Shenandoah Community Foundation

06/03/2026

We are now accepting applications for the 2026 Community Grants program. Grant awards fall into six broad areas: arts and culture, civic affairs, education, environment, health, and family, child, and social services.

In these six funding areas, the Community Foundation is interested in working with organizations to build on community strengths and find solutions to current challenges.

We will be hosting a webinar for potential grant applicants on Thursday, June 4, at 1:00 p.m. To get a link to participate, please email us at [email protected]. For more information and to apply, visit:

Discover how to apply for a grant to support local initiatives in Shenandoah County through the Community Foundation's programs.

05/29/2026

Fund Friday Spotlight 🔦

With a season home opener happening tonight, we're excited to highlight a fund set up to bring generations together through baseball:

Strasburg Express–Homewood at Shenandoah Valley Fund⚾

This fund is dedicated to helping area senior citizens enjoy local baseball, ensuring they have meaningful opportunities to connect, cheer on the Strasburg Express, and stay engaged with the community.

Thanks to the generosity behind this fund, baseball becomes more than a game, it becomes a way to build connection, joy, and community across generations.

To support shared moments, hometown pride, and baseball nights under the lights visit the fund donation page at: https://scfva.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1075

05/19/2026

Congratulations, Class of 2026! ✨🎓

The Shenandoah Community Foundation is proud to announce the awarding of 83 scholarships totaling $193,005 to 60 students, supporting their next steps as they pursue new educational opportunities and work toward their academic goals.

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had the honor of presenting these scholarships at the Shenandoah County Public Schools high school award ceremonies, athletic banquets, and the Triplett Tech graduation, making these moments even more special as families, teachers, and communities gathered to celebrate these students' achievements.

To all of our scholarship recipients: your hard work, dedication, and commitment to your future continue to inspire us. We can’t wait to see all that you accomplish!

Read more at: https://shenandoahcommunityfoundation.org/shenandoah-community-foundations-awards-193005-in-scholarships/

The Shenandoah Community Foundation is pleased to announce the awarding 83 scholarships totaling $193,005 to 60 students, helping them pursue new educational opportunities and achieve their academic goals.

05/05/2026

Last week we hosted the first Shenandoah Community Foundation Women of Impact Luncheon. This event was born out of a simple but powerful belief: when women come together across generations, experiences, and perspectives we have the ability to shape our community in lasting ways. And this past Friday, we saw that come to life.

We were honored to hear from Katie Frazier, Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and to put our collective giving into action, awarding a $1,500 Women of Impact Grant to Response, Inc.

Thank you to our sponsors, F&M Bank and Sara Garland, for making this gathering possible.

And thank you to the incredible women-owned businesses who shared their talents with us: Black Valley Creative, Happenings, Salem's Chocolate Apothecary, and Petal Pushers.

To every woman who showed up, we are so thankful you were there. You are what makes this community so special.

This is what it means to be women of impact.

05/01/2026

Fund Friday Spotlight 🔦

This week we're proud to spotlight the Russell Adams Fort Valley Museum Fund, a dedicated source of support created to help preserve and advance the legacy of the Fort Valley Museum.

Russ Adams was an author of several books and retired as an Editorial Director before moving to the valley. He was very active in civic affairs in Fort Valley and was heavily involved with the Fort Valley community. Thanks to his vision and generosity, this fund ensures that grants will be awarded annually to the Fort Valley Museum strengthening its mission to protect local history, share powerful stories, and educate future generations. These grants support the Museum as it continues its vital work safeguarding artifacts, expanding exhibits, and enriching the cultural heartbeat of Fort Valley.

Together, we can honor the past while inspiring the future. To support this fund, visit: https://scfva.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1061

04/29/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Shenandoah Scholars!

04/23/2026

This week, our staff is out and about across the county dropping off “Qualified Cookie Distributions” to local financial advisors and tax professionals.

These sweet surprises are our way of saying thank you and sparking conversations about how our community foundation can be a trusted home for Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) that make a real local impact. If you are looking for a way to turn a Required Minimum Distribution into a QCD that supports meaningful causes and makes a difference both now and for years to come, we’d love to connect.

We are here to help make generosity simple, strategic, and lasting.

04/17/2026

It's Fund Friday and with Earth Day right around the corner (April 22), we are excited to highlight the Endowment for Environment Conservation.

Established by Dr. John and Elizabeth Cottrell, the Endowment for Environmental Conservation celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Community Foundation this year. When asked why they started the fund, the Cottrells replied, “"The natural beauty of the Shenandoah Valley has shaped our lives since we moved here in 1976, and we wanted to give something back that would outlast us. Several wonderful nonprofits are doing vital environmental work in our region, but the needs and opportunities change over time. By creating an endowed fund at the Shenandoah Community Foundation, we knew our gift could grow, adapt, and support whichever organizations are best positioned to protect this place—not just today, but for generations of Valley residents to come."

Each year, the Fund provides grants for impactful projects, activities, and events that promote environmental conservation and education.

Building a sustainable future starts with intentional investment. You don't have to be wealthy to start a fund like this. You just have to love something enough to want to protect it. You can contribute to the Endowment for Environmental Conservation at https://scfva.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1087

04/03/2026

Fund Friday Spotlight 🔦

This week, we’re celebrating a fund that’s helping Seven Bends State Park grow, quite literally.

🌳 Planting Roots for the Future of Seven Bends State Park Fund

Established in 2025 by Tim Funk, this fund provides grants through Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River to plant trees at Seven Bends State Park. Its purpose is simple, meaningful, and deeply rooted in stewardship: to ensure new trees are planted at the park each year.

Tim shared what inspired him to create the fund, “I have had to remove trees on my property and lacked a proper place to replace them. So, I purchased gift cards from Woodstock Gardens and gave them to park ranger Tom Stevens. With the fund, I was looking for a way to continue to have trees planted at the park annually.”

From a personal act of giving grew a sustainable way to replenish and enrich the landscape of one of our community’s beloved outdoor spaces. Each tree planted strengthens the park’s ecosystem, enhances its natural beauty, and supports future generations who will explore, learn, and enjoy Seven Bends.

You can support the Planting Roots for the Future of Seven Bends State Park Fund by visiting https://scfva.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1528

03/30/2026

Some of the best conversations happen over a good cup of coffee (or tea). And we've got just the spot!

Whether you’re stopping by our office for a quick hello or settling in for a conversation, we’d love to share a cup and talk about the many ways generosity is making a difference in our community.
If you’ve ever been curious about how you can create lasting impact through philanthropy, we invite you to come by, sip some coffee, and explore what’s possible together.

Just send us a message and we'll put a cup on for you.