The Giles Fund

The Giles Fund is a donor advised fund of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley established by Giles citizens in 2007 to provide financial support to charitable organizations and worthwhile causes in Giles County.  

Donations to The Giles Fund are used to address immediate needs and to build an endowment that will continue “giving back” to our community for generations.  As the endowment grows, its capacity to provide financial support to serve our community will grow as well.

During its short history, the Giles Fund has raised over $375,000 thanks to the generosity of its donors, which has enabled the fund to (i) build up an endowment of $200,000 and (ii) make grants of in excess of $200,000 to address poverty, hunger, children and families, the arts, education, our historical society, homelessness, and literacy, among other needs.  In 2021 alone, the fund awarded $23,000 in grants.

 Grant recommendations from the fund are made by a committee of local citizen/donors. Donors may specify whether their gifts to the Fund are to be deposited in the endowment or used to make current grants. If not specified, gifts are split 50:50 to benefit the endowment and the fund balance available for current grant-making. 

For many years, the Giles Fund has hosted the “Loaves and Wishes” auction in the fall to introduce future donors to the Giles Fund and to spotlight some of the county’s great bakers to raise funds for our county.  The Giles Fund also hosts the “Women on Wednesday” luncheon in June of each year to celebrate the good works of many non-profit organizations working in Giles.

Recent Grant Recipients of the Giles Fund include: 

• The Giles County Christian Service Mission
• FOCUS program of Giles County  
• The Giles Arts Council
• The Giles Youth-Adult Partnership
• Backpack Programs and Ministries in Giles
• Giles Animal Rescue
• Holy Family Catholic Church – Infant Program
• Women's Resource Center 
• The Giles County Historical Society
• Hope House Homeless Shelter Narrows
• Giles Health & Family Center, Inc.
• Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley
• New River Community Action 
• New River Valley Agency on Aging