Author: Joumana Altallal

Janasha Bradford Named Mothers In Bloom Program Coordinator

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Janasha “Jay” Bradford as our Mothers In Bloom Program Coordinator. Jay will provide critical project management and administrative support to the Mothers In Bloom cohort, board, and program partners, ensuring the smooth functioning of the program.

 “Jay brings a powerful combination of operational excellence, financial empowerment expertise, and deep care for our community,” said Leslie Lynn Smith, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “Her work at United Way of Greater Charlottesville, alongside her leadership as a founder and educator, reflects a rare ability to translate complex ideas into accessible, actionable tools. That blend of discipline, creativity, and purpose is exactly what this work requires. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team and excited for the impact she will help us create through Mothers In Bloom.”

Jay most recently served as the Financial Empowerment Manager at United Way of Greater Charlottesville where she served as the primary coordinator for financial coaching and stability programming. She is also an award-winning author, licensed financial advisor, and the founder and Executive Director of Mahogany & Friends, an edtech company making financial education fun and accessible for all.

“I’m truly excited to step into the Mothers in Bloom Coordinator role and support the incredible mothers in this program. This work is deeply rooted in uplifting families and creating real, lasting change, and I’m passionate about building on that foundation in a way that feels supportive, intentional, and impactful. I look forward to building strong relationships, listening closely to the needs of the cohort, and helping translate that support into meaningful, real-life outcomes.”

Jay holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Marketing and Advertising from Liberty University. She brings a wealth of professional experience in financial planning, education, and family and youth-centered work.

Outside of work, Jay enjoys traveling, being near the water, and discovering live music. She also enjoys exploring new vineyards, taking on creative DIY projects, chasing waterfalls, and spending time as a proud auntie.

Mikayla Woodley Named Program Administrator

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is delighted to welcome Mikayla Woodley as our new Program Administrator. Mikayla will work closely with the Community Investment team to provide critical administrative and project management tasks that ensure the smooth functioning of the Foundation’s community investment programs.

“Mikayla brings a deep commitment to expanding access to opportunity and a strong track record of advancing housing stability in our region,” said Leslie Lynn Smith, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “Her leadership at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, where she has supported families across the full homeownership journey and strengthened program outcomes through data-driven approaches, reflects both her discipline and her heart for community. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team and excited for the impact she will help us create across the region.”

Mikayla most recently served as the Director of Homeownership at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville where she managed the homebuyer pipeline and collaborated with community partners, lenders, and board members to strengthen program impact and expand outreach. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Board at The Haven, a multi-resource day shelter in downtown Charlottesville.

“I am inspired by the Foundation’s commitment to thoughtful and transformative community impact,” said Mikayla. “As Program Administrator, I’m elated to join such a dedicated group, and I look forward to supporting the meaningful work ahead.”

Mikayla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. She brings a wealth of professional experience in project management, leadership, and community-centered work.


Mikayla lives in Albemarle County with her partner, Alec, and their beagle, Penny. She is a racket sports enthusiast who enjoys playing pickleball, tennis, and racquetball. She gets way too competitive at all things trivia-related, even hosting her own trivia nights. When she isn’t plotting her next victory on the court or in trivia, she enjoys playing board games and catching up with friends on long walks.

Donor Advised Funds at CACF

At the Community Foundation, we support charitable giving through a variety of ways. One of the most popular for individuals and families is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). A Donor Advised Fund is a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting non-profit organizations and causes an individual cares about. DAFs offer investment growth on contributions into the fund that appreciate tax-free, which increases the impact of giving over time.  

Donor Advised Funds are continuing to grow in popularity across the US and are offered by a wide range of sponsoring organizations. In Fiscal Year 2024, the Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative, in partnership with the National Philanthropic Trust, compiled data from 1,485 DAF providers including 99 national sponsors, 788 community foundations, and 598 single-issue charities. The findings of the study reflect how national trends are also occurring in our local communities.  

Nationally, DAFs grew significantly in 2024. The total number of DAF accounts reached a record high of 3.56 million, driven primarily by an increase in accounts at donation processors. These new payment processors, such as Chariot, have made both sending and accepting donations a more streamlined process. As technology evolves, we are considering how to integrate new options for fundholders. Despite this increased growth, Community foundations continue to make up the largest provider of DAFs, representing 53% of all sponsors.  

Total assets in DAFs grew 27.5%, reaching $326.45 billion. Contributions to DAFs increased by 37.3% and totaled $89.64 billion, following a decline in FY 2023. Grantmaking from DAFs also continued to rise, with a 19.0% increase, reaching $64.89 billion of distributed funds to nonprofit organizations across the US.  

Locally, we are seeing similar trends. Contributions into the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation increased from 2023 to 2024 by 38%, totaling nearly $26M. DAFs held at the Community Foundation distributed $28.8M in grants in calendar year 2024 and increased by 11% in CY 2025 to $31.9M.  

The average DAF size nationally was $91,611 in FY 2024. Locally, the median fund balance hovers around $75,000. While many people may think that Donor Advised Funds are only for the exceptionally wealthy, both locally and nationally we see how a modest fund size can go a long way in supporting causes donors care about.  

If you’re interested in learning more about how a Donor Advised Fund can support your charitable giving, we’d love to chat! Please reach out to Senior Philanthropic Relationship Manager, Alex Gross at agross@cacfonline.org or 434-443-4018. 

Heather Enos Named Chief Operations and Finance Officer

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (Community Foundation) is delighted to welcome Heather Enos as our new Chief Operations and Finance Officer. Heather will steward the financial and operational infrastructure of the foundation, ensuring financial excellence and sustainability.

“We are so fortunate to have been able to recruit such a high-caliber human and experienced executive to our team at the Community Foundation. Heather’s sensibilities, skills and style are a perfect fit for the foundation, and her presence will elevate our standing and impact across the region.” Leslie Lynn Smith, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said. “I’ve no doubt her leadership and functional expertise will be immediately felt across the enterprise and by those with whom we’re in treasured relationships to facilitate philanthropy in our communities, namely, our partners, peers and fundholders.  We’re so excited to have her on our team.”

Heather most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer at the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation and has extensive experience in developing and executing innovative financial strategies, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

“It is such an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to the amazing work performed by the passionate and dedicated staff of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation,” Heather said. “There is palpable enthusiasm around the innovative initiatives that are being implemented on behalf of all of our stakeholders that will create deep and lasting impact to enrich the lives of all of us who live in and love this community.”

Heather holds a BA from the University of Kansas and an MBA with a focus on Strategic Management and International Business from the University of Kansas School of Business. She previously served as Associate Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis at Save the Children in Fairfield, Connecticut, where she managed the organization’s $900M budget.

Heather has lived in many states and countries during her lifetime and is thrilled to call the Charlottesville area home since 2020.  She and her husband Ross live in Troy with their two dogs, Gracie and Marnie, and are passionate about adventure travel.  They have been to 47 countries on 6 continents, enabling Heather to pursue another passion: wildlife photography.

Chas Manning Named Director of Innovation and Administration

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (Community Foundation) is pleased to welcome Chas Manning as our new Director of Innovation and Administration. Chas will work closely with the operations team to implement processes that translate vision into action.

“Chas’ steady and committed approach to systems evaluation, human-centered design, innovation and continuous improvement will allow the foundation to build on its legacy and impact with efficiency, excellence and scale” Leslie Lynn Smith, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said. “I am delighted that he and his family have chosen Charlottesville as their home where they have deep connections and an ethos that will have them investing deep and wide as active members of our community.”

Chas most recently served as the Director of Integrations at Painters USA and is the co-founder of Block Party Group, a solutions consulting group. He has over 10 years of experience building the systems, controls, and teams that power sustainable growth.

“I am honored to step into this role at a moment when the Community Foundation is deepening its commitment to both internal excellence and external impact,” Chas said. “I am excited to partner with this talented team to strengthen the systems that allow us to show up fully, consistently, and creatively for our community.”

Chas holds a BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Boston University where he was recognized as a Technology Innovation Scholar. His formal engineering training, combined with more than a decade of leadership experience, has shaped a practical, systems-oriented approach to innovative operations that emphasizes accountability, scalability, and continuous improvement across complex organizations.

Outside of work, Chas enjoys fostering a sense of wonder with his husband, Will, and their three basset hounds as they explore a new community through regional theater, local adventures, and shared meals.

Dave Matthews Band’s Bama Works Fund Gives $10 Million in 2025 to Meet Needs in Charlottesville, VA 

New Round of $740,000 Addresses Housing and Food Insecurity, Arts Education, Clean Air and Other Priorities 

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) is proud to announce significant charitable giving that will strengthen our region through the holiday season and beyond. Dave Matthews Band’s Bama Works Fund, housed at CACF, has awarded end-of-year donations to 141 hometown organizations across the region through the fall grants round, supporting vital programs that serve community members in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. 

These grants reflect the fund’s deep commitment to supporting the band’s hometown community and meeting critical needs in the region at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet. For a full list of grantees and to learn about how to apply to the spring grants round, please visit: www.bamaworks.org 

Additionally, the band has made significant recent gifts to support a variety of organizations in the community: 

  • $5.5 million to the redevelopment of public housing, an ongoing initiative that has raised nearly $30M to-date, primarily from local donors, to expand and improve public and affordable housing in Charlottesville. Construction is currently underway at CRHA sites 6th Street and South First Street. 
  • $1 million impact investment to The Fountain Fund, a program that provides low-interest loans and financial coaching to formerly incarcerated people in our region. This investment provides both grant funding to support the organization’s operations and flexible capital to expand the loan funds. 
  • $1 million to the Salvation Army Center of Hope capital campaign– Upon completion, the Center of Hope shelter will expand to 114 beds, seven family suites, a children’s playroom, and an expanded community dining room. The band is also supporting efforts and plans for a new low barrier shelter. 
  • $1 million challenge grant to the Music Resource Center’s capital campaign, which will allow the nonprofit to transition into their new space at 501 Cherry Avenue. The gift is a double matching challenge grant. To learn about contributing, please contact CACF. 
  • $300,000 impact investment to New Hill Development, providing capital to support the BEACON kitchen and food entrepreneurship throughout the region. 
  • $100,000 impact investment to Twice Is Nice, a nonprofit donation-based thrift store which funnels proceeds back into the community annually via grants awarded to local nonprofits supporting a safe and secure life for seniors in need. 
  • Planted 1 million trees a year globally as part of The Nature Conservancy’s conservation efforts, with the goal of reaching 7 million trees by the end of 2026. 
  • Dave Matthews has committed $500,000 to help combat food insecurity in the region. So far, this timely investment has provided holiday meals for nearly 2,000 families in Charlottesville and Albemarle County schools and is supporting emergency food assistance programs during a critical time of year when many families face increased financial pressure. 

“These investments represent more than funding—they represent partnership and a shared vision for a stronger community,” said Leslie Lynn Smith, President & CEO of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Dave Matthews Band and the Bama Works Fund for their leadership and dedication to the area.” 

These initiatives build on Dave Matthews Band’s longstanding care and generosity and reflect the belief that thriving local nonprofits and thriving communities go hand-in-hand. 

Bama Works Fund awards $739,000 to 141 local organizations

The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is proud to announce its Fall 2025 grant funding decisions, totaling $739,000 and supporting 141 nonprofits throughout the region. The Bama Works Fund supports a wide range of community-led initiatives that aim to make a positive difference in the city of Charlottesville, or the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange.

In this round, grants were awarded to organizations working on areas such as affordable housing, food access, and youth development across our region.

“These grants represent partnership and a shared vision for a stronger region,” said Leslie Lynn Smith, CEO & President of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

Click here for a list of Fall 2025 grant recipients.

Twice each year, the Bama Works Fund awards gifts through a competitive grant cycle. The next application period will open January 2, 2026. For more information, please visit our grant opportunities page or email us at grants@cacfonline.org.

Open Call for Committee Members

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is launching an open call for committee members. We welcome those bringing lived experience or new perspectives to serve on committees that shape our grant-making, donor engagement, governance, and strategic initiatives. Our volunteer committees are at the heart of everything we do, and support our responsive stewardship of resources in our region.

We currently have opportunities across a range of committees, each with its own focus and time commitment.

Standing Committees:

  • Audit & Compliance Committee helps maintain our organizational integrity through financial oversight and policy review. Members meet 3-4 times yearly with occasional work between meetings.
  • Board Development Committee shapes our leadership pipeline by recruiting and supporting board and committee members. This role requires 5-6 meetings annually plus 2-5 hours monthly of additional work.
  • Community Advisory Committee partners with our program staff to guide community-advised grantmaking and capacity building. Members attend 4-6 meetings per year, participate in one full-day retreat, and contribute 2-4 hours monthly outside meetings.
  • Finance Committee ensures our fiscal health by monitoring financial performance and developing budgets with an equity lens. The commitment includes 5-6 meetings yearly plus occasional monthly review work.
  • Investment Committee steers our investment strategy to achieve strong, risk-adjusted returns for the funds in our care. Members meet quarterly with monthly review responsibilities.
  • Local Impact Investing Committee leverages our assets for local impact by evaluating investment opportunities that advance equity and prosperity in our region. This committee meets 4-6 times annually with monthly support work.

Grant Review Committees:

  • Bama Works Fund Grants Review Committee reviews proposals from the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band supporting regional programs. Members contribute 15-25 hours per grant cycle across two annual cycles.
  • Louisa County Community Fund Grants Review Committee makes annual grants improving quality of life in Louisa County. This role requires approximately 10-15 hours annually.
  • PB&J Fund Grants Review Committee supports programs addressing food security and culinary education. Members contribute no more than 10 hours annually.

Read the Committee Description Primer for more information about each committee.

Questions? Contact info@cacfonline.org or (434) 296‑1024.

The deadline for applications is August 29, 2025.

Apply Now

Louisa County Community Fund (LCCF) awards $89,750 to 22 area nonprofits

Since 2008, the Louisa County Community Fund has awarded over $1,000,000 to organizations that
improve the quality of life in Louisa County. LCCF is a committee-advised fund of the Community Foundation, continuing the philanthropy started by Albert and Ruby Bazzanella.

The committee is comprised of Louisa County residents who understand the needs of the community, the nonprofit sector in the county, and the grantmaking process. They approach this work with backgrounds in healthcare, essential service delivery, faith communities, government social services, the arts, education, mentorship, and minority small business ownership. Louisa-led and Louisa-serving organizations are the priority of the review committee since they are most proximate to the needs of Louisa County.

For the 2025 round, the total amount to be awarded is $89,750, and supports a wide variety of organizations having a relevant impact in Louisa County. The receiving organizations are:

Adult Community Education
All Blessings Flow
Child Health Partnership
Foothills Child Advocacy Center
Foundation for Lake Anna Emergency Services
Friends of the Rappahannock
Giving Words Inc
Hospice of the Piedmont
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library
Louisa County Department of Human Services
Louisa County Historical Society
Louisa County Resource Council
Louisa Downtown Development Corporation (dba Louisa Arts Center)
Louisa Forward Foundation
My Three Chambered Heart
ReadyKids
Sexual Assault Resource Agency
Shelter for Help in Emergency
The Arc of the Piedmont
The Journey Home Inc
Virginia Hunters Who Care, Inc.

    For questions regarding the Louisa County Community Fund you can contact Daniel Fairley, Donor Relations Manager at CACF, and program manager for LCCF: dfairley@cacfonline.org

    Community Endowment Fund grants $300,000 to 16 Charlottesville area groups and organizations

    The Community Endowment Fund of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) is proud to announce $300,000 in grant funding to 16 local organizations. These grants are awarded through the Solidarity program, a Community Endowment Fund initiative overseen by the Foundation’s Community Advisory Committee. The Solidarity program, which completed its pilot year in fall 2024, is among the first philanthropic programs in Virginia dedicated to supporting movement building. To achieve lasting, community-level change, “movement building” groups are those who go beyond providing direct services and instead seek to alter or completely reimagine broken systems.

    In February 2025, the Solidarity program launched two new grant offerings in response to pilot year feedback and learnings: Renewal Grants for Healing & Strengthening and Reimagine Grants for Freedom Dreaming & Evolving.

    Renewal Grants of up to $25,000 provide movement groups with wellness and reparative support, whether it be spiritual, physiological, or interpersonal. Requests can be for collective healing work, “joyful resistance,” coalition building, conflict resolution/mediation, and even sabbatical support. Reimagine Grants of up to $50,000 seek to encourage nonconformity, creativity, and experimentation by supporting idea research and development, planning, visioning, pausing, resetting, restructuring or, when necessary, closing. Reimagine Grant applicants may also apply for funding to support short-term/one-time professional services support, such as nonprofit legal or accounting assistance, and support for staff/volunteer training that enhances their movement building capacity.

    The Governing Board, Community Advisory Committee, and staff of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation wish to recognize and thank the Solidarity program’s 16 inaugural Renewal and Reimagine grantees.

    Renewal Grant Recipients

    • Legacy Productions
    • Lending Hands
    • New Hill Development Corporation
    • Rose Hill Baptist Church
    • Soul of Cville
    • St. John Family Life & Fitness Center
    • Wartime Fitness Warriors

    Reimagine Grant Recipients

    • Black Women Stitch
    • Central Virginia Clinicians of Color Network
    • Central Virginia Farmworkers Initiative
    • Community Voices
    • Congregate Charlottesville
    • Cultivate Charlottesville
    • The Haven
    • The RESTORE Project
    • Sin Barreras

    Beginning July 1 through July 31, 2025, the Solidarity program is accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) for its third and final grant offering of the year: Reshaping Futures Grants for Transformation. Reshaping Futures awards of up to $500,000 total over 1-5 years (e.g., $100,000 per year for 5 years) will support transformative approaches to movement building in Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange counties, and/or the City of Charlottesville. Final funding decisions for the Solidarity program’s inaugural Reshaping Futures Grants are expected in December 2025.

    Since 1967, community members have partnered, pooled resources, and invested collectively with the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation in order to make a deeper and longer-lasting, positive impact. Today, the Community Foundation helps manage nearly 400 charitable funds — gifts, grants, scholarships, and organizational endowments and reserve funds — on behalf of our community and donor partners. Together this past year, we reinvested a total of $30 million back into our home.

    Read our latest annual impact report online to learn more, subscribe to receive news and updates about grants and additional resources, or contact us to reinvest through the Community Endowment Fund and other giving opportunities.