Building What Families Need: The CHS 2026 Capital Campaign
The number of children and youth entering foster care keeps climbing, and it’s not slowing down. Right now, more than 1,600 children and youth in Virginia are waiting for adoptive families. Every year, 500–600 young people age out of foster care without the stability of a permanent family.
For more than 125 years, Children’s Home Society of Virginia (CHS) has stepped in to meet these needs — helping children find families, supporting parents through adoption, and walking alongside young adults as they build independent lives.
Now, CHS is at a crossroads. To keep doing this work well, the organization needs a space that actually supports its mission. That’s where the CHS 2026 Capital Campaign comes in.
Why Youth in Foster Care Need CHS Now More Than Ever
Without a permanent family, youth face higher risks of:
- unemployment
- homelessness
- mental health challenges
These aren’t abstract statistics — they’re real outcomes for real people. CHS exists to change that trajectory.
Through adoption services, CHS connects children and youth in foster care with loving, permanent families. The organization guides families through training, approval, and matching, and doesn’t disappear after the paperwork is signed. Support continues long after adoption to help families thrive for the long haul.
For young people who age out of foster care, CHS provides housing and wrap-around services through programs like My Path Forward, helping them build stable, fulfilling adult lives.
This work matters. And it’s growing.
When the Mission Outgrows the Building
CHS built its new headquarters in 1968. For decades, it’s been a place of hope and hard work. But today, the building no longer meets the needs of the staff, families, and youth it serves.
Here’s the reality:
- The building is not ADA-compliant, creating barriers for staff, board members, and clients.
- Common areas are too small for staff or board meetings.
- The training and collaboration space is limited.
- The kitchen can’t support hands-on programming for youth.
- Technology is outdated, making virtual and hybrid meetings difficult.
- Staff and board meetings are often held off-site.
In short, the current building is holding the mission back.
What the CHS 2026 Capital Campaign Will Make Possible
The CHS 2026 Capital Campaign is focused on renovating CHS headquarters so the building finally works for the people inside it.
Planned improvements include:
- Adding an ADA-accessible bathroom
- Enlarging doorways to meet ADA standards
- Expanding common areas to host staff and board meetings onsite
- Renovating and expanding the kitchen to support cooking classes for youth in My Path Forward
- Creating a more collaborative workspace for staff
- Installing state-of-the-art video conferencing and smart screens for hybrid meetings and trainings
These updates aren’t about aesthetics. They’re about access, dignity, and efficiency, and making sure CHS can serve more families, more effectively.
The Cost — and the Momentum Behind It
Based on preliminary estimates, the total cost of the renovation is $800,000, broken down as follows:
- Construction: $450,000
- Furnishings: $200,000
- Technology & appliances: $50,000
- Design: $100,000
The good news? CHS is already more than halfway to the goal.
Through quiet early fundraising, CHS has secured significant support, including two challenge grants totaling $150,000 from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation and The Cabell Foundation.
But there’s a catch.
To unlock the full value of these challenge grants, matching funds must be raised.
How You Can Help Finish the Job
The CHS 2026 Capital Campaign is a chance to invest in the future of Virginia’s children, youth, and families — not just for today, but for decades to come.
Your donation will help:
- Remove physical barriers that limit access.
- Create space for connection, training, and growth.
- Strengthen programs that change lives.
- Ensure CHS can serve families for the next 125 years.
This building has supported life-changing work for over half a century. With your help, it can continue to do so — better, stronger, and more accessible than ever.
Make your impact today. Give now to double your donation through CHS’s challenge grants. Your support builds a space for families and brighter futures.
If you’re not able to give right now, you can still make a big impact by sharing this blog on social media or passing it along to friends and family who care about Virginia’s children and youth.
