Roanoke Women's Foundation Awards $506,975 in Grants

Nine nonprofits across the Roanoke Valley region share the foundation's 2026 grant funding after a six-month selection process.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy

Roanoke Women's Foundation Awards $506,975 in Grants

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The Roanoke Women's Foundation announced its 2026 grant recipients at its annual awards luncheon at St. John's Episcopal Church, awarding a total of $506,975 to nine nonprofit organizations. The awards conclude a six-month process that began with 57 applicants.

Why it matters

The grants direct funding to organizations serving communities across the Roanoke Valley and surrounding region, from conservation and safety to food access and the arts. The selection was made by foundation members who evaluated community needs and voted on recipients.

The foundation awarded $506,975 across nine grants from 57 applicants, with $150,000 going to Mill Mountain Zoo for safety and security and $30,000 to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The total builds on more than $6.5 million the foundation has invested in organizations over two decades.

The players

Roanoke Women's Foundation

A Roanoke-based philanthropic organization founded two decades ago that pools member giving to fund local nonprofits.

Mill Mountain Zoo

A zoo located on Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia, that received the largest grant in this round for safety and security.

The details

Recipients include Mill Mountain Zoo, which received $150,000 for safety and security, and the Grandin Theatre, which received $75,000 for a digital projector. Plenty! Floyd received $60,000 for its food program, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy received $30,000 to protect the health of the trail near Roanoke.

Six-month grant process that began with 57 applicants concluded before the announcement.
November 5, 2026: Recipients announced at the foundation's annual awards luncheon at St. John's Episcopal Church.

Legacy of Giving

With more than $6.5 million invested over two decades, the Roanoke Women's Foundation's 2026 round of $506,975 continues a member-directed model in which women pool contributions and vote on recipients. The current grants extend that pattern across conservation, public safety, food access and the arts in the Roanoke Valley.

Residents who visit Mill Mountain Zoo, the Grandin Theatre, or the Plenty! Floyd food program may notice the effects of these grants through improved safety, programming, and food access. The awards also support conservation work on the Appalachian Trail near Roanoke.

The takeaway

Local grantmaking led by member votes can direct funds toward a wide range of community needs, from safety and conservation to food and culture. Residents interested in these organizations can look to their programs as a starting point for supporting the region.