Williamsburg Community Foundation Announces $83,096 in Grants to Support Local Nonprofits

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The Williamsburg Community Foundation is pleased to have awarded $83,096 in grants to 20 local nonprofits as part of its spring grant cycle, providing critical funding for programs that address pressing community needs.

The grants support various projects and programs across five of the Foundation’s six priority areas: Arts & Culture, Children & Young Adults, Economic Mobility, Environment & Conservation, Health & Community Wellness, and Senior Services.

This spring grant round included a strong emphasis on economic mobility. These grants, part of the Foundation’s biannual competitive grantmaking, support projects that help individuals and families access stable housing, reliable transportation, and nutritious food – critical building blocks for long-term financial security.

This round of grants included grant awards from the Benjamin R. Altshuler Memorial Fund for Transportation, the Genevieve McGiffert Memorial Fund for the Musical Performing Arts, and the Mary Turnbull Bike & Walk Fund, as well as two Capacity Building grants to strengthen local nonprofits.

Of the $83,096 in grants, $9,096 was made possible through the generosity of donor-advised fund holders, who partnered with the Foundation to directly support local nonprofits.

“We’re deeply grateful for our donor-advised fund (DAF) holders, who joined us in co-investing in this round of competitive grants,” said Nancy Sullivan. “This collaborative approach allows donors to amplify their impact by working alongside the Foundation to address pressing community needs.”

At the same time, the Foundation’s Community Endowment and Field-of-Interest Funds continue to provide lasting support for local organizations, thanks to the generosity of donors who have contributed over the past 26 years. Through gifts both large and small, these dedicated community members have helped ensure that we can invest in Williamsburg’s future—today and for generations to come.

Since 1999, the Community Foundation has awarded over $13.6 million in grants and scholarships. Nonprofits serving the greater Williamsburg area are invited to apply, with applications for the fall grant round due by July 11, 2025.  A committee of board members and volunteers carefully evaluates the applications to ensure funding reaches organizations making the greatest impact in the community.

Nonprofits interested in applying for future grants and donors looking to support local initiatives can learn more at williamsburgcommunityfoundation.org or contact 757-259-1660.

The following is a list of competitive grant recipients and their projects, listed by priority area:

Arts & Culture

  • Open Door Concerts ($5,000) provides free concerts throughout the year at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church covering a variety of musical genres.  mywpc.org
  • Williamsburg Book Festival ($1,000) will be able to attract quality speakers and expand its reach to an audience of local and regional book lovers who enjoy meeting the 50+ authors that attend the festival.  williamsburgbookfestival.org
  • Williamsburg Choral Guild ($1,600) will collaborate with a brass ensemble for the December 2025 Concert, which will feature Daniel Pinkham's "Christmas Cantata."  williamsburgchoralguild.org

Children & Young Adults

  • GRASP, Inc. ($5,000) will provide financial aid advising through the counseling offices at the three WJCC high schools, helping students in furthering their education assisting with the completion of the FAFSA, interpreting financial aid award letters, and serving as mentors throughout the college application process—all at no cost to families.  grasp4va.org
  • The Arc of Greater Williamsburg ($4,996) will take its clients to visit both the Mariner's Museum and the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.  thearcgw.org
  • Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads ($2,500) will provide youth with a wide array of service opportunities that positively impact the community at large.  yvchr.org
  • Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency ($5,000) will offer Project Discovery, which supports low- to moderate-income and first-generation college students, helping them build essential skills in study habits, time management, and financial planning. The program is committed to removing financial barriers, enabling participation in workshops and campus visits, and helping to pay for SAT testing and college application fees. weareace.org
  • Williamsburg Youth Orchestra ($5,000) will offer its school outreach program, M3loDy Makers, at Waller Mill Elementary School. M3loDy Makers offers free, scaffolded music instruction to a diverse group of children, including those facing socio-economic barriers and their peers. wyomusic.org

Economic Mobility

  • BikeWalk Williamsburg ($5,000) will provide the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg Voucher Program in partnership with over 20 local nonprofits, state health and human services agencies, and education institutions. This program helps break down transportation barriers for low-resourced populations through the donation of a fully refurbished bike, a helmet, bike lights, and a lock for added safety and security. bikewalkwilliamsburg.org
  • Greater Williamsburg Outreach Mission ($5,000) will offer its Wheels to Work program, intended to provide funding assistance for vulnerable persons/families to complete vehicle repairs deemed necessary to ensure safe and reliable transportation to remain gainfully employed.  gwoutreachmission.org
  • Grove Christian Outreach Center ($5,000) will operate The Gathering Place, providing Greater Williamsburg residents with a wide selection of foods, especially fresh, healthier food, that appeals to individuals from all backgrounds. The first of its kind in Williamsburg, the program offers a market-style approach that invites guests to make their own food selections, not only prioritizing dignity, but also reducing food waste.  groveoutreach.com
  • Habitat for Humanity Peninsula & Greater Williamsburg ($5,000) will work with volunteers to complete critical exterior repairs for homeowners that would otherwise not be able to afford them. The repairs often include exterior painting and key safety enhancements, such as the installation of ramps, steps and handrails, to improve accessibility and reduce the risk of falls.  habitatpgw.org
  • Literacy for Life ($5,000) will provide instructors and tutors with the tools they need to deliver high-quality, effective instruction to learners who lack the English or literacy skills needed to succeed in life and work in the U.S. literacyforlife.org
  • Williamsburg Area Meals on Wheels ($5,000) will offer the Family Meals & Summer Lunches for Kids programs to help fight hunger throughout the year by providing food security to school aged students and their families. williamsburgmealsonwheels.com

Environment & Conservation

  • Virginia Capital Trail Foundation ($5,000) will offer the Bikepacking Series, featuring educational workshops and a shakedown ride, culminating in an overnight bike trek to Chickahominy Riverfront Campground. VCT will also offer organized group runs, progressive group bike rides, and a series of educational talks on history, health benefits, environmental sustainability, and trail resources.  virginiacapitaltrail.org

Health & Community Wellness

  • Faith Recovery ($5,000) will provide supportive transportation to medical and legal appointments, recovery meetings, church services, and volunteering opportunities for men on the road to recovery from substance use disorders. faithrecoveryhope.org
  • Lackey Clinic ($5,000) will provide free virtual care to hundreds of residents in Greater Williamsburg who struggle to access healthcare due to lack of transportation, cost, insurance, childcare, or time off work. These residents will be able to get free healthcare 24 hours a day.  lackeyclinic.org
  • NAMI–Williamsburg Area ($1,500) received a Capacity Building grant.  namiwilliamsburg.org 
  • Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center ($5,000) will conduct outreach to as many as 100 parents of children on the agency’s wait list and offer parenting groups in order to address these children’s top issues: anxiety, depression, family difficulties and behavioral issues. peninsulapastoral.org
  • Triangle Stepping Stones ($1,500) received a Capacity Building grant. trianglesteppingstones.com

The Williamsburg Community Foundation is a public charity founded in 1999 as the Greater Williamsburg Community Trust to connect people who care with causes that matter. With assets of over $31 million, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $1.3 million last year in the areas of education, arts and culture, children and young adults, environment and conservation, health & community wellness and economic mobility, and senior services. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $13.6 million to nonprofit organizations and students in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.williamsburgcommunityfoundation.org or call (757) 259-1660.