Charlottesville Area Community Foundation

From Cvillepedia
Revision as of 14:23, 30 January 2013 by CACF (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) is a permanent endowment dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of the city of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Central Virginia area. As a local center for philanthropy, CACF works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations, and nonprofit organizations to carry out their charitable objectives and addresses emerging community issues. The Foundation features a variety of gifting options and vehicles to establish or add to a named charitable fund. CACF is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity—a 501(c)(3)—so donors are provided the maximum tax benefits allowed by law.

History

Since its creation in 1967, the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation has made more than $50 million in grants to hundreds of nonprofit agencies in the Charlottesville area.

In 2011 CACF gave the most money and provided the largest number of grants in its 44-year history. Total grants amounted to nearly $7 million, and CACF made nearly 1,000 separate grants.

Notable grants in 2011 included an $89,000 grant by the Community Endowment to Ellis Acres Memorial Park in Buckingham, $115,000 from the Bama Works Fund as emergency aid for earthquake recovery in Louisa, and a $100,000 award as the inaugural Collaboration Initiative grant to the Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition in 2012.[1]

Grantmaking

CACF is a collection of nearly 200 funds. Many of these funds are donor initiated and make grants without accepting proposals.

CACF is comprised of the following types of funds:

"Designated Funds" A fund designated for a specific nonprofit organization(s) that will receive regular gifts from the fund at CACF "Donor Advised Funds" A fund that allows for ongoing involvement by the donor in determining its use to address issues and needs in the community "Field of Interest Funds" A gift targeted to have an impact on a particular area of community life "Scholarship Funds" A fund set up to support students in their pursuit of a higher education. The donor may determine the criteria that students must meet in order to receive the scholarship "Unrestricted Fund" An unrestricted gift to CACF will help the foundation meet a broad range of community needs

Some of the most prominent funds are listed below.

Ballyshannon Fund

Spearheaded by a local donor, this fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations working to promote citizen understanding of the economic importance of agricultural and forestry enterprises in Central Virginia and the adjacent areas.

Bama Works Fund

Established in 1999, The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in CACF supports charitable programs in the Charlottesville area with a particular focus on disadvantaged youth, needs of the disabled, protection of the environment, and the arts and humanities. Additionally, the fund responds to a wide variety of needs both nationally and internationally. [2] The Bama Works Fund has made over 800 grants totaling more than $15 million since its inception. Grant proposals are reviewed by a committee of local citizens who make recommendations to the band.

Community Endowment

The CACF Community Endowment is the Foundation’s unrestricted grantmaking program that provides support to nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Areas of funding include human services, education, arts and culture, environment, health, and community enrichment.

As the result of a long-term commitment from the Batten Family Fund in 2009, CACF increased its grantmaking dollars with a greater emphasis on larger, strategic grants. The Community Endowment has two grant cycles a year: a spring cycle, focusing on significant grants to area nonprofits in the amounts of $10,000 to $100,000; and a fall cycle, focusing on smaller grants of up to $10,000.

Future Fund

Launched in 2009, this fund is a giving circle for philanthropists in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, in which members combine their charitable dollars, choose a theme, and award grants annually by a group vote. [3] Since 2009, The Future Fund has given away over $175,000 and engaged more than 325 young professionals in philanthropy.

Louisa County Community Fund

The Louisa County Community Fund (LCCF) in CACF was started as the result of a bequest from longtime Louisa county residents and provides grants to support nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Louisa County. Grants are made once per year and proposals are reviewed by a committee of Louisa community and business leaders.

Nelson County Community Fund

The Nelson County Community Fund (NCCF) in CACF was established by the Nelson County Advisory Committee to provide grants to support nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life in Nelson County. Grants are made two times per year and categories of support include human services, education, environment, health, community needs, and development.

Prana Fund

Established in 2005 as the result of a gift from a local donor family, the Prana Fund is a $25,000 grant provided annually. It supports projects that assist children and enhances educational opportunities for young people. Special consideration is given to projects with hands-on learning integrating both environmental education and the fine arts.

Youth Service Award

Since 1994 CACF has brought together one high school senior from each of the ten local high schools in Charlottesville and Albemarle County to form the Youth Service Award (YSA) Committee. Over the course of six months, students learn about grantmaking and their community, review proposals, make site visits, and select a local nonprofit serving area youth to receive a $10,000 grant. In total, $180,000 has been rewarded by these student committees.

Governance

CACF is governed by a 22-member board of trustees, selected to represent diverse community interests. The foundation’s staff includes professionals in community investment, philanthropic services, development, finance and administration, and communications.

"The 2013 Board:" Mr. Lawrence J. Martin, Chair Ms. Louise M. Dudley, Vice-Chair Ms. Kathleen Bowman, Secretary Mr. John R. Redick (ex officio) Mr. Peter Agelasto III Mr. Julian M. Bivens, Jr. Mr. O. Whitfield Broome, Jr. Mr. Alan N. Culbertson Mr. Joe H. Gieck Ms. J. Dawn Heneberry Mr. James L. Jessup, Jr. Mr. Eric S. Johnson Ms. Audrey G. Lewis Ms. Meghan R. Murray Ms. Kelli E. Palmer Ms. Susan Payne Mr. Joseph W. Richmond, Jr. Mr. Joseph T. Samuels, Jr. Mr. Leonard W. Sandridge, Jr. Mr. Frederic W. Scott, Jr. Ms. Elizabeth Woodard Mr. Bruce Woodzell

References

  1. Web. CACF awards first grant to benefit local health coalition, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Sept 11, 2012, retrieved Jan 30, 2013.
  2. Web. Bama Works
  3. Web. Future Fund

External Links

official site