The Mathews Community Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $206,970 to local nonprofit organizations serving Mathews County. Community Impact grants support local nonprofits whose programs include cultural vibrancy, economic prosperity, educational success, and health and wellness.

Established in 1999, the foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for those living and working in Mathews through local philanthropy, endowment funds, charitable funds and grants. The grants committee, chaired by Stephanie Tiller, ensures funding is allocated to meet the needs of the community.

“The Mathews Community Foundation Advisory Board’s grants committee is met with the challenge every year with deciding which grant requests to fulfill,” said Pat Lipinski, chair of the MCF advisory board. “During our impact grant cycle, we generally receive more requests than we can fund. This process does not only entail time, but we must also focus on the fact that we have been entrusted by our donors with their donations and we must use them judiciously,” she said.

This year’s recipients include:

Bay Aging—To support the older adults to gain access to healthy nutritious meals as well as socialization in Mathews County.

Bay School Community Arts Center—To support the Bay School’s free community arts programming in Mathews between July 2026 and June 2027.

Canine Companions—To support a workshop for service dog placements near Mathews. This workshop is a continuing education opportunity to ensure the attendees maintain or acquire proper training methodology and public access protocols.

Coastal VA Wildlife Observatory—To support the salaries for two seasonal biologists conducting the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch, celebrating its 50th consecutive year in fall 2026.

Concerts by the Bay, Inc.—To support awareness and appreciation of the performing arts by presenting an on-site live performance at Mathews Elementary School.

Concerts by the Bay, Inc.—To support the continuation and promotion of live performing arts and cultural education.

Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic—To support continued integrated health care and medications for uninsured and underinsured Mathews County adults.

Gloucester United Emergency Shelter Team—To support training efforts for GUEST staff and volunteers.

Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society—To support a free rabies vaccination and microchip clinic for Mathews residents.

Hands Across Mathews Interfaith Council Inc.—To support 25 economically disadvantaged children and youth attending school in Mathews County to obtain clothing and necessary school items.

Hands Across Mathews Interfaith Council, Inc.—To support the programs of Hands Across Mathews, which aid local families who have suffered some crisis that puts them in need of the basic amenities of food, prescription medications, or fuel.

Heartfelt Community, Inc.—To support Compassionate Touch coach training, Compassionate Touch therapy, training/education for family and professional caregivers, and volunteer programming.

Helping the Homeless Ministry—To support the Driving Out Hunger mobile food program, expanding access to nutritious food and reducing food insecurities for children, seniors and families in Mathews County.

Jacob’s Ladder, Inc.—To support two Mathews students to attend the Jacob’s Ladder summer residential enrichment program with continued year-round advocacy.

Kingston Housing Initiative—Kingston Parish Church—To support the renovation of the historic Kingston Rectory into two affordable workforce housing units for teachers and public servants.

Mathews After-Prom Committee—To support the After-Prom event ensuring the safety of the youth of Mathews County and their dates, as well as the public safety of the community, following the Mathews High School Junior/Senior Prom.

Mathews County Public Schools—To support various needs identified by MCPS teachers and approved by the superintendent.

Mathews County Triad—To support the Mathews Triad Senior Summer Health and Safety Fair.

Mathews Department of Social Services—To support the impoverished senior citizens of Mathews that lack the resources to prevent themselves from suffering from the extreme heat and adverse weather events of summer, or the extreme cold and adverse events of winter.

Mathews Land Conservancy—To support the replacement of the handicapped access ramp at Community Building at Mathews Land Conservancy Williams Wharf Landing site.

Mathews Little League Baseball, Inc.—To support the maintenance and improvement of safe, accessible playing fields, provide essential equipment for underserved athletes, and expand coaching and mentorship opportunities.

Mathews Museum—To support the “100 Hours Beneath the Chesapeake” exhibit that has brought positive international attention, both to the museum and to the county.

Mathews Outdoor Club—To support critical timing equipment expansion and durable course signage upgrades to enhance race safety, accuracy, and participant experience.

Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Behavioral Health—To support CREEC’s ongoing work to build and deepen community partnerships with families, providers and other stakeholders that will ultimately grow child care supply and better coordination of programs and services.

Mobjack Rowing Association—To support the maintenance and repair needs for Mobjack Rowing Association’s Youth and Community Rowing Program’s rowing headquarters at Williams Wharf.

Rx Partnership—To support the Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic in improving patient outcomes by providing access to essential dental medications for uninsured patients.

The Court House Players—To support community involvement in the arts, particularly live theater.

The DeGood Foundation—To support the continued growth of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Mathews County, a program that mails free, age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income or background.

The Doorways—To support the medical lodging program and its direct services to Mathews residents who must travel away from their homes to access medical care in Richmond.

The Fairfield Foundation—To support hands-on archaeology, historic preservation, and history programming in schools to connect students to Mathews history and cultural heritage.

The Salvation Army, Gloucester Center—To provide emergency assistance with rent, utilities, and food packages to Mathews County residents that are low-income individuals and families and/or those facing a temporary crisis.

Tidewater Friends of Foster Care—To support one-on-one academic tutoring for Mathews County foster youth and foster youth alum.

VersAbility Resources—To support structured community engagement and skill-building for adults with disabilities at the Puller Center, increasing independence, social connection, and health outcomes through intentional, person-centered programming.

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Mathews County 4-H—To support the enrichment of 4-H Cloverbud Day Camp, aimed at providing a five-day experience for youth ages 5-8 in Mathews, fostering their development in valuable life skills, nutrition, creative arts, science and more.

Virginia Cooperative Extension, Mathews County 4-H—To support the expansion of a “WildWays” Education Kit, a hands-on resource for WHEP and Envirothon, equipping youth with tools for wildlife, forestry, soil, and water studies to enhance environmental education and field learning experiences. And a second grant to support transportation and volunteer staffing costs for 4-H Junior Camp to keep the program affordable and accessible for Mathews County youth.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra—To provide high-quality, live classical music performances to the Mathews County Public Library for children and families to enjoy.

YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas—To provide educational, social events, and fitness classes to promote socialization for adults 60 and up. A second grant support the YMCA’s Safety Around Water program.

This year, MCF gave another high impact grant to the Mathews Family YMCA Preschool as part of the five-year sustainability gift.