TCFHR connects donors with nonprofit organizations through our grant cycle, the Giving Back Guide, and the annual Great Community Give.
Nonprofits that participate in our annual grant cycle access opportunities and outlets for giving, receiving, educating, and collaborating. We also help connect donors who want to support your mission.
$9.3 Million
In Grants (2025)
580+
Organizations Receiving Grants
1,110+
Donors
$98 Million
Awarded Since 1998
Our simple application connects your organization to competitive grants, donors, and publicity. Organizations with 501(c)(3) status located in and serving Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are invited to participate in this process. Schools and churches are not eligible to apply.
TCFHR manages a number of funds that make grants ONLY to organizations working primarily in specific fields. To be considered, your organization’s primary mission must be in the designated field (see below).
Note that if you qualify for a restricted grant, you only need to fill out one application, which will also be used for your organization’s profile in the Giving Back Guide.
Hildred Neff Memorial Fund
To benefit nonprofit organizations that provide for the needs of domestic animals or wildlife. The annual grant distribution exceeds $22,000, and multiple organizations may be awarded.
Alvin J. Baird Jr. Program Endowment Fund
To benefit nonprofit healthcare organizations that address unmet healthcare needs in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County community. The annual grant distribution exceeds $44,000, and one or more organizations may be awarded.
Harrisonburg/Rockingham Food Pantry Endowment
To benefit area food pantries. The annual grant distribution exceeds $4,000.
Sean Warner Memorial Endowment Fund
To benefit nonprofit organizations in Harrisonburg/Rockingham County providing emotional support services for children of divorced parents. This grant is approximately $500.
Earlynn J. Miller Fund for the Arts
To encourage arts nonprofit organizations to dream about the possibilities to significantly grow the arts in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County community. The annual grant funding exceeds $60,000 in total, and one or more organizations may be awarded.
Valley Arts & Culture Fund
This permanent fund provides program, project, and seed funds to small and medium sized nonprofit organizations promoting performing and visual arts and interpreting the culture and traditions of and in the Shenandoah Valley. The annual grant funding exceeds $3,400 in total.
Mary Spitzer Etter Endowed Fund
This permanent fund helps finance projects that benefit the arts in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. The annual grant funding exceeds $4,700 in total.
Janet Sohn Endowed Fund
This permanent fund provides funds to one organization annually that was supported by Janet during her lifetime. Eligible organizations are Big Brothers Big Sisters – Harrisonburg, East Gate Ministries, Habitat for Humanity – Bridgewater, Sentara RMH Foundation, and Salvation Army – Harrisonburg. The annual grant funding exceeds $12,000 in total.
Little Swiss Fund
For the following grant opportunity, an eligible organization is a 501(c)(3) physically located in and serving Highland County, Virginia. To benefit Highland County nonprofits with broad active volunteer support and annual revenues exceeding $25,000, are encouraged to apply for annual grant funding. Total annual grant funding exceeds $500,000, and multiple organizations will be awarded.
This annual magazine-style publication is a unique publicity opportunity for nonprofits to share their mission, vision, accomplishments, and funding needs. The resource is promoted to the public and area media, in print and digital form, in mid-November. TCFHR utilizes the guide as a tool in donor conversations throughout the year. Many donor-advised grants as well as gifts from community members are made to local organizations as a result of this resource.
Join us for the ninth annual Great Community Give on April 22! We’ve raised $11.3 million for more than 150 local nonprofits, and we hope to raise that number by another $2.5 million in 2026.
What is a grant?
A grant is a financial gift for a project or specific purpose that is not expected to be repaid. At TCFHR, grants can come from
What types of grants and funding does TCFHR provide?
TCFHR offers three types of funding:
TCFHR also hosts an annual online giving day that has raised more than $10 million for local nonprofits in the past eight years. While this is not a grant opportunity, this is an amazing and free opportunity to fundraise for your organization. Learn more at www.greatcommunitygive.org.
Does TCFHR make grants to organizations without a 501(c)(3) designation?
No. To qualify for grant-making support, your nonprofit organization must be designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Can I apply for a grant from a donor-advised fund?
Applications are not accepted for donor-advised funds. Donors work with the Foundation to direct grants based on the donors’ areas of interest. One way that donors learn about needs is through our Giving Back Guide, a free opportunity for area nonprofits located in and serving Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.
Are individuals eligible for grant funding?
With the exception of scholarship awards, grants are ONLY awarded to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.
How much grant funding is awarded annually?
These calculations differ each year. See the list of community grants for ranges.
How are funding decisions prioritized for applicants?
Criteria and considerations include
City or county governments and schools are not generally eligible. We encourage partnering with local nonprofit organizations.
Faith-based organizations can apply for grants for non-religious programs offered to the broader community, such as a food pantry. Please use our contact form for further inquiries.
How does my nonprofit organization or charitable project apply?
The first step is to establish a single organizational profile during our open grant cycle each year. The application is open from July 1-September 1.
The grant portal will maintain a record of your organization’s application history, which your organization may access any time.
If you are unsure whether your organization already has an organizational profile, or need assistance at any point of the process, use the contact form to reach us.
What happens after my grant application is submitted? How is it reviewed?
After your application is submitted, our director of grants reviews your request and forwards it to the specific grants committee for their review and decision.
We have misplaced our login information. How do we retrieve it?
If you cannot locate your password, return to the online grant portal and select the “forgot password” link on the home page. If you cannot locate any of the login information for your organization, please contact us to retrieve your organizational profile information.
Support literacy by sponsoring free books for local children under age five.
Join us every April for this online giving day supporting area nonprofits.
Explore local funding needs in this nonprofit directory published annually.
