For the first time in its 11-year history, the Piedmont Community Foundation (PCF) has been ranked in the top hundred of the most active grant-makers in the United States based on the percentage of its assets distributed to worthy causes in Loudoun and Fauquier counties.

The annual rankings, an initiative of the national Council of Foundations, placed the Piedmont Community Foundation No. 54, the highest ranking "active grant-maker" of any foundation in the state of Virginia. In fact, only two foundations in the state made the top hundred list, with The Community Foundation serving Richmond/Central Virginia ranked No. 83.

The PCF is approaching $1 million in assets with about 80% in permanent endowments. Annually they distribute to a wide variety of worthy causes in the two counties. Over the 12-month period from Sept. 30, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010, the PCF has awarded grants totaling over $121,000.

"We're doing extremely well with what we have," said Karen Krei, executive director for the PCF." Foundation goals are to attract philanthropic assets, raise money, establish new endowed funds and make grants to improve quality of life in the community. "We are constantly working to help donors impact their community in an effective manner at low cost. Once assets come to us we're not sitting on them. We try to get them working in the community as quickly as we can under the usage agreements for each fund. This ranking just shows how serious we are about getting money to charitable needs while simultaneously building permanent grant resources. We're very excited about it, and very excited about our future, as well."

"We need people to put us on their giving list. Here we are, this little gem growing with value added philanthropy, and all for the community we live in. Participation by everyone makes the community stronger."

One of the model community outreach grant programs involves the S. Murray Rust and Mary H. C. Rust Student Philanthropy Project which now has participation from 15 public and private high schools. The SPP tries to distribute $5,000 every year to worthy causes the students themselves determine after encouraging requests for proposal from other youth and after a rigorous review of submitted grant proposals.

The students' goals include providing food, clothing and shelter, promoting positive and healthy lifestyles among their fellow students, addressing educational improvements and maintaining and improving the environment.

"We encourage the public to support the grant program for the students," Krei said. "They're really doing a wonderful job, and they'd like to do more."