus: Charlottesville and 7 surrounding counties (Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, Orange)

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1989, the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) is a community foundation dedicated to improving quality of life for those negatively impacted by inequitable systems across the Charlottesville region. The foundation's mission focuses on creating a region where everyone can belong, participate, contribute, and thrive. CACF emphasizes regenerative philanthropy and movement-building approaches, particularly supporting racial equity initiatives led by Black and ALAANA (African, Latine, Asian, Arab, and Native American) community members. The foundation holds Gold-level GuideStar participant status and is an accredited member of the Council on Foundations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Solidarity Program: Movement-building grants supporting racial equity initiatives
    • Renewal Grants: For existing grantees
    • Reimagine Grants: For transformative initiatives
    • Reshaping Futures Grants: For systemic change projects
  • General Competitive Grantmaking Program: Supports local nonprofit organizations
  • Capacity Building Resources: Non-monetary support for organizations
  • Scholarship Programs: Multiple scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $40,000 for regional students

Priority Areas

  • Racial equity and social justice
  • Movement building and systemic change
  • General operations support
  • Strategic planning
  • Advocacy campaigns
  • Collective healing initiatives
  • Narrative change and storytelling
  • Community organizing

What They Don't Fund

  • For-profit businesses or social enterprises
  • Organizations outside the service region without direct regional benefit
  • Multiple grants to the same organization within a calendar year

Governance and Leadership

CEO & President: Leslie Lynn Smith

The foundation is governed by a 12-member board of directors including community leaders such as Antwon Brinson, Bob Downer, and Charles Lewis. The foundation emphasizes core values of openness to learning, authentic community connection, truth-telling about collective history, healing from past harm, and partnering with excluded communities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through two online portals:

Pre-consultation meetings are no longer required. The foundation accepts alternative submission formats including video submissions and applications in languages other than English. Applicants may submit existing proposals prepared for other funders.

Decision Timeline

  • Renewal and Reimagine Grants: Decisions by late June/early July
  • Reshaping Futures Grants: LOI decisions by mid-September, final decisions by December

Success Rates

The foundation previously funded 27 community groups with $1.4 million through the Solidarity program alone. Specific overall success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may receive only one Solidarity grant per calendar year. Unsuccessful applicants cannot reapply within the same calendar year. Organizations may have only one open Community Endowment Fund grant at a time.

Application Success Factors

  • Focus on Movement Building: CACF prioritizes "proactive or transformative" work over reactive approaches
  • Racial Equity Alignment: Strong preference for initiatives led by directly impacted communities
  • Regional Connection: Virginia-based groups are prioritized, especially those directly benefiting the specified seven-county region
  • Flexible Documentation: The foundation accepts existing proposals and alternative formats, reducing application burden
  • Fiscal Sponsorship Accepted: Groups without 501(c)3 status can apply through eligible fiscal sponsors
  • Policy Advocacy Welcome: Unlike many foundations, CACF supports policy advocacy work by nonprofits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• CACF takes a progressive approach to philanthropy, emphasizing movement building and racial equity over traditional charitable giving • The foundation serves a specific geographic region - ensure your project directly benefits Charlottesville or the seven surrounding counties • Multiple application formats are accepted, including video submissions and non-English applications • Organizations should align proposals with systemic change rather than band-aid solutions • The foundation supports operational funding, not just project-specific grants • One grant per organization per year - make applications count • Reporting requirements include maintaining documentation for 4 years and sharing lessons learned

References

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