Archive for category: News

You are here: / / News

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 // Hildred Neff Memorial Fund: Still Meadows Enrichment Center & Camp, Cat’s Cradle, Anicira, Wildlife Center of Virginia

Arts & culture // Valley Arts & Culture Fund and Mary Spitzer Etter Endowed Fund: Northeast Neighborhood Association, Arts Council of the Valley, OASIS Fine Art & Craft

Healthcare // Alvin Baird Jr. Endowed Fund: Adagio House, Family Life Resource Center, JMU Suitcase Clinic, Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach

Housing // Janet Sohn Endowed Fund: Central Valley Habitat for Humanity

Greatest benefit to Harrisonburg and Rockingham County // The Community Endowment Fund: Plains Area Daycare Center, Village to Village

 

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.

Little Swiss Fund grant opportunity for Highland County nonprofits

The 2021 Little Swiss Fund grant application is now available!

 

In 2018, The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County received a $10 million gift from an anonymous donor with instructions for the gift to benefit nonprofit organizations in Highland County, Virginia. The gift established a permanently endowed fund called The Little Swiss Fund, whose monies are annually invested and distributed to benefit Highland County nonprofit agencies with 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status. This year’s grants will provide approximately $334,821 to charitable organizations. All grants will be awarded in late November 2021.

 

REQUIREMENTS

Organizations must be tax-exempt public charities under IRS Section 501(c)3 or other nonprofit status. Organizations must be physically located in Highland County, VA, and the project or program to be funded must serve the Highland County area. Religious organizations are welcome to apply. Nonprofit organizations must have annual revenues in excess of $25,000 to be eligible. Local clubs (civic and otherwise), and recreational facilities are NOT eligible to apply.

CONTACT
If you have any questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply, please contact TCFHR ([email protected] or 540-432-3863) before you begin the application. Grants are made without regard to factors of gender, race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.

 

Applications are due November 1, 2021 at 5:00PM.   2021 APPLICATION

New tenants sought for former Free Clinic building

­­­­­­­­­The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County is accepting proposals for the property located at 25 West Water Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia, with the goal of the property being used for unmet healthcare needs of the low income and most vulnerable members of our community.  (This property previously housed the operations of the H-R Free Clinic.)

 

The Community Foundation is looking for an organization to gift the property. Our goal is to secure a nonprofit within the next six months. Please dream with us as we honor the work of the H-R Free Clinic and its donors to find the perfect recipient.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Organizations must be tax-exempt public charities under IRS Section 501(c)3 or other nonprofit status.
  • Organizations must provide a program at the property to serve the unmet healthcare needs of the low income and most vulnerable members of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
  • Please call TCFHR, 540-432-3863, if you have questions regarding eligibility before applying.

APPLICATION for 25 West Water Street

Application Deadline: August 31 at 5:00PM

2021 scholarship awards announced

The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County celebrates another successful year working with donors in providing scholarships to students in our local area. Over $245,000 in scholarship were given to students of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Congratulations to all 2021 scholarship recipients! For the list of students, please visit our 2021 Scholarship Awards page.

TCFHR believes education is the key to a bright future. TCFHR administers a variety of merit based and aid scholarship programs that grant more than $200,000 annually to high school, community college and university students. The majority of our scholarships are designated for current or former residents of Harrisonburg or Rockingham County. Scholarships are made for tuition and related educational expenses and are paid directly to the educational institution.

Merit based and financial aid scholarships are established by generous local individuals, corporations or organizations to assist students with their educational pursuits. Often scholarships are created in the name of the donor or by families who wish to memorialize a loved one. Other financial aid scholarships have been established by individuals who simply want to extend a helping hand for college-bound students. Each scholarship expresses a deep belief in the power of education to help students achieve their academic dreams.

Great Community Give Returns

Great Community Give returns on April 21, 2021.  As Harrisonburg and Rockingham County’s community wide giving day, Great Community Give has had exceptional response as a one-day fundraising event in support of our area non-profit agencies. Eligible nonprofit organizations may start registering today, November 18th.

 

GCG 2020 organizers are encouraging nonprofit agencies to participate. We don’t want any eligible nonprofit organization to miss the opportunity to be part of this effort. If you are a volunteer, serve on a board or part of the staff and would like to register visit www.greatcommunitygive.org.  Nonprofit registration closes January 18, 2021.  For information contact Amanda Bomfim at 432-3863 or amanda@tcfhr.org.

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

Another Anonymous Donor Challenges Donations for COVID-19 Fund

The Community Foundation and The United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are pleased to announce a second anonymous gift of $20,000 from a generous community member. The donor states, “Now is the time to give to support members of our community who have lost their jobs and don’t have a savings account to fall back on.”  The donor will provide a dollar for dollar match, up to $20,000 for new gifts given to the COVID-19 Harrisonburg Rockingham Community Response Fund which means this could be an additional $40,000 to this Fund. The Community Foundation received and met its first $20,000 challenge from another generous anonymous donor. With both of these gifts, an additional $80,000 can be raised for our community.

“We are very grateful to both anonymous gifts and for each contribution that has helped us exceed the first challenge. To date the funding has been granted to local nonprofit organizations that are focused on basic essentials, access to food and access to safe shelter.  It has provided funding for nutrition drinks for the elderly, food supplies for those in need, vehicle repairs and gas cards for working low income individuals, hygiene items, rent assistance, and financial assistance to shelters for hotel bills for clients who need to be quarantined.” – Revlan Hill, Executive Director of The Community Foundation.

The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County announced a joint partnership to raise funds for the COVID-19 Harrisonburg Rockingham Community Response Fund. Gifts may be mailed to The Community Foundation at PO Box 1068, Harrisonburg, VA 22803, or given online at this donation page.

$20,000 Challenge from Anonymous Donor

The Community Foundation announced $20,000 challenge from anonymous donor.

The Community Foundation has a fund holder that will provide a dollar for dollar match, up to $20,000 for new gifts given to the COVID-19 HR Community Response Fund which means this could be an additional $40,000 to this new Fund. We are very excited to share this news with the community and encourage everyone to consider giving to raise an additional $40,000 to the Fund.

When asked, why did you give to this Fund, an anonymous donor responded, “The need is great and there are a lot of people out there that don’t have the luxury to have savings to live on. We just wanted to help the community and challenge people to give to the COVID-19 Fund to help people who are hurting through no fault of their own”. They continue, “The reason we are doing the challenge is to get other people who are financially able to step up and assist the rest of the community”.

About a week ago, The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County announced a joint partnership to raise funds for the COVID-19 HR Community Response Fund.  To date over $180,000 has been raised. This Fund will provide funding to community based nonprofit organizations that provide access to food and safe shelter. The first phase of funding will be sent out as early as this week.

Donate Today to the COVID-19 HR Community Response Fund

The United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County have announced the establishment of the COVID-19 HR Community Response Fund. “In unprecedented times such as these, a collaborative effort to support the most vulnerable members of our community is essential,” explains Laura Toni-Holsinger, United Way Executive Director. This fund will strategically deploy resources to assist nonprofits in helping build their capacity to respond to this crisis. Phase 1 grant funding will focus to support 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations providing access to food and access to safe shelter. Grants will help fund front line human services organizations that have deep roots in the community and strong experience working with those vulnerable in our community.

A special team will guide the distribution of funds. This is an opportunity for everyone in our community to support those impacted by COVID-19. Both United Way and fund holders of The Community Foundation will provide seed money for the fund. “We are deeply appreciative for the generosity of our fund holders and welcome everyone in our community who is able to be a part of this joint venture,” says Revlan Hill, Executive Director of The Community Foundation.

One hundred percent of the funds raised will go to support recovery efforts. With intention, this new fund is established with flexibility to ensure that these resources may support our local communities as conditions, circumstances, and needs change throughout this crisis. Updates will be included on both organizations’ websites as soon as they are available and we will be completely transparent regarding the use of these funds.

The situation is fluid and the prioritization of needs will change. A group of community leaders will work strategically with local nonprofit organizations to provide grants to agencies to meet both immediate and long-term needs related to the impact of the virus in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area. One hundred percent of contributions to this fund will be distributed to nonprofit organizations swiftly as needs arise.

No Administration Fee – The Community Foundation has waived its administration fee to manage the COVID-19 HR Community Response Fund.