The Landmark Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Landmark Foundation, based in Norfolk, VA, prioritises the Norfolk area and supports human services, educational and environmental causes, with a stated focus on education programmes.
- It operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so approaching it with a cold application is unlikely to succeed; it is better suited to organisations that already have, or can build, a connection with the foundation.
- Most grants are modest, with about 8 in 10 of its 77 grants to organisations falling between $5,000 and $500,000 and a median grant of $50,000, so a request in that range is realistic, even though the largest grant reached $2,000,000.
- Over half of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded the previous year, suggesting continuity and relationships matter in its giving.
- Because it does not accept unsolicited requests, small charities without an existing link to the foundation should not plan to apply directly.
Overview
The Landmark Foundation is a US private foundation based in Norfolk, VA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (batten.virginia.edu, nsu.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its giving as support for human services, educational and environmental charities in the Norfolk area. It also says it focuses on supporting education programmes. The filed grants show a broad mix of human services, educational grants and programmes, arts and museums, environmental and conservation work. Recipients include human-service providers, colleges and universities, educational organisations, cultural institutions, conservation groups and public agencies. Its recorded giving is not limited to one named organisation. The filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Themes
- Human services
- Education
- Environmental causes
Geographic Focus
Priority: Norfolk area. (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 57% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 77 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 57% of grant dollars went to organisations The Landmark Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 43 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Norfolk Botanical Gardens · Arts & museums$2,000,0002023 tax year
- Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters · Human services$1,150,0002023 tax year
- Norfolk State University · Educational grants$1,000,0002023 tax year
- Colonial Williamsburg Foundation · Arts & museums$1,000,0002023 tax year
- Odu Educational Foundation · Educational grants$500,0002023 tax year
- United Way of South Hampton Roads · Human services$450,0002023 tax year
- Access College Foundation · Educational programs$445,0002023 tax year
- Hospice House of Hampton Roads · Human services$300,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Conrad M Hall — Director
- Colleen R Pittman — Vice President And Treasurer
- Guy R Friddell III — Vice President And Secretary
- Charles L Watkins — Vice President And Director
- Frank Batten Jr — President And Director
- Richard F Barry III — Vice President And Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,181,144 | $7,875,500 | $88,207,238 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,395,044 | $8,993,500 | $92,600,252 | Filing for 2023 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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At a glance
Applying to The Landmark Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Norfolk, VA
Applying to The Landmark Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Norfolk, VA