The Clermont Foundation

1. Mission/Purpose Statement (defined as “What we do”)

The mission of The Clermont Foundation is to implement the provisions of the Williams deed of gift and trust, and to support education and research programs in preservation, agriculture, and public history at Clermont Farm, using its cultural landscape for the purpose of increasing contemporary engagement with history, historic preservation and agriculture. These programs are planned and developed in partnership with Clermont’s owner, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and with local and regional partner organizations.

2. Vision Statement (defined as “What we want to accomplish over time by doing these things”)

To be an effective leader in engaging people of all ages:
-in sustainable historic preservation,
-in learning about agricultural production and its services network, and
-in exploring the meaning of cultural and natural heritage,
-and promoting awareness of the vocational opportunities in these areas..

The Clermont Foundation

The Foundation, a Virginia non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, is the community-based successor organization to the Clermont Charitable Trust, which was established by Elizabeth Williams at her death in 2004 to help preserve Clermont Farm and support the programs of the Trustees. The Articles of Incorporation of the Clermont Foundation incorporate all the purposes and requirements of the original Williams Trust. The Trust specified its primary purposes as (1) maintenance of the historic buildings at Clermont, (2) keeping the farm’s 360 acres intact and “actively farmed in an efficient and husbandman-like manner.” Its secondary purposes were to serve as a “community-oriented cultural/education facility”, and as a “resource for the perpetuation and enhancement of the county’s agricultural heritage.”

Governance of the Foundation

The Trustees are each elected to a three-year term, and may repeat for three successive terms, plus a partial term if they filled a vacancy. They meet six times a year, in January, March, May, July, September, and November. There are six committees for projects/issues (Property and Preservation, Education and Outreach, Finance, Farm, Development, and Governance. Board members bring their professional and personal experience and good sense to these meetings, where as a team they review operations, make policy, adopt annual plans and budgets, and set future directions for the Foundation through longer range planning.

The annual budget is supported by agricultural sales, rents, operating support from the Williams Endowment, and grants. Regarding fundraising, the Foundation is currently registered with the Commonwealth as seeking funds from grants, not from solicitation of the general public.