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Richmond Nonprofit Founder Wins National Grant Award

The $10,000 grant helps local nonprofit operators fill critical inventory shortages in their professional clothing programs.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Philanthropy

A rack of neatly arranged professional blazers and garment bags in a bright, organized workshop for a veteran clothing charity.
Richmond-based nonprofit Boots to Suits, founded by Sue Farrell, will use a $10,000 National Association of Realtors grant to bolster its veteran professional attire inventory. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The National Association of Realtors has named Richmond resident Sue Farrell as a recipient of its annual Good Neighbor Award. The organization recognized her work with Boots to Suits, a nonprofit she founded that provides professional attire to veterans.

Why it matters

The grant supports the operational scaling of a local nonprofit by addressing supply-side gaps in inventory. Farrell plans to use the $10,000 funding to purchase specific clothing sizes that are currently underrepresented in donation streams.

The National Association of Realtors grant provides $10,000 to support Boots to Suits, which outfits 1,000 veterans annually. This award marks the first time a Central Virginia representative has been recognized in the program's 27-year history.

The players

Sue Farrell

The founder of Boots to Suits who manages the nonprofit's veteran outfitting operations.

National Association of Realtors

The primary trade association representing real estate professionals that manages a national philanthropic grant program.

Boots to Suits

A Richmond-based nonprofit organization that provides professional clothing to veterans.

The details

The National Association of Realtors utilizes a multistage, criteria-based judging process to evaluate the community impact of its members' charitable work. Boots to Suits operates by coordinating volunteer stylists and tailors who customize at least two complete professional outfits for every veteran. The grant is designed to fill specific inventory shortages, allowing the nonprofit to procure items not typically met through standard clothing donations.

Timeline

  1. 2014: Sue Farrell founded Boots to Suits.

  2. Tuesday, October 2026: The National Association of Realtors announced the award recipients.

  3. November 2026: Winners are scheduled to receive their awards at the NXT Conference in New Orleans.

Market Landscape

This recognition follows the 27-year history of the Good Neighbor Awards, a program established to highlight the philanthropic contributions of real estate agents. The selection marks a milestone for Central Virginia as the first local winner of the grant.

Nonprofit operators should monitor the selection criteria used by national trade associations to identify potential funding sources for community-based initiatives. The $10,000 grant underscores the importance of targeting specific operational gaps—such as inventory size shortages—when seeking philanthropic support.

The takeaway

This award highlights how specialized nonprofit services can leverage industry-specific grants to bridge operational inventory gaps. Leaders should review the criteria for national trade awards as a potential path for funding necessary infrastructure improvements.

Further reading

Learn more about local efforts within the Philanthropy sector.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Richmond BizSense.

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Should local businesses prioritize charitable support for veterans in their transition to civilian life?