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The Community Foundation was founded on a keen awareness of our interconnectedness as a community of people sharing a region. Our futures are intertwined, and in order to thrive together, we need to ensure that we are contributing to conditions that enable everyone to meet their full potential regardless of the circumstances of one’s birth.

We also know that our communities, like all communities across our nations, were designed in hierarchy, to include some and exclude others. Across our history, community members have faced barriers to their full participation in the benefits of our society on the basis of race, gender, and other identity characteristics.

For the past three years, we have been on a journey of self-reflection and exploration to transform ourselves into an organization that is deeply centered in our value that every person matters. As a steward of this region, we believe we have an obligation to ensure it is one where everyone can thrive, contribute, and belong. We are centering equity in our programs and services, our internal operations and culture, and in our community leadership.

We began a focused effort in 2018 and described our journey in a letter to our constituents.

Our work to date has included:

• Racial equity trainings for our whole board and team to develop a shared language and understanding of how race functions as a system of power
• Skills-building and leadership development for a core group of board and team members
• An equity assessment of our entire organization
• Monthly racial identity group caucusing among team members to shape internal culture and strengthen communication
• Disciplined examination of how race is operating within the Foundation and action plans to create a more equitable internal environment
• Updates to hiring approach to address biases and ensure an equitable process
• Review of our governance approach to embed our values of equity and inclusion
• Use of equity lens in existing programmatic initiatives, including COVID-19 response
• Design of grant programs to ensure more equitable distribution of resources

Our work is not done. We remain committed to our journey toward a more equitable organization and region. 

The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce a $1 million commitment to a special Community Recovery & Catalyst Grants program. In lieu of its fall grant round, Bama Works Fund is partnering with the Community Emergency Response Fund to offer a grant program for nonprofits to recover, sustain, and build their organizations. Grants will address the impacts of COVID-19 and longstanding racial inequities in order to build an equitable, vibrant region.

Bama Works and the Community Foundation will leverage this partnership, along with gifts from the University of Virginia Health System, Twice is Nice Fund at the Community Foundation, and the Enriching Communities grant program, to increase funds available for grantmaking. These four grant programs, which typically hold grant rounds in the fall, are combining into one effort this year to maximize resources for community recovery.

Established in 1998, the Bama Works Fund has made grants in Charlottesville and the seven surrounding counties for two decades, creating a significant impact on hundreds of organizations in the area. Since 1998, the Fund has made thousands of grants, totaling more than $30 million. This spring, Bama Works Fund announces $536,000 to eighty-five organizations. For a full list of recipients, click here.

The Bama Works Fund made a critical early donation, helping to establish the Community Emergency Response Fund in March. Since that time the Fund has raised more than $5 million from more than 800 contributors. Of that, $4.56 million went toward the COVID-19 Helpline, providing direct aid to more than 5,000 households across the region, impacting an estimated 18,000 people. In addition, $847,000 funded grant awards to twenty-eight nonprofit organizations.

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on our nonprofit sector and has laid bare longstanding racial inequities in our communities,” Brennan Gould, president and CEO of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, said. “We are extremely grateful to partner with Bama Works to support the array of organizations who make our region just, caring, and vibrant. Our initial response to the pandemic would not have been possible without the generosity of Dave Matthews Band. This special grant round is part of their long legacy of generosity and commitment to the Charlottesville area.”

Dave Matthews Band’s philanthropy through the Bama Works Fund has consistently helped the Charlottesville region recover in times of crisis. In September 2017, Dave Matthews Band organized and headlined the Concert for Charlottesville in response to the white supremacist–led violence that took place the month before. Money raised from the concert was the primary source of funding for the Heal Charlottesville Fund, which distributed more than $1.5 million throughout the community to support survivors and those impacted by the tragedy.

In 2018, Dave Matthews Band and Red Light Management announced a catalyzing gift of $5 million toward the redevelopment of public housing in Charlottesville. Through a resident-led process, this transformative project is working to fund and replace all 376 units of public housing while generating additional affordable housing to revitalize underserved neighborhoods.

More details about the Community Recovery & Catalyst Grant round, including guidelines and application details, can be found here.

At the Community Foundation we are heartbroken by the events of these past weeks: the murder in Georgia of Ahmaud Arbery, the murder in Louisville of Breonna Taylor, and the murder in Minneapolis of George Floyd. They were murdered by individuals sworn (at the time or in the recent past) to protect them and their communities. Now their names have been added to a long list of souls whose nation has failed them.

While the United States was founded on the principle of liberty, the brutal oppression of Black people has always been central to our experience. We have built and rebuilt systems that devalue Black lives, and when Black Americans have spoken out, our nation has refused to believe their stories. For some, video evidence has been necessary to believe, but it shouldn’t be. We have witnessed in these videos precisely the injustices that Black men and women have been telling us about for centuries.

Three years ago, when our community was confronted with the organized aggression of white supremacists, people were shocked. Here in Virginia and across the nation they assumed that such a chilling display of racism must have been an isolated act, that such violence is the sole domain of extremists. There was a belief that the violence ended when the perpetrators went home. We know that is not true.

Systemic racism is violence against Black people. Violence is not always the result of individuals hating one another. It is contained within racist systems that push people into segregated neighborhoods with inferior housing, inferior services, inferior healthcare, and increased policing. These systems impose shorter lives on Black people, prevent them from carrying wealth from generation to generation, and limit their physical freedom through higher rates of arrest and imprisonment. By design, our communities center the white experience. A central part of whiteness is the privilege to see and not see these realities, and to believe and not believe. The truth is clear: systemic racism is crushing—and killing—Black Americans.

The Community Foundation was established on the ideals of interconnectedness, of neighbor helping neighbor and of valuing the lives of others. As such, we have an obligation to pursue a just and equitable region for all of our residents.

Our children especially deserve a better version of this nation of ours. They deserve a country in which they can thrive regardless of the circumstances of their birth. It is our collective responsibility to hear, listen, and believe those who cannot breathe in America today. A better future requires that we do.

Brennan Gould, president and CEO

The Community Foundation’s Governing Board

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce a contribution exceeding $1 million from local investment firm Quad-C Management, Inc., to the Community Emergency Response Fund. The fund was established to provide flexible resources to households and organizations in Central Virginia helping to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The crisis we’re facing is unprecedented,” Brennan Gould, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said. “We’re lucky to live in a community where companies like Quad-C recognize the challenge and so generously contribute to helping their neighbors in need.”

The Community Emergency Response Fund has made more than $200,000 in grants to nonprofits, and it has provided $1.6 million to the Community Resource Helpline, which allows households to request quick, targeted, and discreet financial assistance.

“We are pleased to support the Community Emergency Response Fund and hope that this contribution will help those in the Charlottesville area most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis,” said Tom Hickey, a Quad-C partner speaking on behalf of all of the partners of Quad-C, “We are very fortunate as a community to have the dedicated people of the Community Foundation who are constantly in contact with area families and nonprofit organizations around Charlottesville to assess needs and provide direct assistance.”

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation has launched an online form to expedite the work of the Community Resource Helpline, a partnership initiative largely funded by the Community Emergency Response Fund at the Foundation. Click here for the form.

In this time of crisis, the Helpline for COVID-19–related hardship launched on March 23, 2020, and has received an overwhelming response. United Way of Greater Charlottesville generously donated its phone system; however, the large volume of calls has created a backlog. The response time has been slower than anticipated, and there are still outstanding requests.

We understand that the needs of families are urgent. In coordination with United Way and other partners, the Helpline closed for three business days for all calls and messages in order to catch up on the backlog. Now this new form will allow families facing financial difficulties due to COVID-19 to submit information online rather than calling the Helpline. We hope that this will allow for greater access and faster support. The Helpline will continue to operate, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. (People can submit a form or call the Helpline but do not need to do both.)

Community Emergency Response Fund

Hosted by the Community Foundation, the Community Emergency Response Fund was established to provide flexible resources to households and organizations in Central Virginia that are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. Thanks to more than 600 contributors to date, the fund has raised and leveraged more than $3.4 million, money that has gone both to households and to nonprofit organizations providing critical services.

Major Donations

Generous lead donors to Community Emergency Response Fund include the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band, Batten Family Fund, Adiuvans Relief Fund, Quantitative Foundation, Hilltop Foundation, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, three anonymous donors, and Wells Fargo. On April 6, the Fund received an unprecedented gift from the University of Virginia to support households facing hardship in the region.

Support to Households Through Helpline

On March 23, 2020, the Community Foundation joined with Cville Community Cares, United Way of Greater Charlottesville, the City of Charlottesville, and the County of Albemarle to create a partnership. Its purpose was to provide a mechanism to distribute funds to households experiencing hardship due to the pandemic. That mechanism is the Community Resource Helpline. Available at (434) 234-4490 and now through an online form, the Helpline allows community members to request quick, targeted, and discreet financial assistance. Using United Way’s phone system and team members from the United Way, the City, the Foundation, Cville Community Cares, and other organizations, it has fulfilled more than 2,400 requests affecting an estimated 7,200 people. Typical disbursements range from $250 to $750. The coverage area includes Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. Nearly, $1.6 million from the Foundation’s Community Emergency Response Fund has supported this effort.

Support to Nonprofits

The Community Foundation also makes grants from the Community Emergency Response Fund to nonprofit organizations that are providing critical services. Last week, the Community Foundation approved eight grants of more than $200,000 and will continue to make grants on a rolling basis. Guidelines are at www.cacfonline.org.

Grant Recipients

• Rx Partnership
  to offset price increase of generic drugs and fees to mail prescriptions
• Orange County Free Clinic
  to pay for medical and cleaning supplies due and for personal protective equipment stock
• Sexual Assault Resource Agency
  for technological upgrades to secure remote crisis intervention and mental-health services
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
  to fill and distribute food boxes to pantries and sites that operate Child Nutrition Program
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville
  to provide two-month rent abatement for households at Southwood Mobile Home Park
• Fluvanna Meals on Wheels
  to purchase gloves, face masks, sanitizing products, and delivery bags
• Greene Care Clinic
  to purchase two laptops to provide services using a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform
• Louisa County Resource Council
  in support of the council’s food assistance program serving low-income residents

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce a contribution of $1 million from the University of Virginia to the Community Emergency Response Fund. The Fund was established to provide flexible resources to households and organizations in Central Virginia helping to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The university announced earlier today the establishment of a $2 million fund to provide financial support to Aramark employees and other contract workers affected by the suspension of normal activities on Grounds.

The Foundation recognizes the needs of these community members and all low-wage workers experiencing hardship. Anyone in need of assistance is strongly encouraged to call the Community Resource Hotline, (434) 234-4490, between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Multiple languages are available. It may take several days for UVA’s fund to become fully operational.

“I am pleased to partner with the university during this crisis,” Brennan Gould, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said. “While this health pandemic does not discriminate based on socioeconomic position, we do know that existing economic inequities position low-wage workers to be the most vulnerable to its financial consequences. Because of this, we encourage contract workers at UVA and low-wage workers across the region to call the helpline to receive quick assistance.”

The Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Cville Community Cares, and the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle are leading a regional effort to stabilize households in the wake of this pandemic.

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce a contribution of $1 million from the University of Virginia to the Community Emergency Response Fund. The Fund was established to provide flexible resources to households and organizations in Central Virginia helping to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The university announced earlier today the establishment of a $2 million fund to provide financial support to Aramark employees and other contract workers affected by the suspension of normal activities on Grounds.

The Foundation recognizes the needs of these community members and all low-wage workers experiencing hardship. Anyone in need of assistance is strongly encouraged to call the Community Resource Hotline, (434) 234-4490, between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Multiple languages are available. It may take several days for UVA’s fund to become fully operational.

“I am pleased to partner with the university during this crisis,” Brennan Gould, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said. “While this health pandemic does not discriminate based on socioeconomic position, we do know that existing economic inequities position low-wage workers to be the most vulnerable to its financial consequences. Because of this, we encourage contract workers at UVA and low-wage workers across the region to call the helpline to receive quick assistance.”

The Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Cville Community Cares, and the City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle are leading a regional effort to stabilize households in the wake of this pandemic.

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, Cville Community Cares, United Way of Greater Charlottesville, City of Charlottesville, and County of Albemarle are pleased to announce a partnership to disburse funds to households experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 virus. This partnership will make financial payments to households in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. 

The partnership will begin receiving requests for support today, March 23, 2020. Anyone experiencing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 virus and its economic impacts can call (434) 234-4490 between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. Multiple languages are available.

“As a region of interconnected people, we have the opportunity and responsibility to care for one another,” Brennan Gould, president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation, said. “I am extremely grateful to the generous donors who have contributed to this effort so far. Philanthropy is well positioned to be nimble, responsive, and creative in times of crisis. The innovative partnership that launches today will focus on stabilizing individual households across the region that are experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 virus and its economic impacts.”

“This situation is unprecedented and growing exponentially, and people need help right now covering necessities and providing for their loved ones,” said Ravi Respeto, President & CEO of the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. “By partnering with the Community Foundation, Cville Community Cares, the City and the County, we endeavor to eliminate confusion and anxiety about where our fellow community members can turn for resources, while providing donors an opportunity to have an immediate and unified impact.”

“Through a grassroots mutual aid effort with Congregate Cville, we mobilized quickly and were able to raise and distribute direct financial assistance to over 130 households in 5 days,” the Cville Community Cares team said in a statement. “After having already received requests from more than 1,000 households in that period, we welcome this new partnership, which will allow us to scale up what worked so well from that effort to reach more people across the region.” 

The Cville Community Cares team is also providing material support through grocery delivery and prescription delivery. The form to request support is bit.ly/cvilledelivery. To join the Cville Community Cares network, fill out the form at bit.ly/cvillecare2020.

In addition to supporting this partnership, the Foundation will make targeted grants to community-based organizations providing basic assistance, including food, housing and medical supplies. Organizations in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange are eligible. Interested organizations should contact ebugg@cacfonline.org to discuss their needs.

These funding initiatives are supported by the Community Emergency Response Fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. The Fund was established to provide flexible resources to organizations in Central Virginia helping to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to lead gifts by the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band, Batten Family Fund, Adiuvans Relief Fund, Quantitative Foundation, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, 2 anonymous donors, the City of Charlottesville, County of Albemarle, United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Wells Fargo, Tremaine Family Foundation and the support of more than 200 contributors to date, over $2 million has already been raised.

 “We recognize that this crisis has left no one untouched,” Gould said. “Our nonprofit grant partners, as well as businesses, schools, government, the medical community, and other initiatives are navigating not only a loss of routine and security, but also are now carrying new, heavy loads as they care for and protect others. We do not know how long this initial phase of support will be needed, and we will explore additional strategies for the Fund as our region acclimates to the fast-changing situation.” 

The Foundation has also announced flexible grant terms for existing partners, including extended grant periods and a reallocation of awarded funds to support operations as needed.

Gould emphasizes her gratitude to community partners United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Cville Community Cares, City of Charlottesville, and County of Albemarle for their swift action to work together on this significant effort for the region.

The Community Emergency Response Fund is accepting donations. To donate click here or (http://bit.ly/2WbL3zO).