2021 CVC Sees Increases in Participation, Donations to Local Nonprofits

January 28, 2022 • By Tim Robinson, timrobinson@virginia.edu Tim Robinson, timrobinson@virginia.edu

January 28, 2022
Arial view of downtown Charlottesville

Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications

University of Virginia employees have once again demonstrated both their overwhelming generosity and willingness to help the local community.

Starting in October, UVA faculty and staff donated to nonprofits through the annual Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a statewide effort that enables employees to make charitable donations through their employer.

UVA saw widespread participation, which increased 30% from last year, and contributions confirmed the University’s commitment to supporting local nonprofits and charities. Roughly 74% of gifts made by UVA employees went to local nonprofits. Employees pledged a total of $588,170, with UVA’s campaign total coming to $695,411 including donations from events and participation from UVA students.

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$588,170.34

Employee Pledges to Date

74%

Gifts Stayed Local

30%

Participation Increase from 2020

Employees can continue to support local nonprofits through the CVC. Payroll deduction has ended, but employees can donate through September using their credit card by following the steps below.

  1. Visit cvc.virginia.edu.
  2. Designate any amount to one or more of over 50 nonprofits in Charlottesville, or select from the 900 total participating nonprofits from across the commonwealth.
  3. Enter your contact and credit card information.

Over the last two years, gifts made through the CVC have proven critical for area nonprofits, many of which have struggled due to the pandemic. Nonprofits in Charlottesville, as well as across the country, have seen a substantial increase in demand for their services, at the same time that funding has declined due to changing economic conditions.

G. Kelly Eplee, director of donor relations for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, said the CVC has made a difference for his organization.

“The longstanding impact of the CVC on Habitat should be described as a relationship, financial and personal,” he said. “We are thankful that donor generosity has steadily increased as a dependable funding source, undergirding the success of our affordable housing/homeownership program building 270-plus homes in our area. Thanks to the CVC and others, hard-working families can move out of substandard conditions to build and own their own homes.”

Top 10 Local Nonprofit Recipients

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Charlottesville Free Clinic

United Way of Greater Charlottesville

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville

The Haven

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry

Hospice of the Piedmont

Shelter for Help in Emergency

People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry

Sarah Ellis, Shelter for Help in Emergency’s fundraising and development coordinator, said these donations support important work.

“The need for shelter services is as strong as ever,” she said. “From prevention activities to collaborations with community partners and welcoming volunteers, shelter staff continue to reach out to all in our area who are searching for peace, hope and safety.

“Every year the CVC donations go to support more than 500 women, children and men who have experienced domestic violence in our community.”

As in past years, UVA was the top statewide agency in terms of total pledges, contributing approximately 30% of all donations for the 2021 campaign to date.

Media Contact

Tim Robinson

Marketing Associate University Communications

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