Project Discovery of Virginia Inc. is a public charity based in Roanoke, Virginia. It is a statewide community action agency whose education-access program works to help students prepare for and pursue post-secondary education. Its website says the program serves students through local schools and community partners.
Key facts about Project Discovery of Virginia Inc
In short: Project Discovery of Virginia Inc gave $1.1M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in Virginia. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 54-1369308
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,085,046
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- Average grant
- $67,815
- Median grant
- $65,275
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 16, 2025)
- Total assets
- $118,859
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$119K
-17.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+67.0% YoY
Grant Count
16
-20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$68K
+108.8% YoY
Is Project Discovery of Virginia Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 16 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $96K; repeat grants $66K. How we count
Medians: $96K first-time, $57K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is “to increase access to and prepare elementary through high school students for success in post-secondary education.” Its website describes college-access groups for middle school students and college- and career-option groups for high school students. Services include workshops, application and financial-aid assistance, campus tours, counseling, and academic support.
The 2025 filing lists grants to Virginia organizations, including community action agencies. Among the grantees described in their own materials, The Improvement Association says it carries out community action programs, while Skyline CAP says it works to advance the welfare of low-income, elderly, and disadvantaged people, including through housing, education, and literacy services. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not Project Discovery’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Project Discovery reported 16 grants totaling $1,085,046. Grant amounts ranged from $9,717 to $123,961, with a median of $65,274. Its largest listed grants included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its program as statewide in Virginia. Its website says it works through 22 partner agencies in 19 locations and provides programs in 145 schools. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $389K (2022) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was People Incorporate of Swva ($124K). Together the top 10 received $880K.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 88 (77%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| People Incorporate of Swva Abingdon, VA | — | $123,961 |
| The Stop Organization Norfolk, VA | — | $108,129 |
| Monticello Area Community Action Ag Charlottesville, VA | — | $106,956 |
| Hampton Roads Community Action Grou Newport News, VA | — | $97,001 |
| Total Action for Progress Roanoke, VA | — | $95,660 |
| The Improvement Association Emporia, VA | — | $85,619 |
| Williamsburg James City Council Com Williamsburg, VA | — | $76,864 |
| Clinch Valley Community Action Agen North Tazewell, VA | — | $73,541 |
| Support to Eliminate Poverty Rocky Mount, VA | — | $57,008 |
| Capup - Richmond Oilville, VA | — | $55,727 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants given |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $118,859 | $1,426,462 | $1,929,108 | $1,085,046 |
| 2024 | $144,791 | $1,207,573 | $1,283,617 | $649,597 |
| 2023 | $240,574 | $1,203,040 | $1,458,042 | $603,862 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $118,859 | $144,791 | $240,574 |
| Revenue | $1,426,462 | $1,207,573 | $1,203,040 |
| Expenses | $1,929,108 | $1,283,617 | $1,458,042 |
| Net Investment Income | $222 | $826 | $-2,443 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Chase Stewart as president and Linda Linnartz as vice president. Listed board members are Renee Brown, Gloria Bynum, Taneia Dowell, Karen Ely-Sanders, Heather Evans, India Houston, Stephanie Moon-Reynolds, and James Worsley.
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc is led by Chase Stewart, President since 2022 (on filings since 2019); none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chase Stewart
President
Board Member → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lashanda Ellington
Executive Di
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$70K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Gloria Bynum
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Linnartz
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Brown
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Taneia Dowell
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Worsley
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Ely-Sanders
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Moon-Reynolds
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Evans
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
India Houston
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Bart Edmunds (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Beatrice Dalton (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: David Foster (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Cathie Skaggs (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Elizabeth Shultz (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jack Lanier (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Mike Meredith (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Ronald Jones (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Chief Stephen Adkins (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Kristen Westover (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Vernon Tillage Jr. (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jeion Ward (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Marcie Price (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Ricky Honaker (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Robert D. Ayers (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $78K, to Lashanda Ellington (Executive Di).
Contact
Mailing address: 108 N Jefferson Street Suite 517, Roanoke, VA 24016
Phone: (540) 389-9900
Website: https://projectdiscovery.org
Frequently asked questions about Project Discovery of Virginia Inc
How much does Project Discovery of Virginia Inc give each year?
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc gave $1.1M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $650K across 20 grants.
What is Project Discovery of Virginia Inc's typical grant size?
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc's median grant in 2025 was $65,275, and its average grant was $67,815, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Project Discovery of Virginia Inc that year got $96K on average.
Where does Project Discovery of Virginia Inc give grants?
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Who are Project Discovery of Virginia Inc's largest grantees?
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc's largest 2025 grantees include People Incorporate of Swva ($123,961), The Stop Organization ($108,129) and Monticello Area Community Action Ag ($106,956), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Project Discovery of Virginia Inc?
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc reported $119K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What does Project Discovery of Virginia Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is “to increase access to and prepare elementary through high school students for success in post-secondary education.” Its website describes college-access groups for middle school students and college- and career-option groups for high school students. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Project Discovery of Virginia Inc?
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check projectdiscovery.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Project Discovery of Virginia Inc's EIN?
Project Discovery of Virginia Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1369308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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