Strengthening Families-Strengthening Communities

Purpose

Since 1993, TCF’s grantmaking has focused its discretionary resources on five strategic areas within the overarching theme of Strengthening Families – Strengthening Communities.

Grants to religious organizations and nonprofits that address other areas of concern are primarily supported by donor advised funds or designated funds.  Donor advised funds also provide significant support for secondary and post-secondary educational institutions.

  1. Community & Economic Development
    Our goal is to support safe and affordable housing and to stimulate neighborhood and community revitalization.  A limited number of grants support workforce development or environmental initiatives.
  2. Community Enrichment
    Our goal is to support organizations that broadly enrich family and community life by supporting the arts; and, community resources that offer cultural, historical and educational opportunities.
  3. Health Promotion and Access to Care
    Our goal is to provide children and families with access to high quality health information, and primary health care services and early intervention, especially for the uninsured and medically underserved. These efforts are carried out in partnership with the Jenkins Foundation, Sheltering Arms Fund and the Richmond Eye & Ear Foundation Fund.
  4. Promoting Philanthropy & Strengthening Nonprofits
    Our goal is to strengthen nonprofit performance through capacity building support that helps to build a strong and sustainable community of nonprofit organizations.  Our goal related to promoting philanthropy is to encourage and support networking, shared learning and emerging models for engaging citizens in philanthropy.
  5. Youth & Family Development
    Our goal is to ensure that our community offers resources to help children and their families develop and thrive. We support organizations that provide basic human needs for vulnerable individuals and families; and, youth development programming to help students succeed at home, in school and in the larger community.

Eligibility

Proposals will be accepted from 501(c)(3) charitable organizations serving residents of Greater Richmond and/or the Tri-Cities.

Size of Awards

Generally, grants will range from $5,000 to $100,000.  The Foundation will also identify a limited number of projects, which may be awarded in excess of the current guideline.

Process

Community Grants
TCF considers Preliminary Proposals for program or operating support in May and in November of each year.  These requests will be evaluated through the community grants process, which is overseen by TCF’s Distributions Committee.  A limited number of organizations will be invited to submit fully developed proposals.

Capacity Building Grants
Requests for Capacity Building support may be submitted at any time and will be considered by TCF’s Distributions Committee on a quarterly basis.  Before submitting a request for Capacity Building, please review the following guidelines found below and contact Foundation staff.  

Strategic Grants
*These grants will be initiated by TCF’s Board of Governors
The Foundation’s Board of Governors will identify opportunities to partner with and invest in organizations, programs or collaborative initiatives that have the potential to make a transformational impact in one or more of the five strategic areas identified above.