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
6 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
James River Water Quality Improvement Program
VIRGINIA ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
Amount
$100,000 minimum annually
Deadline
June 15, 2026
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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