Community Grant Programs: Types of Projects Considered

Capital Campaigns and Major Capital Projects
Capital campaigns are highly organized, intensive fund-raising 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 do 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.

Nonprofit Facilities application Word/pdf

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:

• Demonstrate that your project is conducive to your organization’s mission and is part of a strategic plan for the organization
• Enhance your organization’s or coalition’s ability to meet the needs of those it serves by allowing for the addition of new services, additional clients or increased effectiveness
• Demonstrate diversified funding sources, including board contributions and broad-based local support

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 grant for 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.

Seed and Program Funding
We encourage innovation in program and service delivery. Competitive seed funding requests should conform to most or all of the following:

• Measure the program’s effectiveness in achieving its stated objective
• Be proven effective through a research methodology within the target population
• Not duplicate approaches already in place within the South Hampton Roads region
• Include clearly stated goals, timeline, logic model and measurable skill and/or behavioral outcomes
• Seek to creatively collaborate and cooperate with other organizations or agencies
• Bring new program management or implementation strategies to bear on the need, particularly in the area of re-orienting traditional service approaches to more fully engage clients as active and motivated participants in the program
• Include a viable and effective evaluation component to measure interim and long-term program outcomes. These outcomes should be tied to positively moving identified indicators within the field of service and any noted as of particular interest to us

If your organization is requesting program and seed funding it should:

• Demonstrate that the project is a strong fit with its mission and is aligned with a board-adopted strategic plan
• Demonstrate the organizational and programmatic expertise and experience necessary to accomplish the project
• Have a history of strong financial management
• Have a track record of providing effective programs to the target population
• Have a structured business plan for ongoing financial and community support to insure the continuation of the program after Foundation funding.

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.

Return to Community Grants page to continue learning about eligibility requirements, deadlines and applications.