Community Is Our Foundation

IS OU R FOU ND AT ION

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Dear Friends, While community foundations have existed in America for over 100 years, they have always defied a clear and succinct definition.

We are often asked, “What is the Community Foundation?”

What is a Community Foundation?

A community foundation is a charitable organization created by and for a community of people. It is supported by local donors, governed by a board of directors, and led by a dedicated staff working toward the greater good of the community.

A community foundation receives donations from a variety of sources, invests the majority of those contributions for long-term growth, and directs resources to the community in the form of grants, scholarships, and awards. A community foundation is also a resource of knowledge about the community it serves, and provides expertise in nonprofit management.

About Us The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge serves the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, and the counties of Augusta, Nelson, and Highland.

For more information about our services, please visit us online at cfcbr.org or call 540-213-2150

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I find that it helps to see the Community Foundation in action. If you were to walk into our office, you may see us setting up a charitable endowment fund supported by a community member. You may find us helping a local business decide how best to direct its charitable giving, or introducing one of our many scholarship recipients to the donors who made that aid possible. You may find us meeting with the teens in our Youth Philanthropy Council as they are interviewing the leader of a local nonprofit organization or debating how best to distribute their charitable grants.

On another day you may see us advising the executive director or board officers of a local nonprofit organization on how they can increase their fundraising results, strengthen their organizational governance, or partner with other nonprofit organizations.

While the work of the foundation is diverse, the thread that ties all of our efforts together is our unwavering commitment to the long-term prosperity of our community.

The impact that we have on our community is made possible through the generous support of many donors. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has placed their trust and their resources with the Community Foundation. Thank you for your support and partnership.

Sincerely,

Dan Layman, President & CEO

On the following pages, we discuss some of the ways that we are working to address important issues in our community.

COMMUNITY VISION:

Youth Development

We believe that investing in the success of our children is an investment in the future of our community.

As we work continually to assess the issues facing our community, we pay close attention to the incredibly wide spectrum of our children’s needs. No single nonprofit organization or agency can address all of these needs — so we examine the collective work of these organizations, identify opportunities for investment, and direct grants from the Community Foundation for the greatest impact.

We focus our support on three fundamental areas:

Education

Health

Early Childhood Development

Mental and Emotional Health

Personal Safety

Excellence in the Classroom

Physical Fitness

Legal Protection

Welfare

Remedial Education

Food Access and Nutrition

Abuse and Neglect

Vocational & Technical Training

Behavioral Issues

Poverty

College Access

Sexuality and Teen Pregnancy

Family Dynamics

Cultural Education

Substance Abuse

Mentoring

Creativity

Socialization

Homelessness

LOCAL CHALLENGES

15%

37%

Nearly 13%

of children live in poverty.

of children receive free or reduced lunch in school due to low family income.

of teens will not earn their high school diploma.

Nearly 25 of every 1,000 females 15 to 19 years old in the Valley became pregnant in 2013

3 The sources include: Virginia Department of Education, U.S. Census Bureau-American Community Survey, Council on Virginia’s Future-Virginia Performs

Far too many individuals and families in our service area struggle to achieve financial independence.

The Community Foundation, in partnership with the United Way of Greater Augusta and the Community Action Partnership of Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro (CAPSAW), conducted dozens of focus group discussions with local residents from all walks of life. Each group expressed to us that helping individuals and families achieve financial stability should be our community’s highest priority.

We are committed to addressing this priority issue in two ways. First, for as long as there are families in our community living in poverty, we will continue to provide financial support to the nonprofit organizations that assist them with their basic needs. Second, we are investing strategically in developing “workforce pipelines” that lead to meaningful and prosperous employment.

What we know:  Only 28% of area high school students complete a two- or four-year college degree. This begs the question, “what becomes of the remaining 72%?” Without appropriate technical or vocational education, their prospects are very limited. Many seek employment in the service sector where they receive a low wage and limited benefits, placing them at high risk of living in poverty.  Our region’s manufacturing companies, which represent many of our largest employers, are experiencing a shortage of qualified prospective employees, and many are approaching a crisis point as a large percentage of employees are preparing to retire.  Availability of skilled workers is one of the highest priorities for prospective businesses.

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 Most teens and their parents hold an outdated perception of careers in manufacturing. Visit a manufacturing facility today and you will see that advances in technology have had a transformational effect on this industry, and that opportunities abound for career advancement.  The Commonwealth has directed community colleges to significantly increase the number of “credentials” awarded to students pursuing specific skills for highdemand jobs. As a result, individuals can achieve the education they need for quality employment in less than a year’s time at either Blue Ridge Community College or Valley Career & Technical Center. Both institutions would welcome increased enrollment to help them meet local demand for employees.

For every job that requires an advanced degree (masters and beyond), there are 2 jobs that require a bachelor’s degree and 7 jobs that require some education beyond high school, but less than a bachelor’s degree.

4 The sources include: Regional Data Center for Shenandoah Valley, Local Offices of Economic Development, Blue Ridge Community College, Valley Career & Technical Center

COMMUNITY VISION:

Desired Outcomes Increased number of high school graduates completing a credential-based, post-secondary educational program.

Increased number of high school graduates entering the workforce having obtained a job that offers familysustaining income.

Financial Stability for Families

GRANTMAKING ISSUES

WE ROUTINELY ADDRESS :

Increased growth at existing manufacturing companies.

Increased interest in establishing new businesses in our region due to our skilled workforce.

Increased local spending as a result of higher family incomes.

Greater economic growth and prosperity for our region.

Decreased reliance on aid programs.

Fewer individuals and families living in poverty.

OPPORTUNITIES IN WHICH WE ARE INVESTING STRATEGICALLY:

» » » » » » » » »

FOOD ACCESS HOUSING MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE LEGAL AID EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE MENTAL HEALTH CHILD CARE

CAREER AWARENESS

TECHNICAL / VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

» »

SCHOLARSHIPS LIFE SKILLS 5

COMMUNITY VISION:

Quality of Life

Quality-of-life is increasingly recognized as a backbone of a healthy economy. We foster the livability of our community through grants that support social vibrancy, economic innovation, and environmental stewardship.

The Community Foundation is committed to supporting local initiatives for the benefit of all residents. We each may define happiness differently, but the quality of the community in which we live is a contributing factor that connects us all. We act on that commitment by dedicating a portion of our annual grants to supporting the many facets of our community’s quality of life.

OUR

GRANTS ROUTINELY SUPPORT

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PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS HISTORIC PRESERVATION ENTREPRENEURSHIP NATURAL RESOURCES RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUING EDUCATION PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS

The Community Foundation is also prepared to help grassroots campaigns achieve success. For example, when safety concerns forced the closure of the historic pedestrian bridge connecting the Sears Hill neighborhood to downtown Staunton, residents quickly came together to raise money to repair the bridge and restore pedestrian access. The Community Foundation served as the fiscal agent for this successful preservation initiative.

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If you have an idea for enhancing our community’s quality of life, the Community Foundation may be your opportunity to bring that idea to fruition.

We are a COMMUNITY of Donors

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Simple Steps

To Creating a Charitable Fund

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IMAGINE

DESIGN

PERSONALIZE

GIVE

GROW

GRANT

Bring us your aspirations.

What matters most to you?

We will design a fund that can achieve your goals

Create a name for your fund

Offer your tax-deductable gift to your fund now or through your estate

We will invest your fund for long-term growth

Enjoy making a meaningful difference as your fund supports your favorite causes

Since the Community Foundation is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, you may deduct your gifts to the full extent of the law.

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NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID HARRISONBURG VA PERMIT 75

P.O. Box 815 Staunton, Virginia 24402-0815

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For good. For ever.

TM

Do you have interest in learning more about how you can join our community of donors?

It all begins with a conversation.

Contact us at 540-213-2150.

You may also begin exploring your options by visiting us at www.cfcbr.org.

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