Our Programs & Initiatives
United Virginia Enterprise Foundation advances public benefit through direct enterprise operations, peer-led support systems, and capacity-building programs for mission-driven ventures across Virginia.
Direct Operations & Health EquityRecovery Café RVAA planned peer-led community health initiative operating in downtown Richmond at the historic Caskie House, providing long-term recovery support, health equity, and holistic wellness programs.
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Sector Growth & AccelerationPROPEL Entrepreneurship InitiativeA flagship accelerator offering turnkey fiscal sponsorship, technical assistance, financial management, and mentorship for independent social entrepreneurs.
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Fiscal Sponsorship & Technical Assistance
We provide legal 501(c)(3) umbrella status, grant compliance oversight, and operational growth support for early-stage social impact projects, giving under-resourced founders equitable access to capital and structure.
1. Direct Operating Programs
Recovery Café RVA (Planned)
Currently operating as Cornerstone Recovery at 5th and Main Streets (one block from Richmond Behavioral Health), Recovery Café RVA will be Virginia's first chapter of the national Recovery Cafe Network of 90+ non-clinical, peer-led sanctuaries for individuals overcoming substance use disorders and mental health challenges with these program features:
2. Fiscally Sponsored & Supported Programs
PROPEL (Fiscally Sponsored Project)
Founded and directed by DJ Little (SEEDstudio, LLC), PROPEL is an intensive entrepreneurship support initiative providing tuition-free technical assistance to adult City of Richmond residents facing economic barriers.
Ignite Impact Social Enterprise Accelerator
Ignite Impact is a 14-week virtual accelerator designed for early-stage social entrepreneurs delivered in partnership with The Network Incubator, the Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building and SEA Change. In 2025 the program was sponsored by FultonForward, Call Federal Credit Union and The Luck Foundation. The curriculum covers 10 strategic modules, including Mission, Business Model Design, and Financial Modeling, that pairs social enterprise owners with mentors and culminates in showcase pitch presentations at VCU Shift Retail Lab.
Super Habits of Independent Businesses Workshop
Designed for founder-led businesses ($250k–$1M revenue) aspiring to grow into "Small Giants" ($1M–$10M). Instructors Ajax Greene, Shelli Jost Brady, and Mark Deutsch guide business owners to build personalized 90-day action plans and sustainable weekly rhythms, with a portion of proceeds supporting United Virginia's statewide social enterprise development.
Affiliate Community Programs
Recovery Café RVA (Planned)
Currently operating as Cornerstone Recovery at 5th and Main Streets (one block from Richmond Behavioral Health), Recovery Café RVA will be Virginia's first chapter of the national Recovery Cafe Network of 90+ non-clinical, peer-led sanctuaries for individuals overcoming substance use disorders and mental health challenges with these program features:
- Radical Hospitality & Drop-In Care: Provides a warm community "living room" environment with free meals (in partnership with 2nd Presbyterian Church), coffee, and peer connection to break social isolation.
- Recovery Circles: Small, weekly peer support groups tracking personal goals across the 8 Dimensions of Wellness (Physical, Emotional, Social, Occupational, Financial, Environmental, Intellectual, Spiritual).
- The Hope to Purpose Pathway™: A structured 90-day, two-phase program co-founded with Lou Corsetti and Greg Doepke. Phase I (Mental Agility) teaches cognitive tools to interrupt negative self-talk, while Phase II (Purpose Discovery) guides participants to rebuild identity and community resilience.
- Community Wellness Offerings: Free and sliding-scale peer groups including AA, SMART Recovery, Yin Yoga (Nancy Sowder), Mindfulness & Meditation (Woody Woodhouse), Somatic Breathing (Jason Sawyer) and Tarot Readings (Luke Campbell).
2. Fiscally Sponsored & Supported Programs
PROPEL (Fiscally Sponsored Project)
Founded and directed by DJ Little (SEEDstudio, LLC), PROPEL is an intensive entrepreneurship support initiative providing tuition-free technical assistance to adult City of Richmond residents facing economic barriers.
- Ideas of Impact Challenge: A 5-week foundational course where participants utilize Creative AI tools to develop one-page business plans, research reports, visual prototypes, and pitch decks.
- Intensive 9-Month Fellowship: Guides 12 selected fellows through Grant-Ready, Pilot-Ready, and Launch-Ready phases, utilizing co-working labs at Expansive Shockoe Slip.
- United Virginia's Role: United Virginia serves as the legal 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, handling expenditure approvals, financial record-keeping, and reporting compliance.
Ignite Impact Social Enterprise Accelerator
Ignite Impact is a 14-week virtual accelerator designed for early-stage social entrepreneurs delivered in partnership with The Network Incubator, the Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building and SEA Change. In 2025 the program was sponsored by FultonForward, Call Federal Credit Union and The Luck Foundation. The curriculum covers 10 strategic modules, including Mission, Business Model Design, and Financial Modeling, that pairs social enterprise owners with mentors and culminates in showcase pitch presentations at VCU Shift Retail Lab.
Super Habits of Independent Businesses Workshop
Designed for founder-led businesses ($250k–$1M revenue) aspiring to grow into "Small Giants" ($1M–$10M). Instructors Ajax Greene, Shelli Jost Brady, and Mark Deutsch guide business owners to build personalized 90-day action plans and sustainable weekly rhythms, with a portion of proceeds supporting United Virginia's statewide social enterprise development.
Affiliate Community Programs
- The Network Incubator (TNI): Led by UVEF Board Director Ayanna McMullen, TNI has supported over 730 businesses- with over 90% women-owned and 80% minority-owned founders - through networking, workshops, and business incubator support.
- PROPEL: Founded by DJ Little, PROPEL delivers social entrepreneurship training including our fiscally sponsored project, that begins with a 5-week virtual program that guides participants through turning their impact-driven business ideas or nonprofit concepts into real, tangible projects using Creative AI tools.
- Aspire to Give is a social enterprise partnership founded by Greg Doepke, that includes the Hope to Purpose Pathway program being produced by United Virginia. This non-clinical educational framework was co-developed by Lou Corsetti of the Gordon Corsetti Mental Agility Foundation.