Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Solidarity program. Be sure to also review our general policies for Community Endowment Fund (CEF) grants, as well as the guidelines for each Solidarity grant. If you don’t see the answer to your question, please let us know.
Are pre-consultation meetings required before applying?
Pre-consultation meetings are required for first-time and previously declined Solidarity applicants, and for applicants seeking funding for capital/construction projects through our Reshaping Futures Grant (opening in July 2025). All other applicants are still encouraged to schedule a pre-consultation meeting. Meeting requests are ideally made at least one month prior to a submission deadline.
Is the Solidarity program still progressing given recent court rulings and executive orders against affirmative action and D.E.I. (diversity, equity, and inclusion)?
Our Solidarity program is not a “DEI” or affirmative action program or initiative. Repair, Proximity, and Solidarity are core values of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. Applicants, regardless of background, are eligible to apply and can be successful, as long as their work is guided by those who are most impacted by the inequity being redressed.
Are 501(c)3 nonprofits allowed to advocate for policy change or be political?
Absolutely. In fact, federal law protects 501(c)3 nonprofit advocacy, and even allows some lobbying (The National Council of Nonprofits).
Below is a helpful infographic (courtesy Studio Two Three) that summarizes the kinds of advocacy 501(c)3 nonprofits can engage in.
How do we know if our work is "movement building"?
We believe all work can play an important role in movement building. The work of our applicants typically falls within one or more categories: Responsive, Proactive, and Transformative. To be considered eligible for a Reshaping Futures Grant, however, an applicant’s proposed work must be Proactive or preferably Transformative. See our What is Movement Building? page for further explanation and examples.
Can we apply for a Solidarity grant without having 501(c)3 nonprofit status?
Yes. As long as you have an eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a similar mission serve as your fiscal sponsor, and your group is not a for-profit business or social enterprise. Visit our Fiscal Sponsorship page to learn more.
How many applications can a fiscal sponsor submit?
Fiscal sponsors may only submit one Community Endowment Fund grant application for themselves per calendar year. However, fiscal sponsors may be listed as the fiscal sponsor on multiple proposals. Visit our Fiscal Sponsorship page for additional details and instructions.
Can social enterprises and other businesses apply for a Solidarity grant?
Unfortunately, the Community Foundation is unable to accept Solidarity grant applications from fiscally sponsored businesses or other for-profit entities at this time.
Can we apply if we're located outside the region?
When reviewing proposals, we prioritize groups based within our region. We do accept applications from Virginia-based statewide groups on a case-by-case basis, as long as your work clearly and directly benefits residents living in Charlottesville or the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and/or Orange. Staff members applying for sabbatical support must reside and work within our region.
Does the Solidarity program accept applications from colleges and universities?
Yes, as long as the proposal directly benefits the local community and meets the grant’s other eligibility requirements.
Can we apply for all three Solidarity grants?
Applicants may only apply for one Solidarity grant per calendar year. We encourage applicants to honestly access which grant – Renewal, Reimagine, or Reshaping Futures – is most suitable and to consult our Programs staff if you’re unsure which grant to apply for.
To be eligible for a Reshaping Futures Grant, an applicant’s work must be considered Proactive or preferably Transformative.
When reviewing proposals, our Community Advisory Committee reserves the right to defer their decision and/or recommend funding through a different Solidarity grant.
If our Renewal or Reimagine grant application is unsuccessful, can we apply for Reshaping Futures later in the year?
Unfortunately, not. Applicants may only apply for one Solidarity grant per calendar year. We encourage applicants to honestly access which grant – Renewal, Reimagine, or Reshaping Futures – is most suitable and to consult our Programs staff if you’re unsure which grant to apply for.
When reviewing proposals, our Community Advisory Committee reserves the right to defer their decision and/or recommend funding through a different Solidarity grant.
Can we apply if we have an open grant from the Community Foundation?
Applicants may only have one Community Endowment Fund open grant at a time. Applicants who have open grants or pending applications with non-Community Endowment Fund grant programs (e.g., Bama Works Fund, Twice Is Nice Fund, PB&J Fund, donor-advised fund gifts, etc.) are eligible to apply for a Solidarity grant.
Applicants must satisfy the terms of all previous Foundation grants, including any final reporting requirements, before applying to Solidarity.
Grantees can request a final report interview/site visit to “close out” an existing grant at anytime, once you’ve fully expended your Community Endowment Fund grant funding and reached your grant goals and milestones. Simply email your request to grants@cacfonline.org.
Where can we get help creating a sabbatical policy for our staff?
We recommend consulting the Sabbatical Toolkit created by the BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State.
What is "joyful resistance" and what types are eligible for Renewal Grant funding?
It’s impossible to sustain social movements without prioritizing joy – the restorative experiences that inspire and energize us, strengthen connections, and renew our sense of purpose and hope. Movement work can at times be fun. For those who experience daily injustices, joy itself is an act of defiance. The Renewal Grant invites eligible applicants to share how your acts of “joyful resistance” – be it a neighborhood block party, community festival, artistic public performance, group adventure, etc. – help advance a larger movement for racial equity and systemic change.
What are the reporting requirements?
In addition to informal check-ins throughout the grant period, grantees are asked to provide a final written or verbal site visit interview report that includes but is not limited to the following:
- Any discoveries, findings, setbacks, or lessons learned that will influence the grantee’s work moving forward.
- Additional resources or opportunities the Foundation could offer to support this work.
- Other relevant information the grantee would like to share.
Grantees must also maintain accurate records of the grant, including all grant-supported payment documentation and receipts, for a minimum of four years, and allow the Foundation to access this information upon request.
Can we submit an already-completed applictation that was written for another funder?
Yes, applicants who have submitted a proposal to another funder that thoroughly addresses Solidarity grant application questions and criteria are welcome to submit that application instead, along with supporting financial documents and any supplemental materials.
Do you accept oral interview, video recorded, or non-English language submissions?
Yes, applicants are welcome to submit proposals that are non-English language, hand-written, video, audio, or in other multimedia and creative formats, and are encouraged to consult staff at least one month prior to deadlines if interested in an alternative submission method.
How soon can we expect a funding decision?
Renewal and Reimagine applicants can expect a final decision by the end of June 2025. Reshaping Futures applicants will find out by the end of August 2025 if their LOI has advanced to the application phase and can expect a final decision as early as December 2025.
How many Solidarity grantees will there be this year?
During its pilot year, the Solidarity program reinvested $1.4 million back into 27 community groups. This year’s number, however, depends on the types of proposals we receive. We are committed to having the majority of funded proposals be Proactive or preferably Transformative.