A regional organization responsible for distributing public funds to address the challenges of poverty is facing an uncertain future due to potential federal funding cuts.
Community Action Partnership of Staunton, Augusta, and Waynesboro, or CAPSAW, provides the backbone to many local organizations that empower low-income individuals and families. Grant recipients receive $15,000-$35,000 annually from CAPSAW for community services including childcare, housing, food insecurity, legal aid and counseling.
CAPSAW receives nearly 50 percent of its funds from the federal government, and with cuts and freezes enacted by the Trump administration, its impact may be far less reaching in the future.
“We are doing the best we can to plan for an uncertain future,” said Anna Leavitt, CAPSAW executive director.
Leavitt said she has notified subgrantees that CAPSAW should be able to meet its contractual obligations through June 30, the end of its fiscal year.
“I do anticipate allocating less funding in FY26 but do not yet know what that looks like,” Leavitt said.
If CAPSAW’s funding is cut or reduced, a number of local organizations that may feel the pinch due to a reduction in funding include Blue Ridge Legal Services, Valley Children’s Advocacy Center, Valley Hope Counseling Center and Valley Mission, to name a few.
Recipients of CAPSAW FY25 grants
- $35,000: Blue Ridge Legal Services
- $35,000: Valley Children’s Advocacy Center
- $35,000: Valley Hope Counseling Center
- $35,000: Valley Mission
- $30,000: Valley Supportive Housing
- $30,000: Head Start Shenandoah Valley
- $29,500: Staunton/Augusta Family YMCA childcare
- $25,000: Early Head Start Shenandoah Valley
- $25,000: Renewing Homes Greater Augusta
- $25,000: Arrow Project
- $20,500: Blue Ridge Court Services
- $20,000: Valley Program for Aging Services Meals on Wheels
- $20,000: Madison House volunteer income tax assistance
- $15,000: Salvation Army Staunton
- $15,000: Salvation Army Waynesboro
- $15,000: New Directions
CAPSAW FY25 income
The majority of the organization’s funding is through a federal Community Services Block Grant, or CSBG, and federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF, funds.
Additional funding to address poverty comes from a state Community Services Block Grant and from the cities of Waynesboro and Staunton and Augusta County.
The federal and state funds made available to CAPSAW are administered through the Virginia Department of Social Services.
CAPSAW income for FY25 to address poverty includes:
- 46.11%: Federal CSBG
- 29.19%: State TANF
- 22.73%: Local (Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County)
- 1.97%: Grants/donations
Community impact beyond CAPSAW
CAPSAW is partnering with the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and other partners to assess how federal cuts may impact local non-profits to get a better idea for the impact on the community as a whole.
“We are working, in collaboration with the Community Foundation, to determine the risk level for non-profits in the region in terms of reliance on federal funding sources,” said Leavitt.
CFCBR launched an online survey to get a better idea of the tangible effects of a potential cut in federal funding.
“We can then begin tracking any discussion about changes to those programs,” said CFCBR Executive Director Dan Layman. “Unfortunately, none of us are sitting on a pot of extra money to make up for those potential cuts.
“We will, however, know which organizations to quickly bring together to discuss how we move forward.”
The survey is available online.
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Crystal Graham
