Mary Morton Parsons Foundation Grant

The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, based in Richmond, Virginia, is a private philanthropic organization with a long-standing commitment to enhancing the quality of life throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Foundation awards grants to tax-exempt organizations under IRS Section 501(c)(3) that are not classified as private foundations under Section 509(a). To be eligible, these organizations must either be located in the greater Richmond region or demonstrate a direct impact on the Commonwealth. This geographic restriction ensures that the Foundation's resources are targeted toward local and statewide benefit. The Foundation operates two funding cycles annually—spring and fall. For the spring cycle, prospective applicants must submit a Contact Form by February 27 and complete their full application by March 16. The fall cycle requires a Contact Form submission by August 28, with full applications due by September 15. In both cases, applicants must first register and speak with the Executive Director before submitting a Contact Form. All applications must be completed and submitted through the Foundation’s online portal by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the respective deadline. Should a deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, submissions are accepted until the next business day. The Foundation typically funds no more than one-third of a project’s total cost, and grants are issued on a matching or challenge basis. This means recipients are required to raise additional funding in proportion to the grant amount awarded. For construction-related projects, the Foundation may require that construction begin before releasing funds. Further, as a condition of receiving funding, the applicant organization must demonstrate 100% board giving, meaning all members of the organization’s governing board must contribute financially to the organization. To apply, organizations must gather and submit a comprehensive set of documents through the Foundation’s online system. These include a cover letter, a list of current governing board members and officers, the IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) status, project-specific and organizational budgets, the most recent financial audit, and the most recent IRS Form 990. In addition to standard contact and organizational information, the application will request demographic details about the organization’s board and the community it serves, a detailed description of the proposed project, a financial plan, and any Guidestar by Candid transparency seals the organization has earned. The application process emphasizes strong project planning, sound financials, and organizational transparency. Once the application is submitted, applicants can expect a decision in early June for the spring cycle and early December for the fall cycle. The Foundation requires all conditions of grant awards to be met within 12 months of approval, or the grant may be withdrawn. This stipulation, along with the matching challenge framework, reflects the Foundation’s commitment to both accountability and capacity-building among its grantees. Applicants are encouraged to initiate early engagement by contacting the Foundation ahead of submission deadlines, particularly since the initial Contact Form and discussion with the Executive Director are prerequisites. For further information or assistance, organizations can reach out via phone at (804) 802-1446 or email at [email protected]. The Foundation’s offices are located at 8003 Franklin Farms Drive, Suite 111, Richmond, VA 23229. All application activities must be completed through the Foundation’s designated online application portal.

Ensure 100% board giving; Initiate construction before funding if applicable.