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Apply For A Grant
General
Discretionary Grants
Guiding Principles for Grantmaking
These principles serve as a guide to the Eastern Shore of Virginia Community
Foundation’s Distribution Committee in all its discretionary grantmaking
decisions while preserving the Foundation’s flexibility to meet the
community’s changing needs and new opportunities.
Eligibility
Geographic Focus
The Foundation concentrates its resources geographically to provide the most
benefit to residents of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The highest priority
will be given to requests for grants from nonprofit organizations that serve
the counties of Accomack and Northampton.
What We Don’t Fund
Unrestricted funds are generally not available for:
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Organizations not tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code
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Individuals
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Fundraising events (such as tickets, raffles, auctions or
tournaments), annual fundraising appeals, or agency celebrations
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Ongoing operating support
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Political, fraternal or religious activities
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Endowment
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Existing obligations, debts/liabilities or costs that the
agency has already incurred
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Scholarly research
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Scholarships, camper fees, fellowships or travel
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National or international organizations, unless the grant is
restricted to benefit Accomack and/or Northampton Counties.
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Hospitals and similar health-care facilities except in the
case of Shore Memorial Hospital.
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Projects normally the responsibility of government
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Organizations that have been awarded discretionary funding
from the Foundation within the preceding three years
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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.
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Capital campaign requests exceeding 5 percent of campaigns
valued at $1 million or more.
Funding Priorities
Long-Term Community Benefit
The Foundation focuses its resources on projects and programs that are
likely to continue to strengthen the community beyond the period of funding.
As a result, highest priority will be given to requests for specific capital
projects, such as building, renovation and equipment needs, that meet the
Foundation’s grantmaking goals.
Broad-Based Grantmaking
As a community foundation, the Foundation strives to strengthen the fabric
of the Eastern Shore community and to reflect the diverse interests of its
donors. We award grants in a wide range of program areas:
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Family, Child and Social Welfare – Goal: Improve the quality
of life for families and communities, particularly in the areas of basic
human needs
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Public and Civic Life – Goal: Preserve and increase access
to our unique community assets.
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Arts & Culture – Goal: Promote broad-based participation in
arts and cultural activities
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Education – Goal: Improve children’s readiness to learn and
ability to succeed in school
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Health – Goal: Support wellness education through
community-based organizations
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Environment – Goal: Support environmental preservation and
education.
Special Initiatives
From time to time, the Foundation may participate in special initiatives
that focus on a priority community need. These initiatives may involve
one-time collaborative funding or a special program that continues for a
prescribed time period.
How to Apply
Step One:
Organizations seeking a general discretionary grant from the Eastern Shore
of Virginia Community Foundation must first submit the following materials:
- A completed Concept Proposal Cover Sheet.
- A narrative of no more than two pages describing the organization’s
mission and the proposed project. If the organization is faith-based,
describe how the project is principally non-religious in nature.
- A project budget showing both the project’s expenses and sources of
income.
Concept proposals may be submitted at any time. Foundation staff and/or
board members will review the concept proposal materials to determine if the
project meets current grantmaking priorities and guidelines. The Foundation
will notify the contact person listed on the Concept Proposal Cover Sheet to
let them know whether it has been selected for further consideration.
Step Two:
If the proposal is selected for further consideration, Foundation staff or a
board member will contact the organization to discuss the additional
materials required for a full application and discuss a date for board
consideration.
Step Three:
Foundation staff and/or board members will conduct site visits, if
appropriate, and perform their investigation of the application.
Applications will be submitted to the Eastern Shore of Virginia Community
Foundation board of directors for consideration at its November meeting,
except the Board reserves the right to recommend a grant at anytime during
the year to address a critical need requiring timely action. If approved by
the Eastern Shore board, the application will be forwarded to The Norfolk
Foundation board of directors for final action at its June or December
meeting. The organizations will be notified as soon as a grant decision is
made.
What is Considered
The Foundation considers numerous criteria in reviewing grant proposals. For
example, does the organization:
- Benefit a meaningful number of people through the project in relation to
its cost?
- Assist those whose needs are not met by existing services?
- Obtain matching gifts or additional funding from other sources to
implement and sustain the project?
- Promote collaboration among agencies?
- Strive to strengthen or improve agency self-sufficiency or efficiency?
- Evaluate the outcomes of its programs?
The Foundation makes grants on an equal opportunity basis without regard to
race, color, religion, sex, marital status, disability, national origin or
age.
Site Visits
If a concept is recommended for a full grant proposal, Foundation staff or
board members may conduct a site visit. This typically includes a tour of
the appropriate facility or office. A site visit provides a chance for
Foundation staff and board members to learn more about the services and
programs the organization provides.
Evaluation of Outcomes
The Foundation considers project evaluation an important element of each
grant it makes. Our goal is to evaluate the implementation of projects
awarded a grant so that the Foundation and the grantee organization can both
learn from the process. Specific evaluation requirements will vary based on
the type and size of grant awarded and will be clearly defined in the
grant-award agreement.
3-Year Time Limit
Any organizations that have received a discretionary grant from The Norfolk
Foundation or the Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation in the past
three (3) years would be precluded from applying for another discretionary
grant until 3 years have passed.
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