Spring has sprung across Virginia’s nonprofit community. Winter hibernations are over and advocacy, fundraising and news making is in full swing. From the impact of federal funding pauses to new buildings (and new bodies?!), keep scrolling to read our latest Phil-Ins.
Pause in Federal Grants Impacting Local Nonprofits
The abrupt halt in federal grants to nonprofit organizations has delayed if not permanently revoked a range of much-anticipated initiatives. The Richmonder is reporting on the pain being felt by nonprofits, including Studio Two Three, which is no longer able to move forward with a series of vital renovations to its 86-year-old building that were to be funded through a $200,000 grant. Pulling the funding was “despicable,” said one official. Meanwhile, Capital Trees had already begun upgrades that would turn Hotchkiss Park into Hotchkiss Green, and now the organization is unclear if it will be reimbursed for the work through the anticipated $62,000 grant. The Friends of the James River Park was also waiting on reimbursement for completed work on ridding the park of invasive plant species. Got a story to tell about the loss of federal funding? Email us at thephil@hodgespart.com, and we’ll dig into this further.
That’s the Spirit
New Creation VA, a Harrisonburg-based nonprofit that works to support survivors of human trafficking as well as those vulnerable to exploitation, has received the Spirit of Virginia Award. As WHSV reports, Virginia’s governor and First Lady presented the award to the organization in recognition of its prevention, education and job creation efforts. The Spirit of Virginia Award shines a deserving spotlight on persons and organizations showing goodwill, compassion and selfless achievement within their community.
A New Body of Work
Almost two years after Charlottesville’s infamous Robert E. Lee statue was melted down into bronze ingots, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, a Black-led public research nonprofit, is looking for artists to repurpose the melted remains into a reimagined piece of public art. You’ll recall that the Lee monument ignited the 2017 incendiary Unite the Right rally. The initiative is part of the Swords into Plowshares project. A jury will select as many of five semi-finalists who will be awarded $10,000 to develop design proposals for the new work. Applications are due April 25.
Global HQ Settles in Shockoe Bottom
World Pediatrics (formerly the World Pediatric Project) has a new name, a new brand and a new home in the historic Tobacco Row section of Shockoe Bottom. The Richmond-based nonprofit provides advanced pediatric healthcare to more than 3,100 children around the world. It now occupies the ground floor of a 15,000-square-foot restored 1914 warehouse where it will house 16 staffers and serve as a convenient space near VCU Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, which hosts many of the families being served by WP. As for the new brand, the nonprofit dispatched the word “Project” from its name last year to convey that its care is more long-term in nature.
Quest Reminder
Applications for Leadership Metro Richmond’s community leadership development program, Leadership Quest, are due by Monday, April 28. Interested? You can find out more at an in-person information session at Dominion Energy’s Innsbrook office on Tuesday, April 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information and to register for a session visit: http://www.lmronline.org/leadership-quest/
Image: Hyperallergic, Win McNamee/Getty Images
