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Virginia · Private foundation

Birdsong Charitable Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$1.0M
Granted FY2024(still arriving)
19
Grants FY2024
19
Organizations funded FY2023
21%
First-time grantees FY2023
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2024
$50,000
Largest grant, FY2024
$100,000
Organizations funded a year
1 to 112
FY2017 to FY2023
States reached, FY2024
3
Total assets, FY2024
$9.7M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2023, 21% of the organizations Birdsong Charitable Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 54% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 46% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $225k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23
EducationInternationalHuman ServicesPhilanthropyHealthYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2024still arriving11$999k27%
FY202319$416k21%
FY20221$7k100%
FY2021112$2.2M36%
FY202016$1.6M50%
FY201910$643k40%
FY20188$738k50%
FY2017103$1.2Mn/a
100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$2.6MArts & Culture$1.2MHuman Services$1.1MHealth$672kPhilanthropy$621kFood & Nutrition$594kRecreation & Sports$440kReligion$325kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

NY
CT
MO
VA
MD
TN
NC
DC
GA
TX

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2024, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

Show all 79 grantees
All grantees of Birdsong Charitable Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Nansemond Suffolk Academy Association Inc$1,225,00053%
Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Inc$803,16051%
Randolph-Macon College$550,00030%
The Peanut Research Foundation$500,000331%
Virginia Wesleyan University$416,28321%
Operation Smile Inc$400,00040%
Global Action Platform$255,000225%
United Way of South Hampton Roads$251,00041%
Birdsong Trust Fund$250,000361%
Suffolk Youth Athletic Association Inc$150,000513%
Colquittmiller Arts Council Inc$150,00028%
Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters$142,50030%
Project Peanut Butter$100,00013%
Peanut Proud Inc$60,00026%
The Chrysler Museum Incorporated$55,00010%
Mana Nutritive Aid Products Incorporated$50,00010%
Southwest Georgia Academy Inc$50,00021%
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc$35,00020%
Virginia Symphony Orchestra$30,00020%
Hampden-Sydney College$25,00010%
Western Tidewater Free Clinic Inc$25,00011%
Star Council on Substance Abuse$21,00031%
Volunteer Hampton Roads$20,00024%
The Elizabeth River Project$17,50020%
Business Consortium for Arts Support$13,00011%
Nansemond River Preservation Alliance$13,00033%
Edmarc Inc$11,00021%
Virginia Student Aid Foundation Inc$10,00020%
Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council$10,000111%
Rappahannock Community College$10,0001n/a
Westminster Canterbury Foundation$10,00010%
The Wakefield Foundation Inc$10,0001n/a
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia$10,00020%
Communities in Schools$10,00020%
Foundation 4 Orphans Inc$10,00015%
Urban League of Hampton Roads Inc$10,00020%
Boys & Girls Club the Northern Neck$10,00011%
The Academy of Music$7,50021%
Obici Healthcare Foundation Inc$7,10510%
Stonebridge School$5,00010%
The Menokin Foundation$5,00010%
Virginia Opera Association Inc$5,00020%
Physicians For Peace$5,00021%
Virginia Manufacturers Association$5,00010%
Our Promise Youth Academy$5,00022%
Colonial Virginia Council Inc Boy Scouts of America$5,00011%
Child & Family Services of Eastern Va Inc D/B/A the Up Center$5,00010%
The Genieve Shelter$5,00010%
Suffolk Literacy Council Inc$4,5003n/a
Southampton Academy$4,50020%
Civic Leadership Institute$4,00021%
Wesley Theological Seminary of the Methodist Church$4,0002n/a
Meals on Wheels of Suffolk & Isle of Wight Inc$3,00030%
Courtland Volunteer Fire Deptinc$3,00012%
Union Presbyterian Seminary$3,0003n/a
Suffolk Crime Line Inc$3,0003n/a
Carrsville Volunteer Fire Departmen$3,00012%
Suffolk Education Foundation$3,00032%
Southeast 4-H Educational Ctr Inc$3,00030%
Suffolk Sister Cities International Inc$3,0002n/a
Eastern Virginia Medical School$2,5001n/a
American Diabetes Association$2,5001n/a
Breakthrough T1d$2,50010%
Suffolk Art League$2,25031%
Riddicks Folly$2,00021%
March of Dimes Inc$2,00020%
Cover 3 Football Inc$2,00020%
The Children's Center$2,00020%
Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society$2,00014%
United Negro College Fund Inc$2,00020%
The Governor's School for the Arts Foundation$2,00020%
The Virginia College Fund$1,50030%
Wellman Volunteer Fire Department$1,0001n/a
Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation Incorporated$1,0001n/a
Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department$1,00020%
Foundation for Historic Christ Church Inc$1,00010%
Virginia FFA Foundation Inc$75020%
Greater Chuckatuck Historical Foundation$5001n/a
Hope Inc$50010%

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 88 recipients with no EIN on record ($2.0M), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Birdsong Charitable Foundation supplied at least a quarter of the budget for 3 of its grantees at some point. The chart plots its 67 largest grantees; load-bearing ones sit top left.

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNansemond Suffolk Academy Association Inc: $1,225,000 over 5y, 2.7% of budgetRappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Inc: $803,160 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetRandolph-Macon College: $550,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetThe Peanut Research Foundation: $500,000 over 3y, 31% of budgetVirginia Wesleyan University: $416,283 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetOperation Smile Inc: $400,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetGlobal Action Platform: $255,000 over 2y, 25% of budgetUnited Way of South Hampton Roads: $251,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetBirdsong Trust Fund: $250,000 over 3y, 61% of budgetSuffolk Youth Athletic Association Inc: $150,000 over 5y, 13% of budgetColquittmiller Arts Council Inc: $150,000 over 2y, 8.0% of budgetChildren's Hospital of the King's Daughters: $142,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetProject Peanut Butter: $100,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetPeanut Proud Inc: $60,000 over 2y, 5.6% of budgetThe Chrysler Museum Incorporated: $55,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetMana Nutritive Aid Products Incorporated: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSouthwest Georgia Academy Inc: $50,000 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetChesapeake Bay Foundation Inc: $35,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetVirginia Symphony Orchestra: $30,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetHampden-Sydney College: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWestern Tidewater Free Clinic Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetStar Council on Substance Abuse: $21,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetVolunteer Hampton Roads: $20,000 over 2y, 3.9% of budgetThe Elizabeth River Project: $17,500 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetBusiness Consortium for Arts Support: $13,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetNansemond River Preservation Alliance: $13,000 over 3y, 3.4% of budgetEdmarc Inc: $11,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetVirginia Student Aid Foundation Inc: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCross Timbers Fine Arts Council: $10,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetWestminster Canterbury Foundation: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFoodbank of Southeastern Virginia: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCommunities in Schools: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFoundation 4 Orphans Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 5.0% of budgetUrban League of Hampton Roads Inc: $10,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetBoys & Girls Club the Northern Neck: $10,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetThe Academy of Music: $7,500 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetObici Healthcare Foundation Inc: $7,105 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetStonebridge School: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Menokin Foundation: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetVirginia Opera Association Inc: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetPhysicians For Peace: $5,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetVirginia Manufacturers Association: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetOur Promise Youth Academy: $5,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetColonial Virginia Council Inc Boy Scouts of America: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetChild & Family Services of Eastern Va Inc D/B/A the Up Center: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Genieve Shelter: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSouthampton Academy: $4,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCivic Leadership Institute: $4,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 67.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Hampton Roads Community FoundationVA42× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Hampton Roads Community Foundation · Townebank Foundation · Suffolk Foundation · Obici Healthcare Foundation Inc · The Pruden Foundation · Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation · Beazley Foundation Incorporated · The Blocker Foundation · Birdsong Trust Fund · United Way of South Hampton Roads · Goode Family Foundation · Mary C Henninger Haddad and Louis S Haddad Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Compare Birdsong Charitable Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Birdsong Charitable Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Birdsong Charitable Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

About Birdsong Charitable Foundation

How much does Birdsong Charitable Foundation give?
Birdsong Charitable Foundation reported 19 grants totaling $1,003,500 in its FY2024 IRS filing. It funded between 1 and 112 organizations a year over FY2017 to FY2023.
What does Birdsong Charitable Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2024, its largest causes are Education (32%), Arts & Culture (15%), Human Services (14%).
Who are Birdsong Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2017 to FY2024: Nansemond Suffolk Academy Association Inc ($1.2M), Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Inc ($803k), Randolph-Macon College ($550k).
Does Birdsong Charitable Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2023, 21% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does Birdsong Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as Birdsong Charitable Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Hampton Roads Community Foundation, Townebank Foundation, Suffolk Foundation.
Where is Birdsong Charitable Foundation based?
Birdsong Charitable Foundation is based in VA.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 169 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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