How shoppers are shaping Richmond’s nonprofit landscape

Three smiling people chat in Dolly's Garden at The Doorways

When people travel to Richmond, Virginia, for medical care they can’t receive in their hometowns, they’re often carrying more than just a diagnosis. They’re carrying fear, uncertainty and the heavy weight of being far from home. At The Doorways, we exist to ease that burden — not just with a room, but with comfort, connection and peace of mind.

We’re proud to be the second-largest hospitality house in the country, offering lodging just steps from local hospitals so that patients and caregivers can stay close to the care they need. And while our doors are always open, we can’t do this work alone.

Like many nonprofits, we rely on the strength of community partnerships now more than ever. According to the Center for Effective Philanthropy, 62% of nonprofit leaders expect changes in federal government funding to affect their work in 2025. That number only increases when we look to the future.

Support from local businesses, individuals and corporations isn’t just appreciated, it’s essential. These partnerships help close critical funding gaps, strengthen our capacity and allow us to be there for guests in their most uncertain moments. Thanks to this generosity, nearly 10,000 people find refuge with us each year. That support is all the more crucial because more than half of our guests cannot contribute the requested $15 per night toward the cost of their stay.

At The Doorways, we believe in the power of collective care. That’s why we’re proud to be part of a broad network of partners, nonprofit and for-profit alike, working together to serve the Richmond community. Organizations like Feed More, Target, Ball Office Products, CoStar, TowneBank, Davis & Green, VCU Health and so many others. We all work together to strengthen the region’s entire ecosystem of care.

In a city where nonprofit work is a cornerstone of public care, we also need community-directed giving that demonstrates how much more can be done when companies actively partner with the people they serve. Programs that invite public participation in how resources are distributed strengthen the connection between nonprofits, businesses and the communities they sustain. Programs that invite neighbors to help guide how resources are shared deepen the bond between businesses and the communities they serve.

One example of this support comes from Target Circle, a community giving program that turns everyday shopping into meaningful support for local nonprofits each quarter. Thanks to votes cast by our local community, The Doorways recently received a donation of $3,222.37. That specific number may seem arbitrary, but to us, represents something profound: a collective choice by this community to support our mission. It’s a simple act — clicking a button from your account — but it’s also a powerful one. Because when people help guide where giving happens, the impact runs deeper.

Because our doors are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, community partnerships are vital to the success of our mission. We depend on the generosity of donors and volunteers to keep making a difference in the health of our region. That’s why community-directed giving matters. That same truth is what unites all of us doing this work: our impact grows stronger when people contribute with compassion, and when companies give nonprofits an avenue to be visible, served and sustained through philanthropy. However Richmond chooses to give, we are grateful for the continued support that helps all of us thrive together.

When corporate philanthropy uplifts local nonprofits, it not only fuels vital work but also builds visibility and momentum that carry forward. Programs that invite neighbors to help guide how resources are shared deepen the bond between businesses and the communities they serve.