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Hampton Roads Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$26.4M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.6M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26.4 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant cycle; notifications typically within 2-3 months of deadline
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $600,000 (typical range $50,000 - $500,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Southeastern Virginia (Hampton Roads region)
  • Total Assets: $500 million

Contact Details

Address: 101 W Main St, Suite 4500, Norfolk, VA 23510

Phone: (757) 622-7951

Email (Grants): grants@hamptonroadscf.org

Website: www.hamptonroadscf.org

Pre-Application Support: The Foundation offers training on grant application aspects including defining outcomes, logic models, and survey development. Sample applications available for each grant type.

Overview

Founded in 1950 as The Norfolk Foundation, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation is Virginia's first and oldest community foundation. In 2010, it merged with the Virginia Beach Foundation to become the region's largest grant and scholarship provider. With over $500 million in assets, the Foundation has distributed nearly $395 million in nonprofit grants and student scholarships over its 75-year history. The Foundation's mission is to improve life in southeastern Virginia through grants, scholarships, and leadership initiatives, partnering with donors from all walks of life. In 2023, the Foundation made 286 grant awards totaling $27.3 million. Led by President & CEO Deborah DiCroce since 2012, the Foundation has received a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect 100% score. Recent strategic priorities include mental health (investing over $5 million since 2020), local journalism, and racial equity through initiatives like the Visionaries for Change giving circle.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants - Competitive funding in five priority areas, awarded quarterly:

  • Cultural Vitality (April 1 deadline): Youth arts and cultural experiences
  • Economic Stability (July 1 deadline): Housing, workforce training, financial education; typical range $30,000-$200,000
  • Educational Success (April 1 deadline): K-12 academic support and educational transitions
  • Environmental Stewardship (January 15 deadline): Youth environmental education (grades 3-12) focusing on Hampton Roads waterways and sea level rise
  • Health & Wellness (July 1 deadline): Access to healthcare, chronic disease prevention

Vibrant Places (January 15 deadline): Major capital projects and facility improvements for nonprofits; grants support building or improving nonprofit facilities; capital grants limited to 5% of campaign goal for campaigns over $1 million

Special Interest Grants: Various specialized funds including Animal Welfare Grants, Piano Fund Grants, and Advancing Equity Grants

Community Leadership Partners: Annual giving circle program with rotating focus areas; awarded $200,000 to 17 organizations in 2023 for mental health services; 2025 focus on non-clinical mental health services

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on five key areas:

  1. Cultural Vitality: Supporting youth access to arts and cultural experiences
  2. Economic Stability: Workforce development, housing, and financial education programs
  3. Educational Success: K-12 academic support, particularly transitions and access
  4. Environmental Stewardship: Youth education about regional waterways and climate impacts
  5. Health & Wellness: Healthcare access and chronic disease prevention

Cross-cutting priorities include:

  • Mental health services (major investment area with over $5 million since 2020)
  • Racial equity and inclusion initiatives
  • Support for local journalism and civic engagement

What They Don't Fund

  • Routine maintenance expenses
  • Duplicate programs already adequately served in the community
  • For capital grants: Projects exceeding 5% of total campaign goal for campaigns over $1 million

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Deborah DiCroce (since 2012) - Former president of Tidewater Community College

Board Chair: Jim Squires

CFO: Richard Matthews

Staff Size: 17 employees

Leadership Philosophy

Deborah DiCroce emphasizes collaboration as central to the Foundation's approach: "No one accomplishes anything alone" and "The best way is to join forces and create a future, the likes of what we could never create without one another; this is the essence of our work."

On the Foundation's vision: "Overall, our vision is simple — a thriving community with opportunity for all."

DiCroce has stated: "You'd be hard pressed to come up with a project of great importance in the region that doesn't have our fingerprint on it," highlighting the Foundation's extensive regional impact.

Regarding equity: "Those who were most 'at risk' before the pandemic are the ones hardest hit during it and will have the most difficult time coming out of it," demonstrating the Foundation's commitment to addressing disparities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the GrantInterface portal accessible via the Foundation's website. The Foundation operates on a fixed deadline schedule with four annual grant cycles corresponding to different funding priorities.

Application Requirements:

  • Complete online application through GrantInterface
  • Financial statements (audited financials OR full IRS Form 990/990-EZ)
  • Demonstration of alignment with organizational mission and board-adopted strategic plan
  • Evidence of organizational and programmatic expertise
  • Clear definition of measurable outcomes
  • Business plan for ongoing financial and community support

Eligibility:

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits
  • Organizations serving southeastern Virginia
  • Programs aligned with one of the five priority areas

Support Available:

  • Sample applications available for each grant type
  • Training sessions on outcomes definition, logic models, and survey development
  • Information sessions on grant guidelines

Decision Timeline

Grant Review Process:

  • Applications reviewed after quarterly deadlines
  • Typical notification: 2-3 months after deadline
  • Notification method: Email

Scholarship Timeline (for reference):

  • Applications open: December 1
  • Deadline: March 1
  • Notifications: Mid-April

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, in 2023:

  • 286 grant awards made
  • Total grantmaking: $27.3 million
  • Recent example: $2.5 million awarded to 15 nonprofits (average ~$167,000 per grant)

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated in public materials. Applicants are encouraged to contact grants@hamptonroadscf.org for specific guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's published guidelines and recent grantmaking patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Strategic Alignment

  • Strong fit with organizational mission
  • Alignment with board-adopted strategic plan
  • Clear connection to one of the five priority areas

2. Organizational Capacity

  • Track record of providing effective programs to target population
  • Demonstrated organizational and programmatic expertise
  • Experience necessary to accomplish proposed project

3. Financial Sustainability

  • Structured business plan for ongoing support
  • Evidence of community backing
  • Sound financial management (shown through audited financials or complete Form 990)

4. Measurable Outcomes

  • Clear, measurable outcomes defined
  • Logic models demonstrating program theory
  • Plans for evaluation and impact measurement

5. Regional Impact

  • Focus on improving life in southeastern Virginia
  • Addressing critical community needs
  • Potential for collaborative partnerships

6. Current Priority Areas Recent major grants suggest emphasis on:

  • Mental health services (over $5 million invested since 2020, including $1 million to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters)
  • Local journalism ($300,000 to WHRO over two years)
  • Racial equity initiatives (Visionaries for Change awarded $74,750)
  • Multi-year program support (grants ranging 1-5 years)

7. Collaboration and Partnerships DiCroce's emphasis on "joining forces" suggests the Foundation values applications that demonstrate collaborative approaches and partnerships with other organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply to the right cycle: Match your project precisely to one of the five priority areas and submit by the corresponding quarterly deadline (Cultural Vitality and Educational Success in April, Economic Stability and Health & Wellness in July, Environmental Stewardship and Vibrant Places in January)

  • Demonstrate strategic fit: Show clear alignment with both your organization's mission/strategic plan AND the Foundation's priority area; this dual alignment is explicitly required

  • Financial documentation matters: Prepare comprehensive financial statements (audited financials or complete Form 990/990-EZ); the Foundation emphasizes financial accountability and sustainability planning

  • Use available resources: Take advantage of sample applications, training sessions on outcomes and logic models, and information sessions before applying; this demonstrates seriousness and helps strengthen applications

  • Think multi-year and substantial: Recent grants show the Foundation makes significant investments ($30,000-$600,000) over multiple years (1-5 years) for high-impact programs

  • Emphasize collaboration: Given DiCroce's leadership philosophy of "joining forces," highlight partnerships and collaborative approaches in your application

  • Current hot topics: Mental health services, racial equity, and programs addressing COVID-19 recovery disparities are receiving major attention and funding

References

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