What We Do

Our mission is to enrich quality of life by responding to needs and inspiring philanthropy in our community. The Community Foundation helps donors plan and carry out their charitable giving in our community, distributes grants and scholarships, and works to build a permanent endowment for our region. The Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge actively inspires philanthropy and civic engagement through a variety of outreach actvities, such as:

• Board members and staff regularly speak to community groups, service clubs, and municipal organizations.
• The Foundation holds workshops and field-of-interest seminars for nonprofit organization staff and board members, to strengthen nonprofit organizational capacity.
• We host professional advisor seminars to share information of interest to advisors and their clients. Topics are relevant to philanthropy and may include wills and estates, income tax, life insurance, financial advising, financial planning, and philanthropy.
• The annual Dawbarn Awards, Smyth Awards, and other grant awards events provide opportunities for the public to learn more about philanthropy in general and the work of the Foundation in particular.

Unlike other non-profit organizations, we are endowed in perpetuity.  We are committed to the welfare and brighter future of all of our residents.  The Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge responds to community needs with grants, awards and scholarship opportunities.