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The Community Endowment Fund of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) is proud to announce $230,000 in grant funding to 11 local groups and 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 announced two new grant opportunities: Renewal Grants for Healing & Strengthening and Reimagine Grants for Freedom Dreaming & Evolving. This is the second year of grantmaking for these grants. 

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.

We wish to recognize the following 2026 Reimagine and Renewal grantees:

Reimagine Grant Recipients:

• City of Promise 
• Black Women Stitch
• Charlottesville Inclusive Media Project
• Community Voices
• Congregate Charlottesville
• Descendants of Enslaved Communities of VA
• Legal Aid Justice Center
• Empowered Players
• Heart and Soul Fitness with Nicole

Renewal Grant Recipients:

• Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative
• St. John Family Life and Fitness Center

We will begin accepting Letters of Intent for our Reshaping Futures Grants for Transformation in Spring of 2027. 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 the Fall of 2027.

The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce its Spring 2026 grant funding decisions, totaling $898,800 and supporting 158 nonprofits throughout the region. With this round of grants, the Bama Works Fund continues its commitment to Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. 

This grant cycle, the Bama Works Fund is supporting a wide range of organizations with a particular focus on those working in youth development & wellbeing, accessibility of essential needs, protection of the environment, and the arts & humanities. As always, funding priority was given to organizations impacting lives in the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. For a full list of Spring 2026 grant recipients, download the Bama Works 2026 Spring Grant Recipients PDF. 

Leslie Lynn Smith, President and CEO of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, says, “The commitment of the Dave Matthews Band to this region is truly extraordinary. Thanks to the dedicated organizations receiving these awards, countless individuals will continue to benefit from the meaningful work these grants make possible.” 

Twice each year, the Bama Works Fund awards gifts through a competitive grant cycle. The next application period opens on July 1st, with an application deadline of August 13th. For more information, please visit our grants page or email us at grants@cacfonline.org. 

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (Community Foundation) is pleased to welcome M. Leigh Harrison as our newest Senior Philanthropic Relationship Manager. Leigh will serve as the Community Foundation’s primary point of contact for a dynamic and wide-ranging portfolio of funds, particularly the endowments and operating reserves established by area nonprofits, working in concert with Foundation leadership and his counterparts. 

“Leigh’s longstanding commitment to this region, combined with his deep relationships, strategic insight, and values-driven leadership, make him an extraordinary addition to our team,” said President & CEO Leslie Lynn Smith. “He has been a trusted and impactful force across the regional ecosystem for many years, consistently helping move people, ideas, and opportunities forward. We’re thrilled to welcome Leigh’s thinking, energy, and commitment to community into this next chapter of our work together.” 

Born and raised in Southside Virginia, Leigh moved to the Charlottesville region with his family after living for a decade in Washington, D.C. As a past holder of the CFRE credential, his experience with locally based nonprofits includes advancement-related efforts supporting UVA’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture as well as the regional environmental nonprofit Appalachian Voices. He is also a founding member of the Consulting Co-op of Central Virginia (CCCV), a consulting network through which he launched his own advisory practice to provide strategic counsel to grantseekers and philanthropists.  

“I’m honored to work with the inspiring and talented leaders and staff of the Community Foundation in this new season of its history—at a time when achieving the goal of deeper understanding and engaged thought-partnership with community leaders calls for greater responsiveness, a new commitment to creative problem-solving, and a truly long-term perspective from our team,” Leigh says. “It’s a joy to work closely with so many dedicated fund representatives, and organizations doing so much good in so many different spheres, to ensure a thriving nonprofit sector that can serve our region’s communities for generations to come.”  

Along with his commitment to resourcing local nonprofit organizations, Leigh has held leadership roles at institutions of higher education such as George Mason University, where he spearheaded communications for a comprehensive campaign and later serving as a liaison for philanthropic grantmakers. He is a graduate of the College of William & Mary, where he received his B.A. in English, as well as Cornell University, where he received an M.A. and Ph.D. in medieval studies. The most recent chapter of Leigh’s career as a teacher has been on the adjunct faculty of Piedmont Virginia Community College, where he has taught English composition to students who hail from Charlottesville and six counties in the region. 

Leigh lives in eastern Albemarle County with his wife, their two small children, and their cat. When not struggling to play harpsichord music on the piano or to make his favorite old-timey Southern recipes vegetarian, he enjoys visiting the opera with his daughter, reading adventure stories with his son, and going on long and leisurely hikes through the woods with the whole family. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.