Charlottesville Area Community Foundation

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Charlottesville Area Community Foundation

The Community Foundation skillfully connects the right people, programs and resources to help local communities realize opportunities for positive change.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the city of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange. We believe that strong community relationships, collaborative problem-solving, and broad engagement are powerful forces for change. We are committed to centering the experiences of those who are most impac

ted by problems and to widening access to our resources (both monetary and non-monetary) and ensuring they are equally distributed.

06/02/2026

Please join us in welcoming Leigh Harrison, our new Senior Philanthropic Relationship Manager!

Leigh works closely with the Philanthropic Engagement team to steward a portfolio of nonprofit agency funds and other fund types, ensuring robust support, service, and engagement for Community Foundation fundholders.

Leigh lives in Albemarle County with his wife, their two small children, and their cat. When not struggling to play harpsichord music on the piano or to make his favorite old-timey Southern recipes vegetarian, he enjoys visiting the opera with his daughter, reading adventure stories with his son, and going on long and leisurely hikes through the woods with the whole family.

Read more about Leigh's work here: https://cacfonline.org/leigh-harrison-named-senior-philanthropic-relationship-manager/

05/15/2026

How much would it cost to eliminate food insecurity in our region? Does educational attainment differ from county to county? How many residents are housing burdened across our region? These are some of the questions that we sought answers to in our impact report.

The data shows us that people across our region are experiencing vastly different realities, which also means that there are spaces where coordinated investment can make a big difference.

In 2025, a group of Community Foundation fundholders began to meet following the news of SNAP benefit cuts across the state. They heard directly from local organizations about their needs and began to respond in real time. Funds ranging from $250 to $20,000 were pooled together, multiplying the impact of each dollar and directing it back into our region.

Read the story of how this happened in our impact report: https://cacfonline.org/community-impact/

05/14/2026

We're so excited to share our 2025 Impact Report! In the past year, the Community Foundation made 2,154 grants & distributions totaling $31.9 million to organizations across our region.

Our work would not be possible without the generosity, collaboration, and trust we see every day.

Inside the report, you'll find stories of new scholarship funds in Buckingham county, a local group rebuilding Charlottesville's tree canopy, and how Dave Matthews Band is catalyzing support for affordable housing.

We are proud to work alongside the fundholders, nonprofits, and community leaders who make this impact possible. Read the full report: https://cacfonline.org/community-impact/

05/05/2026

We're thrilled to introduce Janasha "Jay" Bradford, our new Mothers In Bloom Program Coordinator!

Jay will provide critical project management and administrative support to the Mothers In Bloom cohort, board, and program partners, ensuring the smooth functioning of the program.

Jay is an award-winning author, licensed financial advisor, and the founder and executive director of Mahogany and Friends, an edtech company making financial education fun and accessible for all. Outside of work, Jay enjoys traveling, being near the water, and discovering live music.

🔗 Visit our website to read more about Jay's work: https://cacfonline.org/janasha-bradford-named-mothers-in-bloom-program-coordinator/

04/28/2026

We're so excited to introduce Mikayla Woodley, our new Program Administrator!

Mikayla works closely with the Community Investment team to provide critical administrative and project management tasks that ensure the smooth functioning of the Foundation’s community investment programs.

Outside of work, Mikayla is a racket sports enthusiast who enjoys playing pickleball, tennis, and racquetball. She gets way too competitive at all things trivia-related, even hosting her own trivia nights. When she isn’t plotting her next victory on the court or in trivia, she enjoys playing board games and catching up with friends on long walks.

Visit our website to read more about Mikayla's work: https://cacfonline.org/mikayla-woodley-named-program-administrator/

04/21/2026

The number of "news deserts" in Virginia more than doubled between 2023 and 2025. As local outlets disappear across the state, our region is no exception—and rural areas in Central Virginia are hit hardest by newsroom closures and corporate buyouts.

To better understand the direct impact of these shifts on our neighbors, we reached out to residents in Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison, and Nelson counties. Today, we’re sharing the Central Virginia Information Ecosystem Assessment, built from their insights, experiences, and ideas about local news.

Read the report today and hear what they had to say: https://bit.ly/localnewsfb

04/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Spring Investment Update breakfast last week! Whether you were there in person or are just now catching up, we wanted to share a recap of the morning.

We were joined by our Outsourced Chief Investment Officer, FEG, for a year-end investment overview and a look at new fund offerings developed in direct response to fundholder input. We also had the joy of formally welcoming several new team members to the foundation.

The recording from the event is now available here: https://youtu.be/oMNvM0FopDE

Thank you for your partnership and support. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

04/09/2026

Last year, we surveyed over 300 Central Virginia residents to learn more about how you get local news and information.

You told us you care deeply about what’s happening where you live. But a lack of local news outlets, inconsistent access to community-led reporting, and limited time to research and verify facts has made it challenging to get what you need.

In our latest report, we dive into these common barriers as well as the solutions needed to make trustworthy, accessible, and inclusive news the norm.

Celebrate Local News Day by reading the report, sharing your feedback, and signing up for email updates to stay in the loop: https://bit.ly/localnewsfb

04/08/2026

Today, we are thrilled to officially launch the Central Virginia Information Ecosystem Assessment: a new report that gives us a roadmap for how to keep our communities informed and make local news work better for everyone. Based on 300+ surveys and 13 local expert interviews in Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison, and Nelson counties, these insights show what’s working well, what’s missing, and where we go from here.

Want to learn more? Read the report and sign up for email updates: https://bit.ly/localnewsfb

03/18/2026

Applications are open for six scholarships available to graduating high school seniors from Buckingham, Fluvanna, and Louisa County.

These scholarships are part of our foundation's ongoing commitment to supporting students in our region as they pursue their education beyond high school, whether that means a four-year university, community college, or vocational program.

Visit our website to view eligibility requirements and learn how to apply: https://cacfonline.org/grants/scholarships/

Deadlines are approaching in April 2026! If you know a high school senior who could benefit, please pass this along.

Address

410 E. Water Street
Charlottesville, VA
22902

Website

http://www.cacfonline.org/

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