A blog post by Robin Mockenhaupt, VFN’s Director of Policy & Advocacy
Virginia
The Virginia General Assembly regular session concluded on March 14 without a new, two-year budget, and a special session will be held on April 23. The debate over state financial incentives for the data center industry will remain in the center spotlight until the legislature returns next month. The full results of the 2026 legislative session can be found in the Virginia Public Access Program’s (VPAP) bills database. For more information on the session, please see this General Assembly wrap-up and see the bills we are following from VFN’s governmental affairs consultant, the Broad Street Group.
Early voting has begun for the April 21 special election on the constitutional amendment that would allow mid-decade redistricting. VPAP’s Early Voting Dashboard tracks ballots cast around the Commonwealth and is updated each day. See how proposed mid-decade congressional redistricting would impact you with VPAP’s redistricting resources. Enter your address to see how your district would change, explore district profiles, and more.
Foundations on the Hill
Over 400 organizations convened for Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) last week in Washington, DC. VFN was well represented. This year, the Virginia delegation included 14 staff members from organizations that are members of VFN, including the Bainum Family Foundation, the Harvest Foundation, the Northern Virginia Health Foundation, the PATH Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, and the Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Trust.
We were joined by several staff from philanthropy infrastructure organizations that also have members in Virginia, including Appalachian Funders Network (AFN), Grantmakers in Health (GIH), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), and Tech Soup. Also joining us for meetings was a staff member of our partner Philanthropy Southeast (PSE).
During FOTH 2026, philanthropic staff had the opportunity to learn together and educate members of Congress and their staff about the tangible impact that foundations and other philanthropic organizations are making in their communities. A central focus in meetings with Hill offices was the importance of preserving the sector’s independence, which enables philanthropy to partner effectively with local communities.
In House offices, VFN members encouraged their legislators to join the revitalized bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus. For Senate and House offices, support for bipartisan legislation to strengthen charitable giving was discussed, including the IRA Charitable Rollover Facilitation and Enhancement Act (H.R. 2891/S. 3975). This bill would expand the IRA charitable rollover to include donor-advised funds and supporting organizations, giving seniors more flexibility to invest in their communities. This could have positive benefits for community foundations in Virginia and across the country.
On Monday afternoon and Tuesday, plenary and breakout sessions were held to discuss the current environment for philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, including conversations with national, state, and local funders. On Wednesday, the Virginia delegation at FOTH participated in 8 separate meetings with elected officials and their staff, including both Virginia Senators and Representatives from VA Districts 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
Plan to join VFN next year for FOTH 2027. We look forward to seeing you there!