The Blocker Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 54-1217447 · since 1983theblockerfoundation.com·North Carolina, Virginia·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$4.6M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$14,500 to $125k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$58,092
Typical grant (median)
69 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The Blocker Foundation funds work in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Service Area (MSA) across wholesome nourishment, safe shelter, educational opportunity, economic opportunity and a healthy environment, so check your work falls within that geographic area and those themes before approaching it.
  • Typical grants to organisations run from $14,500 to $125,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 170 grants to organisations in that band and a median grant of $50,000, so a request in that range is realistic; its Discretionary Grants are capped at up to $25,000.
  • The application route is a Letter of Intent, and only if that is approved are you invited to submit a full application; applicants must contact Foundation staff before submitting an LOI or grant application, so make that first contact before preparing anything.
  • With 53% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in its two preceding filings, it leans toward relationships built over time, so new applicants should not be discouraged but can expect it to help to build a track record with the foundation.
  • Do not apply if your request involves lobbying or political programs or events, is from a sectarian or religious organisation whose request would only benefit that organisation's members, comes from an organisation that discriminates by race, colour, creed, gender, sexual orientation or national origin, is for an individual scholarship, would supplant existing sources of support, or is from Supporting Organizations as defined by the IRS.

Overview

The Blocker Foundation is a US private foundation based in Suffolk, VA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Blocker Foundation supports organisations and initiatives that address the root causes of community challenges, strengthen local systems and build upon existing assets. Its focus areas are wholesome nourishment, safe shelter, educational opportunity, economic opportunity and a healthy environment. It prioritises expanding access to opportunity for low-income and otherwise disadvantaged populations, with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. It encourages communication, collaboration and partnership among like-minded organisations to sustain programmes and services. It considers project, programme, core support and capital grants for tax-exempt nonprofit organisations serving the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Service Area.

Themes

  • Wholesome nourishment
  • Safe shelter
  • Educational opportunity
  • Economic opportunity
  • Healthy environment

Geographic Focus

Hampton Roads Metropolitan Service Area (MSA).

What They Don't Fund

  • Lobbying or political programs or events
  • Sectarian or religious organizations whose grant request will only benefit that organization's members
  • Organizations that discriminate by race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation or national origin
  • Individual scholarships
  • Funding that supplants existing sources of support
  • Supporting Organizations as defined by the IRS

How to apply

Applicants submit a Letter of Intent; if it is approved, they are invited to submit a full application.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 53% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 170 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • It favours work that addresses the root causes of community challenges, strengthens local systems and builds upon existing assets.
  • It prioritises expanding opportunity for low-income and otherwise disadvantaged populations, with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusiveness.
  • It encourages communication, collaboration and partnership among like-minded organisations.
  • Applicants must contact Foundation staff before submitting an LOI or grant application.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Virginia99%
North Carolina1%
Georgia<1%
  • The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 53% of grant dollars went to organisations The Blocker Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

69 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $58,092

How much do they typically give?

Share of 69 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$5k–$10k3%
$10k–$25k12%
$25k–$50k20%
$50k–$100k42%
$100k–$250k22%
$250k–$500k1%

Median $58,092 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Next Step to Success · General operating
    $250,0002024 tax year
  • E3: Elevate Early Education · General operating
    $200,0002024 tax year
  • Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads · General operating
    $150,0002024 tax year
  • Virginia Supportive Housing · General operating
    $150,0002024 tax year
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation · General operating
    $125,0002024 tax year
  • Black Brand · General operating
    $125,0002024 tax year
  • Nauticus · General operating
    $125,0002024 tax year
  • Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges · General operating
    $125,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • William H George — Secretary
  • John E Bissett — Treasurer
  • Reginald Corinaldi — Board Member
  • Whitney G Saunders — President
  • Fredrick V Martin — Vice President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$3,188,184$1,869,934$101,225,069Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$5,420,700$4,431,261$111,112,210Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$5,644,528$4,604,805$119,800,214Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

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