Community Investment Funds

Supporting Critical Need in Northern Virginia

In partnership with our donors, we support the Northern Virginia nonprofit community through grantmaking and capacity building programs. Grants from the Community Investment Funds give back to local causes such as child and youth development, intellectual and developmental disabilities, education, Latino engagement and achievement, mental health, aging, military personnel and their families, and safety net support. See the list of 2025 Community Investment Fund grantees here.

Please consider a gift to support our annual grant cycle distributed from the Community Investment Funds. Your gifts support organizations across the region who provide critical support to our friends, families, neighbors, and fellow community members. Every donation is combined and amplified by our Permanent Fund to create meaningful, timely impact right here at home.

Thank you for helping us make more possible for Northern Virginia.
INVEST IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S FUTURE

Nonprofits: Learn More & Apply

The cycle for this year is now CLOSED.

In response to rising service demands, declining donations, and reduced federal support, the Community Foundation is refining its discretionary grantmaking approach to better support nonprofits.

Eligibility

Only organizations funded by CFNOVA between 2016 and 2025 through the Community Investment Fund or COVID-19 Response Fund grants cycles were eligible to apply. See below for more details on eligible organizations.

Grant Amounts:

General operating support grants will be awarded based on organizational budget size.

Funding Priorities:

Organizational strengthening
Capacity building
Immediate client needs

These updates are informed by our latest Insight Region^® report, The State of Nonprofits in Northern Virginia, which underscores the urgent need for flexible, sustained investment in the sector.

Timeline:

The 2026 CFNOVA grants cycle for Funds: Aging, Child & Youth Development, Education, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Lamond Fund, Mental Health, Military Personnel and their Families, and Safety Net are now CLOSED.

Check out our GRANTS FAQs for 2026 information.

Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts and Environment Fund grant applications will open in January 2026.

Eligibility Requirements for 2026

Organizations invited to apply have previously received awards from the Community Investment Fund or the COVID-19 Response Fund since 2016.
Organizations providing services in Northern Virginia (defined as the areas within Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park) can apply for funding.
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations providing charitable or educational services. Local, state and federal government entities are not eligible to apply.
Grant requests for general support purposes will be considered. Applications for capital improvements, endowments, or scholarship awards will not be considered.
Organizations are limited to one application per grant cycle. Multiple applications will not be considered.

For questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Special Thanks To:

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Addressing food insecurity in Northern Virginia

With SNAP benefits reduced and many impacted by the government shutdown in our region, a growing number of individuals and families in Northern Virginia are struggling to put food on the table. Local food banks and pantries are stepping up to meet the need—but they can’t do it alone.

To address the urgent needs of nonprofits across our region, we’ve accelerated our discretionary grants process this year. Our Community Investment Funds cycle is now accepting streamlined applications for general operating support from nonprofits.
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