CFVI awards grant funds to address pressing community needs, support ongoing activities, and provide opportunities to enhance the lives of community members. Since 1990, the CFVI has been working with an increasing number of donors to strengthen the capacity of the Foundation to provide grants and scholarships, and support community initiatives.
Through strategic grantmaking, CFVI supports donors and nonprofit organizations that want to ensure the highest quality of life for all Virgin Islanders. Grantmaking focuses on core programs as well as innovative projects that show promise of developing into longer-term responses to community needs.
To date, CFVI has given away more than $62.5 million.
CFVI does not accept unsolicited grant proposals; however, we do want to stay informed about needs, ideas, and opportunities in the community. Please note that we generally do not sponsor events.
Please complete the form below and provide a brief summary of the project/program/need for which you would seek funding if invited to apply. For additional assistance, contact general.info@cfvi.net.
Looking for the CFVI online grants management portal?
Click the link to see what grant opportunities are currently available: Available Grants
*Note that you must create an account in our online grant portal in order to apply for a grant. If you are unsure whether you already have an account, please contact bethn@cfvi.net.
We appreciate an acknowledgement of your grant from CFVI in whatever ways are within your organization’s communications capabilities. We encourage you to send us press releases or copies of publications or media coverage that mention your grant. Please refer to the CFVI Grant Recognition Guidelines for more information, or contact Sean Liphard, CFVI Communications Manager, at seanl@cfvi.net.
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) serves as the administrator of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) in the USVI, making it possible for local organizations to participate in this important funding opportunity.
Since early 2022, three rounds of funding have provided nearly $1.5 million to organizations throughout the territory. CFVI serves as chair of a 12-member local board that reviews the applications and recommends awards. The funds are distributed directly to the agencies by the national EFSP. Funding is provided through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the federally-funded EFSP.
Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations, churches, or units of government that have demonstrated the ability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs. In addition, they must be eligible to receive Federal funding, practice nondiscrimination, and have an accounting system.
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program was established on March 24, 1983, with the signing of the "Jobs Stimulus Bill," Public Law 98-8. That legislation created a National Board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that consisted of representatives of the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army and United Way Worldwide.
In its nearly 40-year history, the EFSP has distributed $5.953 billion to over 14,000 human service agencies in more than 2,500 communities across the country through this collaborative effort between the private and public sectors.
For more information about the EFSP, visit this page
When available, agencies interested in applying for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funds must submit applications via CFVI's grant portal at cfvi.co/CFVIGrantsPortal. All new applicants to CFVI must create a new account with the online grant portal. All returning applicants must log in to their previously created account. For more information, visit cfvi.co/EFSP_FAQ.
Please contact Beth Nuttall at bethn@cfvi.net with any questions.
Through the Rapid Response Fund, CFVI provides grants to families faced with unexpected financial emergencies. These grants are intended to assist with one-time emergencies, such as the purchase of medical prescriptions, emergency travel, essential appliances (e.g., refrigerators and stoves), assistance with rental payments, and other needs.
CFVI works with the four major agencies listed below. Applications for the Rapid Response Program (grants are generally capped at $750) can be filled out at any of these locations:
A generous donation from the West Indian Company established the Rapid Response Fund at the Community Foundation in 2003. Since then, the Community Foundation has received support from individuals, businesses, and foundations to continue and expand the capacity of the Rapid Response Fund.
Seniors, aged 60 and above, needing emergency assistance may apply for a grant through one of CFVI’s partners (listed above) who have agreed to serve as referral agencies. Agency staff will screen the requests and submit eligible applications to the Community Foundation for consideration by a review committee made up of volunteers from the community.
The Hodge Senior Citizens Assistance Fund was established from a court-approved designation of the undistributed portion of a settlement paid by Blue Cross in a class action suit brought by named plaintiffs Lawrence Hodge, Gloria Hodge Davis and the late Gerald E. Hodge on behalf of all retired government employees.
The Judith A. Towle Environmental Studies Fund was established at CFVI in 2003 in recognition of the commitment of Judith Towle to increasing environmental awareness in the Caribbean. Annual grants are awarded for innovative solutions that address shared environmental concerns in the insular Caribbean. While the proposed project may focus on a single island, it must have transboundary relevance. Funds can be used to support activities that include internships, research studies, workshops, seminars, lectureships, citizen science, or publications. Applications open in the fall each year and are reviewed by an advisory committee appointed by CFVI. Join our email list to be notified.
Since 1987, the annual Euan P. McFarlane Environmental Leadership award has recognized individuals who demonstrated exemplary leadership on behalf of the environment in the insular Caribbean and whose efforts have been an inspiration for their home islands and served as models for the Caribbean region. Nominations are open to environmental leaders in both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands in the fall each year. Join our email list to be notified.
The Euan P. McFarlane Award was endowed by the late Laurance S. Rockefeller and was administered by Island Resources Foundation from 1987-2014. The award is now managed by CFVI as a part of its philanthropic portfolio of support for youth, learning, families, and the environment.
