The Conserve the Future Fund will support projects and organizations with a focus on benefiting the environment, conserving natural resources and enhancing regional sustainability. The focus is predominantly on supporting project-based efforts rather than annual operating budgets.
Areas of interest include:
- Renewable energy: solar, hydropower, wind and geothermal
- Energy Efficiency
- Reforestation, soil conservation and preservation of green spaces
- Protecting wildlife habitats and supporting biodiversity with an emphasis on native plants that encourage pollinators, butterflies and birds
- "Reduce, reuse, recycle" programs
- Efforts contributing to cleaner air, water and soil
- Education, research and/or job training to support environmentally conscious efforts
Including specific, quantifiable outcomes (i.e. greenhouse gas emission reductions, amount of plastic waste kept out of landfills, or stormwater run-off diversion from watershed) would be greatly appreciated in application review. Please include photographs and plans, as appropriate.
Eligibility
Letters of Introduction are accepted from 501(c)(3) charitable organizations located in the Community Foundation's service area, which includes: the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, as well as the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, and Powhatan.
Conserve the Future grant applicants are required to maintain a Guidestar Gold profile. We suggest making these updates at least two weeks prior to the Full Application deadline. For more information on creating or updating your organization's profile, please visit Guidestar's Nonprofit Profile page.
2023
Capital Region Land Conservancy - $40,000 to support establishing a revolving loan fund (Virginia Conservation Assistance Program) for urban residential & commercial conservation efforts
Capital Trees Project - $5,000 to support the planning & construction fees for greening Northside's Hotchkiss Field and Community Center
Community Climate Collaborative (C3) - $15,000 to support recruiting cohort of local employers to reduce GHG emissions while creating a replicable model for use throughout Virginia, propelling RVA toward carbon neutrality
City Bees RVA - $10,000 to support K-12 STEM program involving apiaries in Chesterfield, Sankofa Community Orchard, & Northside Pine Camp
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy - $30,000 to support Installing solar panels on roof and wide promotion of "how-to" and benefits of solar energy to other local nonprofits & places of worship
2022
Blue Sky Fund - $10,000 to support the Outdoor Leadership Institute
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond - $26,000 to support the plantings at the Teen & Community Center – Native Greenspace Project
Bridging The Gap In Virginia - $30,000 to support the 2022 Green Workforce Development
Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) - $20,000 to support the Ferndale Park & Trail Restoration/Renovation Challenge Grant
Renew Richmond - $40,000 to support the purchase of equipment and tools for the Farmstrong Infrastructure Development
2021
Groundwork RVA – $40,000 to support new green infrastructure in the garden spaces of Sankofa Mini Farm and Trinity Family Life Center, including solar-powered rain capture systems, permeable pathways, and rain gardens
Richmond Community ToolBank – $5,000 to support the purchase of trees, promotional material, and community engagement activities for the 12,000 tree giveaway program of the Arbor Day 2021 celebration
Science Museum of Virginia Foundation – $20,000 to support the purchase of vegetation for the Stormwater Management Demonstration Bed at “The Green,” a new urban greenspace at the Science Museum of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation – $10,000 to support the purchase of a replacement boat hull for the Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program (VOSRP)
Virginia Community Voice – $15,000 to support neighbor-led greening, recycling, and beautification projects in Richmond’s Southside
2020
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay – $40,000 to support RiverWise Schools at John B. Cary Elementary School to broaden its capacity for environmental science.
Capital Region Land Conservancy – $26,000 to support increased access to parks and open space for underserved communities.
Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation – $25,000 to support the RBHA North Campus Greenspace project, which will reduce erosion and stormwater runoff, increase native plantings, and create a healing outdoor space for individuals and families.
2019
CARITAS – $17,000 solar incentive grant to support renovations of the CARITAS Center.
National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) – $19,000 to support the RPS portion of the Throwing Solar Shade Program to study and mitigate the urban heat-island effect in the City of Richmond.
project:HOMES – $21,000 to support solar panels for one of the homes in the Carver neighborhood.
Richmond Public Schools – $100,000 solar incentive grant to support the salary and benefits for the Sustainability Associate; and to purchase and install energy monitoring kits for schools installing solar.
Viridiant – $50,000 to support the relaunch of Richmond Region Energy Alliance (RREA) to conduct home energy audits.
TOTAL Grantmaking: $514,000