Robins Foundation

07/21/2026

💡 Looking to strengthen your nonprofit's capacity at no cost?

Through Robins Foundation, Richmond-area nonprofits can receive free access to Catchafire, an online platform that connects organizations with skilled professional volunteers ready to support projects in marketing, communications, strategic planning, fundraising, finance, technology, HR, design, and more.

Since 2021, Catchafire volunteers have contributed more than 14,500 hours of pro bono expertise, delivering work valued at more than $2.8 million for Robins-sponsored nonprofits across the Richmond region.

Whether you need a new website, a strategic plan, a fundraising strategy, or support for your organization's next big project, Catchafire can connect you with professionals who are ready to help your mission grow.

Devyn Keller from Childcare Aware of Virginia said of Catchafire: "Our team has had a great experience utilizing the Catchafire site. We have been matched with some amazing volunteers who have not only led a training for our full team or provided 1-1 coaching, but worked alongside us to customize it to be exactly what we needed. As a non-profit, we are so appreciative to have these professional development opportunities available to us for free and are excited to see how it can continue to help us grow.”

Robins Foundation sponsors an unlimited number of eligible Richmond-area nonprofits to participate. If your organization is interested in accessing Catchafire, visit our Capacity Building page to learn more and submit an interest form.

https://robinsfdn.org/capacity-building/

Together, we're investing in stronger organizations and a stronger Richmond. 💙

07/15/2026

📣 Applications are now open for Robins Foundation's second 2026 SPARK Grant Cycle for Early Childhood Care and Education!

We are seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations serving children and families from prenatal stages through age 5 in Richmond City, Chesterfield, Henrico, and Petersburg.

Grant awards start at $25,000 and will prioritize programs and initiatives that support:

• High-quality early childhood programs
• Family engagement
• Workforce supports
• Policy and advocacy

Before submitting a full application, organizations must complete a mandatory pre-application questionnaire and schedule a conversation with our program team. Pre-application questionnaires are available now through July 29, and call slots are limited, so we encourage eligible organizations to get started as soon as possible.

Key dates:
📅 Pre-application questionnaire: July 15–29
📅 Pre-application calls: July 20–31
📅 Full application deadline: August 28
📅 Grant decisions announced: Mid-December 2026

If your organization is helping young children thrive and advancing school readiness across our region, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more here: https://robinsfdn.org/2026-ecce-spark-second-grant-cycle-announcement/

06/04/2026

We are pleased to share this webinar opportunity with our nonprofit community.

Join Warren Whitney & Woods Rogers for a 90-minute session covering two topics every Virginia nonprofit leader should have on their radar:

Virginia Nonprofit Employers' Mid-Year Legal Update: Attorneys Leah Stiegler and Alex Liubinskas of Woods Rogers will highlight recent employment law changes and key takeaways from the Virginia General Assembly's latest legislation.

Moving Toward Equity: 2026 Compensation, Benefits & Work Culture Report: HR Consultant Esther Nand of Warren Whitney will guide attendees through salary benchmarking data and trends in compensation, benefits, recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.

Both sessions include live Q&A.

Choose your date:
• Monday, June 8 | 2:00–3:30 p.m. Register here: fb8d79bd-6a4d-460e-a71d-8f189a8a6de5@47045ffa-3925-403b-9379-b8ecc64767cf" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/fb8d79bd-6a4d-460e-a71d-8f189a8a6de5@47045ffa-3925-403b-9379-b8ecc64767cf
• Wednesday, June 10 | 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Register here: 937c5d66-ab14-44e8-9d26-0ef70a8af200@47045ffa-3925-403b-9379-b8ecc64767cf" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/937c5d66-ab14-44e8-9d26-0ef70a8af200@47045ffa-3925-403b-9379-b8ecc64767cf

Can't attend? Register to receive a recording of the webinar: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BBCB76R

06/01/2026

Venture Richmond invites you to share your input as they work to strengthen and grow their organization's impact on downtown. This is your opportunity to help shape the priorities that will drive meaningful change in our community.

Venture Richmond is developing a new Strategic Plan and we want to hear from the people who know Downtown best.

Share what you think is working, what could improve, and what you'd like to see for Downtown's future. Your feedback will help inform how Venture Richmond directs its programs, services, and investments going forward.

The survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete.
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B75YVWH

05/21/2026

Richmond's nonprofit leaders deserve more than data. They deserve a roadmap.

We're excited to share that the Moving Toward Equity Compensation, Benefits, and Work Culture Report for RVA Nonprofits is now available. This year's report draws on responses from 65 nonprofits covering 698 wages across 27 positions, with new features designed to help you move from insight to action:

✅ A legal update from Woods Rogers on key 2026 Virginia employment law changes
✅ Employer Takeaways in every section with concrete steps you can apply now
✅ "The Conversation Ahead," an honest look at how funding shifts and community needs are reshaping our sector

The findings reflect a sector doing its best under real pressure. We’re proud to support this resource and hope it helps you feel prepared for what's ahead.

Download the report:

How do your salaries and benefits compare? Explore the 2026 RVA nonprofit report for data-driven insights on compensation, benefits, and workplace trends.

05/19/2026

Happening tomorrow at 1PM!

Community Purchasing Alliance (CPA) is coming to Central Virginia. For 15+ years, they've helped DC-area nonprofits and community institutions save millions, reduce operating costs, and shift over $60M to minority-owned businesses — all through the power of group purchasing.

Now they want to hear your vision for what's possible here in Richmond.

💻 Register: https://lnkd.in/erCjak5E

Community Purchasing Alliance Cooperative launched in 2010 to solve a need - helping community institutions reduce their operating costs so they can reinvest in their missions and communities.

Through group purchasing processes for facilities-based contracts, CPA helps organizations find better contracts, mission-oriented vendors, and friendlier contract terms. With over 15 years of experience in the DC region, CPA is now expanding to Richmond and looking to support community institutions with their purchasing needs. Through CPA's group purchasing programs, members have saved millions of dollars and countless hours, all while shifting over $60 million dollars to minority-owned businesses.

At this session, you'll hear about CPA's origin story, the way group purchasing works, and their existing DC area programs. Then we'll discuss the vision for Central Virginia - your vision - about what might be possible by purchasing together here in Richmond. Register to Attend: bit.ly/cpacinfosession

04/22/2026

Robins Foundation was established in 1957 by E. Claiborne and Lora M. Robins, who believed deeply in the power of education and community to transform lives. More than 60 years later, we continue to honor that legacy through thoughtful grantmaking in the Richmond region.

We fund three areas:
Early Childhood — Supporting children ages 0–5 and their families through SPARK Grants (starting at $25,000) and SEED Grants (up to $25,000), fueling early learning, family engagement, workforce development, and advocacy.

Dynamic Community — Investing in vibrant spaces and community-building initiatives that enrich quality of life and make the Richmond region a positive place to live, work, and play.

Capacity Building — Strengthening local nonprofits so they can sustain their missions and deepen their impact.

Our vision: A Richmond region where every young child is prepared for a bright future and every resident and visitor has access to vibrant spaces and enriching experiences.

🔗 Visit www.robinsfdn.org to learn more or apply for a grant.

For children to have the opportunity to thrive, they require access to high-quality early childhood care and education experiences. We support the parents, providers, and infrastructure that make that possible.

02/25/2026

📚 Partner Spotlight: Read to Them

Since 2004, Read to Them has helped families and schools across all 50 states build a culture of literacy through the simple, powerful act of reading aloud.

Here in Greater Richmond, they support 7,500+ early learners through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, delivering free, high-quality books each month to children ages 0–5 and strengthening kindergarten readiness from the very start.

We’re proud to partner in this important work.

👉 Read the full article to learn how reading aloud builds early literacy and lifelong connection.

https://robinsfdn.org/read-to-them-how-reading-aloud-promotes-early-literacy-and-builds-connections/

02/23/2026

At Robins Foundation, we believe strong nonprofits build strong communities. That’s why we’ve provided 200+ local organizations, not just our grantees, with free access to Catchafire, a powerful platform connecting nonprofits with more than 100,000 skilled volunteers.

From marketing and communications to finance, fundraising, strategic planning, and professional development, Catchafire helps organizations strengthen their infrastructure and expand their impact, all while saving valuable resources. Since 2021, Robins-sponsored nonprofits have completed projects valued at over $2.6 million, contributing 14,000 volunteer hours.

Capacity building isn’t just support, it’s sustainability. We’re proud to make tools like Catchafire accessible to the nonprofits driving meaningful change in our community.

Read about our own experience using Catchfire this past summer here: https://robinsfdn.org/why-catchafire-is-our-go-to-platform-for-nonprofit-capacity-building/

Learn more about Catchafire & how to sign up here: https://robinsfdn.org/capacity-building/

01/23/2026

📚🐾 Big congratulations to Robins Foundation Vice Chair, Charlotte Robins Bryant, on publishing her children’s book, Beebs the Brave! Starring her adorable pets, this heartwarming story is one kids (and animal lovers) will adore.

Even better, 100% of the proceeds from Beebs the Brave will be donated to The Tommie Fund, a program established by Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) to support animals in need
Check it out here and help make a difference for our four-legged friends! 💛🐶🐱 https://mixam.com/print-on-demand/69091e72f59f152b67ab2bbf