Abingdon, VA, November 1, 2023 — The Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia is proud to announce the successful completion of its first-ever grant application cycle, resulting in the commitment of over $7 million in funding to 13 deserving organizations. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Foundation’s mission to enhance the health and wellbeing of residents in Washington, Grayson, Russell and Smyth counties.
The grant application cycle, which ran from January to February 2023, generated a tremendous response with 30 submissions seeking a combined total of more than $15 million in funding. The Wellspring Foundation’s Board of Directors, alongside the dedicated staff, engaged in comprehensive evaluations and discussions to determine the most impactful projects to fund with the greatest potential for long-term sustainability.
Marvin Gilliam, Chair of the Wellspring Foundation Board of Directors, expressed his satisfaction with the community’s enthusiasm, stating, “We were pleasantly surprised to see such tremendous interest in our first grant cycle. The Board of Directors and staff spent significant time thoroughly reviewing each application to ascertain funding approval. It is clear we have numerous organizations that are working hard to tackle tough regional issues and truly want to improve the health and wellbeing of Southwest Virginia communities.”
The grant recipients and associated projects span a range of vital areas, including health, children and families, workforce development, education and economic development. The Wellspring Foundation is thrilled to support these initiatives that closely align with its vision and mission.
Gilliam continued, “We applaud each organization that took the time to submit an application for Wellspring Foundation’s initial grant cycle. We wish we could fund every worthy endeavor, but our charge is to be responsible stewards of the assets that have been entrusted to our care while also ensuring the future of the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia. On behalf of the Wellspring Foundation Board of Directors, I’d like to congratulate the grant recipients.”
2023 Wellspring Foundation Grant Recipients:
- Abingdon Cycling, Inc. – Great Knobs Trail System Amount: $318,000.00
- Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center – Dental Center Expansion Amount: $707,500.00
- Communities In Schools of Appalachian Highlands – Building Transformative Relationships to Shape Tomorrow’s Communities Amount: $227,380.00
- DePaul Community Resources – Supporting Children, Families, and Individuals with Disabilities through DePaul’s Essential Services Amount: $10,000.00
- Fairview Housing Management Corporation – Mended Women Lifestyle Recovery Amount: $200,000.00
- Grayson County, Virginia – New River Connected Amount: $14,813.34
- Isaiah 117 House – Washington County, VA Isaiah 117 House Amount: $25,000.00
- Russell County, Virginia – Dante Steam Building Restoration Project and Bernie Williams Workforce Center Amount: $113,877.00
- United Way of Southwest Virginia – Regional Workforce Development and Childcare Center Amount: $4 million (over 4 years)
- United Way of Southwest Virginia – Shared Services Alliance (support for childcare providers) Amount: $364,534.00
- Virginia Highlands Community College – Advanced Technology and Workforce Development Center Amount: $1 million
- Virginia Mental Health Access Program – REACH Program Pediatric Mental Health Training for Virginia Primary Care Providers Amount: $10,000.00
- Washington County, Virginia – Mendota Community Center Amount: $20,000.00
Sean McMurray, Executive Director of the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia, shared his excitement for future funding possibilities. “We are honored to be able to support so many meaningful projects,” said McMurray. “As we continue to grow, we hope to have an even larger pool of available funds for distribution. This will allow the Wellspring Foundation to support more projects with long-term impact in the future, which is an exciting prospect for the communities we serve.”
The Wellspring Foundation’s 2024 grant cycle will feature two applicant-accessible categories: the HOPE grant and the IMPACT Grant.
The HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Excellence) grant is designed for organizations requesting one-time funding of up to $25,000 for a project. Organizations with qualifying projects may apply for a HOPE grant and applications will be considered until program funds budgeted for the fiscal year have been distributed.
The IMPACT (Investing in Meaningful Projects Advancing Community Transformation) grant is designed for organizations requesting either a one-time or multi-year disbursement of funds for projects totaling more than $25,000. The IMPACT grant application will have a dedicated application window that will be open once per year.
For both the HOPE and IMPACT grants, the Wellspring Foundation accepts applications from eligible not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities in the Virginia counties of Washington, Grayson, Russell and Smyth. The Foundation’s grant application areas of focus include health, children and families, workforce development, education and economic development. Qualified applicants can apply for grants for new programs, current programs, or establishing/investigating new services. Applicants must serve to benefit Washington, Grayson, Russell or Smyth counties while supporting, promoting and/or furthering the Foundation’s vision and mission.
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About the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia
Established in the fall of 2021, the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia exists to enhance the health and wellbeing for the Virginia residents of Washington, Grayson, Russell and Smyth counties by cultivating goal-oriented partnerships. For more information, visit www.wellspringva.org.
