New Round of $740,000 Addresses Housing and Food Insecurity, Arts Education, Clean Air and Other Priorities

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) is proud to announce significant charitable giving that will strengthen our region through the holiday season and beyond.  Dave Matthews Band’s Bama Works Fund, housed at CACF, has awarded end-of-year donations to 141 hometown organizations across the region through the fall grants round, supporting vital programs that serve community members in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange.

These grants reflect the fund’s deep commitment to supporting the band’s hometown community and meeting critical needs in the region at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet. For a full list of grantees and to learn about how to apply to the spring grants round, please visit: www.bamaworks.org

Additionally, the band has made significant recent gifts to support a variety of organizations in the community:

• $5.5 million to the redevelopment of public housing, an ongoing initiative that has raised nearly $30M to-date, primarily from local donors, to expand and improve public and affordable housing in Charlottesville. Construction is currently underway at CRHA sites 6^th Street and South First Street.
• $1 million impact investment to The Fountain Fund, a program that provides low-interest loans and financial coaching to formerly incarcerated people in our region. This investment provides both grant funding to support the organization’s operations and flexible capital to expand the loan funds.
• $1 million to the Salvation Army Center of Hope capital campaign– Upon completion, the Center of Hope shelter will expand to 114 beds, seven family suites, a children’s playroom, and an expanded community dining room. The band is also supporting efforts and plans for a new low barrier shelter.
• $1 million challenge grant to the Music Resource Center’s capital campaign, which will allow the nonprofit to transition into their new space at 501 Cherry Avenue. The gift is a double matching challenge grant. To learn about contributing, please contact CACF.
• $300,000 impact investment to New Hill Development, providing capital to support the BEACON kitchen and food entrepreneurship throughout the region.
• $100,000 impact investment to Twice Is Nice, a nonprofit donation-based thrift store which funnels proceeds back into the community annually via grants awarded to local nonprofits supporting a safe and secure life for seniors in need.
• Planted 1 million trees a year globally as part of The Nature Conservancy’s conservation efforts, with the goal of reaching 7 million trees by the end of 2026.
• Dave Matthews has committed $500,000 to help combat food insecurity in the region. So far, this timely investment has provided holiday meals for nearly 2,000 families in Charlottesville and Albemarle County schools and is supporting emergency food assistance programs during a critical time of year when many families face increased financial pressure.

“These investments represent more than funding—they represent partnership and a shared vision for a stronger community,” said Leslie Lynn Smith, President & CEO of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Dave Matthews Band and the Bama Works Fund for their leadership and dedication to the area.”

These initiatives build on Dave Matthews Band’s longstanding care and generosity and reflect the belief that thriving local nonprofits and thriving communities go hand-in-hand.