In 2012 we will distribute through our Community Grant Program approximately 15% of our funds (or nearly $2 million). We respond to grant proposals from nonprofit organizations and coalitions working to improve the quality of life in our region. Community Grant funding opportunities exist within five program areas:
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We believe hands-on experiences in the arts provide educational, social and emotional benefits to youth and help sustain a vibrant arts and cultural community. We believe these opportunities should be available to all youth regardless of income.
Our Community Grants in Arts and Culture focus on supporting meaningful experiences that engage youth in the arts through activities such as:
We have a preference for programs that increase participation of youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
We expect our grants to support arts experiences that are encouraged and accessible for all youth. Proposals for program funding must be able to articulate:
Note: Requests for funding minor equipment needs may be submitted as part of the grant request. For major capital project and capital campaign requests, please read our program guidelines for the Facilities program area.
Our Community Grants in Education seek to improve educational achievement of underperforming students and to promote economic growth by providing opportunities for all students to excel and meet current and future regional workforce demands. We want to support innovative programs that improve academic achievement of our region’s public school students in the following areas:
Increasing the number who are reading on grade level by grade 3
Helping students succeed in high-failure rate subjects
Keeping students at the appropriate grade for their age
Reducing absenteeism (to less than 2 weeks per semester)
Passing the ninth grade
Pass core ninth grade courses (algebra I, English, science, history )
Enroll in dual enrollment programs
Successfully complete at least one honors course or advance placement exam (and score a 3 or better)
Enroll in post-secondary training programs while in high school
Decrease the number who must enroll in post-secondary remediation courses in math or English
Increasing the number of children scoring on-grade on Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening assessments
Improving the quality ratings of center-based or home-based pre-school facilities
Proposals for seed funding must show how the program will directly impact the metrics listed above. In addition, programs must align with school curriculum and be able to measure effectiveness.
Note: Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations working in support of or in partnership with the public school system. We are unable to consider requests to support public school activities directly even if through an education foundation associated with the school system.
Note: Requests for funding minor equipment needs may be submitted as part of the grant request. For major capital project and capital campaign requests, please read our guidelines for the Facilities program area.
We believe training youth to be good environmental stewards is critical to improving our region’s natural environment now and in the future.
Our Community Grants for the Environment focus on supporting innovative, sustained programs for middle and high school-aged students that provide:
Proposals for program funding must be able to measure the program’s impact on the pro-environmental behaviors of the youth it serves.
Note: Requests for funding minor equipment needs may be submitted as part of a program grant request. For major capital project and capital campaign requests, please read our guidelines for the Facilities program area.
We believe our region will thrive only when its most vulnerable residents have the opportunities and support needed to succeed.
Our Community Grants in Health and Human Services focus on providing opportunities for disadvantaged people to become self-sufficient. We want to support innovative programs that:
Proposals for program funding must be able to articulate the program’s desired outcomes and measure how the program’s effectiveness in reaching those outcomes.
Note: Requests for funding minor equipment needs may be submitted as part of the grant request. For major capital project and capital campaign requests, please read our guidelines for the Facilities program area.
We believe suitable nonprofit facilities are critical to programs and services. Facilities that provide appropriate space and are efficiently and attractively designed can bring important benefits to clients, staff and the community.
Our Community Grants for Facilities focus on supporting major capital projects and capital campaigns that are transformative for the organization and the communities it serves. Organizations requesting facilities grants should support one of the other areas of Foundation work: Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, or Health and Human Services.
We seek projects that will reduce local nonprofits’ building operating costs over the long term and minimize the negative environmental impacts associated with construction and operation. We encourage “green” building practices that can cut heating and cooling costs, save water and reduce pollution. We give strong preference to facility grants that incorporate these types of building practices.
We consider applications from nonprofit organizations serving residents of south Hampton Roads (Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Isle of Wight County) and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Note: Foundation grants for the Eastern Shore of Virginia are awarded in partnership with the Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation, our affiliate foundation. You should speak with a program officer before submitting a grant directly to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation for a grant to an Eastern Shore organization.
Please see our Special Interest Grant application for funding opportunities for organizations serving the Virginia Peninsula.
In addition to our geographic preference, our Community Grants are generally not available for:
*While the Foundation prefers to award grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies that are independent of local, state and federal government, it will consider awarding grants to specific municipal entities or component units of government for projects generally provided by nonprofit agencies in other communities. This policy does not prohibit public and private colleges and universities from applying.
Capital campaigns are highly organized, intensive fundraising drives to secure money to finance new construction or major improvements to an organization’s physical space.
Capital projects include major additions or renovations to an existing facility that does not require a capital campaign fundraising effort.
To apply for a grant toward a capital campaign or capital project, complete the Nonprofit Facilities application and submit it to us by January 15 for an April decision.
Note: If your campaign goal is $1 million or more, your grant request may not exceed 5% of the goal, excluding any endowment goal.
Competitive proposals should:
Requests for routine building maintenance and upgrades and equipment replacements and upgrades will be considered a low grant priority.
We are pleased to work in partnership with the Alison J. and Ella W. Parsons Fund on capital grant requests. Advisors to this donor advised fund review capital project and capital campaign requests that we have received. For more information please contact one of our program officers.
REMINDER
If your organization is awarded a facilities grant, it is asked not to reapply for another facilities grantfor at least three years from the date of the award. However, your organizations may apply for seed or program funding during this waiting period even if it has received a facilities grant.
We encourage innovation in program and service delivery. Competitive seed funding requests should conform to most or all of the following:
If your organization is requesting program and seed funding it should:
To apply for a grant for program or seed funding, complete the program and seed funding application and submit it to us by the appropriate deadline based on the whether the project supports our priorities in Arts and culture, Education, Environment or Health and human services.
REMINDER
If your organization receives a grant for seed or program funding, it is asked to wait three years after the award before reapplying for a seed or program funding grant for another project. However, your organization may apply for a Nonprofit Facilities grant during that waiting period even if it has received a seed funding or program grant.
You are strongly encouraged to call one of our program officers before submitting an application for funding for your organization. It is helpful to discuss with our staff you project and our upcoming deadlines. Grant applications are available in Microsoft Word and as PDFs (Portable Document Format) on our website.
We also offer a monthly drop-in day for representatives to visit us without an appointment. Drop-in day is generally held the first Thursday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the schedule is posted on our website. Appointments can also be scheduled for other times with one of our program officers.
To apply for a grant, you must submit an original (plus one copy) of:
Note: Please do not place any materials in binders or other covers.
Your completed application with all attachments should be in our office (101 W. Main Street, Suite 4500, Norfolk, VA 23510) by the appropriate deadline. If any of the following deadlines falls on a weekend or holiday, your application should arrive by the next business day.
Program/Request Type |
Submission Deadline |
Decision |
Building Excellence |
Varies each year, but typically early January |
February |
Community Grant Program requests within Environment and Nonprofit Facilities |
January 15 |
April |
Community Grant Program requests within Arts and Culture and Education |
April 20 |
June |
Community Grant Program requests within Health and Human Services |
July 15 |
September |
Please contact one of our program officers to discuss any extenuating circumstances or emergency situations that prevent submitting an application according to this schedule.
Each grant application is reviewed by our staff to determine if the proposal falls within our priorities and complies with our grant guidelines. If it does, a staff member may arrange to conduct a site visit. Our staff will notify organizations as soon as a grant decision is made.
If you are submitting a Nonprofit Facilities grant proposal, your request will be reviewed by the Alison J. and Ella W. Parsons Fund advisors at their next regularly scheduled meeting. Parsons Fund advisors meet twice each year, typically in April and September. Your program officer can let you know when your application will be reviewed by the Parsons Fund.
We require you to submit certain reports on the outcome of your project that show how our funds were used. Reporting requirements vary depending on the type of funding received and the duration of your project. Requirements will be outlined in your grant agreement that will accompany your award letter.
If you received program or seed funding, you will be required to measure and report on the program outcomes and metrics identified through discussion with one of our program officers. We will make every effort to combine reporting requirements for the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and the Alison J. and Ella W. Parsons Fund so duplicate reports will not be required.
If you have any questions, please contact our program department at (757) 622-7951 or grants@hamptonroadscf.org.
We award grants on an equal opportunity basis without regard to race, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, national origin or age.