The Charles Fund Inc
Charlottesville, VA · EIN 16-8064401. Reported 417 grants totalling $2,745,500 to 105 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Charles Fund Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $500. Half of everything it gave fell between $250 and $5,000; the smallest was $150 and the largest $75,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montpelier Foundation | Orange, VA | $300,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rochester Museum and Science Center | Rochester, NY | $265,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Frontier Cultural Foundation | Staunton, VA | $225,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Genesee Country Village & Museum | Mumford, NY | $225,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hillside Family of Agencies | Rochester, NY | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Uncommon Schools Rochester Prep | Rochester, NY | $135,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jefferson Area Board for Aging | Charlottesville, VA | $130,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Thomas Jefferson Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shenandoah National Park Trust | Charlottesville, VA | $115,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Child Health Partnership Inc | Charlottesville, VA | $95,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way - Thomas Jefferson Area | Charlottesville, VA | $90,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hospice of the Piedmont | Charlottesville, VA | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Grant | Staunton, VA | $75,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center | Charlottesville, VA | $72,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Madison House | Charlottesville, VA | $70,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hillside Children's Foundation | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Virginia Museum of History & Culture | Richmond, VA | $49,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Virginia College Fund | Richmond, VA | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Va Foundation for the Humanities | Charlottesville, VA | $45,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Charlottesville | Charlottesville, VA | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| COMPUTERS4KIDS | Charlottesville, VA | $30,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Center at Belvedere | Charlottesville, VA | $27,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Botanical Gardens of the Piedmont | Charlottesville, VA | $10,250 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Charlottesville Tomorrow | Charlottesville, VA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society | Charlottesville, VA | $9,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Literacy Volunteers | Charlottesville, VA | $6,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Westiminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge | Charlottesville, VA | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Legal Aid Justice Center | Charlottesville, VA | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Blue Ridge Area Food Bank | Verona, VA | $4,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA | Charlottesville, VA | $4,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| All Blessings Flow | Charlottesville, VA | $4,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry | Charlottesville, VA | $4,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| International Rescue Committee | Charlottesville, VA | $4,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pacem | Charlottesville, VA | $3,750 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jefferson-Madison Regional Library | Charlottesville, VA | $3,600 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville Free Clinic | Charlottesville, VA | $3,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Salvation Army | Charlottesville, VA | $3,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Meals on Wheels | Charlottesville, VA | $3,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Service Dogs of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | $3,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Georgias Healing House | Charlottesville, VA | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jefferson School African American Heritage Center | Charlottesville, VA | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Miller Center of Public Affairs | Charlottesville, VA | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Readykids | Charlottesville, VA | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Virginia Law Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Western Albemarle Rescue Squad | Crozet, VA | $3,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Albemarle County Rotary Club Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $2,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Book Baskets | Charlottesville, VA | $2,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad | Charlottesville, VA | $2,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Haven | Charlottesville, VA | $2,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville Area Community Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $2,100 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| CASA | Charlottesville, VA | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Good News Jail and Prison Ministry | Henrico, VA | $2,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| International Neighbors | Charlottesville, VA | $2,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jefferson School Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Pvcc Educational Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $2,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Piedmont Environmental Council | Charlottesville, VA | $1,750 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shelter for Help & Emergency | Charlottesville, VA | $1,750 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Caring for Creatures | Palmyra, VA | $1,650 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Alliance for Interfaith Ministries | Charlottesville, VA | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Arc of the Piedmont | Charlottesville, VA | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ivy Creek Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Learning Ally | Princeton, NJ | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nature Conservancy | Charlottesville, VA | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sara | Charlottesville, VA | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Virginia Discovery Museum | Charlottesville, VA | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Virginia Museum of Fine Arts | Richmond, VA | $1,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Camp Holiday Trails | Charlottesville, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Non Profit Excellence | Charlottesville, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville Municipal Band | Charlottesville, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Inc | Williamsburg, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Paramount Theater | Charlottesville, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary | Charlottesville, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Santa Fund | Charlottesville, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Seniornavigator | North Chesterfield, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Toy Lift Charities | Charlottesville, VA | $1,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Multiple-Sclerosis Society | Charlottesville, VA | $1,250 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Bridge Line | Charlottesville, VA | $1,250 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Bridge Ministry | Buckingham, VA | $1,250 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wintergreen Adaptive Sports | Roseland, VA | $1,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Albemarle Housing Improvement Program | Charlottesville, VA | $1,150 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Central Virginia Watercolor Guild | Charlottesville, VA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville Albemarle Historical Society | Charlottesville, VA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| City of Promise | Charlottesville, VA | $1,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Colonial Williamsburg Fund | Williamsburg, VA | $1,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| On Our Own | Charlottesville, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Piedmont CASA | Charlottesville, VA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| The Library of Virginia Foundation | Richmond, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Urban Agriculture Collective | Charlottesville, VA | $900 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Boys and Girls Club | Charlottesville, VA | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program | Charlottesville, VA | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Women's Initiative | Charlottesville, VA | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Virginia Wildlife Center | Waynesboro, VA | $750 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wildlife Center of Virginia | Waynesboro, VA | $750 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville Scholarship Program | Charlottesville, VA | $650 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Abundant Life Ministries | Pulaski, VA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cultivate Charlottesville | Charlottesville, VA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Girls on the Run Central Virginia | Lynchburg, VA | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Mcintire Botanical Gardens | Charlottesville, VA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Colonial Williamsburg Foundation | Williamsburg, VA | $350 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Agnes Irwin School | Rosemont, PA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Charlottesville Sympghony Society | Charlottesville, VA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ms Society | Charlottesville, VA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Pauls Episcopal Church | Ivy, VA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The White Pig Animal Sanctuary | Schuyler, VA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
94 of 105 (90%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 87%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Rochester Museum and Science Center
GENERAL PURPOSES OF DONEE
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 245 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 89 | $530,500 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 85 | $603,000 | $500 |
| 2023 | 82 | $526,500 | $500 |
| 2024 | 81 | $501,500 | $500 |
| 2025 | 80 | $584,000 | $500 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
68% of its giving went to organizations in Virginia. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $500. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Virginia.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Charles Fund Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 250 E High Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 16-8064401 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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