Virginia Law Foundation
The Virginia Law Foundation is a public charity based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Formed in 1974, it supports law-related projects throughout the Commonwealth through grants focused on access to justice, the Rule of Law, and law-related education.
Virginia Law Foundation at a glance
In short: Virginia Law Foundation gave $766K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $21K). 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $765,500
- +10.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,689
- +10.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,000
- Total assets
- $27,990,132
- +11.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (13 of 36, 2025)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Virginia Law Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are submitted digitally. Proposals may come from an independent organization or a collaboration, but one eligible organization must be designated to receive the grant, administer the project, and report on the use of Foundation funds. Required materials include project goals and anticipated outcomes, a project narrative, a project budget, and disclosure for other proposed funding. The Foundation does not fund, among other things, individuals, capital expenditures, event sponsorships, lobbying-related projects, general support, loans, or organizations without qualifying tax-exempt status. The 2026 application is closed.
- Review Cycle
- March 15 each year.
- Deadline
- March 15 each year.
- Contact
Mailing address: 105 Whitewood Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901
Phone: (434) 951-0061
Website: https://virginialawfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Virginia Law Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Appalachian School of Law ($67K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $395K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($17,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
177 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 170 grants of 177 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The grants program supports law-related projects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in one state.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Is Virginia Law Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 36 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $17K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $466K (2020) to $766K (2025). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $766K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JMC for Constitutional History & Civics | This grant supports civics connecs which will be piloted in middle schools across the state. This program will cover all Virginia standards for civics for middle grades. | $65,000 |
| Appalachian School of Law | This grant supported a medical legal partnership with the law school and ballad health especially helping those impacted by hurricane helene and the 2025 flood. | $50,000 |
| Greater Richmond Bar Foundation | This grant supports grbf to mobilize, train, and connect attorneys with pro bono clients. | $50,000 |
| Virginia Poverty Law Center | This grant supports the 4 day premier poverty legal education conference in Virginia. | $42,500 |
| Central Virginia Legal Aid Society | Cvlas provides legal representation to low income and elderly rresidents in civil law cases at no charge regarding issues such as domestic violence, housing, and eldercare. | $40,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley | This grant helps to provide free legal advice and court representation on civil matters to more than 225 domestic violence survivors. | $30,000 |
| Blue Ridge Legal Services | Brls provides quality legal advice to low income residents of the shenandoah and roanoke valley. | $25,000 |
| Fairfax Law Foundation | The grant provides legal support to nova pro bono outreach progam that aids low income and poverty stricken residents. | $25,000 |
| Freekind | Freekind aids victims of human trafficking especially those that are misidentified. | $25,000 |
| Legal Aid Justice Center | This grant supports the caba volunteer lawyer program that enables them to expand legal support to afghan evacuees residing in Virginia. | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Virginia Law Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation’s filing states that its board set a spending policy of 3.25%, applied to the average market value of invested funds over the preceding 12 quarters, to determine spendable income for the following year’s budget.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,990,132 | $7,913,812 | $6,710,151 | $765,500 | 37 | $1,545,575 |
| 2024 | $25,183,987 | $6,400,699 | $7,026,519 | $694,200 | 37 | $1,372,384 |
| 2023 | $24,660,606 | $5,684,149 | $6,879,008 | $752,390 | 41 | $366,184 |
| 2022 | $24,242,933 | $4,087,286 | $6,261,430 | $608,569 | 33 | $-1,409,199 |
| 2021 | $27,017,346 | $10,719,064 | $5,647,864 | $578,900 | 29 | $5,450,357 |
| 2020 | $24,408,486 | $6,149,558 | $5,334,071 | $465,525 | 29 | $556,745 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation states that its mission is to promote the Rule of Law, access to justice, and law-related education. Its grants program supports projects that improve access to legal assistance for underserved people, cultivate understanding of the Rule of Law, or provide education in support of those goals. Its filing also describes grants for projects improving the administration of justice, providing legal services to underserved people, and offering public service internships for Virginia law students.
Recent recipients include legal aid organizations, educational and civic organizations, and other nonprofits. For example, Virginia Poverty Law Center said its grant would help underwrite a statewide conference providing CLE-certified training on poverty law issues. Blue Ridge Legal Services described its project as providing free legal information, advice, brief services, and direct representation to low-income seniors, with a focus on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 37 grants totaling $694,200. Grants ranged from $8,500 to $60,000, with a median of $15,000. Among the largest were $60,000 to the John Marshall Center for Constitutional History & Civics for work engaging and educating learners about constitutional history, the Rule of Law, and civics; $40,000 to the Library of Virginia Foundation for conservation, digitization, and public access to the Executive Papers of Governor Thomas Nelson; and $40,000 to Virginia Poverty Law Center for its Statewide Legal Aid Conference. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 37 grants totaling $765,500.
Other notable 2024 grants included $30,000 to Virginia Legal Aid Society for services supporting domestic violence survivors and their dependents; $27,700 to Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley for civil legal services for low-income people; and $25,000 each to Appalachian School of Law, Blue Ridge Legal Services, Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Fairfax Law Foundation, Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia, and Legal Services of Northern Virginia.
The Foundation also reported awarding $753,000 to 34 organizations in 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Colleen M. Quinn as president, David J. Gogal as vice-president, Hon. Jane Marum Roush as immediate past president, Stephen E. Noona as president-elect, and Teresa L. Moore as secretary. Directors listed include Alan S. Anderson, Barbara Joynes, Carole H. Capsalis, Cynthia E. Hudson, and Darius Davenport.
Virginia Law Foundation is led by Alison C. Martin, CEO on the 2025 filing; 8 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alison C. Martin
CEO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$189K (2025)
Stephen E. Noona
President
Vice President → President- Elect, 2024
President- Elect → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teresa L. Moore
Secretary & Interim Director
Secretary → Secretary & Interim Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$65K (2020) → $131K (2025)
Christine Reilly
Director of Publications
Senior Publications Attorney → Director of Publications, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$108K (2024) → $125K (2025)
Cara Schneider
Senior Director of Marketing
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Stacie M. Merriam
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$122K (2020) → $44K (2025)
Tanya Morris
Office Manager
Executive Assistant & Director of Seminars → Office Manager, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $119K (2025)
Katie Arata
Vice President of Marketing
Senior Director of Development & Philanthropy → Vice President of Marketing, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$102K (2023) → $133K (2025)
Tekoi L. Dent
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$93K (2025)
Barbara Joynes
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Colleen M. Quinn
Immediate-Past President
President-Elect → President, 2024
President → Immediate-Past President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darrel Tillar Mason
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David J. Gogal
President-Elect
Director → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen D. Otero
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Farnaz F. Thompson
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carole H. Capsalis
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Henry L. Chambers Jr.
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roscoe C. Roberts
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alan S. Anderson
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darius Davenport
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert F. Redmond
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Theophani Stamos
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas M. Wolf
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Slaughter
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward L. Wiener
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacquelyn E. Stone
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey B. Hassler
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
K. Lorraine Lord
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Trevor S. Cox
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Cynthia E. Hudson (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Edward Weiner (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Henry N. Ware Jr. (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jane Marum Roush (2020–2024) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Margaret A. Nelson (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Raymond D. White (2020–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: J. Lee E. Osborne (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Jeffery B. Hassler (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Marcy Jarry (2024) — Senior Director of Finance & Treasurer
- Former: John McGavin (2020–2023) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Mary Zinsner (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lauren Ellerman (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Theo Stamos (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Chris Reilly (2022–2023) — Senior Publications Attorney
- Former: J. Lee E. Osbone (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John W. Simek (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jon D. Hudleston (2020–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Michael Huyoung (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Cassandra L. Newby-Alexander (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Matthew E. Cheek (2020–2021) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Richard Dimeglio (2021) — Director of Programs
- Former: F. Anderson Morse (2020) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Steven Gould (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $189K, to Alison C Martin (CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Law Foundation
How much does Virginia Law Foundation give each year?
Virginia Law Foundation gave $766K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $694K across 37 grants.
What is Virginia Law Foundation's typical grant size?
Virginia Law Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,000, and its average grant was $20,689, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Virginia Law Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Does Virginia Law Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Virginia Law Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Virginia Law Foundation's largest grantees?
Virginia Law Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Appalachian School of Law ($67,000 across 2 grants), JMC for Constitutional History & Civics ($65,000) and Greater Richmond Bar Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($17,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Virginia Law Foundation?
Virginia Law Foundation reported $28.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.9M.
What does Virginia Law Foundation fund?
The Foundation states that its mission is to promote the Rule of Law, access to justice, and law-related education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Virginia Law Foundation?
Applications are submitted digitally. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Virginia Law Foundation make grants?
The grants program supports law-related projects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in one state.
What is Virginia Law Foundation's EIN?
Virginia Law Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0198088. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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