Venture Richmond Inc
Venture Richmond Inc is a public charity based in Richmond, Virginia. It engages business and community leaders in partnering with the city to enhance downtown and community vitality through economic development, marketing, promotion, advocacy, events, and enhanced property management.
Venture Richmond Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $14,371,999
- +62.6% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $13,740,813
- +59.5% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $109,559
- +35.8% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $8,635,636
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Venture Richmond Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 South Third Street, Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 788-6470
Website: https://venturerichmond.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Venture Richmond Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 10 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Venture Richmond’s work is centered on Downtown Richmond and the Riverfront, including the Downtown General District and Riverfront Overlay Districts. Its past Broad Street tenant program applied to eligible spaces between Belvidere and 5th streets in Downtown Richmond.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Venture Richmond Inc gives
- Giving grew 809% from 2019 to 2022. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2019) to $100K (2022). In 2022 it made 10 grants totaling $100K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Birth in Color RVA Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Charged up Entertainment Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Jolene RVA Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Lavender Social Club Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Myselfiesrva Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Nurturing Minds Inc Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Rushing Blooms Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| RVA Hair Warehouse Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Sarah's Den Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
| Taylor's Barbershop Richmond, VA | To recruit new tenants to broad street in the downtown richmond arts district. | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Venture Richmond Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,371,999 | $13,740,813 | $8,635,636 | — | — | $109,559 |
| 2024 | $8,837,456 | $8,613,555 | $7,889,259 | — | — | $80,670 |
| 2023 | $8,212,240 | $8,083,211 | $7,129,387 | — | — | $263 |
| 2022 | $7,214,267 | $6,480,752 | $6,420,670 | $100,000 | 10 | $184 |
| 2021 | $7,025,585 | $5,575,003 | $5,375,797 | — | — | $226 |
| 2020 | $6,819,558 | $4,054,204 | $3,661,711 | — | — | $612 |
| 2019 | $6,448,388 | $6,025,855 | $5,957,908 | $11,000 | 2 | $977 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Venture Richmond’s stated mission is to engage business and community leaders in partnering with the city to enhance community vitality, particularly downtown, through economic development, marketing, promotion, advocacy, and events.
Its activities include managing the Downtown and Riverfront Special Service and Assessment Districts under contracts with the City of Richmond; maintaining and activating places such as Brown’s Island and the Canal Walk; and producing or supporting downtown events. Its 2025 filing describes municipal and service-district funding received for these activities, including a $1,210,000 Clean, Safe, and Green municipal grant from the city and a $200,000 municipal grant for riverfront activities. The filing also describes a planned $30 million Brown’s Island park project, to be funded through a 50/50 public-private partnership, with Venture Richmond leading private-sector fundraising begun in 2024.
Grantmaking
The 2023, 2024, and 2025 filings each report zero grants. The available information does not provide annual total giving, typical grant size, or a list of recent grantees.
The organization has described past business-support initiatives. In 2020, $250,000 was awarded to 55 businesses through the We Care RVA Rebuild Fund, a community-led initiative involving Venture Richmond and other partners. In 2021, Venture Richmond announced a program supported by a grant from the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development to provide ten $10,000 grants to new Broad Street tenants. That program’s move-in and opening window ended May 15, 2022, so it is a past cycle. Its stated eligibility included a minimum one-year lease for street-level space on Broad Street between Belvidere and 5th streets; the grant was for businesses, not building owners.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Farhad Aghdami, Chairman; Devon Henry and Danny Avula, Vice Chairmen; Joi Dean, Secretary; Paula Pando, Treasurer; Darius Johnson, Past Chairman; Brian Jackson, General Counsel; and directors Makola Abdullah, Chris Accashian, and Neil Amin.
Venture Richmond Inc is led by Lisa W. Sims, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 6 of 61 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa W. Sims
President & CEO
CEO → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$192K (2019) → $312K (2025)
Farhad Aghdami
Chairman
Treasurer → Vice Chairman, 2022
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Meade
Director of Economic Development
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$131K (2019) → $188K (2025)
Stephen R. Lecky
Director of Events
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$104K (2019) → $162K (2025)
Becky Bareford
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Burt Pinnock
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Johnson
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Tsui
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Newbille
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas S. Granger
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward H. Baine
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Floyd Miller
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerald Burr Jr.
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hakim Lucas
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacquelyn E. Stone
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Kamras
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Baker
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Chopus
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kym D. Grinnage
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Parpart
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Ruggles
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Makola Abdullah
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Massie Valentine
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Rao
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monroe E. Harris Jr. DMD
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ned Valentine
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neil Amin
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Gregory
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Jones
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samuel Young
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Dabney-Wooldridge
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted Ukrop
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victor Branch
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Robertson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Manson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine G. Daniels
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Connie Hom
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Hallock
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Gayner
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Macfarlane
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Accashian
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Buckbee
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lester Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Williams
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrienne Wright
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ben Dessart
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lewanda Sims-Gallimore
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Henley
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pat Collins
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawn O'Brien
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherrie Armstrong
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Wiglesworth
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anedra Bourne
Deputy Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$146K (2019) → $178K (2025)
Carol L. Walls
Finance Manager
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$105K (2022) → $144K (2025)
Renee Gaines
Office Administrator
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$129K (2025)
Brian K. Jackson
General Counsel
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darius A. Johnson
Past Chairman
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2022
Chairman → Past Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Devon Henry
Vice Chairman
Director → Secretary, 2020
Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joi Dean
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula Pando
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danny Avula
Vice Chairman
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (47)
- Former: Levar M. Stoney (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Marilyn West (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Moses Foster (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Rick Gergory (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Susan Dewey (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Chandra Briggman (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Erika Gay (2024) — Director of Marketing
- Former: Kristen Nye (2024) — Director
- Former: Adam Harrell (2019–2023) — Past Chairman
- Former: Candace C. Formacek (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Carmina Drummond (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Greg Karawan (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeff Ricketts (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Jones (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Sean O'Brien (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Bruce R. Hazelgrove III (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Eugene P. Trani (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: James E. Ukrop (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: John W. Bates III Esq. (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Ken Ampy (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Kenneth S. Johnson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Hourigan (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark R. Merhige (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Max Hepp-Buchanan (2019–2022) — Director of Riverfront & D
- Former: Pamela Royal (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Woltz (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Thomas E. Gottwald (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Ct Hill (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Will Luckert (2022) — Director
- Former: Doug Roth (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Maria Tedesco (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Matthew Cooper (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Rhodes Ritenour (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Rick McArdle (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Rita McClenny (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Ronald Crutcher (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Thomas Goode (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Anne Waleski (2020) — Director
- Former: Brian White (2019) — Director
- Former: C. T. Hill (2019) — Director
- Former: Freda Thornton (2019) — Director
- Former: James Theobald (2019) — Director
- Former: Michael Zajur (2019) — Director
- Former: Phillip Avant (2019) — Director
- Former: Robert Westbrook (2019) — Director
- Former: Sal Mancuso (2019) — Director
- Former: Thomas Silvestri (2019) — Director
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 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $312K, to Lisa Sims (President & CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Venture Richmond Inc
How large is Venture Richmond Inc?
Venture Richmond Inc reported $14.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $13.7M.
What does Venture Richmond Inc fund?
Venture Richmond’s stated mission is to engage business and community leaders in partnering with the city to enhance community vitality, particularly downtown, through economic development, marketing, promotion, advocacy, and events. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Venture Richmond Inc?
Venture Richmond Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check venturerichmond.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Venture Richmond Inc make grants?
Venture Richmond’s work is centered on Downtown Richmond and the Riverfront, including the Downtown General District and Riverfront Overlay Districts. Its past Broad Street tenant program applied to eligible spaces between Belvidere and 5th streets in Downtown Richmond.
What is Venture Richmond Inc's EIN?
Venture Richmond Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1256458. 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.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
Live grants for the work Venture Richmond Inc funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Venture Richmond Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Virginia
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Lansdowne, VA
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation funds education programs that help exceptionally promising students with financial need, including college access, academic enrichment, and support for talented students. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6 to $515,000, with a median of $7,702; it funds across the United States, with most grant dollars going to Virginia. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to its website for current application instructions and eligibility.
Assets
$940.1M
Grants
1,419
Total Given
$25.1M
Donors Trust Inc
Alexandria, VA
Donors Trust supports charities and programs in social welfare, health, the environment, economics, governance, foreign relations, and arts and culture, with a strong emphasis on conservative and libertarian policy and education groups. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000, though awards ranged from $5,038 to $35 million, and recipients were concentrated in Washington, D.C., Virginia, New York, Texas, and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests; donor-advisors recommend grants through their accounts.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
919
Total Given
$282.1M
The Community Foundation Inc
Richmond, VA
The Community Foundation funds health and wellness, education, economic prosperity, and community vibrancy, along with other causes through donor-advised and field-of-interest funds. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $1,795,000, with a median of $25,000; 78% of grant dollars went to Virginia recipients. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$852.4M
Grants
917
Total Given
$61.8M
America's Charities
Chantilly, VA
AMERICA’S CHARITIES routes donor-directed workplace giving to member charities and provides emergency assistance to eligible employees and people affected by disasters; its reported grants are fiscal-agent disbursements, not awards selected through an application process. In 2025 it reported 808 grants totaling $16.4 million, ranging from $5,000 to $515,354 (median $9,664), to recipients across the United States, with the largest shares going to Pennsylvania, California, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Arizona. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$36.2M
Grants
808
Total Given
$16.4M
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
Richmond, VA
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation funds eligible 501(c)(3) organizations working in health and human services, education, arts and culture, civic and community development, and the environment within its operating area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $1 million, with a median of $5,000; it accepts unsolicited requests during spring and fall cycles.
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
773
Total Given
$16.4M
Foster Foundation
Brookneal, VA
Assets
$18.6M
Grants
686
Total Given
$1.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Virginia
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Venture Richmond Inc'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.
Venture Richmond Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?