The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation
The Richard & Leslie Gilliam Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in June 2006 and based in Charlottesville, Virginia. The foundation was created by Richard and Leslie Gilliam to share the blessings they received through their work and life in Southwest Virginia by funding community programs and initiatives in their home region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$47.1M
-1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+114.3% YoY
Grant Count
38
+26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
+69.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation invests in initiatives that support Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky across five primary focus areas:
- The Arts — Supporting community art programs including fine arts such as painting, sculpture, music, and theater to create well-rounded and healthy communities
- Health & Wellness — Funding access to quality healthcare and wellness programs and resources
- Environmental Stewardship — Supporting environmental preservation and stewardship initiatives
- Economic Development — Partnering with organizations working to help small towns and communities thrive and prosper
- Community Development — Supporting the growth and success of families and communities in the region
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts grant applications year-round, with funding decisions made in November and grant disbursements made in December.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary funding area is Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentucky, the home region of the Gilliam family. Both Richard and Leslie were born and raised in this region—Leslie grew up on a dairy farm in Jonesville, Virginia, and Richard grew up on an apple orchard in Wise, Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47.1 million | 2024 |
| Total Revenues | $2.86 million | 2024 |
| Total Expenses | $3.59 million | 2024 |
| Total Liabilities | $5,500 | 2023 |
| Employees | 0 | 2024 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $47,106,651 | $47,836,262 | $47,912,164 |
| Revenue | $2,859,241 | $1,910,997 | $2,821,629 |
| Expenses | $3,589,869 | $1,923,884 | $2,793,855 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,094,181 | $1,443,640 | $2,259,278 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,346,465 | $1,465,812 | $2,376,945 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,509,078 | $2,378,050 | $2,434,596 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Richard B. Gilliam — Officer (unpaid position)
Julia Gilliam Sterling — Director of Grant Making (unpaid position)
Leslie Gilliam, co-founder of the foundation, passed away in 2016 due to ovarian cancer. She previously ran the foundation and was instrumental in its philanthropic direction. Richard Gilliam now resides in Central Virginia and oversees the family foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD B GILLIAM | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES L VAN DYKE | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JULIA GILLIAM STERLING | DIRECTOR OF GRANT MAKING | 2 | — |
| RICHARD B GILLIAM JR | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported significant initiatives in its region, including:
Funding for the U.Va.-Wise Health and Wellness Center
Richard and Leslie Gilliam Foundation Funds U.Va.-Wise Health and Wellness$768,000 in gifts to support unpaid Blackjewel miners
Richard and Leslie Gilliam Foundation Gifts $768,000 to Unpaid Blackjewel\$250,000 donation to local Blackjewel miner relief efforts
Richard and Leslie Gilliam Foundation donates $250,000 to local Blackjewel$500,000 gift to Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
Gilliam Foundation makes $500,000 gift to Southeast | SKCTCSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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