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Announcing A New Grant Initiative!

The Nelson County Community Fund (NCCF) has launched a new program called
the Nelson County Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC).
Deadline for submission is March 18, 2024

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: 306
  • Total awards value to date: $2 million
  • Average grant size: $6,400
  • Number of local nonprofits receiving grants: 70+

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.

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…

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“With your help, we are increasing our outreach into Nelson County. For children who have experienced abuse… we will make certain they are greeted warmly and expertly.”

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

—Sexual Assault Resource Agency
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“[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
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“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
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“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
11

“…I don’t have a big education [but] thank you to all the people that has (sic) helped me with the dental treatment for my daughter…. The treatment has been very successful because my daughter is a lot better now…. Again, thank you for everything. God bless you all.”

-Mother of a pediatric dental patient, Blue Ridge Dental Center

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.

 

Six Local Nonprofits Awarded New Grants

NCCF recently awarded six new grants totaling $41,500 to local nonprofits addressing a range of important issues and needs:

  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Central Virginia will use the grant to recruit CASA volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in Nelson County.
  • All Blessings Flow is a faith-based organization that will use the funds to expand its outreach in Nelson County to make medical equipment and supplies available for free to underprivileged families living with disabilities and serious health conditions.
  • Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative (CVFWI) will use the grant to fund its Healthy Farm Workers initiative, offering health checks and preventative services, with a focus on diabetes and hypertension.
  • ReadyKids will fund expanded outreach in Nelson County of its home visiting services to mothers and their young children to promote positive parent-child interactions, healthy childhood growth, and family well-being.
  • Foothills Child Advocacy Center with use the support to organize and conduct child abuse prevention programs for parents, caregivers, and mandated reporters (teachers, daycare workers, etc.).
  • The Millennium Group, in support of the Nelson Heritage Center, will use its grant to upgrade, renovate, and provide training in the computer/Learning Leading Lab, making it available to students after hours and during the summer, as well as community residents who may not otherwise have access to computers.

Since its inception 23 years ago, NCCF has awarded over 300 grants, totaling nearly $2 million, to 67 organizations. The deadline for applying for the next grant award cycle is December 31, 2023.

Get in Touch. Get Involved.

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