The Big Picture

Inspiring Philanthropy and Enriching Lives on Virginia’s Eastern Shore

Who We Are

The Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation (ESVCF) is a leading philanthropic organization helping to build a vibrant, resilient future for Accomack and Northampton counties. We support local nonprofits and help individuals, families, and businesses fulfill their charitable goals so that the Eastern Shore continues to thrive.

A thriving Eastern Shore:

• Promotes a culture of philanthropy

• Fosters economic opportunity for all

• Meets the needs of families and children: education, health, housing, and social services

• Sustains local nonprofits

• Preserves and honors our culture and heritage

• Stewards our extraordinary natural environment

Our Purpose

A community foundation connects people with the causes they care about - education, the arts, human services, or any other area of concern.

Our purpose is to enrich the lives of the people of Virginia's Eastern Shore by:

• Enabling donors to meet their charitable goals through prudently administered permanently endowed funds

• Offering a comprehensive array of services to encourage, advance, and educate donors concerning effective philanthropy

• Making critical grants to meet current and emerging community needs and opportunities

What We Do

We enrich lives on the Eastern Shore by:

• Helping donors build legacies through endowed funds that support the causes they care about—in perpetuity

• Supporting nonprofits through discretionary grantmaking in these key areas:

Arts & Culture - Promoting community engagement through the arts and preserving local cultural heritage

Child, Family & Social Welfare - Improving life for vulnerable residents, especially by addressing basic needs

Economic Stability - Supporting housing, employment readiness, and pathways to self-sufficiency

Education - Preparing children and adults for academic, career, and lifelong success

Environment - Protecting our natural resources and promoting environmental stewardship

Health - Increasing access to healthcare and programs that promote well-being

Our Values

The Foundation is guided by the following principles:

• Collaboration – bringing people together

• Integrity – fostering transparency, honesty, and respect

• Justice – advancing equity, access, and inclusion

• Knowledge – listening, learning, innovating, and valuing lived experience

• Stewardship – providing accountable administration and guardianship

Our Story

The Foundation was born out of a bold challenge in 2004. The Norfolk Foundation (now the Hampton Roads Community Foundation) offered to contribute $2 million in capital to launch a community foundation on the Eastern Shore—if local residents could raise $4 million more within four years.

Eastern Shore citizens embraced the opportunity and exceeded the goal in just three years.

Following this success, a dedicated group worked to develop the terms of an affiliation with The Norfolk Foundation, creating a structure that balanced local autonomy with professional support. This affiliation remains in place today and allows ESVCF to access world-class investment management while keeping decision-making rooted on the Shore.

In October 2004, ESVCF was launched as an LLC, and in 2006, it received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status—greatly enhancing its ability to serve donors. Initially, the Foundation advised The Norfolk Foundation on grant requests, but by 2009, it began awarding grants directly through its own programs.

From the beginning, ESVCF was designed to:

• Award grants to nonprofits serving Eastern Shore residents

• Provide donors with flexible, meaningful ways to support causes they care about

• Improve the quality of life in Accomack and Northampton counties… forever