Providing leadership, funding, and training for Virginia's nonprofit, community based literacy organizations.

The Virginia Literacy Foundation

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Providing funding for early literacy through the ExCELL program and community based literacy organizations.

Virginia Literacy Foundation

Learn About ExCELL

Teaching adults who read at or below basic literacy levels via one-on-one instruction and small group tutoring.

Virginia Literacy Foundation

About VLF

About Our Grants

We fund an average of 25-30 community-based literacy organizations each year with grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

Children & Families

ExCELL brings together families, educators, literacy specialists, and community resources to support the development of early language and literacy success.

Adult Education

Grants target Virginia’s 501(c)(3) community-based adult literacy organizations that provide literacy, ESOL, and numeracy services to adults over 18 years of age.

Literacy Resources

VLF partner agencies have a wide variety of literacy resources on their websites including basic literacy support, ESL resources, student, and tutor resources.

The Virginia Literacy Foundation promotes literacy across the lifespan for all Virginians.

We deliver professional development and technical assistance based on best practices and innovative approaches to literacy providers statewide. We serve as a leader and convener in promoting literacy across the lifespan, especially early literacy, adult literacy, workforce education, and family literacy.

Want to apply for a VLF Grant?

The Virginia Literacy Foundation (VLF) accepts funding requests applications for matching grants on an annual basis. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is placed on the VLF website on February 1 of each year, and the deadline to submit a funding request is March 31 of each year. Grants are reviewed by the VLF Grants Committee and grant recipients are notified in June. Award payments are mailed to the grant recipients in September. Paper documents are made available upon request at 804-237-8909.
Submit a Grant Proposal

Hear from recent grant recipients...

``We appreciate the consistent grant funding from the Virginia Literacy Foundation and know they truly want us to succeed. They are valuable partners to us, and are always willing to share their expertise and ideas. Equally important, the staff and board at VLF encourage us to stretch ourselves into growing and becoming the best organization that we can be.``
Ellen M. Osborne, Executive Director Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle

Ellen M. Osborne

Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville & Albemarle

``English Empowerment Center (EEC) recognizes that the shift to virtual learning programs is here to stay. Due in large part by the funding provided by the Virginia Literacy Foundation, EEC now has the capacity to continue to offer virtual instruction as in-person instruction resumes.``
Roopal Mehta Saran

Roopal Mehta Saran

Executive Director, English Empowerment Center

``Literacy for Life is grateful for the support from The Virginia Literacy Foundation to strengthen its newest component of programming: financial literacy. The new program, On the Money, teaches participants the knowledge and skills to manage money and plan for the future. Families are better positioned to embrace opportunity and achieve their dreams for generations.``
Jason Thornton

Jason Thornton

Executive Director, Literacy for Life

``We appreciate the consistent grant funding from the Virginia Literacy Foundation and know they truly want us to succeed. They are valuable partners to us, and are always willing to share their expertise and ideas. Equally important, the staff and board at VLF encourage us to stretch ourselves into growing and becoming the best organization that we can be.``
Ellen M. Osborne, Executive Director Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle

Ellen M. Osborne

Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville & Albemarle

``English Empowerment Center (EEC) recognizes that the shift to virtual learning programs is here to stay. Due in large part by the funding provided by the Virginia Literacy Foundation, EEC now has the capacity to continue to offer virtual instruction as in-person instruction resumes.``
Roopal Mehta Saran

Roopal Mehta Saran

Executive Director, English Empowerment Center

``Literacy for Life is grateful for the support from The Virginia Literacy Foundation to strengthen its newest component of programming: financial literacy. The new program, On the Money, teaches participants the knowledge and skills to manage money and plan for the future. Families are better positioned to embrace opportunity and achieve their dreams for generations.``
Jason Thornton

Jason Thornton

Executive Director, Literacy for Life

``We appreciate the consistent grant funding from the Virginia Literacy Foundation and know they truly want us to succeed. They are valuable partners to us, and are always willing to share their expertise and ideas. Equally important, the staff and board at VLF encourage us to stretch ourselves into growing and becoming the best organization that we can be.``
Ellen M. Osborne, Executive Director Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle

Ellen M. Osborne

Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville & Albemarle

``English Empowerment Center (EEC) recognizes that the shift to virtual learning programs is here to stay. Due in large part by the funding provided by the Virginia Literacy Foundation, EEC now has the capacity to continue to offer virtual instruction as in-person instruction resumes.``
Roopal Mehta Saran

Roopal Mehta Saran

Executive Director, English Empowerment Center

``Literacy for Life is grateful for the support from The Virginia Literacy Foundation to strengthen its newest component of programming: financial literacy. The new program, On the Money, teaches participants the knowledge and skills to manage money and plan for the future. Families are better positioned to embrace opportunity and achieve their dreams for generations.``
Jason Thornton

Jason Thornton

Executive Director, Literacy for Life

Find a Community Based Literacy Organization (CBLO)

Search our database of statewide CBLOs to find a resource near you.

VLF Community Partners

The Foundation has spent twenty years building and sustaining a statewide network of community-based literacy organizations and building collaborations with public and corporate sponsors, such as Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Center for Public Policy, and Verizon.
VDOE
VDOE
VDOE
Virginia Literacy Foundation

Mailing Address:

413 Stuart Circle
Executive Suite 303
Richmond, VA 23220

Phone: (804) 237-8909
Fax: (804) 237-8901

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday,  8:30 – 5:00

Get in Touch

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