E Stuart James Grant Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Total Assets: ~$31.3 million (2023, per 990 filing)
• Annual Giving: ~$2.2 million (2023, per 990 filing)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $700,000
• Geographic Focus: Virginia, primarily Danville and surrounding region

Contact Details

Administrative Trustee: Atlantic Union Bank Location: Danville, VA EIN: 54-6315085

Note: The trust does not accept unsolicited funding requests and does not have public contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The E Stuart James Grant Charitable Trust was established in 1992 following the death of E. Stuart James Grant, former owner and publisher of the Danville Register & Bee, who died in 1990 and willed her estate to eight organisations across the region. Administered by Atlantic Union Bank (formerly American National Bank and Trust Co.), the trust holds approximately $31.3 million in assets (per 2023 990 filing) and distributes approximately $2.2 million annually. The trust focuses exclusively on preselected charitable organisations in Virginia, with a strong emphasis on education, animal welfare, historic preservation, and community services in the Danville region. Over three decades, the trust has demonstrated consistent, multi-year support to its beneficiary organisations, with Averett University alone receiving a combined $18.5 million since the trust's inception.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The trust operates on an invitation-only basis, making annual grants to a fixed roster of preselected organisations. Recent grant amounts (2024) include:

• Major Education Grants: $325,000 - $700,000 (to institutions like Hargrave Military Academy, Averett University, University of Virginia, VMI)
• Community Service Grants: $260,000 (to organisations like The Hatcher Center/The Arc of Southside)
• Mid-Range Support: $75,000 - $200,000
• Smaller Grants: $10,000 - $75,000

The trust makes approximately 9 grants annually, with the median grant being $200,000.

Priority Areas

Education: Higher education institutions including military academies, liberal arts colleges, and major universities. The trust has funded capital projects (stadiums, student centres, academic facilities), programmatic initiatives (nursing programmes, faculty development), and scholarship support.

Animal Welfare: Danville Area Humane Society has received over $1 million since 1993 specifically for spay/neuter programmes, facility improvements, and operating support.

Historic Preservation: Red Hill Shrine (Patrick Henry National Memorial) receives ongoing support for preservation and education.

Community Services: The Arc of Southside (formerly The Hatcher Center) providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Civic Organisations: Lions Club and Kiwanis Club in Virginia.

Confirmed Beneficiary Organisations

• Averett University (Danville)
• Hargrave Military Academy
• University of Virginia (Charlottesville)
• Virginia Military Institute (Lexington)
• Danville Area Humane Society
• The Hatcher Center / The Arc of Southside
• Red Hill Shrine (Patrick Henry National Memorial, Brookneal)
• Lions Club, Virginia
• Kiwanis Club, Virginia

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations outside Virginia
• Unsolicited applications from new organisations
• Organisations outside the preselected roster of beneficiaries
• Individual requests

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Atlantic Union Bank serves as the sole trustee and receives approximately $375,573 annually in trustee compensation for administering the trust.

Founder: E. Stuart James Grant was a prominent businesswoman in Danville, Virginia, as owner and publisher of the Danville Register & Bee until her death in 1990.

Grant Philosophy: According to Averett University President Dr. Tiffany M. Franks, the trust's "immense contributions" have had lasting impact on students, faculty, staff, and visitors across the region. The trust appears to favour long-term relationships with beneficiary organisations, providing sustained support over decades rather than one-time grants.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are made through trustee discretion to a fixed roster of beneficiary organisations that were likely designated in the original estate planning documents of E. Stuart James Grant or selected by the trustee in consultation with the trust's founding documents.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As the trust works exclusively with preselected beneficiaries, decisions are likely made on an annual cycle coordinated directly with beneficiary organisations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the trust does not accept applications from organisations outside its preselected roster.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - beneficiary organisations appear to receive ongoing consideration for annual support as part of the trust's operating model.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust operates exclusively with preselected organisations and does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, research reveals the following patterns in the trust's grantmaking:

Long-term Commitment: The trust demonstrates extraordinary loyalty to its beneficiary organisations. Averett University has received $18.5 million over nearly three decades, and the Danville Area Humane Society has received over $1 million since 1993 specifically for spay/neuter programmes.

Capital and Programmatic Balance: The trust funds both brick-and-mortar projects (stadiums, student centres, facility renovations) and programmatic initiatives (nursing programme start-up, faculty technology training, spay/neuter services).

Multi-year Pledges: Grant data suggests the trust makes multi-year pledge commitments alongside annual grants, providing predictable support for major projects.

Geographic Loyalty: While the trust supports institutions across Virginia (Charlottesville, Lexington, Brookneal), there is a strong emphasis on Danville and Pittsylvania County organisations.

Diverse Grant Sizes: The trust's grantmaking spans from $10,000 to $700,000, suggesting flexibility based on organisational needs and project scope rather than rigid grant categories.

Educational Focus: More than half of the annual grantmaking typically supports educational institutions, reflecting E. Stuart James Grant's apparent commitment to learning and development.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not Open to New Applicants: This trust does not accept unsolicited applications and works exclusively with a preselected roster of beneficiaries. Organisations not currently receiving support should not invest time in application efforts.

• Extraordinary Longevity: For organisations already in the beneficiary roster, this trust represents a once-in-a-generation funding partner, with some organisations receiving sustained support for 30+ years totalling millions of dollars.

• Flexible Grant Sizes: The trust adapts grant amounts to organisational needs, ranging from $10,000 to $700,000, suggesting beneficiaries can request support matching project scope.

• Multi-Purpose Support: Beneficiary organisations receive support for capital projects, programmatic development, unrestricted operations, and specific initiatives - the trust does not appear limited to one type of support.

• Regional Impact Focus: While the trust supports prominent state institutions like UVA and VMI, community impact in the Danville region appears central to the trust's mission, honouring E. Stuart James Grant's local legacy.

• Annual Giving Cycle: With approximately 9 grants made annually totalling approximately $2.2 million (per 2023 990 filing), the trust operates on a predictable annual cycle, suggesting beneficiary organisations can anticipate regular consideration.

• Professional Administration: With Atlantic Union Bank as trustee receiving significant compensation for administration, beneficiary organisations can expect professional grant management and communication.

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - E Stuart James Grant Charitable Tr: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/546315085-e-stuart-james-grant-charitable-tr/ (accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - E Stuart James Grant Charitable Trust: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/e-stuart-james-grant-charitable-trust,546315085/ (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/546315085 (accessed January 2026)
• Averett University News - "Averett University Renames its North Campus, Namesake of Mrs. E. Stuart James Grant": https://www.averett.edu/about-us/news-events/averett-university-renames-its-north-campus-namesake-of-mrs-e-stuart-james-grant/ (accessed January 2026)
• Chatham Star-Tribune - "'We can't back down from what we know is right:' DAHS holds annual meeting": https://www.chathamstartribune.com/news/article_2096e9fc-6025-11ef-8f8c-cfee0de79b2a.html (accessed January 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory - E Stuart James Grant Charitable Trust: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=GRAN068 (accessed January 2026)