CultureWorks Inc
CultureWorks Inc is a public charity based in Richmond, Virginia, that supports artists and arts and culture organizations in the Richmond and Tri-Cities region. Its work includes grantmaking, strengthening organizations’ capacity, improving access to arts and culture, and promoting arts and cultural events.
CultureWorks Inc at a glance
In short: CultureWorks Inc gave $434K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in Virginia. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $434,093
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,940
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $29,174
- Total assets
- $558,403
- -16.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to CultureWorks Inc
- How to Apply
-
CultureWorks provides application guidelines and a grant portal for the Community Impact Grant; its guidelines describe a Stage 2 for finalists. For the Richmond Thrives Arts & Culture Fund, applicants are scored and ranked, and award amounts are determined from that ranking and available funding. Eligibility requirements differ by program.
- Review Cycle
- The Community Impact Grant listing gives a deadline of April 30, 2026. The Richmond Thrives Arts & Culture Fund listing gives a deadline of September 15, 2026.
- Deadline
- The Community Impact Grant listing gives a deadline of April 30, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1906-A North Hamilton Street, Richmond, VA 23230-4113
Phone: (804) 340-5280
Website: https://richmondcultureworks.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who CultureWorks Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Elegba Folklore Society Inc ($54K). Together the top 10 received $365K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 98 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CultureWorks serves the Richmond and Tri-Cities region. Its stated service area includes Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg; the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, and Sussex; and the town of Ashland. The 2025 itemized grants were all to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is CultureWorks Inc open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $31K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $368K (2024) to $559K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $434K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Elegba Folklore Society Inc Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $54,220 |
| The Richmond Symphony Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $51,110 |
| The Valentine Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $47,181 |
| Black History Museum Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $39,757 |
| Virginia Repertory Theatre Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $37,032 |
| Richmond Ballet Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $34,413 |
| Virginia Museum of History & Culture Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $33,758 |
| Children's Museum of Richmond Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $29,174 |
| Studio Two Three Richmond, VA | CW Annual Grant Program- Building Capabilities | $20,000 |
| Virginia Opera Richmond, VA | Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grant | $18,370 |
Ready to take the next step with CultureWorks Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $558,403 | $1,148,905 | $1,150,227 | $434,093 | 15 | $6,597 |
| 2024 | $665,899 | $1,117,437 | $1,095,657 | $367,570 | 15 | $5,940 |
| 2023 | $522,956 | $1,093,759 | $1,088,380 | $379,522 | 16 | $1,788 |
| 2022 | $827,621 | $1,289,541 | $1,231,610 | $559,412 | 24 | $155 |
| 2021 | $476,774 | $1,094,125 | $1,038,065 | $438,580 | 28 | $367 |
| 2020 | $610,569 | $1,165,895 | $1,158,704 | $412,140 | 16 | $1,969 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CultureWorks’ mission is “strengthening artists and arts and culture organizations to increase their impact in our region.” It describes a vision of a vibrant region with empowered artists and arts and culture organizations, and says it values diversity and inclusivity and believes everyone should have access to arts and culture and the opportunity to express their culture through the arts.
The Arts & Culture Community Impact Grant focuses on Building Capabilities and Cultural Equity. Building Capabilities supports organizational effectiveness, growth, and sustainability; Cultural Equity supports projects and programs engaging underrepresented populations. The program welcomes practicing artists across disciplines and nonprofit organizations primarily focused on making arts and culture more accessible to regional residents. CultureWorks also administers the Richmond Thrives Arts & Culture Fund, which provides unrestricted general operating support to eligible organizations.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantees. Elegba Folklore Society says it provides cultural arts programs for families, including festivals, history tours, visual arts, and performances. Studio Two Three describes itself as a community print studio and art space that empowers artists to make art and make change. James River Writers says its mission is to promote writing and literature in Virginia through literary events in the Greater Richmond area.
Grantmaking
In 2025, CultureWorks reported 15 grants totaling $434,093. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $54,220, with a median of $29,174. The largest awards listed were $54,220 to Elegba Folklore Society, $51,110 to The Richmond Symphony, $47,181 to The Valentine, $39,757 to Black History Museum, and $37,032 to Virginia Repertory Theatre. These grants were designated as Arts & Cultural Funding Consortium Operating Support Grants. Studio Two Three received $20,000 for “CW Annual Grant Program- Building Capabilities.”
The organization’s posted Community Impact Grant history separately reports that its 2025 awards totaled over $105,000, supporting six organizations and three professional artists. The 2026–27 Community Impact Grant cycle is reported as investing $175,000 across 18 artists and arts and culture organizations. CultureWorks says applicants to this program request a specific amount. The Richmond Thrives Arts & Culture Fund offers unrestricted operating support, with awards of up to $50,000, subject to a limit of 25% of an applicant’s annual operating budget.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists W Weldon Hill as Chair; Matthew Matt Murcko as Treasurer; Judith Wagoner Pahren as Secretary; and D Brennen Keene as Immediate Past Board Chair. Directors listed are Frazier Armstrong, Jon Baliles, Pam Martin Comstock, Ashley S Brooks, and Tameka Jefferson. Donald B Garber is listed as Ex-Officio.
CultureWorks Inc is led by Scott Garka, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 26 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott Garka
President
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$163K (2020) → $169K (2025)
W Weldon Hill
Chair
Director → Chair-Elect, 2023
Chair-Elect → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frazier Millner Armstrong
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Williams
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James B Gates Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Williams
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Simmons
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Baliles
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Laughter
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Martin Comstock
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Hammer
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherman V Burroughs IV
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley S Brooks
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Conaway B Haskins III
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dee A Raubenstine
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Wells
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Gilliam
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucretia Marie Anderson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tameka Jefferson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
D Brennen Keene
Immediate Past Board Chair
Chair-Elect & Parliamentarian → Chair, 2022
Chair → Immediate Past Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenni Kirby
Ex-Officio
Director → Ex-Officio, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
R Blake O'Brien
Chair-Elect
Secretary → Chair-Elect, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith Wagoner Pahren
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Matt Murcko
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer M McLemore
Parliamentarian
Director → Parliamentarian, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald B Garber
Ex-Officio
Director → Ex-Officio, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Marcia Thalhimer (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Dalila Medrano (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Melody Short (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Don Garber (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kenya Blake (2020–2023) — Immediate Past Board Chair
- Former: Sara L Cowherd (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Brooks M Smith (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Thomas Tom Gay (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: E Gaynell Sherrod ex officio (2022) — Director
- Former: Greg Williams ex officio (2022) — Director
- Former: Daphne Maxwell-Reid (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: E Gaynell Sherrod (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Charles D Piper (2020) — Director
- Former: Juan Conde (2020) — Director
- Former: Lisa Streat (2020) — Past Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $169K, to Scott Garka (President).
Frequently asked questions about CultureWorks Inc
How much does CultureWorks Inc give each year?
CultureWorks Inc gave $434K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $368K across 15 grants.
What is CultureWorks Inc's typical grant size?
CultureWorks Inc's median grant in 2025 was $29,174, and its average grant was $28,940, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from CultureWorks Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does CultureWorks Inc give grants?
CultureWorks Inc gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, VA (15 grants).
Does CultureWorks Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of CultureWorks Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "CW Annual Grant Program- Building Capabilities" (3 grants).
Who are CultureWorks Inc's largest grantees?
CultureWorks Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Elegba Folklore Society Inc ($54,220), The Richmond Symphony ($51,110) and The Valentine ($47,181), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is CultureWorks Inc?
CultureWorks Inc reported $558K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does CultureWorks Inc fund?
CultureWorks’ mission is “strengthening artists and arts and culture organizations to increase their impact in our region.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from CultureWorks Inc?
CultureWorks provides application guidelines and a grant portal for the Community Impact Grant; its guidelines describe a Stage 2 for finalists. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is CultureWorks Inc's EIN?
CultureWorks Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-6059009. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). CultureWorks Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cultureworks-inc-morg_92fab912c9d341ed98b52505485ac8a2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_546059009_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{CultureWorks Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cultureworks-inc-morg_92fab912c9d341ed98b52505485ac8a2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from CultureWorks Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
CultureWorks Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?