Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc
To collect, preserve, interpret, inform and celebrate Virginia's African American history, culture and community and to educate the public about African American contributions in all areas of endeavor.
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc at a glance
In short: Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc gave $246K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $31K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $246,000
- +6.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $30,750
- -33.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $266,498
- +49.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Virginia (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Truth Be Told ($78K). Together the top 8 received $246K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 16 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2022) to $246K (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $246K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Truth Be Told Virginia Beach, VA | Audio Tour using Podcast of site-specific stories regarding structural racism to begin healing | $78,000 |
| New Journal and Guide | Digitalization of 10years of Historic Photos | $40,000 |
| Young Audiences of Virginia Norfolk, VA | Creative Art and Educational Public Performances series to extend arts-in-education programming K-6 to over 8 cities in Hampton Roads | $30,000 |
| The Young People's Guild Suffolk, VA | Public Performance and video recording Emancipation and the Juneteenth Holiday | $30,000 |
| Hampton Roads African American History Tour Norfolk, VA | The VAACC in partnership with VistNorfolk org. collaborated to produce the 1st Hampton Roads African American History Heritage Tour Guide 11 cities and the additional grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation | $30,000 |
| ViBe Creative District Virginia Beach, VA | Large scale mural painted on select themes for Virginia Beach, Franklin, and Williamsburg | $18,000 |
| Poetry Jackson LLC Virginia Beach, VA | Three months Public Art Exhibit at the premier Sandler Center for Performance Center for the Arts | $10,000 |
| Men of Faith Virginia Beach, VA | Education Seminars & travel tours to Richmond General Assembly &National Museum of African American History & Culture | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $266,498 | $481,945 | $391,956 | $246,000 | 8 | $943 |
| 2023 | $178,741 | $531,422 | $692,208 | $232,000 | 5 | — |
| 2022 | $337,875 | $532,707 | $366,445 | $90,000 | 3 | — |
| 2021 | $175,091 | $144,072 | $69,925 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $94,853 | $97,991 | $43,591 | — | — | — |
About Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc
Based on IRS filings
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Virginia Beach, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $266K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $246K. Net investment income was $943.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc is led by Tamar Smithers, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Tamar Smithers
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$10K (2022) → $9K (2024)
James Bond
First Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → First Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wayne Jones
Governing Committee Chair
Director → Governing Committee Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amelia Ross-Hammond
Founder & Chairman
Chairman → Founder & Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson
Education Committee Chair
New on the 2024 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Davidson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelvin Arthur
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Worth Remick
Capital Campaign Committee
Director → Capital Campaign Committee, 2024
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Peoples
Community Outreach Committee
Director → Community Outreach Committee, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Gregg
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
22 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harshad Barot
Capital Campaign Committee
Director → Capital Campaign Committee, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Fauntleroy
Community Outreach Committee
Director → Community Outreach Committee, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Lawson
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Lee
Governing Body Committee
Director → Governing Body Committee, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andre Council
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
22 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Amerlia Ross Hammond (2020–2022) — Chairman
- Former: Shevette Jones (2020–2022) — Parliamentarian
- Former: William Calhoun (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Jaketa Clark (2021–2022) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Ruth Nichols (2022) — Director
- Former: Tonya Shell (2022) — Director
- Former: Joan Rhodes Copeland (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Bruce Williams (2020) — President
- Former: Justin Cowell (2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Anderson (2020) — Director
- Former: Shanti Mullen (2020) — Director
- Former: Tony Spencer (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $9K, to Tamar Smithers (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc
How much does Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc give each year?
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc gave $246K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $232K across 5 grants.
What is Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's typical grant size?
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $30,750, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc give grants?
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc gives mostly in Virginia: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Virginia Beach, VA (4 grants) and Norfolk, VA (2 grants).
Does Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's largest grantees?
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Truth Be Told ($78,000), New Journal and Guide ($40,000) and Young Audiences of Virginia ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc?
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc reported $266K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $482K.
What is Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc?
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Virginia Beach, VA. It holds $266K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's EIN?
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5250120. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Beautiful Feet Foundation
Canfield, OH
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
8
Total Given
$139K
United Way for Greater Austin
Austin, TX
United Way for Greater Austin funds nonprofits working on early childhood and kindergarten readiness, family economic stability, basic needs, education and employment, and access to resources, primarily in Central Texas. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,680 to $195,000, with a median of $30,000. The available information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests or describe a current application process.
Assets
$21.8M
Grants
51
Total Given
$2.1M
Mary C Henninger Haddad and Louis S Haddad Foundation Inc
Suffolk, VA
The foundation supports organizations working in family homelessness, education, health care, arts, public broadcasting, and community services, primarily in Virginia. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median of $1,500. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
38
Total Given
$131K
The Blocker Foundation
Suffolk, VA
The Blocker Foundation funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Hampton Roads in areas including nourishment, shelter, education, economic opportunity, and the environment. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,140 to $250,000, with a median of about $58,000; the service area covers southeastern Virginia and three North Carolina counties. Unsolicited requests are considered through an LOI process, but applicants must first speak with foundation staff.
Assets
$107.6M
Grants
69
Total Given
$4.6M
St David's Foundation
Austin, TX
St. David’s Foundation funds health equity work in Central Texas, including access to care, economic stability, and community-led efforts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,400 to $5.84 million, with a median of $291,600. Eligible organizations may apply to open calls and some rolling opportunities, while invitation-only opportunities do not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
145
Total Given
$85.1M
The Helen G Gifford Foundation
Virginia Beach, VA
The Helen G. Gifford Foundation supports Virginia organizations, with grants for arts and arts education, Jewish community programs, and other local initiatives. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,000 to $37,500, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.7M
Grants
30
Total Given
$183K
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 Virginia African American Cultural Center 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.
Virginia African American Cultural Center Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?