Project Discovery of Virginia Inc logo

Project Discovery of Virginia Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Roanoke, VA EIN: 54-1369308 Website

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.

  • 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 179% from 2022 to 2025. Method

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

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

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.

Cities

AlexandriaAbingdonEmporiaNewport NewsNorfolkNorth TazewellOilvilleRichmondRoanokeRocky MountWilliamsburgCharlottesvilleChathamMadisonNew KentArlingtonExmoreMarionPowhatanLynchburg

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M21 grants2019 21 grants2020 19 grants2021 15 grants2022 18 grants2023 20 grants2024 16 grants2025

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

People Incorporate of Swva: $124KPeople Incorporate of Swva$124KThe Stop Organization: $108KThe Stop Organization$108KMonticello Area Community Action Ag: $107KMonticello Area CommunityAction Ag$107KHampton Roads Community Action Grou: $97KHampton Roads Community ActionGrou$97KTotal Action for Progress: $96KTotal Action for Progress$96KThe Improvement Association: $86KThe Improvement Association$86KWilliamsburg James City Council Com: $77KWilliamsburg James CityCouncil Com$77KClinch Valley Community Action Agen: $74KClinch Valley Community ActionAgen$74KSupport to Eliminate Poverty: $57KSupport to Eliminate Poverty$57KCapup - Richmond: $56KCapup - Richmond$56K

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

68<$50K16$50–100K4$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 88 (77%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
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
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
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

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  3. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 10, 2020)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 21, 2021)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 26, 2023)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  7. 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

Lashanda Ellington — Executive Di: $78KLashanda EllingtonExecutive Di$78K

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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