The VF Foundation is a private, corporate foundation established in 2002 and based in Wilmington, Delaware. It is the grantmaking foundation of VF Corporation, a publicly-traded outdoor apparel and footwear company. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since April 2004.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.7M
-5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
-13.9% YoY
Grant Count
44
-18.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$78K
+5.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The VF Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The VF Foundation's mission is to create positive societal impact and systems change to advance a more active, sustainable, and inclusive world, inspired by the vision of VF Corporation and its brands.
The foundation supports organizations working in the following areas:
- Thriving Outside – outdoor recreation and access
- Protecting Our Planet – environmental conservation and regenerative agriculture
- Powering Potential – education and economic development
- Humanitarian Response – support for vulnerable communities
- Arts and culture
- Health (including diabetes care and end-of-life care)
- Human services and family services
- Child welfare
- Community and economic development
Grantmaking
The VF Foundation makes grants to support programmatic work in communities where VF Corporation and its family of brands operate globally.
Grant Range
$2,500 to $1,026,000
Average Grant
amount varies by program
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds programming in communities where VF Corporation and its family of brands operate globally. Primary U.S. funding areas include Colorado, California, and New York. International grantmaking also occurs, with documented support for work in Bangladesh and other countries.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $23.7 million
- Total Revenue: $2.46 million
- Total Expenses: $3.83 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Net Income: -$1.37 million
As of 2023 Filing:
- Total Assets: $25.04 million
- Total Revenue: $901,954
- Total Expenses: $4.42 million
- Total Giving: $4.26 million
- Giving Rate: 15.9%
Investment income and dividends represent the primary revenue source.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,674,421 | $25,041,536 | $28,556,217 |
| Revenue | $2,459,823 | $901,954 | $960,441 |
| Expenses | $3,826,938 | $4,416,635 | $8,735,405 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,662,064 | $4,258,707 | $8,548,519 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,310,061 | $755,864 | $794,134 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,290,403 | $1,318,166 | $1,603,597 |
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
244 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Denver ($380,000), Soil Health Institute ($250,000), Trust for Public Land ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4DWN PROJECT INC DALLAS, TX | Community Centered in Skateboarding: Operational Development | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS DENVER, CO | for general disaster relief and recovery in the U.S.; Hurricane Helene relief and recovery in North Carolina | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN RECREATION COALITION WASHINGTON, DC | Integration of the Outdoor Recreation Economy Across Sectors | $60,000 |
| CATALYST SPORTS INC ATLANTA, GA | Adaptive Climbers Festival | $25,000 |
| CHURCH HEALTH CENTER OF MEMPHIS INC MEMPHIS, TN | Memphis Rox Programs Operations | $25,000 |
| CIVIC CENTER CONSERVANCY DENVER, CO | Civic Center WORKS | $35,000 |
| COMMUNITY INITIATIVES OAKLAND, CA | Semillitas Outdoors - Supporting Latine Children in Nature | $15,000 |
| DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION DENVER, CO | Discovery Link Enrichments | $25,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR KIDS DENVER, CO | Denver Youth Naturally (DYN) program | $25,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR KIDS DENVER, CO | Outside Festival 2024 | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board members include:
- Luis Benitez (President, Director)
- Craig Hodges (Director, President)
- Anthony Cottonaro (Director, Treasurer)
- Doug Hassman (Director, Treasurer)
- Jennifer S Sim (Director, Secretary)
- Colin Wheeler (Director, President)
- Laura C Meagher (Director, Secretary)
Board members serve on a volunteer basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bracken Darrell | Chairman of the Board | 1 | — |
| Doug Hassman | Dir, Treas | 2 | — |
| Brent Hyder | Vice-Chair of the Board | 1 | — |
| Jennifer S Sim | Dir, Sec | 1 | — |
| Colin Wheeler | Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The VF Foundation announced $5.5 million in community investments, highlighting efforts in regenerative agriculture, greater access to the outdoors, and support for vulnerable communities worldwide. The foundation regularly publishes annual impact reports documenting grantmaking outcomes and stories of meaningful impact across its operating communities.
Giving Tuesday: Meet the VF Foundation\u2019s 2024 GranteesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The VF Foundation fund?
The VF Foundation's mission is to create positive societal impact and systems change to advance a more active, sustainable, and inclusive world, inspired by the vision of VF Corporation and its brands. The foundation supports organizations working in the following areas: • **Thriving Outside** – outdoor recreation and access • **Protecting Our Planet** – environmental conservation and regenerative agriculture • **Powering Potential** – education and economic development • **Humanitarian Respons…
How do I apply for a grant from The VF Foundation?
The VF Foundation makes grants to support programmatic work in communities where VF Corporation and its family of brands operate globally. **Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $2,500 to $1,026,000 • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Average grant amount varies by program • Number of grants: Approximately 96–106 grants annually **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation announced $5.5 million in community investments. Recent notable grants include: • The Skatepark Project: $250,000 • B…
Where does The VF Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds programming in communities where VF Corporation and its family of brands operate globally. Primary U.S. funding areas include Colorado, California, and New York. International grantmaking also occurs, with documented support for work in Bangladesh and other countries.
What size grants does The VF Foundation award?
In 2024, The VF Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $78K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The VF Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The VF Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The VF Foundation's EIN?
The VF Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2322084. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The VF Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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