User:Zatsugaku/Community Foundation for a greater Richmond

The Community Foundation for a greater Richmond is a Community foundation that serves the Richmond, Virginia area, and surrounding counties. It also seeks to assist smaller, rural communities, helping found and support three regional Community Foundation affiliates in Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. Of the approximately 700 Community Foundations in the United States, Richmond’s is one of the largest with assets exceeding $1 billion and annual disbursements of $81 million (2019)

Mission
“The Community Foundation serves and inspires people to build philanthropy for our region and to engage in our community.”

It works with donors and community partners to fulfill this mission by:
 * Promoting a regional perspective
 * Developing and sharing community knowledge
 * Collaborating toward common goals
 * Demonstrating inclusiveness and respect
 * Achieving transparency, accountability and efficiency

What is a community foundation?
A community foundation is a public charity chartered to guide philanthropy and improve the quality of life in a specific geographic area. It manages a collection of charitable funds for diverse purposes. Donations to the funds are tax-deductible and funds are typically distributed to nonprofits, schools, and churches. They are governed by volunteer boards of leading citizens and run by professionals who are experts in community need. The foundation’s staff oversees ongoing investment and disbursement of funds. Grants can be made on a competitive or donor-directed basis. Community foundations offer a service that facilitates and encourages charitable giving. Donors can easily establish their own fund to support causes and organizations they care about—both now and far into the future. Community foundations also serve a unique leadership role by bringing people and resources together around important local issues.

Grantmaking
Grantmaking typically falls into two broad categories:


 * Awards made through an open, competitive application process and supported by unrestricted gifts, using results-based criteria.
 * Donor-advised grants supported by designated and agency endowment funds.

Strategic Focus
The foundation’s competitive grantmaking focuses on four strategic areas to build a region that is healthy and vibrant and offers economic and cultural prosperity for all of its residents.
 * Educational Success: Young people achieve in school, engage in their community and are prepared for the workforce.
 * Health & Wellness: Community members are safe and healthy.
 * Cultural Vibrancy: Community members have access to and an appreciation for arts and cultural opportunities.
 * Partnerships for these areas include: Jenkins Foundation, Sheltering Arms Fund and the Medarva Foundation Fund.


 * Economic Prosperity: The Region's resources are sustainable and its residents are economically stable and secure.

Religious organizations and nonprofits that address other areas of concern are primarily supported by donor-advised funds or designated funds.

Leadership initiatives
Beyond responsive grantmaking, staff seek out community initiatives that advance solutions employing innovative strategies and a collaborative spirit

Scholarships and awards
The foundation supports approximately 60 scholarship funds. These funds provide financial support to area students, helping them attain their postsecondary education dreams. A limited number of scholarships also support adult learners.

Publications
The foundation publishes a range of issue, impact analysis, and annual reports.