A Community Leadership Agenda focuses on critical issues facing our region. Foundation board members and staff are actively leading new efforts or supporting existing efforts to address these areas.

• Early Childhood Care and Education

• Nonprofit Leadership and Professional Development

• Arts Stabilization and Audience Development

The Norfolk Foundation currently has several initiatives underway to improve life in southeastern Virginia. The Foundation provides both funding and staff support for the following:

Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads is working to find ways to improve early education for all children in southeastern Virginia. Efforts include raising awareness, research, devising an infrastructure and strategic plan to make sure all area children enter kindergarten ready to learn. The Norfolk Foundation helped start this initiative. For details visit www.smartbeginningsshr.org or call (757) 622-7017.

The Academy for Nonprofit Excellence started in January 2005 with a series of monthly continuing education classes for nonprofit staff and board members. The Foundation is sponsoring the academy in cooperation with Tidewater Community College. For details click here.

The Report Card on Philanthropy provides a snapshot of charitable giving in southeastern Virginia. The Foundation releases the report each November in sponsorship with the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals For the most recent philanthropy report click here

Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads is working to find ways to improve early education for all children in southeastern Virginia. Efforts include research, devising an infrastructure and strategic plan to make sure all area children enter kindergarten ready to learn. The Norfolk Foundation helped start this initiative. For details call (757) 226-8828.

Business Consortium for Arts Support provides annual operating support for 30 arts groups performing and exhibiting in south Hampton Roads. Since 1987 it has contributed nearly $13.5 million to the arts. The Norfolk Foundation helped start the Consortium and is one of 27 area businesses and foundations supporting it. The Norfolk Foundation is the Consortium’s largest contributor and also covers all its overhead. The Consortium shares office space with The Norfolk Foundation. For details click here.