No Halo News · Sourced development
RISE Foundation said it will cease operations after unsuccessful funding efforts
Augusta Free Press reported that Waynesboro-based RISE Foundation plans to cease operations on October 31, 2026. The report said the youth-focused nonprofit had been unable to replace a one-time $250,000 Virginia appropriation and that later state-budget requests were unsuccessful. A co-founder said discussions about possible funding options led the founders to conclude that dissolution was the best course.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The planned closure removes a small local provider of education, training, outreach and preventive services for young people and illustrates the organization’s dependence on nonrecurring government funding.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
Augusta Free Press reported the closure from an email sent by co-founders Chanda McGuffin-Tucker and Sharon Fitz and from McGuffin-Tucker’s comments to the News Leader.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not independently established every factor behind the closure, confirmed that formal dissolution papers have been filed or determined how remaining programs, restricted funds, assets, records and client responsibilities will be handled.
Right of reply
Organization response
Co-founder Chanda McGuffin-Tucker said the founders considered options for continuing to fund the organization and decided dissolution was the best course. The founders’ email said operations would cease on October 31.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Financial Distress. Current state: Pending. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published October 15, 2026 · Last verified October 19, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.