Special Interest Grants: Specialized Areas + Donor-Directed

7 Special Areas Available for Funding

Some of our donors have special community interests that do not fall within the priorities of our Community Grant Program. Roughly 5% of our grant dollars are distributed through these special interest grants in the following categories. All six grant programs listed below have an October 15 deadline and use the same application form linked below.

Pianos -- E.K. Sloane Piano Fund, which provides grants to purchase or repair pianos. Click here to see past recipients.

Horticultural education – Julian Haden Gary and Margaret Savage Gary Fund, which provides grants to organizations that promote horticulture education with a preference for the work of the Fred Heutte Center, Norfolk Botanical Garden and the Virginia Zoo.

Mental health research – the Benjamin R. Brown and Charles G. Brown Funds, which support mental health research

Child abuse – Sue Cook Winfrey Memorial Fund supports organizations providing services to abused children and spouses with a special interest in residential facilities for children.

Cerebral Palsy and other developmental disabilities—The Laura Turner Fund and the Jennifer Lynn Gray Fund, which support people with developmental disabilities

Peninsula activities -- The Harry F. Wall Memorial Fund, which provides support to area high schools on the Peninsula, and the Mary E. and Curtis M. Chappell Jr. Fund, which awards grants to support arts and humanities activities on the Peninsula

Quick Links: (Please read all links before applying)
General Eligibility Requirements
How to Apply
Deadlines for Submission

Application: Word Format | PDF Format

Click here for a printer friendly version of the Special Interest Grant guidelines.

For questions email grants@hamptonroadscf.org or call (757) 622-7951 to talk with a program officer. You want to come to one of our monthly drop-in days and meet with a program officer.

Donor-directed Grant Opportunities

Nearly 70% of our grants are awarded from funds where the recipients are nonprofits designated by the donors or are for scholarships for students. In 2011 we distributed more than $8 million through our donor's advised funds, designated funds or scholarship funds.

We do have four donor advised funds that annually accept applications and have their own applications and deadlines:

Community Leadership Partners – a group of regional community leaders that pools its resources and sets its own grant priorities each year. Applications usually are available by spring. The focus of the grants varies each year.

Beach Fund – a group of young philanthropists that pools its resources and sets its own grantmaking priorities each year. Currently its focus is awarding grants in the Lake Edward community of Virginia Beach. Applications usually are available by spring. The focus of the grants varies each year.

Dal Paull Fund - provides grants for youth baseball and softball programs in Hampton Roads. Application deadline: November 19.

Nightingale Fund - provides grant support for established Faith Community Nursing programs in the Hampton Roads. Application deadline: October 31.

 

If you have questions about applying for these donor advised grants, please contact a program officer at (757) 622-7951 or email grants@hamptonroadscf.org. You want to come to one of our monthly drop-in days and meet with a program officer.

Note: Your organization can apply annually for a Special Interest Grant without affecting its eligibility to apply for a grant under the Community Grant Program.