Batten Endowment Challenge

In January 2008 The Norfolk Foundation introduced the Batten Endowment Challenge – a program of the Batten Educational Achievement Fund, which is administered by the Foundation. The new Batten Endowment Challenge will create a lasting source of funding for organizations working to improve the educational attainment of children and youth in South Hampton Roads.

The first Batten Endowment Challenge recipients are Horizons Hampton Roads and Young Audiences of Virginia. Two additional nonprofit recipients will be selected each year from 2009 through 2012.

Click here to read about Horizons Hampton Roads.
Click here to read about Young Audiences of Virginia.

Each challenge participant will receive:

• A $1 million grant from the Batten Educational Achievement Fund that will be placed in a designated fund at The Norfolk Foundation as a permanent endowment to benefit that organization.

• The opportunity to receive an additional $500,000 in matching grants if the organization raises up to $500,000 in additional donations over five years. These funds will be placed in a permanent organizational fund at The Norfolk Foundation. Each dollar raised will be matched with a dollar from the Batten Educational Achievement Fund.

• Building Excellence Development Capacity Building grants from The Norfolk Foundation that will help the organization enhance its development capability. As part of the grant, each recipient will receive assistance from a development consultant provided by the Foundation.

All recipients must be 501(c)3 charities working to improve educational achievement in children and youth up to age 18. For information contact Leigh Davis, director of program and donor services, at (757) 622-7951 or ldavis@norfolkfoundation.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Batten Endowment Challenge?
  It is a program funded by the Batten Educational Achievement Fund of The Norfolk Foundation. The program was approved in December 2007 to provide a lasting source of unrestricted funds to selected nonprofit organizations working to improve educational achievement for children and youths in South Hampton Roads. The program also is designed to help build the capacity of the organizations to raise funds for their long-term sustainability and to inspire other donors to make endowment gifts.
   

• How did it get started?
  Advisors to the Batten Educational Achievement Fund worked with Norfolk Foundation staff members to create a program that would provide long-term financial stability to smaller organizations working with children and youth in South Hampton Roads. The fund’s advisors will recommend $1 million endowments for two nonprofits a year for five years.
  
  In addition, the program provides incentives for the organizations to raise additional funds in order to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching grants from the Batten Educational Achievement Fund. This is a donor advised fund created in 2003 by Frank and Jane Batten of Virginia Beach with a gift of $20.5 million -- the largest single donation ever received by the Foundation. The Batten Educational Achievement Fund focuses on helping area youth develop the knowledge and skills needed to become productive, self-sufficient citizens. The Batten Endowment challenge is an outgrowth of the Batten Educational Achievement Fund.
   

• Why is building endowment important?
  Endowments bring financial sustainability to nonprofit organizations. Through wise investing, endowments grow over time while continuing to provide annual support to the nonprofit organizations they were set up to benefit.
  
  
  Who are the Batten Endowment Challenge recipients?
  The first recipients are Horizons Hampton Roads and Young Audiences of Virginia. They are the 2008 recipients. Two additional nonprofits will be selected for the challenge in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
   

• What do the Batten Endowment Challenge recipients receive?
  Each organization will receive a $1 million grant to start a designated endowment fund at The Norfolk Foundation. In addition, each selected organization can raise up to an additional $500,000 over the next five years and have the funds matched dollar for dollar by grants from the Batten Educational Achievement Fund. The additional funds raised by the organization must be placed in an organizational fund at The Norfolk Foundation to qualify for matching grants. The Batten Endowment Challenge matching grants will be placed in the organization’s designated fund at the Foundation, which contains the original $1 million Batten endowment gift to the organization.
  
  To help the selected nonprofits with their development efforts, each organization will receive Building Excellence Capacity Building grants from The Norfolk Foundation that will provide development consulting services to help them improve their fundraising efforts.
  
  Annually, Batten Endowment Challenge recipients will receive grants disbursed from the designated and organizational endowment fund that coincides with the Foundation’s spending policy.
   

• Can my organization apply for the Batten Endowment Challenge?
  The Foundation does not accepted unsolicited applications for the Batten Endowment Challenge. However, the Foundation’s program staff does collect information on organizations working in education attainment. Please click here to complete a form and tell us about your organization.
  
  Selected organizations will be invited to apply each year for Batten Endowment Challenge grants and will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Extent to which the organization’s programs support educational achievement.

  • Strength of the organization’s board of directors and staff.

  • History of programming competence and effectiveness and the organization’s fiscal management.

  • Dedication of the organization to building a planned giving program.

  • Commitment to continuing to raise operating funds through an annual campaign.
     

• How do I make a gift to help a Batten Endowment Challenge recipient receive matching grants?
  Your gift should go directly to the nonprofit organization. Please contact the recipient organization directly to ensure that your gift meets requirements for the match.
   

• Will the Building Excellence program be used to help only Batten Endowment Challenge recipients?
  No. Each year two additional nonprofits from Hampton Roads will be selected to receive Building Excellence Development Capacity Building grants. Applicants should be 501(c)3 organizations working in South Hampton Roads in any of the Foundation’s priority areas. Click here for a list of priorities. Preference will be given to organizations that already have some development capacity such as an annual campaign or endowment building activities. Priority also will be given to organizations exhibiting financial strength and broad program reach.
   

• How do you apply for a Building Excellence Development Capacity Building grant?
  Contact Christine Morris, director of initiatives, at (757) 622-7951 or cmorris@norfolkfoundation.org to request an application. Applications are due March 1. Click here for details on the program.