Category: Uncategorized

Alex Gross Named Senior Program Manager

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Alex Gross as our new Senior Program Manager. Alex will collaboratively lead in piloting and building out new policies and programs rooted in trust-based, equity-forward philanthropy. In partnership with the Director of Programs and the donor relations team, she will cultivate relationships that bring new infrastructure, investments, and opportunities to the foundation’s programmatic work.

“Alex’s management experience, and passion for our region will enhance the experience of our grant recipients and community partners, while helping to advance the work of the foundation,” said Brennan Gould, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “She has strong connections to the nonprofit community and has been dedicated to helping to improve lives throughout our region. We’re excited to have her on our team.”

Alex most recently served as the Executive Director of the PB & J Fund in Charlottesville and brings a wealth of experience in program development, strategic partnership, and community engagement.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Community Foundation at a time when the discretionary grant making process is being reimagined and community led,” Alex said. “I look forward to learning from all our community partners how we might develop high-impact funding opportunities to create a more equitable region.”

Alex holds a BS from Drexel University and a Master’s degree in Public Health from George Washington University.She has worked nationally and statewide for the YMCA developing public health partnerships and strategies to further advance national and regional initiatives.Alex is most at home on any body of water, be it paddleboarding on one of Charlottesville’s many lakes or surfing the small Atlantic waves. She often spends her free time hiking with her dog, attempting to relearn the violin, and trying new recipes.

Community Members Invited to Help Advance Equitable Grantmaking Practices in Central VA

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation announces an open call for applicants to our Community Advisory Committee (CAC). Members of the CAC work with Community Foundation staff to make funding decisions and guide the strategic direction for our grant programs. 

We are excited to launch this process as an open call for the first time in the foundation’s history and believe that bringing together diverse representatives of all stakeholders affected by our grantmaking will lead to more effective and equitable grantmaking decisions and increased impact. The voices of the CAC connect us to the experiences and perspectives of people across our service area to ensure that our work is appropriate and meaningful.

 “The Community Foundation has a vision of philanthropy that is restorative and reparative for the communities we serve,” says Eboni Bugg, Director of Programs. “We believe that starts with trusting the expertise of and shifting the decision-making power to those who are most impacted by the pressing issues facing our region today.”

Committee members must live in the Community Foundation’s service area. They will be expected to serve a three-year term and will receive compensation up to $1200 annually. Community members who are interested in applying or learning more can find a description of the CAC and expectations for its members here or by contacting Megan Donovan, Grants Administrator, at mdonovan@cacfonline.org or 434-443-4019. We will be accepting applications, found here, until 10/21/22.

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The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation was established in 1967 – on the ideals of interconnectedness, of neighbor helping neighbor, and of valuing the lives of others – as an engine for positive change in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange.  The Community Foundation works with local residents, nonprofits, and public and private organizations to facilitate philanthropy and create an equitable region where everybody can thrive.  For more information, visit www.cacfonline.org.  

Bama Works Fund Awards $669K to 88 Nonprofits

The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce its Spring 2022 grant funding decisions, totaling nearly $670,000 and supporting 88 nonprofits throughout the region. With this round of grants, the Bama Works Fund extends its twenty-plus years of commitment to Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. This cycle of funding supported a wide range of organizations, including youth mentoring programs, environmental initiatives, and food security causes. Read more. 

Carrie Soubra Named Administrative Assistant

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (Community Foundation) is pleased to announce Carrie Soubra as its new Administrative Assistant. Carrie will perform a wide range of administrative and clerical support duties and provide general office support for all foundation activities. She will interact regularly with Community Foundation stakeholders, answer and direct incoming phone calls and emails, schedule meetings, and provide database support.

“We are so excited to have Carrie join the foundation team and bring her professional expertise, lived experiences, and passion for community and people.” said Brennan Gould, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “She will provide critical support to foundation activities and help to ensure a positive experience for our stakeholders in engaging with us.” 

Carrie most recently served as Digital Learning Coordinator and Tour Supervisor at Monticello for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and brings a wide variety of experience in customer service, program development, and teaching. 

“I am honored to join an organization focused on transforming the quality of life for city and county residents through community collaborations and equitable resource access. My passions include supporting and engaging people in their learning and ability to positively impact others. I am excited for the opportunity to share those passions and my skills with the Community Foundation, and to work towards my goal of making a lasting impact within my community.” 

Carrie earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Appalachian State University and has previously held a variety of teaching positions. 

Outside of work, Carrie enjoys sharing meals and epic game nights with her family. She delights in laughing with friends while enjoying local favorite spots. In rare pockets of quiet time, she can be found consuming podcasts or docuseries while cross-stitching.

Louisa County Community Fund Awards $95K to 17 Nonprofits

The Louisa County Community Fund is pleased to announce its Spring 2022 grant funding decisions, totaling over $95,000 and supporting 17 nonprofits working in Louisa County.

Administered by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, this competitive grant cycle is supported by a diverse group of Louisa County community members whose personal and professional backgrounds make them uniquely positioned to review applications and identify organizations working to improve quality of life for all residents of Louisa County.

Learn more about the awards.

Megan Donovan Named Grants Administrator

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce Megan Donovan as its new Grants Administrator. Megan will perform a variety of programmatic and administrative tasks to support the smooth functioning of the foundation’s discretionary grantmaking and capacity building programs. She will work with grant partners and coordinate event and meeting support, while helping to ensure compliance with the foundation’s standards, policies, and procedures.  

“We are thrilled to have Megan join our team and share her professional expertise, lived experiences, and passion for advocacy to enhance the experience of our grant recipients and community partners, while helping to advance the work of the foundation,” said Brennan Gould, President & CEO of the Community Foundation.

Megan most recently served as Organizational & Systems Program Director with Cultivate Charlottesville and brings a wealth of experience in client service, program design and management, and community organizing.  

“President & CEO Brennan Gould wrote that the Community Foundation is ‘…part of a legacy of generosity that is rooted in a keen awareness of our interconnectedness as people sharing a place and time.’ The pandemic has highlighted the truth of this statement for me, and I am honored to work for an organization that understands and respects its place in the larger picture,” Megan said. “I hope to fulfill my goal of living with a deep reverence for my connection to others through my work with the foundation.”

Megan holds undergraduate degrees from Miami University of Ohio and has a Masters in Health Advocacy from Sarah Lawrence College. Prior to her move to Charlottesville in 2014, Megan worked in health care settings as an advocate for un- and under- insured patients.

Megan tries to move, live, and love in a mindful and peaceful way, in deep relationship with one another and the planet. She loves being outdoors with her family, whether it’s riding bikes, hiking, gardening, or enjoying the many beautiful and unique elements of Virginia’s landscape.

Our Vision of Philanthropy

In 2015, the Community Foundation introduced its Enriching Communities, Strengthening Systems, and Shaping Futures grant programs. Since that time, we have awarded over ten million dollars from our discretionary programs to local nonprofits and community-based organizations who provide a necessary safety net for many of our residents as well as cultural programs that make our region a remarkable place to live.  

Like the rest of the world, our communities have seen significant changes since 2015. However, our commitment to sustaining an accessible and equitable region remains unchanged. We offer a vision of philanthropy that is rooted in solidarity and recognizes that we are all interconnected. As a community-centered, equity-forward institution, we endeavor to use our resources to catalyze and innovate.  

In this spirit, our discretionary programs team will spend most of this year reimagining our grantmaking programs to reflect our values, leading practices in the field, and feedback received from our grant partners. We will also be recruiting for our grant review committee which will allow us to implement more participatory grantmaking processes.  

In 2023, we will launch new programs that are more responsive to the needs, ideas, and desires of those who are most proximate to the persistent problems we are facing as a region. We will also introduce accessible application technology that minimizes burdens for our partners. We are so excited to have you on this journey with us.  

Please read the information below to learn more about how this might impact your organization, and how you can get involved. 

Important Details 

1)  Our staff is still available for you! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need assistance. There are no significant changes for current grantees, however we will conduct site visits with our 2021 Enriching Community grantees in lieu of an interim report. If you have any questions, please contact Aiyana Marcus at amarcus@cacfonline.org.  

2)  To make way for innovative programs, the Community Foundation is sunsetting its Enriching Communities, Strengthening Systems, & Shaping Futures grant programs. We will not be accepting new applications for these programs in 2022.  

3)  The Community Foundation will continue to offer capacity building programs including Catchafire subscriptions. All current subscribers will be eligible for renewal in 2022, and there will be additional spaces available for new subscribers. For more information about Catchafire, please click here. Renewals and new subscription applications will be available this summer. 

4)  Grantmaking continues at the Community Foundation! The changes referenced above only apply to the foundation’s discretionary resources. Our donor and committee-advised competitive grant programs are unaffected and will continue to run as usual. For a complete listing of available grants, please click here. 

5)  In addition to our grantmaking programs, organizations can make funding requests directly to our Donor Advised Fundholder community by submitting an appeal to our Giving Opportunities Newsletter. This quarterly publication is a chance for community-based organizations to share funding needs with our donors. For more information, please review the Giving Opportunities Guidelines. Katie Kling, Sr. Donor Relations Manager, serves as the contact person for this effort and can be reached at kkling@cacfonline.org or 434.220.3473.  

6)  We recognize that many in our region are still impacted by the global pandemic, refugee displacement, and the ongoing effects of racial inequality.  We continue to accept requests for up to $10,000 from our Community Emergency Response Fund. Due to the limited availability of funds, please email Eboni Bugg at ebugg@cacfonline.org for details on eligibility and how to apply. 

We want to hear from you! 

Feedback from our grantees has played a significant role in our decision to reimagine and evolve our grantmaking at the Community Foundation. Through surveys, focus groups, site visits, and partner meetings we have learned a lot about your needs, and ways that we can enhance our programming. If you have questions about the redesign process, our priorities, or insights you would like to share, please join us for a listening session on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at noon. Bring your lunch and your questions! The registration form can be accessed here. 

Community Foundation Hosts Successful Catchafire Peer Learning Event

The Community Foundation recently convened a peer learning event in support of year two of its partnership with Catchafire. More than 30 nonprofit practitioners came together to learn from and share with one another, highlighting successes in helping their organizations connect with pro bono expertise, enhance capacity, and save money.  Panelist Anna Pillow, Executive Director of The Arts Center in Orange, reflected “Our work with Catchafire has allowed us to create a really strong framework for moving forward.”  Click here to watch the webinar or read the press release.  

Chaquita Venable named Donor Relations Administrator

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce Chaquita Venable as its new Donor Relations Administrator.  Chaquita will perform a variety of programmatic and administrative functions as part of the donor relations team, including support for applicants and grantees to our donor advised grantmaking programs.  Additionally, she will coordinate compliance, general information management, communications, and customer service related to our individual and family funds. 

“We are delighted that Chaquita has joined our team and will be sharing her professional expertise, lived experiences, and deep commitment to customer service to nurture the experience for donors and support the work of the foundation,” said Brennan Gould, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. 

Venable has previously served as an assistant vice president and branch manager for Wells Fargo for more than a decade and brings a wealth of experience in customer service, project management, compliance, and reporting. 

“Amelia Earhart said, ‘A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.’ The work that the foundation does to connect donors to the community may seem like a small act of kindness to some, but I consider it to be magic,” Venable said.  “Using my skills and knowledge to better the community has always been my passion and I’m excited to share it with the team.”

Chaquita earned a bachelor’s in business management and health science from Old Dominion University.  She loves to travel and read, is very active in her church, volunteers in the community, and loves spending time with her daughter Ariyah and family.  She is passionate about education and community service, including telling her father’s story about the closing of the schools in Prince Edward County. 

Funding Available for Organizations Improving Quality of Life in Louisa County

The Louisa County Community Fund is accepting proposals from organizations working to improve the quality of life in Louisa County from now until March 15, 2022.  Administered by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, this competitive grant cycle is supported by a diverse group of Louisa County community members who are uniquely positioned to review applications and identify organizations working to improve quality of life for all residents of Louisa County.  Learn more.