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NCCF has decades of experience helping other LOCAL nonprofits serve Nelson County residents

One is the Nelson Heritage Center which sponsors a food bank distribution and a host of other community services.

NCCF at a Glance

  • Founder: Gordon Smyth in 2000
  • Total Number of Grants Awarded: 344
  • Total Value of Awards through 12/31/2024: $2.2 million
  • Average Grant Size: $6,400
  • Number of organizations receiving grants: 75+

Having fun fund-raising

NCCF is known for its rollicking fund-raising events, from masquerade balls to a costumed Road Rally Scavenger Hunt throughout Nelson County. These events are a chance to dress up and party, while bringing local businesses, nonprofits, and the community together—all for a good cause.

Support for the Young

Now more than ever, NCCF grants are needed to support youth educational, esteem-building, and environmental awareness programs

Support for Elders

Whether it’s help building an access ramp, or paying for needed medications, nonprofits that support seniors continue to rely to NCCF grants to fund such programs.

Sickle Cell Awareness/Blood Drive is a Huge Success

Krystal Vest(L), Nelson County resident, and Natasha Hudson Gray, Nelson County native and American Red Cross Central Virginia Board Member, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee Chair and Diverse Blood Donor – Sickle Cell Initiative Lead were two of the more than 30 participants in a special Sickle Cell awareness blood drive by the American Red Cross, held recently at the Nelson Heritage Center. ARC is seeking black blood donors to address a critical shortage of blood to treat the deadly blood disorder.

Getting Families Involved

NCCF partners with local businesses to offer family fun—like a foot race at Thanksgiving—while raising money to give back to the community.

Improving Access to Health Care

NCCF grants have supported awareness and access to health care for rural communities.

Announcing A New Grant Initiative!

The Nelson County Community Fund (NCCF) has launched a new program called the Nelson County Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC).

The YPC initiative provides opportunities for local youth to learn and practice the art of “philanthropy”

Click here to learn more

Why Give?

NCCF has decades of experience helping other LOCAL nonprofits serve
Nelson County residents.

The Need

Half our school children rely on free/reduced-cost school meals. Many seniors can’t afford medications. High school students must bypass college due to costs.
Read on

Our Mission

Through its grant-making, NCCF provides financial support to local nonprofits and governmental agencies that aid people in need in Nelson County.
Read on

check presentation at Bold Rock cidery

Our Donors

NCCF relies on generous individual donors, as well as partnering with area businesses and community groups to support fundraisers such as its “Opportunity Ball”.
Read on

Our Beneficiaries

Each year we award thousands of dollars in grants to nonprofits providing health and dental care, feeding the hungry, promoting
education and much more.
Read on

Words of gratitude from NCCF grantees…

18

“Coming off the pandemic, this service is more and more necessary. We are sincerely grateful for your support of our work”

Margaret Clair, Nelson County Community Development Fund
14

“Thanks for the generous grant to assist Nelson County low-income residents with civil legal matters in the area of family law.”

Stephen E. Dickinson, Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
6

“Thank you for supporting the SARA…. Your grant [helps] keep free, comprehensive services available to survivors and their loved ones”

—Sexual Assault Resource Agency
16

“The vision of Habitat is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Your generous gift is helping to bring this vision to life!”

Jayne Johnson, Piedmont Habitat for Humanity
9

“[Your grant] will be used for the purchase of gym equipment [for the community center’s gym refurbishment].… We wish to express our deepest gratitude for the support you have given [us] over the years.”

—Millennium Group/Nelson Heritage Center
13

“The Mobile Food Pantry in Nelson County distributes nutritious fresh food and healthy staples to low-income residents in your rural county where groceries stores, and food pantries, are often scarce. Thank you for joining us in this important effort.”

Michael McKee, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

How You Can Give

donate

Whether you donate online or by check, once a year or once a month, every dollar helps us fulfill our mission. Click on the icon above to donate today.

volunteer

Have an interest in helping with one of our fundraisers, or serving on NCCF’s all-volunteer Board of Directors? If so, click on the icon above to volunteer today.

recycle / reuse

Another way to support NCCF is through our vehicle donation program. Click on the icon above to donate your old car cost-free and hassle-free

Leave a Legacy

Give the gift that keeps on giving to your neighbors in need by making a legacy donation

News & Updates

Click here to view the current News Releases and Newsletters

NCCF visits a training session by CASA

Members of the Nelson County Community Fund Board of Directors visited the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Central Virginia training session being held at the Tuckahoe Community Center for the new Nelson County CASA volunteers.

 

Via the NCCF grant that CASA received, they were able to recruit 5 new volunteers, 250% of their initial goal of 2 new volunteers!

We thank CASA for their tireless efforts to advocate for abused and neglected children in Nelson County, and we salute the volunteers for their dedication to this vital cause.

 

Twelve Local Nonprofits Awarded New Grants

NCCF recently awarded 12 new grants totaling $70,000 to local nonprofits
addressing a range of important needs in Nelson County:

  • Bridge Ministry, will use its grant to provide counseling, support, and job training for people overcoming substance abuse issues.
  • A grant awarded to Nelson County Community Development Foundation, will help families whose homes require urgent repairs.
  • Piedmont Habitat for Humanity, received a grant to help complete a new home in Nelson County.
  • The Rockfish Valley Community Center, will use an NCCF grant to expand and improve recreational facilities for families in Nelson County.
  • A grant to the Virginia Hunters Who Care, will place over 1,500 pounds of venison in local food banks for County families.
  • The grant to Girls on the Run, will help support 30-45 elementary school girls in a program to promote exercise and social, emotional, and physical skills.
  • Here to Stay Wintergreen, through its Nelson Enrichment Club, will develop a model of respite care using local volunteers to support persons with memory loss and their caregivers.
  • Foothills Child Advocacy Center, will help children who have experienced abuse by conducting forensic and medical exams and family advocacy.
  • The Nelson County Master Gardeners, will use the NCCF grant to further develop a demonstration garden at the Nelson Center.
  • A grant awarded to the Hospice of the Piedmont, will provide grief and healing services for children in Nelson.
  • The Girl Scouts of Virginia, will use their small grant to help recruit and support scouts in Nelson County.
  • Unity in Community, will use the NCCF grant to help rebuild their capacity following many changes. UC programs support health, housing, utilities, and other time-sensitive needs.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, NCCF has now awarded 344 small grants worth nearly $2.2 million since its inception in 2000.  The application deadline for the next grant cycle is 12/31/24

Get in Touch. Get Involved.

Make a Donation

NCCFund@gmail.com

Apply for a grant