Local Nonprofits Receive 2023 Funding from The Community Foundation

Local Nonprofits Receive Funding from The Community Foundation

Harrisonburg, VA – Giving season is upon us and The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County is celebrating. The Community Foundation reports a total of $159,518 will be granted to twelve organizations in their Fall 2023 grants cycle. Programs and projects like ‘Meals on Wheels’ by Valley Program for Aging Services and ‘Operation Free Pet Healthcare’ by Anicira are among the funded grantees. Over 60 organizations submitted applications. “Our grant funding process is difficult, especially because we receive so many wonderful applications each year. All are deserving of funding. We encourage nonprofits to apply for our grants next year as our grant awards will increase substantially.” – Ann Siciliano, Director of Program Services, TCFHR. Fall 2023 grant awards will be distributed to Harrisonburg-Rockingham nonprofit agencies by year end.

2023 TCFHR Competitive Grant Awards:

Fund Grantee Purpose/Project
Community Endowment Valley Program for Aging Services Meals on Wheels
Valley Arts & Culture Fund Oasis Fine Art & Craft Beyond Restaurant Mural
Valley Arts & Culture Fund Rockingham Ballet Theatre Costume Storage Improvement
Janet Sohn Endowed Fund The Salvation Army The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter
Mary Spitzer Etter Endowed Fund Arts Council of the Valley Development of New Arts Council of the Valley Website
Alvin J. Baird, Jr. Program Endowed Fund Blue Ridge Free Clinic, Inc. A Free Clinic Bridge to Health
Alvin J. Baird, Jr. Program Endowed Fund Cross Keys Equine Therapy Parent/Grandparent Caregiver Trauma Group
Earlynn J. Miller Fund for the Arts Arts Council of the Valley ACT ONE
Earlynn J. Miller Fund for the Arts OASIS Fine Art & Craft `Wild and Wonderful – Animals “Captured” in Paint!
Earlynn J. Miller Fund for the Arts Virginia Quilt Museum Creating a multi-purpose space for hands-on learning and programs
Earlynn J. Miller Fund for the Arts Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative Sprung Subfloor
Hildred Neff Memorial Fund Wildlife Center of Virginia Treatment of Sick, Injured, and Orphaned Wildlife from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County
Hildred Neff Memorial Fund Cat’s Cradle Pet Retention for Low-Income and Other Vulnerable Populations
Hildred Neff Memorial Fund Anicira Operation Free Pet Healthcare

Grant distributions come from funds held at TCFHR and are determined by Grants committees. Nonprofit organizations awarded all participated in a competitive application process. Per TCFHR policy, grants are made without regard to factors of gender, race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. For more information, visit TCFHR’s website, www.tcfhr.org.

Contact: Ann Siciliano, 540-432-3863 or [email protected]

Website: www.tcfhr.org

About The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County (TCFHR) 

TCFHR makes charitable giving easy, acting in the best interest of our donors and partners to facilitate bold philanthropic initiatives for a stronger, healthier community.

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Funding Addresses Local Needs

The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County’s annual competitive Fall grant cycle came to a close on November 17 with excited Board approval. This cycle’s grants total $78,934 to 14 local nonprofit organizations. The monies distributed will go to H-R nonprofits addressing needs in:

·         Animal welfare (Still Meadows Enrichment Center & Camp, Cat’s Cradle, Anicira, Wildlife Center of VA) made by Hildred Neff Memorial Fund
·         Arts & culture (Northeast Neighborhood Association, Arts Council of the Valley, OASIS Fine Art & Craft) made by Valley Arts & Culture Fund and Mary Spitzer Etter Endowed Fund
·         Healthcare (Adagio House, Family Life Resource Center, JMU Suitcase Clinic, Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach) made by Alvin Baird Endowed Fund
·         Housing (Central Valley Habitat for Humanity) made by Janet Sohn Endowed Fund
·         Greatest benefit to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County (Plains Area Daycare Center, Village to Village) made by The Community Endowment Fund

Grant distributions come from funds held at TCFHR and determined by a grants committee. Funds established at The Community Foundation are a result of collaboration between generous, community-centered individuals and TCFHR. For more information on how to contribute to funds held at The Community Foundation or how to establish a fund yourself, call 540-432-3863 or email Ann Siciliano [email protected]. The Community Foundation has enjoyed a solid record of success and, through continued partnership and collaboration, they aspire to establish and manage more charitable funds that will serve this community today and in perpetuity.

Read more about Community Foundation 2021 competitive grant awards.

Rebuild! VA

 

 

 

The Rebuild VA Grant Fund is a program to help small businesses and non-profits whose normal operations were disrupted by COVID-19, including restaurants, brick and mortar retail, exercise and fitness facilities, personal care and personal grooming services, entertainment and public amusement establishments, and campgrounds.

Businesses and non-profits that are approved for a Rebuild VA grant may receive up to 3 times their average monthly eligible expenses up to a maximum of $10,000.

THE APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING ON AUGUST 10, 2020

Who is eligible for the grant?

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. The business or non-profit must be organized as one of the following:
    • Corporation (C-Corp), pass through entity (S-Corp, Partnership, LLC) , or other legal entity that is organized separately from the owner;
    • A 501(c)(3) organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organization;
    • A sole proprietorship; or
    • An independent contractor.
  2. The business or non-profit must also fall within one of the following businesses categories:
    • Restaurant and Beverage Services
      Restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, cideries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, and farmers markets (or vendors within the farmers market)
    • Non-essential Brick and Mortar Retail
      Non-essential brick and mortar retail establishments include everything EXCEPT the following:

      • Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers that sell food and beverage products or pharmacy products, including dollar stores, and department stores with grocery or pharmacy operations;
      • Medical, laboratory, and vision supply retailers;
      • Electronic retailers that sell or service cell phones, computers, tablets, and other communications technology;
      • Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers as well as automotive repair facilities;
      • Home improvement, hardware, building material, and building supply retailers;
      • Lawn and garden equipment retailers;
      • Beer, wine, and liquor stores;
      • Retail functions of gas stations and convenience stores;
      • Retail located within healthcare facilities;
      • Banks and other financial institutions with retail functions;
      • Pet and feed stores;
      • Printing and office supply stores; and
      • Laundromats and dry cleaners.
    • Fitness and Exercise Facilities
      Fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, swimming pools, indoor sports facilities, and indoor exercise facilities
    • Personal Care and Personal Grooming Services
      Beauty salons, barbershops, spas, massage practices, tanning salons, tattoo shops, and any other location where personal care or personal grooming services are performed
    • Entertainment and Public Amusement
      Theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, racetracks, historic horse racing facilities, bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs
    • Private Campgrounds and Overnight Summer Camps
  3. The business or non-profit must meet the following additional eligibility criteria:
    • Principal Place of Business is in Virginia
    • 25 or fewer employees
    • Gross revenue of less than $1.5 million in the last fiscal year
    • Operating prior to March 12, 2020
    • Currently in good standing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission
    • The applicant must engage in legal activity

The following applicants are ineligible for the Rebuild VA grant funds:

  • Applicants that are not individually owned and operated
  • Applicants that have already received CARES Act funding from any federal, state, regional or local agency or authority
  • Applicants that are delinquent on Virginia state income taxes and do not have a payment plan in place
  • Applicants that are lobbyists
  • An applicant, owner, or a principal of the business with 20 percent or greater ownership interest is more than sixty (60) days delinquent on child support obligations

Watch this video to learn more about how about Rebuild! VA.

The Rebuild VA grant will aid businesses whose normal operations were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The statewide program is capitalized with $70 million dollars, which will allow for assistance for approximately 7,000 applicants. These sessions will go over the eligibility requirements and documentation needed to apply when the application opens on August 10th.

Register for one of these webinars: How to Apply
– July 31st 12:00 noon
– Aug 4th 9:00 am
– Aug 4th 5:30 pm

Grants for Animals and Emotional Support Are Announced!

The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County announce 2019 grant awards for two of its funds, the Hildred Neff Memorial Fund and the Sean Warner Memorial Endowment Fund. The Hildred Neff Memorial Fund was established in 2012 with a gift from the estate of Hildred Neff, a Rockingham County native. The fund benefits agencies that provide for the needs of both domestic and wild animals. This year the following organizations will receive grant funding for projects submitted through an application process:

The Sean Warner Memorial Endowment Fund was established by Mark and Susan Warner to honor the memory of their son by helping other children. This fund was created to contribute to general charitable purposes within the area of emotional support services for children of divorced parents. This grant is awarded every other year and the following organization is the 2019 grant recipient:  Family Life Resource Center – $449 awarded

To learn more about these and other opportunities for grant funding visit the Grants Available page.

Grant Application Available

The Fall 2018 Community Needs grant application is now available and the deadline has been extended. Nonprofit organizations located within and serving Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are eligible to apply. Historically, organizations may apply through this process once per calendar year. However, moving forward, the Community Needs process will be an annual one, with a fall application and award cycle. The 2019 application deadline is 9/3/19.

 

Current applications are due on October 11. Nonprofit organizations that submitted an application in the spring 2018 cycle may apply again now. Projects submitted will be considered for annual funding from the Community Endowment Fund or the Valley Arts & Culture Fund in November. Projects submitted through this process are also marketed to local civic organizations, private foundations, giving circles, and to the private and corporate fund holders of The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

 

Call 540-432-3863 or contact [email protected] with eligiblity or application questions.

Spring Grants Awarded

The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County recently made annual grant awards for the Sean Warner Memorial Fund, the Valley Arts & Culture Fund, and the Community Endowment Fund. Consideration for these awards is made through an application process and grants benefit nonprofit organizations located in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham area.

 

The Sean Warner Memorial Endowment Fund was established by Mark and Susan Warner to honor the memory of their son by helping other children. This fund was created to contribute to general charitable purposes within the area of emotional support services for children of divorced parents. The 2018 recipient of the $450 grant is Family Life Resource Center, to support its Scholarship Fund project. (Family Life Resource Center is still seeking monies to fully fund this project.)

 

The Valley Arts and Culture Fund provides program, project and seed funds to small and medium sized nonprofit organizations promoting performing and visual arts, and interpreting the culture and traditions of and in the Shenandoah Valley. This year four applications were considered for the Valley Arts and Culture Fund grant. The 2018 recipient of the $659 grant is Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society for its project, “Harrisonburg History Exhibition in Downtown.” Funds for this project will help support the redesign of the comprehensive exhibit ‘Picturing Harrisonburg: Visions of a Shenandoah Valley City Since 1828,” housed in 2017 at JMU’s Duke Hall Gallery.  The proposed redesign project will create an educational exhibit suitable for the Atrium space at Harrisonburg City Hall. (Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society is still seeking monies to fully fund this project.)

 

The Community Endowment is a permanent fund that helps finance projects of greatest benefit to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, as determined by community leaders. This year 58 applications were reviewed for the Community Endowment grant. The 2018 recipient of the $6,127 grant is Blue Ridge Legal Services for its project, “Low-Income Older Adults Facing Critical Legal Needs.” Funds for this project will help sustain a half-time attorney position dedicated to providing free civil legal assistance to low-income senior citizens in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County facing critical legal needs, such as medical and other debts, financial exploitation, simple wills, nursing home discharges, Medicaid issues, etc. (Blue Ridge Legal Services is still seeking monies to fully fund this project.)

 

To find applications for the 2019 grant process, please visit the Grants Available page on The Community Foundation website.

Hildred Neff Memorial Fund – 2016 Grant Recipients Announced

Hildred Neff 2016In August, grants totaling over $9,500 were distributed to three local nonprofit organizations from the Hildred Neff Memorial Fund. The 2016 grant recipients are all nonprofit organizations that care for domestic animals.

2016 Hildred Neff Memorial Fund Grants:

The grants distributed will fully fund the project requests from the Rockingham/Harrisonburg SPCA and Cat’s Cradle of the Shenandoah Valley, Inc. The grant award to Anicira Veterinary Center will partially fund their $9,000 project request. Anicira’s Targeted Community Cat Project is still in need of $6,176 to be fully funded.

During her lifetime, Hildred Neff was a business woman who raised livestock and fruits and vegetables, and was co-owner of J.E. Plecker Florists. Hildred had a special love of animals and she contributed generously to organizations that promote their welfare. She left her estate to create the Hildred Neff Memorial Fund, which benefits agencies that provide for the needs of both domestic and wild animals. The fund was established at The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County in 2014.

Next year’s Hildred Neff Memorial Fund grant application will be available in early 2017. Please visit our website for more information if you wish to apply. Grant applications are reviewed in August each year.

If you are interested in contributing to the Hildred Neff Memorial Fund to benefit the care of domestic and wild animals, please contact The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County at 540-432-3863, or visit our website.

IMPACT Awards $8,175 Grant to Open Doors Emergency Shelter!

The vote is in! Open Doors Emergency Shelter will be the recipient of this year’s IMPACT Grant!! The grants committee reviewed over 50 community needs applications and narrowed the ballot for the grant award to three options. IMPACT members voted and Open Doors is the 2015-16 grant recipient.

The Open Doors Project, which is aimed at ending the cycle of homelessness, will equip key personnel working for/with Open Doors with the tools they need to educate and train their guests on opportunities and locally available resources that may help them escape the cycle of homelessness. So much more than just basic job training skills, Open Doors guests will also gain insight to how other local agencies and assist them with needs such medical treatment, counseling, and financial counseling which often hinder someone’s effort to escape homelessness.

Please join IMPACT and The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County on Sunday, August 21st for the presentation of the Grant to Open Doors. The presentation celebration will be at Purcell Park, Shelter Number 2 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Click here for more information or to register for the event. In addition, IMPACT Board Members will be on hand to share several new and exciting opportunities that will be available as a part of IMPACT. Not only will the 21st be a great opportunity to celebrate IMPACT’s partnership with Open Doors, but its future as an organization dedicated to making a lasting impact in our community.

Spring Community Needs applications due soon

The application deadline for the Spring cycle of the Community Needs process for The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County is quickly approaching. An nonprofit organization may apply once during a calendar year. Spring applications are due on Tuesday, March 1 at 4:00PM. Generally funding ranges from $250 – $10,000. Funding decisions are made by individual donors, private foundations and committees.

 

Organizations must be tax-exempt public charities under IRS Section 501c(3) or other nonprofit status. Organizations must be physically located in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County, and the project or program to be funded must serve the local area. Organizations not physically located in the Harrisonburg or Rockingham County area, but serving a substantial part of our community will need permission from TCFHR to apply. Religious organizations are welcome to apply if the project will significantly aid our local community.

 

A list of all Community Needs project requests will be featured on our website for one year after application submission. Please call Ann Siciliano, 540-432-3863, at The Community Foundation to determine eligibility before applying. Grants are made without regard to factors of gender, race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.

 

Please submit your completed application for the 2016 Spring Community Needs cycle by March 1.

 

2015 IMPACT Harrisonburg grant to ‘On the Road Collaborative’

2015 IMPACT picnic food

IMPACT Harrisonburg Executive Committee members Mike Frazier and Billy Robinson serve BBQ to On the Road Collaborative’s Executive Director, Brent Holsinger.

IMPACT Harrisonburg, the first giving circle of The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County, recently presented their first grant check to On the Road Collaborative at a picnic held at Purcell Park. On the Road Collaborative is a 501(c)3 for-purpose organization whose mission is “to empower young people on the margins with the opportunity, skills and confidence they need to excel in school and fulfill their promise.” The organization currently works with middle school children at Skyline Middle School in Harrisonburg. The celebratory family-style picnic held on September 13 was hosted by IMPACT Harrisonburg members and attended by Brent Holsinger, On the Road Collaborative’s Executive Director, as well as members of the organization’s board of directors and staff members of The Community Foundation.

2015 IMPACT picnic Melissa2

Melissa Mayhew, IMPACT Harrisonburg member and staff member of The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County, talks with a board member of On the Road Collaborative.

IMPACT Harrisonburg is a giving circle for young leaders in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County community. IMPACT was established in 2014 for individuals in their twenties, thirties and forties to engage in meaningful philanthropy and learn about local nonprofits, while affordably leveraging their charitable dollars. The organization offers an opportunity to meet new people socially and professionally, as well as a chance to make a bigger impact collectively than individuals can alone.

2015 IMPACT picnic Luke2

Luke Hartman, board member of On the Road Collaborative

Events are held by IMPACT Harrisonburg throughout the year and offer social and educational opportunities for members, as well as for other individuals in the community. Collective dues are granted out annually to an organization chosen by a membership vote. Each member has one vote in the grantmaking process. IMPACT Harrisonburg utilizes the Community Needs list of funding requests when considering its annual grant recipient. The 2015 grant of almost $15,000 to On the Road Collaborative marks the first grant in IMPACT’s history.

The enrollment period for IMPACT Harrisonburg 2016 membership is now open. Contact Melissa at The Community Foundation with questions regarding membership and how you can become involved.