The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation is a private foundation based in Charlottesville, Virginia. It supports community initiatives in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky, with grantmaking across the arts, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, economic development, community development, and education.
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation at a glance
In short: The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation gave $3.1M across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $81K), mostly in Virginia. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,094,181
- +114.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- +26.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $81,426
- +69.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $47,106,651
- -1.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (12 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted throughout the year; the Board reviews and approves applications in November.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted throughout the year; the Board reviews and approves applications in November.
- Contact
Mailing address: 650 Peter Jefferson Pkwy 230, Charlottesville, VA 22911
Phone: (434) 245-1158
Website: https://gilliamfamilyfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Focused Ultrasound Foundation ($600K). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 121 grants of 167 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky as its home-region focus. In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 2% to Kentucky, 2% to Tennessee, and 1% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 38 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $98K; repeat grants $74K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2023) to $3.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Focused Ultrasound Foundation Charlottesville, VA | Help Mankind | $600,000 |
| Family Crisis Support Services Inc Norton, VA | Help Mankind | $525,000 |
| Appalachian Sustainable Development Bristol, VA | Help Mankind | $500,000 |
| Advanced Studies in Culture Foundation Charlottesville, VA | Education | $350,000 |
| Virginia Foundation for Community College Education Richmond, VA | Education | $249,640 |
| Elevate Early Education Virginia Beach, VA | Education | $166,667 |
| William King Museum of Art Abingdon, VA | Support the Arts | $135,000 |
| UVA College at Wise Wise, VA | Education | $75,000 |
| Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, KY | Education | $50,000 |
| Virginia Commemorations Inc Richmond, VA | Education | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $47,106,651 | $2,859,241 | $3,589,869 | $3,094,181 | 38 | $3,094,181 | $2,346,465 | $2,509,078 |
| 2023 | $47,836,262 | $1,910,997 | $1,923,884 | $1,443,640 | 30 | $1,443,640 | $1,465,812 | $2,378,050 |
| 2022 | $47,912,164 | $2,821,629 | $2,793,855 | $2,259,253 | 31 | $2,259,278 | $2,376,945 | $2,434,596 |
| 2021 | $47,803,356 | $2,622,792 | $2,334,206 | $1,786,696 | 34 | $1,786,721 | $2,061,399 | $2,543,228 |
| 2020 | $47,536,289 | $2,070,190 | $2,396,298 | $1,942,749 | 34 | — | $1,592,670 | $2,232,693 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation identifies six areas for grant applications: the arts, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, economic development, community development, and education. Its website describes support for community arts programs, healthcare and wellness resources, environmental preservation, thriving local economies and communities, and education from early childhood through higher education.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its giving. The Focused Ultrasound Foundation says it organizes and funds research, fosters collaboration, cultivates early-career participants, and disseminates knowledge. Family Crisis Support Services says it provides support services and shelter to victims of domestic violence. Appalachian Sustainable Development says it educates residents and farmers in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee about organic farming and forestry conservation. Elevate Early Education says it works to advance equitable access to high-quality education for children’s first eight years. The William King Museum of Art says it provides art exhibits and education in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $3,094,181. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $600,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $600,000 to the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, $525,000 to Family Crisis Support Services Inc., and $500,000 to Appalachian Sustainable Development. Other notable grants were $350,000 to Advanced Studies in Culture Foundation, $249,640 to Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, $166,667 to Elevate Early Education, and $135,000 to the William King Museum of Art.
The foundation’s website says applications are accepted throughout the year, with applications reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors each November. Applicants are to be notified by email by early December, and grant disbursements are made in December. The website’s application process begins with a contact form to request an application. It says applicants should be prepared to provide an organizational profile, including mission and 501(c)(3) information; a description and requested amount; an explanation of fit with the foundation’s focus areas; operating and/or program budgets; and goals, milestones, and timelines where applicable. The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard B. Gilliam as president and director, James L. Van Dyke as director, Julia Gilliam Sterling as director of grant making, and Richard B. Gilliam Jr. as director. The foundation’s website says Richard Gilliam oversees the family foundation. It also says Leslie Gilliam ran the foundation until her death in 2016.
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation is led by Richard B. Gilliam, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard B. Gilliam
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James L. Van Dyke
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia Gilliam Sterling
Director of Grant Making
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard B. Gilliam Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation
How much does The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation give each year?
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation gave $3.1M across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 30 grants.
What is The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation's typical grant size?
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $81,426, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation that year got $98K on average.
Where does The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation give grants?
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charlottesville, VA (12 grants), Richmond, VA (3 grants), Abingdon, VA (3 grants) and Wise, VA (3 grants).
Does The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Help Mankind" (17 grants), "Education" (12 grants) and "Support the Arts" (6 grants).
Who are The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation's largest grantees?
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Focused Ultrasound Foundation ($600,000), Family Crisis Support Services Inc ($525,000) and Appalachian Sustainable Development ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation?
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation reported $47.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation fund?
The foundation identifies six areas for grant applications: the arts, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, economic development, community development, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation?
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check gilliamfamilyfoundation.com for any change to that policy.
What is The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation's EIN?
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3691921. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 31, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-and-leslie-gilliam-foundation-morg_191ce4b007e74c30b16c397a34303e8f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203691921_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Richard \& Leslie Gilliam Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-and-leslie-gilliam-foundation-morg_191ce4b007e74c30b16c397a34303e8f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-31. 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 The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation'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.
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