The Claude Moore Charitable Foundation (CMCF) was established in 1987 by Dr. Claude Moore, a Virginia physician and landowner who left most of his fortune in trust for the purpose of enhancing educational opportunities throughout Virginia. He firmly believed in providing a “leg up, not a handout.” The Foundation strives to implement his philosophy in its giving decisions. In 2023, the Foundation reached the $100M giving threshold.
Early on, CMCF financed educational facilities throughout Virginia including the Claude Moore Education Center in Roanoke, VA which houses the Virginia Western Community College’s culinary arts program, and several buildings at the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, VA. Over the last two decades CMCF shifted its investments from bricks and mortar to workforce development programs including its flagship, Claude Moore Scholars (CMS). This program introduces individuals to high demand health sciences careers and supports healthcare workforce development programs across the Commonwealth. Recognizing that the current and anticipated demand for high quality workforce development programs far exceeds the philanthropic resources of CMCF, we created Claude Moore Opportunities (CMO), an independent, public 501(c)3, to build upon its legacy and to further the foundation’s mission.
