HOW TO JOIN

JOIN THE NETWORK

The Virginia Funders Network was born from a belief in the power of collaboration. Our strength and effectiveness come directly from the diverse and valued insights, wisdom, perspectives, and dedication of the nearly 120 funders – our Network Partners – all across the Commonwealth who are dedicated to working together to build a connected, collaborative philanthropic community and ensure that all who call Virginia home have the resources they need to thrive. Collectively, our members invest more than $350 million each year to support Virginia’s most pressing community needs. With more members joining and contributing to this network each year, the Virginia philanthropic community continues to grow and deepen its connections, collaborations, and effectiveness.

Membership Qualifications

Membership in the Virginia Funders Network runs on a calendar year and is open to any funder who makes grants for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes in support of the residents of the Commonwealth. Members affirm that their core interest in joining VFN is to inform and improve their grantmaking through networking, collaboration, learning, and leverage.

To join the VFN, members must be:

  • Grantmaking organizations that make grants to multiple organizations in Virginia for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes.
  • Philanthropic advisors who provide services in support of grantmaking organizations as the majority of their work.
  • Government or quasi-government offices that focus on grants and/or public partnerships as a majority of their work.
  • Organizations that do not restrict their giving solely to subsidiary chapters, member organizations, affiliates, or a single institution.
  • Organizations that act as grantmaking intermediaries such as government entities, nonprofit organizations, initiatives, or collaboratives that grant or re-grant, private and/or public dollars.
  • Individuals committed to sustained, strategic philanthropy through their own private grantmaking.

Member Benefits

There are so many reasons to join VFN, click here to learn more about member benefits!

Member Dues

While VFN develops a more comprehensive membership fee structure, member dues remain at the inaugural level of $1,000. Because dues cover only 18% of VFN’s operating budget, almost half of VFN’s members invest in VFN at higher levels, often with multi-year commitments, to support VFN’s work, mission, and capacity. Members are strongly encouraged to support with an additional contribution, conference sponsorship, and/or grant funding.

Click here for a list of our supporters.

Partner Qualifications

Organizations, businesses, and sole practitioners that serve the philanthropy/nonprofit field but are not grantmaking institutions may qualify as VFN Partners. This type of partnership opens VFN Members with potential resource opportunities and Partners with potential business development opportunities. A membership application and internal VFN approval process are required.

The Partner category includes:

  • Think tanks, academic institutions, and philanthropy serving organizations that focus the majority of their work on the philanthropic and nonprofit fields.
  • Consultants who provide services in support of grantmaking organizations.
  • Professional advisors who provide some services in support of grantmaking organizations and do not qualify to apply as a Member (see Member Qualifications).

Partner Benefits & Dues

Gold Tier – $15,000 annually includes:

  • Gold-level ($10,000) Conference sponsorship
  • Conference Exhibitor Booth
  • 4 complimentary Conference registrations
  • Sponsorship of 1 VFN Learning Sessions (which could include a Conference session)
  • Opportunity to publish up to 3 thought leadership articles in Network News
  • Shared expertise for VFN learning sessions
  • Access to all VFN events
  • Preferred Vendor listing on VFN website
  • Open to serve as a committee member on VFN committees

 

Silver Tier: $10,000 annually includes:

  • Silver-level ($5,000) Conference sponsorship
  • Conference Exhibitor Booth
  • 2 complimentary Conference registrations
  • Opportunity to publish up to 2 thought-leadership articles in Network News
  • Shared expertise for a VFN learning session
  • Access to all VFN events
  • Preferred Vendor listing on VFN website
  • Open to serve as a committee member on VFN committees

 

Bronze Partner: $5,000 annually includes:

  • Bronze-level ($2,500) Conference sponsorship
  • 2 complimentary Conference registrations
  • Access to all VFN events
  • Shared expertise for a VFN learning session
  • Preferred Vendor listing on VFN website
  • Open to serve as a committee member on VFN committees

 

Basic Partner (up to 3 participants): $2,500 annually includes:

  • Access to all VFN events
  • Shared expertise for a VFN learning session
  • Member pricing for conference registrations
  • Preferred Vendor listing on VFN website
  • Open to serve as a committee member on VFN committees

 

Sole Practitioner Partner (single membership): $1,500 annually includes:

  • Access to all VFN events
  • Member pricing for Conference registration
  • Preferred Vendor listing on VFN website
  • Open to serve as a committee member on VFN committees

Become a Partner

Join Today

Join Today!

Complete our partners application.
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