Grantmaking Focus Areas

The Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation is committed to supporting initiatives and organizations that align with our mission to cultivate resilient communities and ecosystems in the places the Worrells called home.

Geographic Focus Areas

The Foundation focuses its grantmaking in the following regions of Virginia: 

  • Greater Charlottesville Area – Funding in this region is primarily focused in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, with some support for broader regional initiatives in the Counties of Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange.

  • Southwest Virginia – Funding is focused on regional approaches for the Cities of Bristol and Norton and the Counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise.  

  • Surry County – Funding is limited to supporting a few key initiatives including Preserving Natural Assets and Historic Preservation in Surry County. 

Grantmaking Priorities

Grants will primarily be awarded to projects and organizations that address one or more of the following areas:

  • Economic Mobility & Well-Being – We work with partners to sustain and expand programs and strategies that provide essential services to those experiencing poverty and create opportunities to increase their economic mobility, with priority for projects focused on:  

    • Education – High-quality early childhood care and education; and Access to community colleges.

    • Health – Mental health, Behavioral health, Women’s health, Access to healthy food, and Support for aging populations.

    • Housing – Initiatives that allow people to remain in their homes.   

    • Workforce Training, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship – Job training and support programs to prepare people for high-wage employment; and Programs that support entrepreneurship and small business development.

  • Preserving Natural Assets – Recognizing the impacts of expanding development and a changing climate, this program area focuses on work that protects ecosystems and provides economic and health benefits for the communities we serve, with priority for projects related to: 

    • Expanding Conservation Initiatives – Land management, protection, and species conservation; and Sustainable energy initiatives.

    • Outdoor Access and Environmental Education – Access to outdoor spaces and recreational opportunities; and Environmental education.

    • River Health and Access – Conservation and recreation strategies that improve river health and the relationship between communities and rivers.

  • Family Legacy – Maintaining a sense of place, including what makes each region unique, was important to Anne and Gene Worrell. In honor of this legacy, the Foundation dedicates a portion of the grantmaking budget to support: 

    • Historic Preservation – Including the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, projects that share a more complete and representative story of our history, and projects that capitalize on local historical assets to create healthy and vibrant public spaces. 

    • Arts and Culture – Including support for community-based arts organizations that are contributing to the creative economy.

    • Local News – Including support for news organizations that fill an information gap and for reporters and projects that cover topics aligned with Foundation program priorities.

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, we have a dedicated team of professionals who work with our Grants Committee to identify potential grantees. We look for organizations whose work matches our investment priorities and who have proven capacity to effectively steward funds and achieve results.