Community Foundation for a greater Richmond

10/27/2026

Congratulations to AFP Central Virginia’s 2026 National Philanthropy Day honorees! 🎉 We’re proud to have nominated Sarah Arenstein Levy for Emerging Philanthropic Leader, and SisterFund and Ujima Legacy Fund for Outstanding Organizational Partner. Their leadership and generosity are strengthening our community every day.

10/20/2026

This event is open to the community! You do not have to be an LMR graduate to attend. Register ($10) to attend: https://lmronline.org/boardconnector/

Have you registered for Board Connector? Whether you're an experienced board member, ready to serve for the first time, or somewhere in between, there's a seat for you.

Nearly 40 organizations will be there looking for new board members, including local nonprofits, VCU Alumni & VCU Women’s Impact Network, and the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth (state board appointments).

Thursday, Oct. 29 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Weinstein JCC

This event is open to the community. You do not have to be an LMR graduate to attend.

🔗 Registration ($10) is required here: https://lmronline.org/boardconnector/

10/15/2026

10/08/2026

October 8th is DAF Day, a national day of giving that brings together donors, nonprofits, and providers like the Community Foundation to inspire generosity for the causes that matter most.

Already have a donor-advised fund? It's set aside to make a difference, and today is the perfect day to recommend grants to the nonprofits closest to your heart.

Curious whether a donor-advised fund fits your giving? Reach out to our team at [email protected]

Join community changemakers across our region in increasing their impact this DAF Day!

10/05/2026

The Community Foundation is excited to announce the finalists for this year's R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence! Congratulations to all of our nominees and finalists. 🍎 📚

Since 1988, the R.E.B. Awards have honored public school teachers whose classroom performance inspires their students. The program is built on a simple belief: a positive educational experience in elementary, middle, and high school helps children form lifelong habits of learning.

Each year, through a nomination process, about 15 outstanding teachers from Richmond Public Schools, Chesterfield County Public Schools, Hanover County Public Schools, and Henrico County Public Schools are selected to receive grants for professional development.

Past recipients have used their grants to earn graduate degrees, climb mountains, trace their ancestry, and meet fellow educators from around the world, all to reignite their own passion for learning and bring it back to their classrooms.

09/30/2026

Across the Richmond region, a growing coalition of schools, employers, and community organizations is rewriting what career exploration looks like for middle schoolers, and the results speak for themselves. From Chamber RVA's Mission Tomorrow, which connects over 12,000 eighth graders with more than 150 local exhibitors each year, to Hanover County's hands-on CTE pathways, to NextUp's network of 150+ youth programs that puts choice directly in students' hands, these partners share one conviction: no single institution can build the whole pipeline alone.

The impact is real and measurable. Eighty two percent of Mission Tomorrow attendees discovered new career interests, and students in Hanover's specialty programs are landing high-income opportunities right out of high school. But beyond the numbers is something harder to quantify: the spark in a student's eyes when they realize their future is theirs to direct.

Read how these partners are working together to change the region for middle schoolers, one student, one program, one possibility at a time. ➡ rvarising.org/resource/career-exposure-for-middle-schoolers/

09/28/2026

Richmond has lost one of its greatest champions. Jim Ukrop was a gifted businessman, a servant leader, and a generous mentor and philanthropist. For many, this legacy is symbolized by Ukrop's grocery chain, a family business that he and his brother, Bobby, grew into a place of goodwill - known for exceptional service, beloved foods still found on shelves today, and steady support for countless community causes.

For decades, the Community Foundation has been honored to partner with Jim, his wife Bobbie, a former member of our board, and the extended Ukrop family on their personal and corporate giving. Jim's gifts of both time, money, and advocacy reached hundreds of organizations across the arts, education, social justice, and entrepreneurship. He understood that a thriving community and a thriving business fuel each other. A proud graduate of Richmond Public Schools, he fought for every student's chance to learn and thrive. He loved connecting leaders and helping them succeed, and there was no corner of community life he didn't touch.

Above all, Jim believed in the best of Richmond while always aspiring to what it could still become. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, whose generosity carries his legacy forward. Richmond is better because of him.

He was a "lifelong innovator" with a strong passion for his community and Richmond's growth.

09/23/2026

Nominate your principal for the REB Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership! It could result in TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars for YOUR school!🏆️

The REB Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership are a chance to recognize the dedication and hard work of Henrico County Public Schools principals. The awards were established by the REB Foundation and Community Foundation for a greater Richmond.

Students, families, staff and members of the community are invited to nominate a principal who has gone above and beyond to create an exceptional educational environment. The honorees will receive $20,000 to be used for school initiatives as well as an unrestricted $10,000 cash grant. A runner-up will also be chosen and could receive $10,000 for use toward school projects.

Nominations must be submitted online by Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. at https://www.cfrichmond.org/receive/scholars-educators/educators/leadership.

Last year’s HCPS winner was Dr. Jessica Seal, principal of Short Pump Middle School. Seal’s award funds will go toward expanding the Middle School Cornerstone project, a student leadership course she implemented at Short Pump Middle more than three years ago. The grant is helping the course expand to the division’s other middle schools. Paige Smith, principal of Short Pump Elementary School, was runner-up for the award. Smith received a $10,000 grant to support a studio production center at her school.

Nominate an outstanding principal today!

More: https://www.henricoschools.us/article/3143341

09/03/2026

Through collective giving, Ujima Legacy Fund increases the philanthropic impact of Black men in the Richmond region, while deepening members' understanding of community issues and the organizations addressing them most effectively.

Since 2013, the giving circle has funded nonprofit projects supporting underserved youth, helping more than 21 organizations transform children's lives through education initiatives.

The membership deadline has been extended to September 30th! Learn more and join: www.ujimalegacyfund.org

09/01/2026

For over two decades, Girls for a Change has held to a powerful mission: prepare Black girls for the world, and prepare the world for Black girls. Founder Angela Patton and her team don’t just talk about opportunity — they build it, equipping girls with career-ready skills and real-world access well before they’re old enough to drive. Behind that work stands SisterFund, a partner that understood early on what these girls needed most: experience, knowledge, and a genuine window into what the world has to offer them.
 
Through workshops, mentorship, and unwavering support, SisterFund has helped Girls for a Change do more than grow as an organization. Hear Angela’s story in her own words, and see what’s possible when belief turns into investment.