Memorial Foundation for Children Grant Program

The Memorial Foundation for Children Grant Program aims to enhance the lives of children in the Richmond Metropolitan Area by funding nonprofit organizations focused on Education and Health and Wellness. Prioritizing evidence-based programs, it supports initiatives that demonstrate long-term impact and serve low-income families. Grants are awarded biennially, emphasizing collaboration among organizations to tackle significant issues affecting children from birth to age 21. The program seeks to ensure that all children can reach their full potential.

Priorities
The Memorial Foundation for Children awards grants annually to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Richmond Area that address significant issues within our major funding categories, Education and Health and Wellness of children from birth through the age of 21. The Richmond area is defined as the City of Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, and Henrico.
Education Grants should engage children over a period of time in a series of interactions that culminate in improved knowledge or skill. Preference will be given to schools, organizations and programs that support success in school and motivate children to thrive in life. We place emphasis on supporting programs that improve Early Childhood and K-12 Education.
Health and Wellness Grants are awarded to organizations that provide quality, meaningful medical care, physical and mental health services, and health education programs to benefit children.
Priority will be given to grants that:
demonstrate long-term impact fund evidence-based programs that enhance educational experiences or promote optimal healthprimarily serve children from low-income families asset-limited households, which include families living at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelinesare designed to achieve measurable resultsprovide support to organizations that collaborate to improve the lives of children living in poverty
Two types of grant funding for 2026.
General Grants
The Foundation continues to makes one-year grants for specific programs or projects which may include operating expenses. Funds should be spent within the period of 12 months following July 1. Organizations are eligible for General Grant funding every other year.
Multi-Year Grants
Multi-Year grants of $100,000 will be distributed over a two-year period and will be awarded to up to two organizations per year. These larger grants are designed to allow us to better partner with our grantees above and beyond our general grants for special strategic initiatives, new programs, and enhancements to existing programs. These grants are to be used to support programs that have been vetted with measurable objectives, ideally reflected in the organization’s strategic plan or initiatives.

Eligibility

Generally, grants are made only to organizations located in the Richmond metropolitan area, which is defined as the City of Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover and Henrico.However, funds are sometimes awarded to agencies located outside of the geographic region for grant proposals specifically serving children who reside within the Richmond metropolitan area.Eligibility and Restrictions:

Grants are made to organizations that qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and to qualifying government instrumentalities, such as public schools. Grants are awarded on an every other year basis.Grants requests that include field trips and/or event tickets to enhance programming that engages children over a period of time will be considered.

Ineligibility

Requests for endowments, private foundations, private operating foundations, individuals, annual fund campaigns or fundraising expenses will not be considered.
Grants for individual tuition, scholarships, and camperships are NOT funded, and generally, one-time event grants are not favored.Generally, requests for multi-year payments are not considered.
Grants are not typically made for “bricks and mortar” projects.