2025 CFNRV grantees gather at our annual fall reception. View more photos from the event at this Google Photos link. All photos by Wilsie Photography.
This fall, the Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV) awarded $269,154.68 in grants to community organizations and public schools serving the New River Valley (NRV). Since awarding its first grant in 1997, the foundation has awarded more than $7.8 million in grants to fund hundreds of organizations that serve the NRV region.
Each year, the CFNRV invites community organizations, including nonprofits and units of government (such as libraries), to participate in their competitive Responsive Grant process to apply for up to $4,000 in operating support. This year, 76 organizations received Responsive Grants. These grants are flexible dollars that allow recipient organizations to use the funding where it is most needed. Additionally, the CFNRV awarded 18 grants to public schools, ranging from $600 to $1,500, for a variety of specific projects proposed by teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators.
“For the second year in a row, we have been able to support both nonprofits serving the New River Valley and public school projects that enrich the academic experience for NRV children. And, we’ve seen another record year for grantmaking overall,” said Jessica Wirgau, the CFNRV’s chief executive officer. “We’re grateful to the donors who make these awards possible and who work closely with our volunteer reviewers to support so many impactful organizations.”
How We Award Grants
The CFNRV manages more than 220 endowed funds benefiting the New River Valley. These funds give grants to a wide variety of charitable work and award scholarships to students pursuing higher education. During this year’s competitive grants process, 68 of these funds engaged in the grant-making process. These grants support work in the areas of animals, arts and culture, community and civic affairs, education, environment, health and wellness, poverty, and support, parenting, and care.
At a lunch reception at Sinkland Farms in Riner in mid-November, the CFNRV recognized each of the Responsive Grant and Education Grant recipients. The event was sponsored by National Bank of Blacksburg, the Cranwell Family Foundation, Atlantic Union Bank, First Bank and Trust Company, and Celco Credit Union.
A full list of this year’s grantees can be found below. The CFNRV’s grant applications will open again in late May 2026. More information on the application process can be found at cfnrv.org/grants or by contacting the CFNRV team at cfnrv@cfnrv.org or 540-381-8999.
2025 Grant Winners By locality
Floyd County
- Floyd Backpack Program (a program of New River Community Action)
- Floyd Center for the Arts
- Floyd County Humane Society
- Floyd Friends of Asylum Seekers
- Floyd Initiative for Safe Housing (FISH) (a program of Habitat for Humanity)
- Handmade Music School
- Mountain Valor Veterans Services
- Old Church Gallery
- Plenty!
- Springhouse
Giles County
- Giles Community Garden
- Giles County Christian Service Mission
- Giles County Shelter
- Giles Health & Family Center
- Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline
- Justice & Peace Committee (a program of the Holy Family Catholic Church)
- Pembroke Women’s Club
Montgomery County
- Agape Center NRV
- Auburn Elementary School
- Auburn Middle School
- Belview Elementary School
- Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry (a program of New River Community Action)
- Blacksburg Middle School
- Blacksburg New School
- CHIP of the NRV (a program of New River Community Action)
- Christiansburg Primary School
- DePaul Community Resources
- Falling Branch Elementary School
- Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley
- Historic Smithfield
- Imagination Library of Montgomery County, VA
- Inmate Family Assistance of the NRV
- Little Big Dog Rescue
- Lyric Council
- Mayapple School
- Montgomery County Christmas Store
- Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (a program of New River Community Action)
- Montgomery County Junior Appalachian Musicians
- Montgomery County Public Schools
- Mountain View Humane
- New River Land Trust
- NRV CARES
- NRV Glean Team
- NRV TimeBank
- Prices Fork Elementary School
- Shawsville Middle School
- Virginia CARES (a program of New River Community Action)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension – Montgomery
- Warm Hearth Village
- Wonder Universe
- YMCA at Virginia Tech
Pulaski County
- Calfee Community & Cultural Center
- Dublin UMC Learning Circle Preschool
- Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley
- New River Conservancy
- NRV Agency on Aging
- NRV Senior Services
- Pulaski County High School
- Pulaski County, Office of Prevention & Recovery
- Pulaski County Public Schools
- Virginia Cooperative Extension – Pulaski (4-H)
- Wilderness Road Regional Museum
City of Radford
- Head Start (A program of New River Community Action)
- John N. Dalton Intermediate School (Radford City Public Schools)
- Radford City Public Schools
- Radford Clothing Bank
- Radford High School
- Radford Emergency Assistance Program (a program of New River Community Action)
- Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread
- To Our House (a program of New River Community Action)
- Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley
Wythe County
- Blessings Wythe Love
- Downtown Wytheville
- Family Resource Center
- Mountain Community Action Program
- One-on-One Literacy Program of Wythe & Grayson Counties
- Open Door Community
- Rural Retreat Depot Foundation
- Wytheville Farmers Market
- Wytheville Training School Cultural Center
Based outside the NRV, but serve the region
- Bland Ministry Center
- Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Virginia
- Good Samaritan Hospice
- Roanoke Wildlife Rescue
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of SWVA
- Rx Partnership
- Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center
- Special Olympics Virginia
- Virginia Hunters Who Care
Read on for the details on which of the CFNRV’s funds contributed to each organization’s grant award.
2025 Responsive Grant Awards (List of funding total & source)
Agape Center NRV: $4,000 total from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund & the HMM Poverty Assistance Fund
Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry (a program of New River Community Action): $4,000 total from the Home-Hunger-Health Fund, the MANISTAL Fund, the NRV Association of Realtors Community Engagement Fund, the Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund, & the Todd Family Fund
Blacksburg New School: $1,500 total from the Cabell & Shirley Brand & SEEDS Student Fellowship & Mini-Grant Fund & the Mary P. Risacher Memorial Fund
Bland Ministry Center: $4,000 from the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
Blessings Wythe Love: $1,000 from the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Virginia: $4,000 total from the Janice Woodard Endowment, the Loving Care Fund, & the Young Women’s Life Experiences Fund
Calfee Community & Cultural Center: $4,000 from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund
CHIP of the NRV (a program of New River Community Action): $4,000 total from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund & the Luba Fabrycky Memorial Endowment
DePaul Community Resources: $2,760 from the Children’s Shelter Home Endowment
Downtown Wytheville: $4,000 from the Highlands Fund
Dublin UMC Learning Circle Preschool: $3,120 from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund
Family Resource Center: $3,000 from the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley: $1,500 from the Homer T. & Beverly A. Hurst Family Endowed Fund
Floyd Backpack Program (a program of New River Community Action): $4,000 from the Children’s Shelter Home Endowment
Floyd Center for the Arts: $4,000 total from the JJ Fund, the Katherine M. & William H. Sanders Family Fund, the NRV Association of Realtors Community Engagement Fund, the Rosina & Dean Carter Fund for the Visual Arts, & the Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund
Floyd County Humane Society: $2,000 total from the Earl Vest & Mamie Phillips Vest Unrestricted Endowment & the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Floyd Friends of Asylum Seekers: $4,000 total from the Endowment for Floyd County & the Jacobs Family Fund
Floyd Initiative for Safe Housing (FISH) (a program of Habitat for Humanity): $2,000 from the Endowment for Floyd County
Giles Community Garden: $1,500 from the Endowment for Giles County
Giles County Christian Service Mission: $4,000 from the Endowment for Giles County
Giles County Shelter: $4,000 from the Endowment for Giles County
Giles Health & Family Center: $3,000 from the Endowment for Giles County
Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline: $4,000 from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Good Samaritan Hospice: $4,000 total from the Endowment for Giles County & the Ghia Borg Memorial Health Care Fund
Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley: $4,000 total from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund & the Jane Brugh Layman Charitable Fund
Handmade Music School: $4,000 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund & the Litschert Family Fund
Head Start (a program of New River Community Action): $2,400 total from the Endowment for Giles County & the RBN Inc. Educational Opportunity Fund
Historic Smithfield: $2,000 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Imagination Library of Montgomery County, VA: $4,000 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund, the Hazelton Family Fund, Luba Fabrycky Memorial Endowment, & the RBN, Inc. Educational Opportunity Fund
Inmate Family Assistance of the NRV: $4,000 total from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund & the Cox Family Trust
Justice & Peace Committee, Holy Family Catholic Church: $2,000 from the Endowment for Giles County
Literacy NRV: $4,000 total from the Carolyn & Donald Rude Family Fund, the Dan & Beverly Fleming Family Fund, the Fund for Equity &Compassion, the RBN, Inc. Educational Opportunity Fund, & the Shuler Family Reading Fund
Little Big Dog Rescue: $2,000 from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Lyric Council: $4,000 from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Mayapple School: $4,000 total from the Loving Care Fund, the Smart Beginnings NRV Charitable Fund, & the Stewards of Nature Fund
Montgomery County Christmas Store: $4,000 total from the Cox Family Trust, the HMM Poverty Assistance Fund, the Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund, & the Talbot Family Fund
Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (a program of New River Community Action): $2,000 from the Joe & Margot Thompson Unrestricted Charitable Endowment
Montgomery County Junior Appalachian Musicians: $4,000 from the Arts Alliance Endowment
Mountain Community Action Program: $3,000 from the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
Mountain Valor Veterans Services: $4,000 total from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund, the Community Service Fund, & the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Mountain View Humane: $4,000 from the Paws & Claws Endowment & the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
New River Conservancy: $4,000 total from the MANISTAL Fund & the Stewards of Nature Fund
New River Land Trust: $4,000 from the Stewards of Nature Fund
NRV Agency on Aging: $2,000 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Health Care Fund & the Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund
NRV CARES: $4,000 total from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund & the Robert E. & Nadine J. Newcomb Memorial Fund – The Parenting Skills Fund
NRV Glean Team: $4,000 from the Cox Family Trust
NRV Senior Services: $1,700 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund & the Homer T. & Beverly A. Hurst Family Endowed Fund
NRV TimeBank: $1,500 total from the Homer T. & Beverly A. Hurst Family Endowed Fund
Old Church Gallery: $1,500 total from the Hulannie A. Jenkins & Kimberlyn Atherton-Jenkins Family Fund & the Mary P. Risacher Memorial Fund
One-on-One Literacy Program of Wythe & Grayson Counties: $3,000 from the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
Open Door Community: $4,000 from the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
Pembroke Women’s Club: $4,000 total from the Endowment for Giles County, Ghia Borg Memorial Fund, & the Lydia Roeske Wright Memorial Fund
Plenty!: $4,000 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Health Care Fund & the Mary Jean Brown & John L. Brown Fund
Pulaski County, Office of Prevention & Recovery: $2,000 from the David & Lillian Francis Charitable Endowment
Radford Clothing Bank: $2,000 from the Beatrice S. Kalka Endowment
Radford Emergency Assistance Program (a program of New River Community Action): $1,500 from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread: $4,000 from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund
Roanoke Wildlife Rescue: $4,000 from the Stewards of Nature Fund
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Virginia: $2,000 total from the Nelle Oakey Ryan Gardner Memorial Fund & the Worthington-Dolloff Cancer Treatment Assistance Fund
Rural Retreat Depot Foundation: $4,000 from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Rx Partnership: $1,500 total from the Margaret & Samuel H. Tollison Family Fund, the Miller Family Fund, & the Wellness Fund
Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center: $4,000 from the Stewards of Nature Fund
Special Olympics Virginia: $2,000 from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Springhouse: $4,000 total from the Blue Roads Education Fund, the Miller Family Fund, the Robert & Emily Stuart Grassroots Development Leadership Fund, & the Stoop Fund
To Our House (a program of New River Community Action): $1,500 from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund
Virginia CARES (a program of New River Community Action): $3,000 total from the Cox Family Trust & the Endowment for Giles County
Virginia Cooperative Extension – Montgomery: $4,000 from the Stewards of Nature Fund
Virginia Cooperative Extension – Pulaski (4-H): $4,000 total from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund
Virginia Hunters Who Care: $4,000 from the Cox Family Trust
Warm Hearth Village: $4,000 total from the Daniel C. & Joanne L. Bell Endowment, the Diana, Princess of Wales Endowment, the Ghia Borg Memorial Health Care Fund, & the Silver Care Endowment
Wilderness Road Regional Museum: $4,000 from the Loving Care Fund
Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley: $4,000 total from the David & Lillian Francis Charitable Endowment, the Endowment for Giles County, the Hawk’s Ridge Fund, & the Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund
Wonder Universe: $4,000 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund & the Loving Care Fund
Wytheville Farmers Market: $2,000 total from the Sarah Lee Alderson Memorial Fund & the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
Wytheville Training School Cultural Center: $3,000 from the Wythe County United Legacy Fund
YMCA at Virginia Tech: $4,000 total from the Cottingham-Stuart Community Fund, the Jim & Sue McAlister Family Fund, & the Warren Lloyd Holtzman Merit Grant Fund
2025 Education Grant Awards (List of funding total & source)
Auburn Middle School for the ‘Stay Clean, Stay Healthy’ project: $1,500 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund & the Shirley Van Dresser Guidance Fund
Belview Elementary School for the ‘Sensory Affirming Field Trips’ project: $1,500 from the Litschert Family Fund
Blacksburg Middle School for the ‘Entrepreneurship–Creating a Small Business’ project: $1,500 from the Litschert Family Fund
Christiansburg Primary School for the ‘Child-Centered Classroom’ project: $1,500 from the Loving Care Fund
Falling Branch Elementary School for the ‘Get Ready, Get Set, E is for Exercise’ project: $1,434.85 from the Shirley Van Dresser Guidance Fund
John N. Dalton Intermediate School (Radford City Public Schools) ‘Sandy’s Closet’ project: $1,400 from the Walking With Fund
John N. Dalton Intermediate School (Radford City Public Schools) ‘The Next Chapter’ project: $614.83 from the Walking With Fund
Montgomery County Public Schools for the ‘Loads of Care Laundry’ project: $1,485 from the Shirley Van Dresser Guidance Fund
Pulaski County High School ‘for the Clothing Closet’ project: $1,500 from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund
Prices Fork Elementary for the ‘Reading Incentives & Books for Breakfast’ project: $1,500 total from the Hazelton Family Fund & the Jacobs Family Fund
Prices Fork Elementary School for the ‘Connections Community’ program: $1,440 from the Walking With Fund
Pulaski County High School ‘PCHS Go’ project: $1,500 from the General Endowment & the Mary E. Sanders Fund
Pulaski County Public Schools ‘Book Bus’ project: $1,500 from the Ann & H.W. Huff, Jr. Family Fund
Radford City Public Schools ‘Building Brains with Blocks’ project: $1,200 from the Luba Fabrycky Memorial Endowment
Radford High School ‘Career & Technical Education for All’ project: $1,200 from the Nicholson Family Fund
Radford High School ‘Career & Technical Education Adaptive Furniture for Special Education Classroom’ project: $1,500 total from the Ghia Borg Memorial Fund, the Matthew Allen Special Memorial Fund, & the Warren Lloyd Holtzman Merit Grant Fund
Shawsville Middle School ‘Mustang Market – PBIS Partnership with FBLA & Make It Your Business’ project: $600 from the Warren Lloyd Holtzman Merit Grant Fund
Shawsville Middle School ‘FBLA Access & Opportunity for All Students’ project: $1,500 from the Walking With Fund