The Norfolk Foundation was founded in 1950 as the first community foundation in Virginia . Its mission is to make grants that transform the quality of life and inspire philanthropy in southeastern Virginia.

In 2007 the Foundation awarded more than $3 million to local nonprofit organizations in response to the capital and seed funding applications received through the Community Grant Program. The Foundation also identified its Community Leadership Agenda.

This agenda focuses on critical issues facing our region. In addition to providing a source of funding, Foundation board members and staff are actively leading new efforts to address these areas:

• Early childhood care and education

• Nonprofit leadership and professional development

• Arts stabilization and audience development

New in 2008

• The Norfolk Foundation is going green. The Foundation is pleased to announce its Green Building Initiative. This aspect of the Community Grant Program supports capital campaigns and building projects that are environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient.

• The "Three-Year Rule" has been amended. Now an organization that has received capital funding may apply for seed funding regardless of when it received capital funding.

• Feedback from focus groups informed a change in our grant deadlines. Applications for seed funding and capital projects from Health & Human Service organizations are now due in July for a September decision. Arts & Culture groups can submit applications for these types of projects in April for a June decision.

• Geographic Focus

• Guidelines and Priorities

• Types of projects considered

• Capital Campaigns

• Capital Projects

• Seed Funding for Innovative Projects

• Limitations

• How to Apply

• Deadlines for Submission

• Proposal Review and Approval

• Grant Reporting Requirements

• Questions

Geographic Focus
The Foundation concentrates its resources geographically to provide the most benefit to area residents. Typically, community grants are only awarded to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of south Hampton Roads (i.e. the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Isle of Wight County) and the Eastern Shore.

If your organization is not in south Hampton Roads, check the Community Foundations of Virginia list for a community foundation in your region. If you are interested in finding foundations in other states, the Council on Foundations provides a Community Foundation Locator, which is searchable by state and zip code.

Guidelines and Priorities
The Norfolk Foundation makes community grants from unrestricted and general field of interest funds. The Foundation primarily uses capital funding for buildings, renovations and equipment purchases to achieve its mission. Seed funding for innovative projects is also available.

To support a strong, vibrant South Hampton Roads community grants are made in the following areas:

Health & Human Services

• Efforts to improve delivery of basic human services, such as food, shelter and clothing to families and individuals in need

• Projects that improve service delivery to abused women and children, as well as efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect

• Programs and organizations that provide services to populations with special needs, such as the elderly and people with disabilities

• Organizations that develop job skills and employment opportunities for low income residents

Education

• Projects that improve educational achievement for students of all ages with a preference for projects that serve children, ages 0-5

Arts and Culture

• Work that supports effective organizational development and fiscal management

• Projects to broaden and deepen participation and community support for the arts

Civic Engagement

• Projects that broaden the reach of organizations that encourage civic engagement and leadership development

Environment

• Efforts that broaden the reach and effectiveness of organizations working on environmental preservation, restoration and education

Green Building Initiative -- NEW

• Capital campaigns and building projects that create environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient, cost-effective buildings for nonprofit organizations

Competitive proposals should:

• Support one of the Foundation’s priority areas listed above

• Demonstrate that the project is conducive to the organization’s mission and is part of a strategic plan for the organization

• Enhance the organization’s or a 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

The Foundation considers applications from nonprofit organizations serving residents of south Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Franklin and Isle of Wight County) and the Eastern Shore of Virginia for:

• Capital campaigns

• Capital projects, such as building additions, renovations and equipment purchases

• Seed funding for innovative projects
  

Types of Projects Considered

Capital Campaigns
Capital campaigns are highly organized, intensive fundraising drives to secure money to finance new construction or major improvements to an organization’s physical space.

NEW – The Green Building Initiative
The Foundation seeks to reduce local nonprofits’ building operating costs over the long term and minimize the negative environmental impacts associated with construction and operation by encouraging “green” building practices that can cut heating and cooling costs, save water and reduce pollution. To that end, the Foundation will give strong preference to capital campaigns that incorporate these types of building practices. A committee of volunteers with construction expertise will assist the Foundation’s board in assessing the extent to which building projects have incorporated these environment-friendly practices.

It is the Foundation’s intent to make these practices required for all organizations seeking capital campaign grants by the year 2009.

To apply for a grant toward a capital campaign, complete the Capital Campaigns and Projects application and submit it the Foundation by one of the two deadlines for capital campaigns.

• Capital Campaigns and Projects application

• Capital Campaigns and Projects application

If you would like the Alison J. and Ella W. Parsons Fund to review the request as well, please fill out the appropriate box on the application cover sheet.
 

Capital Projects
The Norfolk Foundation seeks to improve the infrastructure of local nonprofits by providing grants for capital projects that improve the physical assets of an organization and allow the organization to effectively and efficiently deliver its services. 

Capital projects include:

• building – new construction, purchases, additions or renovations to an existing facility

• technology

• furnishings, equipment, vehicles
  
  

To be competitive, proposals for capital projects should:

• Support one of the Foundation’s priority areas as described in the Community Grant Program Guidelines and Priorities

• Demonstrate that the project is conducive to the organization’s mission and is part of a strategic plan for the organization

• Enhance the organization’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

Special Guidelines for Technology Requests
The Foundation provides funding for software, computers, networking equipment, mission-critical website enhancements, telephone systems, portable technology and related vendor-supplied staff training and technical support that will: 1) improve the productivity of nonprofit organizations, 2) improve communications within an organization, between an organization and its clients or between multiple organizations working collaboratively, and 3) enhance an organization’s services and impact.

In addition to the elements of competitive capital proposals, technology requests should:

• Be based on sound technology assessment and planning. The organization should have a clear rationale for any equipment being purchased and a replacement plan that is not dependent upon continued grant funding.

• Demonstrate good-faith efforts to obtain nonprofit discounts, including evidence that the organization, if eligible, has completed the process for state sales tax exemption and determined if needed software is available to nonprofits through Techsoup before attempting to purchase it at retail price.

Technology grants are not available for cellular phones, staff time associated with installing new equipment and entering data into a new system or operating expenses for Internet service, telephone service, website hosting, regular website updates, toner, paper and other disposable supplies.

To apply for a grant for building renovations, furniture, equipment and/or technology, complete the Capital Campaigns and Projectsapplication and submit it the Foundation by the appropriate deadline for your type of organization.

NEW
Organizations awarded funding for capital campaigns or projects described above are asked not to reapply for another capital campaign or project for at least three years from the date of the award. Organizations, however, may apply for seed funding for innovative projects during this waiting period.

Seed Funding for Innovative Projects
The Foundation also seeks to encourage innovation in program and service delivery.  To be competitive seed funding requests should conform to most or all of the following characteristics:

• Address a critical need within the Foundation’s priority areas as identified through compelling needs assessment data
  

• Seek a solution to the root causes of the need
  

• Are proven effective through a research methodology within the target population
  

• Are not duplicative to approaches already in place within the South Hampton Roads community
  

• 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.
  

Organizations requesting seed funding should:


• Demonstrate that the project is a strong fit with the organization’s mission and is aligned with a board-adopted strategic plan
  

• Demonstrate the organizational and programmatic expertise and experience necessary to accomplish the project
  

• Demonstrate 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 future of the program.

To apply for a grant for seed funding, complete the Seed Funding for Innovation application and submit it the Foundation by the appropriate deadline for your type of organization.

• Seed Funding for Innovation application

• Seed Funding for Innovation application

Organizations who have received a grant for seed funding are asked to wait three years after the award before reapplying for a seed funding grant for another project.

Limitations:
Community grant funds are generally not available for:

• Organizations not tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  

• Organizations that do not provide benefits and services to residents of South Hampton Roads, (i.e., the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin and Isle of Wight County) and the Eastern Shore
  

• Individuals
  

• Fundraising events (such as tickets, raffles, auctions or tournaments), annual fundraising appeals or agency celebrations
  

• Ongoing operating support
  

• Political, fraternal or religious activities
  *Organizations that require religious participation by those receiving social services

• Endowment
  

• Existing obligations, debts/liabilities or costs that the agency has already incurred
  

• Scholarly research
  

• Scholarships, camper fees, fellowships or travel
  

• National or international organizations or purposes
  

• Hospitals and similar health-care facilities
  

• Projects normally the responsibility of government
  

• Organizations that have been awarded discretionary funding from the Foundation within the preceding three years
  

• Private primary or secondary schools or academies other than those whose primary purpose is for special needs, unless there is a significant opportunity for community use of, or collaboration with, the facility or project
  

• Capital campaign requests exceeding 5 percent of campaigns valued at $1 million or more.

How to Apply
All grant applicants are strongly encouraged to call a program officer at the Foundation before submitting an application for funding to discuss the project and upcoming deadlines.

All grant applicants must submit an original plus one copy of the grant cover sheet, narrative and all attachments. Please do not place in binders or other covers. Click below for the grant cover sheet and application materials.

• Capital Campaigns and Projects application

• Capital Campaigns and Projects application

• Seed Funding for Innovation application

• Seed Funding for Innovation application

Deadlines for Submission:
All applications with attachments should be received in our office by the appropriate deadline. If any of the following deadlines falls on a weekend or holiday, applications should be received by the next business day.

Program/Request Type	Submission Deadline	Decision
Capital campaign requests*	January 15 October 15	March December
Education	January 15	March
Arts & Culture	April 20	June
Health & Human Services	July 15	September
Environment and Civic Engagement	October 15	December

*Capital campaigns are highly organized, intensive fundraising drives to secure money to finance major improvements to an organization’s physical space. Requests for funding for smaller capital projects such as renovations, technology or furniture and equipment should be submitted according to the organization’s primary program area.

Please contact a program officer to discuss any extenuating circumstances or emergency situations that prevent submission according to this schedule.

Proposal Review and Approval:
Each grant application is reviewed by Foundation staff to determine if the proposal falls within the Foundation’s priorities and complies with these guidelines. If so, Foundation staff may conduct a site visit. Requests for funding of capital campaigns are referred to the appropriate committee for initial review. Each proposal is thoughtfully considered by our board of directors at one of its scheduled quarterly meetings. Foundation staff will notify organizations as soon as a grant decision is made.

If you have completed the box on the grant cover sheet for the Alison J. and Ella W. Parsons Fund, the request will be review by our board and then by the Parsons Fund advisors at their next regularly scheduled meeting. The Parsons Fund advisors meet twice each year. Your program officer can provide detail on when your application will be reviewed by the Parsons Fund.

Grant Reporting Requirements:
The Norfolk Foundation requires certain reports on the outcome of the project and how Foundation funds were used. Reporting requirements vary depending on the type of funding received and the duration of the project and will be outlined in the grant agreement accompanying your award letter. Every effort is made to combine reporting requirements for The Norfolk Foundation and the Alison J. and Ella W. Parsons Fund so that duplicate reports are not required.

Questions
If you have any questions, please contact the program department at (757) 622-7951 or grants@norfolkfoundation.org.

The Foundation makes grants on an equal opportunity basis without regard to race, religion, sex, marital status, disability, national origin or age.