Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation – Spring Grants (2027)

Grants of $1,000–$15,000 Supporting Human Needs, Education, Community Vitality, and Environmental Stewardship

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations strengthening communities where Dominion Energy operates. The Foundation supports programs addressing basic human needs, education, community vitality, and environmental stewardship.

Most grants range from $1,000 to $15,000, although larger awards may be considered for projects that demonstrate exceptional alignment with the Foundation’s priorities.

The Foundation accepts applications twice annually. The upcoming spring grant cycle opens January 11, 2027, with applications due February 19, 2027.

Funding is available to qualifying organizations in Virginia, South Carolina, northeastern North Carolina, and designated counties in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

Organization: Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
Support Type: Corporate foundation grants
Geographic Focus: Selected Dominion Energy service areas in six states
Funding Amount: Typically $1,000–$15,000
Application Opens: January 11, 2027
Application Deadline: February 19, 2027
Expected Decisions: May 2027
Application Status: Upcoming

About the Funder

Dominion Energy is a major U.S. energy company providing electricity and other energy services to millions of customers.

Through the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, the company invests in nonprofit organizations addressing important community needs in areas where its customers and employees live and work.

In 2025, Dominion Energy invested $40.3 million in the communities it serves, including $13.6 million through the Foundation and employee giving programs.

The Foundation emphasizes charitable programs that strengthen local communities, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life.

Its grantmaking is organized around four primary focus areas.

What This Program Supports

Basic Human Needs

The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations providing essential services to individuals and families experiencing hardship.

Potential initiatives include:

• Food assistance and hunger relief
• Housing and homelessness services
• Emergency assistance
• Programs addressing poverty
• Family support services
• Health and human services
• Programs helping vulnerable populations achieve stability

Organizations should demonstrate how their services meet immediate community needs and improve outcomes for the people they serve.

Community Vitality

The Community Vitality funding priority supports programs that strengthen local communities, promote economic opportunity, and increase access to arts and cultural experiences.

Potential initiatives include:

• Community development programs
• Economic opportunity initiatives
• Arts and cultural programming
• Community festivals and cultural experiences
• Programs increasing community participation
• Services benefiting underserved communities
• Activities strengthening civic and neighborhood life

The Foundation has supported arts organizations, community cultural events, and programs expanding access to creative experiences.

Education

Dominion Energy supports programs that improve educational opportunities and help students develop the skills needed for future success.

Potential initiatives include:

• Educational enrichment
• STEM education
• Workforce readiness
• Career exploration
• Programs supporting student achievement
• Learning opportunities for underserved students
• Educational partnerships with community organizations

Applicants should demonstrate how their programs improve access to educational opportunities and support meaningful learning outcomes.

Environmental Stewardship

The Foundation supports programs that protect natural resources, improve public spaces, and increase understanding of environmental issues.

Potential initiatives include:

• Environmental education
• Conservation programs
• Habitat restoration
• Protection of natural resources
• Improvements to public green spaces
• Environmental science education
• Programs increasing public access to nature
• Community environmental stewardship

Projects may combine hands-on conservation activities with education and community participation.

Eligible Support Types

Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation offers support for both:

Programmatic Funding

Grants supporting specific nonprofit programs, services, and projects aligned with the Foundation’s funding priorities.

Operating Support

The Foundation also considers requests for operational expenses.

This flexibility allows nonprofit organizations to request support for activities that strengthen organizational capacity as well as direct program implementation.

Applicants should clearly explain how the requested funds will support their organization’s mission and benefit eligible communities.

Eligibility & Preferences

To qualify, applicants must be recognized as tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Eligible applicants must also serve a geographic area where Dominion Energy provides utility service or maintains significant facilities or business interests.

501(c)(3) Status Required

The Foundation does not fund organizations that lack their own 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

Organizations operating under a fiscal sponsor are not eligible.

This is an important restriction for smaller community organizations that have not yet obtained independent tax-exempt recognition.

New Nonprofit Organizations

Newly established 501(c)(3) organizations may apply.

The Foundation does not require additional application materials solely because an organization is new.

However, recently approved nonprofits should allow extra time for Benevity registration if their tax-exempt status has not yet appeared in the IRS database.

Program Alignment

Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection to at least one Foundation priority:

• Basic human needs
• Community vitality
• Education
• Environmental stewardship

Geographic Eligibility

The Foundation’s geographic eligibility is based on Dominion Energy’s utility service areas and significant business operations.

Virginia

Eligible organizations serving Dominion Energy communities in Virginia may apply.

Applicants should confirm that their proposed programs serve an area within the Foundation’s geographic footprint.

South Carolina

Eligible organizations serving Dominion Energy communities in South Carolina may apply.

North Carolina

Northeastern North Carolina only.

The Foundation continues to support communities where Dominion Energy remains the electric service provider.

Following the sale of Dominion Energy’s North Carolina natural gas operations to Enbridge, the Foundation no longer makes grants in those former gas service areas.

Organizations elsewhere in North Carolina should not assume statewide eligibility.

Connecticut

Eligible counties:

• Hartford County
• Windham County
• Tolland County
• Middlesex County
• New London County

Rhode Island

Eligible counties:

• Kent County
• Washington County

West Virginia

Eligible counties:

• Grant County
• Tucker County

Important Geographic Exclusions

The Foundation no longer awards grants in areas formerly served by Dominion Energy’s natural gas utilities in Ohio, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, or North Carolina following their acquisition by Enbridge.

Organizations should confirm that their projects serve a currently eligible Dominion Energy community before applying.

Ineligible Requests

The Foundation does not provide grants for:

• Individuals
• Organizations without independent 501(c)(3) status
• Organizations operating under a fiscal sponsor
• Religious programs of churches or sectarian organizations
• Fraternal organizations
• Political organizations
• Advocacy organizations
• Labor organizations
• Organizations or projects outside eligible Dominion Energy geographic areas
• Organizations that discriminate in membership or services on prohibited grounds
• Advertising provided solely as a benefit or courtesy
• Memorial campaigns
• Requests providing tangible benefits to Dominion Energy

Tangible Benefits

The Foundation cannot support requests that provide market-value or financial benefits to Dominion Energy or its subsidiaries.

Examples include:

• Event tickets
• Exhibitor space
• Utility bill payments to Dominion Energy
• Other benefits providing financial value to the company

Organizations seeking event sponsorships that include advertising or other benefits should not assume those requests qualify under the Foundation’s grant program.

Funding Amounts

Typical Grant Range: $1,000–$15,000

The Foundation may award larger grants when a project demonstrates an exceptional fit with its priorities.

Applicants are encouraged to request an amount that accurately reflects their organization’s needs.

Partial Funding

Dominion Energy does not require every award to cover the full requested amount.

The Foundation frequently provides partial funding.

Applicants should consider developing budgets and project plans that allow their organizations to make productive use of a smaller award if necessary.

Funding is competitive, and eligible organizations are not guaranteed support.

Timeline & Review

The Foundation offers two application cycles annually.

Spring 2027 Grant Cycle

Fall 2027 Grant Cycle

All applicants receive an email notification of the Foundation’s funding decision.

Virtual Information Sessions

The Foundation hosts virtual information sessions during each grant cycle to help nonprofit organizations understand:

• Eligibility
• Grant priorities
• Application requirements
• Review timelines
• Benevity registration and applications

The Foundation plans to publish its 2027 information session schedule in December 2026.

Application / Request Process

All grant applications must be submitted online through the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation’s Benevity system.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Verify that the organization:

• Has independent 501(c)(3) status
• Serves an eligible Dominion Energy geographic area
• Operates programs aligned with Foundation priorities

Step 2: Register With Benevity

Applicants must have a completed organizational cause profile with Benevity.

Organizations should begin registration well before the application deadline.

Step 3: Complete Self-Certification

Benevity requires a completed Self-Certification Declaration.

Organizations with existing Benevity profiles should confirm that their declarations remain current.

Expired declarations must be renewed before submitting a grant application.

Applicants cannot apply until the required self-certification information is complete.

Step 4: Prepare Financial Documentation

Applicants may be asked to upload organizational financial statements.

If an audited financial statement is unavailable, the Foundation accepts the most recent available financial statement.

Acceptable alternatives include:

• Statement of Financial Position
• Profit and loss statement
• Internally generated financial reports
• QuickBooks financial statements

Bank statements and IRS Form 990 are not accepted as substitutes for financial statements.

Step 5: Prepare the Funding Request

Applicants should describe:

• The community need being addressed
• The population served
• The proposed program or operational need
• Alignment with Foundation priorities
• Geographic impact
• Requested funding
• Anticipated community benefits

Because partial awards are possible, applicants may wish to identify how a smaller grant would still advance their work.

Step 6: Submit the Application

Complete the online application during the spring grant cycle.

Applications Open: January 11, 2027

Application Deadline: February 19, 2027

Step 7: Prepare for Grant Disbursement

Approved grants are disbursed through Benevity.

The Foundation strongly encourages organizations to register for electronic funds transfer.

Electronic payments may appear in recipients’ accounts under American Online Giving rather than Dominion Energy.

Benevity charges a fee for check disbursements, which is deducted from the grant amount.

Apply / Learn More:

Applicants can access the online grant application and Benevity registration instructions from the official Foundation webpage.

Reporting Requirements

Formal impact reports are not required for most Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation grants.

However, the Foundation welcomes updates about the progress and impact of funded programs.

Organizations should maintain basic records of program activities, outcomes, and grant expenditures.

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity may be especially attractive to organizations that:

• Provide food, housing, or essential human services
• Support underserved families and communities
• Offer educational or workforce development programs
• Provide arts and cultural experiences
• Promote community development
• Operate environmental education or conservation programs
• Need programmatic or operating support
• Have independent 501(c)(3) status
• Serve an eligible Dominion Energy community

The Foundation’s willingness to consider operating expenses is particularly valuable for smaller nonprofits that need flexible funding to sustain their programs.

Its relatively accessible typical award range and broad funding priorities make the program relevant to a wide variety of community-based organizations.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Twice-yearly competitive grant cycles
Spring Application Opens: January 11, 2027
Spring Deadline: February 19, 2027
Expected Decisions: May 2027
Typical Funding Amount: $1,000–$15,000
Larger Awards: Possible for exceptional program alignment
Geography: Selected areas in Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and West Virginia
Eligible Applicants: Independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Fiscal Sponsorship: Not accepted
Eligible Support: Programmatic and operating expenses
Application Platform: Benevity
Registration Requirement: Completed Benevity cause profile and self-certification
Reporting: Formal impact reports not required for most grants
Best Suited For: Community-based nonprofits addressing human needs, education, community vitality, and environmental stewardship
Application Strategy: Register with Benevity early, verify geographic eligibility, prepare financial documentation, and develop a funding request that can accommodate a partial award.