a blog by Robin Mockenhaupt, VFN’s Director of Policy & Advocacy
“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”
~Ted Lasso, Apple TV+
Over the past couple of years, through webinars, listening sessions, and individual meetings, I’ve heard Virginia funders talk about the need for affordable and attainable housing in every region across the state. But making a commitment to doing something and knowing how to be involved can be a challenge. Housing projects are complex, long-term, require multiple partners and financing, and are expensive. Like riding a horse for the first time, these facts often can seem like insurmountable barriers for VFN Members to be engaged in this critical issue, especially for smaller funders.
Because of these perceptions and also because of the incredible need in Virginia, VFN has provided Member education on housing affordability over the past few years. Our intent has been for funders to be more comfortable taking the first steps – or expanding on – their investments in housing affordability to serve their communities.
VFN releases housing publication
VFN has been so fortunate to have our work supported through generous grants over the last several years. In 2024, a grant from Virginia Housing and the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia allowed us to create our first ever publication on housing affordability, Finding Your Lane: Housing Affordability Action Guide for Virginia Funders.
The publication was released in early 2025, and is available to VFN Members at no charge, and non-members for a minimal fee. Our purpose was to help break down some of the barriers keeping funders from supporting affordable, attainable, and workforce housing initiatives across the state. The publication includes several mini-case studies of how funders are investing in housing affordability and accessibility in their communities.
New grant fuels affordable housing efforts
Two new grants from Virginia Housing in 2025 will allow us to build on the work of this publication, to educate and inspire our Members to greater involvement in affordable housing in their communities. The first grant focuses on continued education for members in our in-person regional funder gatherings (RFGs) throughout the state, and by testing a pilot in up to two RFGs this fall. A conference session on housing will also be offered at our 2026 Annual Conference, May 4-6, 2026 in Hampton Roads. The second grant is a community impact planning grant. This allows VFN to launch the first phase of a marketing and outreach effort through blogs, videos, and conversation to inspire Members to take the first step towards engagement in housing, or to expand their efforts to serve communities they serve.
We want to hear from you
In the meantime, we want to hear from you. Who is taking on the challenge of affordable housing in your organization? What are you doing, and how are you going about your work? What challenges are you facing? Please send an e-mail to Robin Mockenhaupt at robin@vafunders.org to share your story. I can’t wait to hear about your experience, and like Ted Lasso, how the ride is going.
To request VFN’s housing publication, Finding Your Lane: Housing Affordability Action Guide for Virginia Funders, email Angie@VAFunders.org.