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Agena Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.7M
Grant Range
$125K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1.7 million (approximately)
  • Assets: $30 million
  • Grant Range: $125,000 - $305,000 (based on recent grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Hampton Roads region (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Toano)
  • Application Method: No public application process (trustee discretion)
  • Grants Awarded: 16 grants annually (recent data)

Contact Details

Mailing Address: PO Box 62206, Virginia Beach, VA 23466-2206
Phone: 757-414-7697
EIN: 26-2882583

Note: The Agena Foundation does not have a public website or formal online presence.

Overview

The Agena Foundation Inc. is a private independent foundation established in 2011 and based in Chesapeake, Virginia, with approximately $30 million in assets. The foundation focuses on distribution of funds for charitable and educational purposes, with a particular emphasis on programs that improve the quality of life for young adults in the Hampton Roads region. The foundation operates with no full-time employees and is governed by a small board of trustees who exercise discretionary grantmaking authority. Executive Director Felicia Ford was recognized in 2021 as one of The Virginian-Pilot's Top Forty Under 40 for her work connecting with nonprofits, school districts, and community organizations to identify pressing needs and administer funding to organizations helping youth and families in the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Agena Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with set application cycles. Instead, grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees based on identified community needs in the Hampton Roads area.

Recent Grants (2024):

  • Seton Youth Services: $305,000 for emergency family and youth shelter
  • FORkids: $273,000 in support of programs for homeless families
  • YOURS Ministry: $125,000 for youth mentorship

Priority Areas

The foundation primarily funds initiatives focused on:

  • Youth and Teen Programs: Club programs, mentorship, and development services for young adults
  • Homelessness Prevention and Services: Emergency shelters, rent assistance, rapid rehousing
  • Independent Living Skills: Programs that teach life skills to vulnerable youth
  • Emergency Family Services: Crisis intervention for families and youth in need

Geographic Focus: Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Toano in Virginia

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's focus is clearly on youth-serving organizations and homeless services in the Hampton Roads region. Organizations outside this geographic area or outside these priority areas are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

President: Judy G. McReynolds (uncompensated)
Vice President: Kimberlee Russi (uncompensated)
Executive Director: Felicia Ford ($123,492 annually)

Felicia Ford, as executive director of the philanthropic foundation, keeps up with the pulse of the region's most vulnerable by connecting with nonprofits, school districts, parents and other community organizations. She analyzes data to identify pressing needs and works with the board to administer funding to organizations helping youth and families. Ford is a Harvard Fellow alum and was recognized in 2021 at age 39 for her leadership in philanthropy. She is also a fellow with the Strategic Data Project at the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, where she has researched whether truancy is the gateway to disconnection for Hampton Roads youth.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Agena Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, with the board of directors identifying and selecting grantees based on community needs and strategic priorities established by the foundation's leadership.

Grant decisions are made by the board of trustees, who work with the executive director to identify pressing needs in the Hampton Roads community through ongoing relationships with nonprofits, school districts, and community organizations. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant proposals.

Getting on Their Radar

While the Agena Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations may increase their visibility through:

  • Building Relationships in the Hampton Roads Youth Services Sector: The foundation's executive director actively engages with nonprofits, school districts, and community organizations in the region. Participating in collaborative efforts focused on youth services, homeless prevention, and family support may increase visibility.

  • Demonstrating Impact with Youth and Families: Felicia Ford, the executive director, analyzes data to identify pressing needs. Organizations that can demonstrate measurable impact in serving vulnerable youth and families in Hampton Roads may come to the foundation's attention through sector networks and collaborative initiatives.

  • Focus on Data-Driven Outcomes: Given Ford's research background with Harvard's Strategic Data Project and her focus on analyzing data to identify community needs, organizations that track and report strong outcome data related to youth disconnection, truancy prevention, homelessness reduction, or family stabilization align with the foundation's analytical approach to grantmaking.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation with trustee-discretion grantmaking, decision timelines are determined internally and likely vary based on the board's meeting schedule and assessment of community needs.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation awards approximately 16 grants annually from a pool of grantees selected by trustees rather than from open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications. Grantees may receive ongoing support based on trustee decisions and program performance.

Application Success Factors

Since the Agena Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, "success" in receiving funding depends on being identified by the foundation's leadership as addressing critical needs in Hampton Roads. Based on available information about the foundation's approach:

  • Data-Driven Impact: Executive Director Felicia Ford emphasizes data analysis to identify pressing needs. Organizations should be prepared to demonstrate measurable outcomes and maintain strong data systems tracking their impact on youth and families.

  • Youth Focus: The foundation's stated mission emphasizes "programs that improve the quality of young adults." Services directly benefiting youth ages 9-24, particularly those at risk of disconnection, homelessness, or family crisis, align with the foundation's priorities.

  • Hampton Roads Regional Impact: All recent grants went to organizations serving the specific cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Toano. Geographic focus is clearly important.

  • Emergency and Crisis Services: Recent grants heavily favor organizations providing emergency shelter, homeless services, and crisis intervention for families and youth, suggesting the foundation prioritizes immediate, life-stabilizing services.

  • Collaboration and Visibility: Ford's role involves "connecting with nonprofits, school districts, parents and other community organizations." Organizations that actively participate in regional coalitions, collaborative initiatives, and cross-sector partnerships in the youth services field may be more visible to foundation leadership.

  • Established Organizations: Recent grantees include well-established Hampton Roads nonprofits (Seton Youth Services, FORkids, YOURS Ministry) with track records of serving vulnerable populations, suggesting the foundation may favor proven organizations over newer entities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation identifies and selects grantees through trustee discretion; you cannot submit an unsolicited proposal
  • Regional focus is critical: All funding stays within the Hampton Roads area, specifically Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Toano
  • Youth and homeless services are priorities: Recent grants strongly favor emergency youth shelters, homeless services, and family crisis intervention
  • Grant sizes are substantial: Recent grants ranged from $125,000 to $305,000, indicating the foundation makes significant investments in selected organizations
  • Data and outcomes matter: The executive director's background in data analysis and research suggests organizations should maintain strong outcome measurement systems
  • Relationship-based grantmaking: Building visibility through sector collaborations and demonstrating impact may be the only pathway to consideration, as the foundation actively seeks out organizations rather than responding to applications
  • Board governance structure: With only three key leadership positions and no full-time staff beyond the executive director, the foundation operates with a streamlined decision-making structure focused on strategic, high-impact investments

References

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