Grants

SEVACF makes grants and works with fund holders to support promising projects that enhance the quality of life for all those across southeast Virginia through addressing immediate needs while working toward long-term improvements. Through a careful review process, the Foundation’s board and staff work together to award grants that strengthen the nonprofit sector.

Grant Recipients – Fall 2022

Throughout the year, grant-making is directed by our donors to the causes they care about.  Additionally, grants are made possible through our Community Needs Fund.  Our Grants Committee meets twice a year to identify and address critical issues and community needs. 

In the 2022 Fall cycle, we awarded $127,210 to 19 organizations.  Congratulations to the Fall 2022 Awardees (see below).  

ARTS & CULTURE – $11,000
  • Portsmouth Community Concerts; Star Education/Arts Education Student Outreach Programs
  • Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Active Minds Make Music Initiative
CAPITAL –  $18,000
  • Partnership Development Foundation; Renovate Montgomery Square Building
  • St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children; Purchase & Installation of a new HVAC System
EDUCATION –  $16,000
  • Communities In School of Hampton Roads; Funding of full-time Site Coordinator in Portsmouth’s School
  • Starbase Victory; Victory “CORE” Program
  • Tidewater Friends of Foster Care; Tutoring Program for Chesapeake and Portsmouth Students
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES – $82,210
  • AbilityCenter VA; Program Support for the Ability Day Program
  • FACT; Rhythm & Me and Arts Adventures
  • Fear 2 Freedom; Support the AfterCare Kit Distribution
  • Foodbank of Southeastern VA & the Eastern Shore; 757 Mobile Markets
  • ForKids, Inc.; Emergency Shelter & Support Services
  • Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia; Ryan’s Wish: Seven-year-old Chesapeake Boy’s wish
  • Neighborhood; Career & Community Development Program
  • New Vision Youth Services, Inc.; Youth Uplift Project Expansion II – Missing Students
  • PIN Ministry; Food Stability: Helping the Homeless
  • Portsmouth Christian Outreach Ministries; Chronically Homeless Program
  • Therapy on the Move; Timeless Living Fall Prevention Program
  • Young Life Chesapeake; YoungLives Program Support: Mentoring & Outreach for Students of Chesapeake

Grant Recipients – 2021

In the year 2021, we awarded $176,611 to 32 organizations.  Congratulations to the 2021 Awardees (see below).

ARTS & CULTURE – $13,000
  • Chesapeake Forum; promoting education and learning.
  • Portsmouth Community Concerts; supporting Star Education/Arts Education Student Outreach Programs.
  • Virginia Symphony Orchestra; supporting the Active Minds Make Music Program.
CAPITAL – $45,000
  • Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterway History Fdn; aiding the completion of the Great Bridge Battlefield Historic Park & Visitor Center.
  • Holiday House of Portsmouth; aiding the completion of the new fencing around the facility.
  • Partnership Development Foundation; assisting the renovation of the Montgomery Square Building.
  • Port Norfolk Church & Ministries; aiding the purchase of a new HVAC System.
  • Portsmouth Catholic Regional School; aiding the purchase of a new water fountain.
CIVIC & ECONOMIC – $ 5,000
  • Chesapeake Humane Society; supporting the Crisis Boarding Program.
EDUCATION –  $40,972
  • Envision Lead Grow, Inc.; supporting the Entrepreneurial Program for middle school-aged youth.
  • FACT (Families of Autistic Children of Tidewater); supporting the Pilot Program in Chesapeake called Camp GonnawannaEXPRESSagin.
  • Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (GSCCC); supporting the Science of Happiness and STEM Program.
  • Hampton Roads Workforce Foundation; supporting the NextGen Internship Program.
  • STARBASE Victory, Inc.; supporting STEM education.
  • Virginia Air & Space Science Center; supporting the 5​th​ & 8​th​ Grade Science Reimagined Initiative.
  • Wesley Community Service Center (WCSC); supporting their Tutoring Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL – $2,500
  • Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation; supporting the Goat-Scaping Project.
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES – $70,139
  • American Red Cross of Coastal Virginia; aiding the Smoke Alarm Installation Program.
  • Children’s Assistive Technology Service (CATS); supporting their program expansion.
  • Foodbank of Southeastern VA & Eastern Shore; supporting the 757 Healthy Mobile Market Program.
  • ForKids, Inc.; funding support services for Portsmouth Families.
  • Ground Zero Development; supporting young males, providing operational support.
  • Hampton Roads Workforce Foundation; supporting NextGen Programming.
  • Help & Emergency Response, Inc. (H.E.R.); supporting the Crisis Service Program.
  • Hope House Foundation; providing operational PPE support.
  • Meals on Wheels – Chesapeake; providing program support.
  • Neighborhood; supporting their Career & Community Development Program.
  • Operation First Response, Inc.; supporting the Military Family Assistance Program.
  • Phoenix Evolution Foundation; supporting the Phoenix Sankofa Mentoring Program.
  • Portsmouth Christian Outreach Ministries (PCOM); supporting the HUD renewal projects.
  • RX Partnership; aiding in the medication access for the uninsured in Southeast Virginia.
  • William Lee & Patrick Maurice Independent Living, LLC.; providing program support.

Grants From Philanthropists

Many grants are made from funds that do not accept requests. These funds are established and advised by individual donors, and the distributions are determined by the donor for specific philanthropic purposes. Grant distributions are made on the suggestion of the donor or fund advisor, with final approval given by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Grants From SEVACF

Grants available from our Community Needs Fund, which are established by visionary philanthropists, are awarded through our two competitive grant cycles each year. Priority is given to projects that:

  • Address current pressing problems
  • Reach a broad section of the community
  • Demonstrate innovation
  • Have a track record of success
  • Encourage matching gifts or added funding from other sources
  • Yield substantial benefits for the costs involved
  • Promote cooperation among agencies within their fields of interest

The Southeast Virginia Community Foundation generally does not make grants for the following:

  • Programs/equipment that were committed to prior to the grant application period
  • Debt reduction
  • Annual appeals or membership contributions
  • Projects/organizations benefitting individuals or a few persons
  • Travel expense for individuals or groups
  • Support of public or private educational institutions or government agencies except in special situations where support is essential to projects/programs that meet critical community needs
  • Political purposes
  • Capital and endowment building unless matching funds are generated within the particular organization

Application Deadlines:

  • Spring Grants: January 15th
  • Fall Grants: July 15th

Downloads

NOTE: The guideline is to recommend one-year grants. Organizations cannot receive a grant more than once in a twelve (12) month period. If an organization is funded for three (3) consecutive years, we kindly ask that you wait a year before applying to another grant cycle. All grant applicants will be notified upon a decision by the Board.

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