Virginia Environmental Endowment (VEE) is a nonprofit, independent corporation based in Richmond, Virginia. Established in 1977 following a court order related to environmental pollution, the organization functions as a grantmaking foundation dedicated to environmental improvement and conservation. VEE operates as a 501(c)(4) organization with a small staff of 3 employees.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.4M
-3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
+80.3% YoY
Grant Count
37
+42.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$70K
+26.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Endowment's mission is to improve the quality of the environment by using its capital, expertise, and resources to fund projects and programs that encourage all sectors to work together to prevent pollution, improve water quality, restore the Chesapeake Bay, conserve natural resources, promote environmental literacy and public awareness, and address emerging issues.
VEE's grant programs focus on:
- Pollution abatement and control
- Water quality improvement
- Natural resource conservation
- Environmental education and literacy
- Chesapeake Bay restoration
Grantmaking
VEE operates four primary grant programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Although accorded a national scope by its charter, VEE currently limits awards to eligible nonprofit organizations for programs conducted primarily in:
- The state of Virginia
- The Kanawha and Ohio River Valleys of Kentucky and West Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $33,633,125 (as of 2024)
Total Revenues: $1,254,882 (2024)
Total Expenses: $4,782,133 (2024)
Total Giving: $2,612,482
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,376,826 | $33,633,125 | $34,168,054 |
| Revenue | $3,820,378 | $1,254,882 | $1,136,573 |
| Expenses | $3,259,234 | $4,782,133 | $3,456,259 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,820,378 | $1,254,882 | $1,136,573 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Virginia Environmental Endowment
Community Conservation Program
VIRGINIA ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
Amount
Minimum $50,000
Deadline
January 15, 2027
Community Conservation Program Grant
VIRGINIA ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
Amount
More than US $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Kanawha and Ohio River Valleys Program
VIRGINIA ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include James River Association ($889,700), Chesapeake Bay Foundation ($406,302), Trout Unlimited ($196,095).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FOR THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY NEWMARKET, VA | LAND CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA. | $30,000 |
| APPALACHIAN CONSERVATION CORPS HARRISONBURG, VA | TRAINING YOUNG WOMEN FOR CONSERVATION CAREERS. | $42,400 |
| BAY JOURNAL MEDIA MAYO, MD | REPORTING ON AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES, VIRGINIA ISSUES, AND CHESAPEAKE BAY POLLUTION. | $25,000 |
| BLUE RIDGE PRISM CROZET, VA | LANDOWNER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO MITIGATE INVASIVE PLANT PROBLEMS ACROSS VA. | $25,000 |
| BLUE SKY FUND RICHMOND, VA | PUBLIC SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND. | $25,000 |
| CAPITAL REGION LAND RICHMOND, VA | LAND CONSERVATION CAPACITY BUILDING VIA THE HIRING OF A LAND CONSERVATION MANAGER. | $60,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION RICHMOND, VA | RIPARIAN BUFFER IMPLEMENTATION IN THE UPPER JAMES RIVER REGION. | $406,302 |
| DAN RIVER BASIN EDEN, NC | PUBLIC SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR 4TH GRADERS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, VA. | $10,000 |
| INDIGENOUS CONSERVATION COUNCIL ALEXANDRIA, VA | DEVELOPMENT OF A DATA PLATFORM TO TRACK AND PROTECT ANCESTRAL TRIBAL LANDSCAPES IN VIRGINIA. | $15,000 |
| JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION RICHMOND, VA | RIPARIAN AND LIVING SHORELINE IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MIDDLE AND LOWER JAMES RIVER REGION. | $889,700 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joseph Maroon serves as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIXON M BUTLER | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| ROBERT B SMITH JR | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| NINA RANDOLPH | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| ROBIN D BALILES | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| LASALLE D LEFFALL III | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| CELIA DALLAS | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ELIZABETH CABELL JENNINGS | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| LISA SMITH | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| JOSEPH H MAROON | SECRETARY, EXECUTIVE DIREC | 48 | $206,667 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
VEE has made recent grants supporting water quality and conservation initiatives across its service regions. The organization continues to administer its Community Conservation Program, which was established to mitigate environmental impacts from the Mountain Valley Pipeline project in southwest Virginia. Recent grantees include organizations focused on riparian restoration, invasive species management, and land conservation efforts.
NEWS RELEASE: DEQ Awards $19 Million in Grants to Reduce Water PollutionSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Virginia Environmental Endowment fund?
The Endowment's mission is to improve the quality of the environment by using its capital, expertise, and resources to fund projects and programs that encourage all sectors to work together to prevent pollution, improve water quality, restore the Chesapeake Bay, conserve natural resources, promote environmental literacy and public awareness, and address emerging issues. VEE's grant programs focus on: • Pollution abatement and control • Water quality improvement • Natural resource conservation •…
How do I apply for a grant from Virginia Environmental Endowment?
VEE operates four primary grant programs: **Virginia Program:** Grants for projects throughout Virginia that align with the Endowment's strategic priorities. **Kanawha and Ohio River Valleys Program:** Supports eligible nonprofit organizations for programs conducted in the Kanawha and Ohio River Valleys of Kentucky and West Virginia. **James River Water Quality Improvement Grant Program (JRWQIP):** Focuses on producing significant on-the-ground water quality benefits in the James River region. …
Where does Virginia Environmental Endowment make grants?
Although accorded a national scope by its charter, VEE currently limits awards to eligible nonprofit organizations for programs conducted primarily in: • The state of Virginia • The Kanawha and Ohio River Valleys of Kentucky and West Virginia
What size grants does Virginia Environmental Endowment award?
In 2025, Virginia Environmental Endowment awarded 37 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $70K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Virginia Environmental Endowment's EIN?
Virginia Environmental Endowment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1041973. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Virginia Environmental Endowment'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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