The Norfolk Foundation supports and encourages local nonprofits to use green building practices in order to reduce building operating costs and minimize the negative environmental impacts associated with building construction and operation.

To help nonprofits implement green building practices, the Foundation offers planning grants to help offset the additional costs of green building design.

The Foundation also has a preference for awarding capital grants to projects that employ green building practices and use high efficiency appliances.
 

The Foundation applies these preferences to three types of capital project grant requests:

1. Major capital campaigns and major building renovations

2. Building repairs and/or replacement of large mechanical systems

3. Small scale building renovations and/or small equipment purchases

Applying for Grants

The Norfolk Foundation encourages the use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification for the construction of new buildings and for major renovations to existing buildings.

LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED certification promotes the construction of green buildings that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and on the building occupants.

LEED construction practices achieve these goals by addressing the following building design and construction components: site selection, energy efficiency, conservation of materials and resources and indoor environmental quality.

For more information on LEED certification please visit the U.S. Green Building Council website at: http://www.usgreenbuildingcouncil.org/

To encourage nonprofits to consider incorporating green building practices up to and including LEED Certification into project design and construction, the Foundation offers grants to help offset the cost of incorporating green building practices.

 

a. Green Building Practices Planning Grants

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities may apply for planning grants to assist in the research, planning and design of green elements of a building. Planning grants may be used for the following activities:

§  Initial design charrettes

§  Integrated process review

§  Modeling/life cycle costing

§  Costs associated with LEED certification

Applicants for a planning grant must submit the following documentation:

 §  Letter of interest stating that the organization’s board will explore the feasibility of using green building practices in the new construction or major renovation project

§  Description of the project and the name of the project architect

§  Budget for the planning process

Award of a planning grant is not a requirement for a capital grant, nor does award of a planning grant imply that a capital grant will be awarded.

 

b. New Building or Major Renovation Capital Grants

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities may apply for capital campaign or major building renovation capital grants to support the construction of a new building or the major renovation of an existing building. Strong preference will be given to projects that have incorporated green building practices up to and including registering the building with the U.S.Green Building Council’s LEED program.

Please visit http://www.usgreenbuildingcouncil.org/ certification process and The Norfolk Foundation website to review its capital campaign and capital projects application.

 

c. Grants to Support Building Repairs and/or Replacement of Large Mechanical Systems

To improve operating efficiencies, reduce operating costs and improve indoor environments, The Norfolk Foundation supports the incorporation of energy saving, water use reduction and improved indoor environmental quality techniques into building repair and large mechanical equipment projects.

These projects include roof replacement and repair, window replacement, heating and cooling system replacement, storm water management projects including parking lot upgrades or major landscaping projects, major renovations to plumbing systems, lighting/ electrical upgrades and interior design renovation projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities applying for building repair or replacement of large mechanical systems grants should use The Norfolk Foundation’s green building practices checklist for building repairs and replacement of large mechanical systems.

 

d. Grants to Support Small-scale Building Renovations and/or Small Equipment Purchases

The Norfolk Foundation encourages the use of energy-saving equipment and indoor environmental quality improvement techniques into small-scale building renovation projects or small equipment purchases. These projects include minor upgrades to the interior of existing office space or client service space and the purchase of large appliances including refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, air conditioners and light fixtures. 

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities applying for small-scale building renovation or small equipment purchase grants should use The Norfolk Foundation’s green building practices checklist for small-scale building renovations and small equipment purchase. 

For questions, contact Christine Morris, director of initiatives, at
cmorris@norfolkfoundation.org