Virginia Nurses Foundation
Virginia Nurses Foundation (VNF) is a public charity based in Richmond, Virginia. It works to improve the health of Virginia communities by developing an educated and diverse nursing workforce through leadership development, research, and innovation.
Virginia Nurses Foundation at a glance
In short: Virginia Nurses Foundation gave $12K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,000
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +57.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,091
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $470,664
- +66.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Virginia Nurses Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website describes a Student Project Distribution Support program for nursing-related research. Applicants submit a VNA/VNF Student Project Distribution Request Form. Projects must align with VNA and VNF priorities, be ready for implementation or distribution, include applicable IRB approvals or documentation, and follow ethical practices and protect participant privacy. Priority is given to requests demonstrating strong alignment, particularly those submitted by licensed registered nurses and current VNA members. Approved requests are subject to a $150 administrative fee before distribution is scheduled. Participants must provide a one- to two-page summary of findings or outcomes and disseminate their work through an abstract submission to a VNA/VNF conference or an article submission to *Virginia Nurses Today*. The website describes this program as distribution and recruitment support, not as a cash grant.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 13619, Richmond, VA 23225-9998
Phone: (804) 282-1808
Website: https://virginianurses.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Virginia Nurses Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was VCU ($2K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
VNF is based in Richmond, Virginia. Its 2025 filing shows that 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 8% to recipients in Washington, DC. The listed 2025 grantees include institutions in both locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Virginia Nurses Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 $1K (2020) to $13K (2023). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $12K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VCU Richmond, VA | — | $2,000 |
| Longwood College Weyers Cave, VA | — | $1,000 |
| University of VA Charlottesville, VA | — | $1,000 |
| Hampton University Hampton, VA | — | $1,000 |
| Laurel Ridge Community College Warrenton, VA | — | $1,000 |
| George Eashington University Washington, DC | — | $1,000 |
| Averett University Danville, VA | — | $1,000 |
| University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA | — | $1,000 |
| Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VA | — | $1,000 |
| Radford University Radford, VA | — | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $470,664 | $236,417 | $137,560 | $12,000 | 11 | $179 |
| 2024 | $282,053 | $106,686 | $97,744 | $8,000 | 7 | $103 |
| 2023 | $301,572 | $143,949 | $112,394 | $13,000 | 12 | $47 |
| 2022 | $282,053 | $114,686 | $97,744 | $8,000 | 7 | $103 |
| 2021 | $250,071 | $81,686 | $72,892 | $4,000 | 4 | $3 |
| 2020 | $244,917 | $115,825 | $73,750 | $1,000 | 1 | $311 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
VNF states its mission is to improve the health of Virginia’s communities by developing an educated and diverse nursing workforce through leadership development, research, and innovation. Its 2024 filing gives a related mission statement: promoting nurses’ professional and educational advancement through conferences, educational programs, and publications.
The foundation’s website describes the Nurse Leadership Academy and Next Level Leadership program, mental health initiatives, maternal health webinars, and diversity, equity and inclusion work. It also identifies scholarships and nursing education initiatives as uses for donations.
The 2025 grants went to colleges and universities. Among the recipients, Hampton University describes its mission as promoting learning, building character, and preparing students for leadership and service; Averett University says it prepares students to serve and lead as catalysts for positive change; and the University of Lynchburg says it inspires independent thinkers who become effective leaders shaping caring communities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not VNF’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, VNF reported 11 grants totaling $12,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $2,000, with a median of $1,000. Listed recipients included VCU ($2,000) and Longwood College, the University of Virginia, Hampton University, Laurel Ridge Community College, George Washington University, Averett University, the University of Lynchburg, Wytheville Community College, Radford University, and Marymount University ($1,000 each).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mesha Jones as president, Kathy Baker as vice president, Llewellyn Smith as treasurer, Sabrina Gregory Hancock and Tiffany Covarrubias-Lyttle as commissioners, Tomeka Dowling and Nancy Littlefield as trustees-at-large, David Brown and Jeanne Holmes as community members, and Phyllis Whitehead as past president.
Virginia Nurses Foundation is led by Mesha Jones, President since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mesha Jones
President
Commissioner → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Littlefield
Trustee-At-Large
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tomeka Dowling
Trustee at Large
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne Holmes
Community Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis Whitehead
Past President
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sabrina Gregory Hancock
Commissioner
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Baker
Vice President
Trustee-At-Large → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Jones
Community Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Llewellyn Smith
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Brown
Community Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Covarrubias-Lyttle
Commissioner
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Terris Kennedy (2020–2024) — Past President
- Former: Dipti Ramnarain (2022–2024) — Board Advisor
- Former: Daivd Brown (2024) — Community Member
- Former: Dalton Paxman (2024) — Community Member
- Former: Patti McCue (2020–2023) — Trustee-At-Large
- Former: Vivienne McDaniel (2020–2023) — Trustee-At-Large
- Former: Erin Keister (2021–2023) — Commissioner
- Former: Billie Abdi (2022–2023) — Community Member
- Former: Dee Eldariri (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Billy Harper (2020–2021) — Community Member
- Former: Dipti Ramnarian (2020–2021) — Community Member
- Former: Frank Brown (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Jen Martin (2020–2021) — Commissioner
- Former: Sherri Wilson (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Teresa Haller (2020–2021) — Past President
- Former: Blenabdi (2021) — Trustee-At-Large
- Former: Caryn Brown (2020) — Community Member
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.
Frequently asked questions about Virginia Nurses Foundation
How much does Virginia Nurses Foundation give each year?
Virginia Nurses Foundation gave $12K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2024 it gave $8K across 7 grants.
What is Virginia Nurses Foundation's typical grant size?
Virginia Nurses Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,091, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does Virginia Nurses Foundation give grants?
Virginia Nurses Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (8%).
Who are Virginia Nurses Foundation's largest grantees?
Virginia Nurses Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include VCU ($2,000), Longwood College ($1,000) and University of VA ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Virginia Nurses Foundation?
Virginia Nurses Foundation reported $471K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $236K.
What does Virginia Nurses Foundation fund?
VNF states its mission is to improve the health of Virginia’s communities by developing an educated and diverse nursing workforce through leadership development, research, and innovation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Virginia Nurses Foundation?
The website describes a Student Project Distribution Support program for nursing-related research. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Virginia Nurses Foundation's EIN?
Virginia Nurses Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1788059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 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 2020–2025
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