Virga Foundation
Virga Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its stated mission is to support nonprofit organizations working toward a more empowered, environmentally sustainable, and self-determined Four Corners region, while also considering select legacy initiatives of national and international concern. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as conservation, Indigenous education, community media, and immigrant and working-class community empowerment.
Virga Foundation at a glance
In short: Virga Foundation gave $669K across 52 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), top state Arizona. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $668,900
- Grants made (2024)
- 52
- Average grant
- $12,863
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,532,601
- Primary geography
- Arizona (26% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Virga Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Virga Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Grand Canyon Trust Inc ($62K). Together the top 10 received $342K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 64 grants of 66 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona (26%), Colorado (25%), New York (14%), New Mexico (12%), and California (10%). Grants also included support for organizations in Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Virga Foundation gives
- In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $41K (2022) to $669K (2024). In 2024 it made 52 grants totaling $669K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon Trust Inc Flagstaff, AZ | General & Unrestricted | $62,400 |
| Make the Road New York Brooklyn, NY | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Friends of Cedar Mesa Bluff, UT | General & Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| Resources Legacy Fund Sacramento, CA | To support the Bear's Ears Inter-tribal Coalition | $35,000 |
| The Hopi Foundation Lomasuminagwtukwsiumani Kykotsmovi, AZ | General & Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| Naca-Inspired Schools Network Albuquerque, NM | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Community Radio Project Cortez, CO | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Flower Hill Institute Jemez Pueblo, NM | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Youth Empowerment Services for Dine Bikeyah Inc Teec NOS POS, AZ | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Borderlands Restoration Network Patagonia, AZ | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
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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 | $9,532,601 | $457,314 | $836,048 | $668,900 | 52 | $831,094 | $456,878 | $635,700 |
| 2022 | $10,080,947 | $10,151,058 | $70,111 | $41,000 | 14 | $64,511 | $125,074 | $219,218 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Virga Foundation reported a distributable amount of $636K 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’s stated focus areas are environmental stewardship, youth and social empowerment, Indigenous sovereignty, and the arts. Its 2024 grantees illustrate some of this work: Make the Road New York says it builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice; NACA-Inspired Schools Network says it works to transform Indigenous education; and Borderlands Restoration Network says it partners to restore ecosystems and habitat while reconnecting border communities to the land.
Other supported organizations describe work in conservation and cultural-landscape protection. Friends of Cedar Mesa says Bears Ears Partnership works to protect and build respect for the cultural and natural landscapes of the greater Bears Ears region. Resources Legacy Fund describes its work as including strategic grantmaking focused on climate, water, nature, wildfire resilience, conservation, and ocean protection.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 52 grants totaling $668,900. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $62,400, with a median grant of $10,000. Its largest grants included $62,400 to Grand Canyon Trust, $50,000 to Make the Road New York, and $35,000 each to Friends of Cedar Mesa, Resources Legacy Fund, and the Hopi Foundation Lomasuminagwtukwsiumani. The listed purposes for most of these grants were general and unrestricted; the Resources Legacy Fund grant was to support the Bears Ears Inter-tribal Coalition.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Samuel Mix as director and secretary; Michael Paul Pfotenhauer as director; Rory Pfotenhauer as director and president; and Diane Wren as director, treasurer, president, and secretary.
Virga Foundation is led by Diane Wren, Director, Treasurer, President & Secretary on every filing since 2022; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diane Wren
Director, Treasurer, President & Secretary
On filings since 2022
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rory Pfotenhauer
Director & President
New on the 2024 filing
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samuel Mix
Director & Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
32 hrs/week
$36K (2024)
Michael Paul Pfotenhauer
Director
On filings since 2022
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $36K, to Samuel Mix (Dir, Sec).
Frequently asked questions about Virga Foundation
How much does Virga Foundation give each year?
Virga Foundation gave $669K across 52 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Virga Foundation's typical grant size?
Virga Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,863, across 52 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Virga Foundation give grants?
Virga Foundation's top state is Arizona, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (25%) and New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cortez, CO (10 grants), Brooklyn, NY (3 grants), Kykotsmovi, AZ (2 grants) and Albuquerque, NM (2 grants).
Does Virga Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of Virga Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 52) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Virga Foundation's largest grantees?
Virga Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Grand Canyon Trust Inc ($62,400), Make the Road New York ($50,000) and Friends of Cedar Mesa ($35,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Virga Foundation?
Virga Foundation reported $9.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $831K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $636K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Virga Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated focus areas are environmental stewardship, youth and social empowerment, Indigenous sovereignty, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Virga Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Virga Foundation's EIN?
Virga Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0874793. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Does Virga 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 2022–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Virga Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/virga-foundation-morg_9e21de5489ff4d75952bbbbc3139fdc6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_880874793_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Virga Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/virga-foundation-morg_9e21de5489ff4d75952bbbbc3139fdc6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Virga 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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