Imagine turning a $525 donation into $19,000 in additional annual income for a family. That’s the power of the Robin Lancaster Memorial Fund – a scholarship program created in the memory of a woman who dedicated her life to transforming people's ideas into economic freedom.

On April 18th, 2018 we lost our dear friend and mentor Robin Lancaster, a woman defined by her dedication to public service and economic opportunity. Robin, a psychologist, social worker and certified life coach, had a passion for helping individuals reach financial freedom through ownership. She dedicated herself to equipping people from historically disadvantaged communities with vital skills to increase their quality of life.

In 2016, she and Dale Fickett co-founded a grassroots public charity, named RVA Works, to provide intensive training programs and to serve as an access hub for aspiring entrepreneurs. Many of whom had little business education, and who faced other barriers in business ownership.

Upon her death, her former husband Ronnie Johnson and Dale Fickett (President of RVA Works), established the Robin Lancaster Fund to support students from low-income backgrounds through need based scholarships.

In the words of her son:

“Entrepreneurship meant freedom to my mother. It meant that you could solve problems to make people's lives easier, by not settling, but by making money doing something you love. She loved helping people reach their full capacity.” - Jared Johnson

What Your Donation Supports

Since 2014, RVA Works has helped 116 aspiring entrepreneurs complete a rigorous entrepreneurial accelerator program offering:

The program is structured into two parts:

Part 1 (weeks 1-4) focuses on understanding customer needs and refining the business idea, with learning goals that include ideation and effectuation, customer discovery, testing and validating the value of propositions, and crafting a Lean Canvas.

Part 2 (weeks 5-13) supports founders in transition from planning to market launch, covering audience building, market strategy and prices, business finances, legal considerations, and making a final business presentation to peer founders and mentors.

A full outline of weekly topics is included below.

Why it Matters

The scholarship gives students whose incomes fall below $50,000 the opportunity to participate in the accelerator program at a discounted rate.The full tuition is $525; and the fund covers up to $425 per student. These funds help cover the programing and operational costs for students throughout the program.

Where You Come In

We are currently raising funds to continue the Robin Lancaster Fund. As a public charity, RVA Works is committed to providing educational services that support individuals facing social and economic challenges to business ownership.

Right now, someone has the drive, the vision and a business idea that could change their life, but they can’t afford the tools to make it real.

That’s where you come in.

By supporting the Robin Lancaster Fund, you're not just making a donation, you’re removing a barrier. Your gift gives an aspiring entrepreneur access to expert training, personalized coaching, financial guidance, and a supportive community. You're turning potential into progress.

Robin believed that everyone deserves a fair shot at building a better future, not just those who can afford it. When you give, you're continuing her mission of making ownership and opportunity accessible to all.

What Your Donation Makes Possible:

Whether you give a little or a lot, your contribution directly impacts someone's ability to build a business and a better future.

Please consider donating today. Let’s keep Robin's spirit alive and help the next generation of entrepreneurs thrive.

All proceeds will go towards sustaining the Robin Lancaster Memorial Fund.

For more information about RVA Works, please visit https://rvaworks.org/

*Over 65% of our accelerator participants report an annual income of $50,000 or less; participants report a 38% increase in annualized income. This is equivalent to a $19,000 increase in annual household income.

*Here is some insight into the curriculum of our accelerator program. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uokebY0V68CRMgEj4NN65jFbKaBSh9Ec/view?usp=sharing

Meet alumna Bernie Richardson— a bold entrepreneur who turned her passion for baking into a thriving full-time business.