Initiatives
|
We work every day to make our region a better place to live. We put dollars, time and energy into key initiatives that are making a difference. We can do this because of our generous donors who are interested in improving our region. Right now we are focusing on three areas:
- Making sure all children enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed
- Helping area nonprofits do their best work
- Helping arts organizations attract new audiences and stabilize their finances
To support those initiatives we have recently provided grants and staff support for:
The Academy for Nonprofit Excellence
Helps the staff and boards of area nonprofits do their best work by giving them high-quality, low-cost continuing education classes. We helped start the academy in 2005 and continue to sponsor it with Tidewater Community College.
Our grants for nonprofit education are provided through unrestricted funds started by donors who created funds that give us leeway in meeting important community needs. Our partnership with Tidewater Community College makes this possible.
Business Consortium for Arts Support
Awards grants that help more than 30 arts groups each year pay their overhead -- one of the most difficult types of funding to raise. We helped start the consortium in 1987, continue to be its largest contributor and also provide it office space.
We have supported the consortium since its start because of the generosity of donors who created field of interest funds to honor special people who loved the arts. They include the Ashinoff family, Lee and Helen Gifford, Paul S. Huber, Perry and Bunny Morgan, and John and Sarah Roper.
The Dimensions of Philanthropy in Hampton Roads
Provides a snapshot each year of charitable giving to nonprofits in our region. We publish the report each November in sponsorship with the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Bonney & Company. For the most recent report click here 
Our partnership with others in the community allow us to produce this survey each year.
.
An online listing of arts, cultural and other events in Hampton Roads. We helped start this online resource in 2008 to encourage people to come to arts performances and exhibitions.
We were able to provide grants to bring your 757.com to our region because of our unrestricted funds started by people who wanted the flexibility of their gifts being used for a variety of needs.
Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads
Works to make sure all children in South Hampton Roads are ready for kindergarten. We helped start this organization in 2004 and have awarded it more than $7 million in grants primarily from the Batten Educational Achievement Fund.
Through the generosity of Frank and Jane Batten of Virginia Beach, who started the Batten Educational Achievement Fund at our foundation in 2003, we could help start Smart Beginnings and continue providing grants to support its work in helping make our region a place where children flourish.
Confirmed in compliance with national standards for U.S. community foundations.