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Bradshaw Benevolence Grant

Overview

The Bradshaw Benevolence Grant will provide funding each year to a 501c3 nonprofit in Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, or Isle of Wight County that provides relief to local people and families facing poverty, hardship, and other struggles, through the provision of food, clothing, shelter, and/or medical care. In February 2026, we will award one Bradshaw Benevolence Grant in the amount of $25,000.

Goals

The goal of the Bradshaw Grant is to provide tangible assistance to members of our community, and to fund a project that would not be possible otherwise. While our Community Impact Grants often provide sustaining support for local organizations, the focus for the Bradshaw Grant will be a little different—specifically, we are interested in launching or expanding an initiative to create new, positive, and quantifiable change for individuals and families. Although new projects may receive priority, we would like to hear from any nonprofit in Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, or Isle of Wight County providing food, clothing, shelter, and/or medical care, that could make a demonstrable difference for people with this grant.

History

The endowment for the Bradshaw Benevolence Grant was bequeathed by Brenda Ward Bradshaw, who was born and raised in Southampton County, Virginia, and graduated from Southampton High School. Her husband of 49 years—Elmer “Tres” Amos Bradshaw, III, of Franklin, Virginia—was a Vietnam Veteran who served in the US Marine Corps for 12 years. He also coached golf, which took the couple to South Carolina for many years, where he coached at North Greenville University, among other places, and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The Bradshaws eventually moved back home and lived their last years in Franklin, Virginia. Devout Christians, the Bradshaws shared their faith with countless friends whose lives were changed by their prayer, kindness, and generosity. Mrs. Bradshaw remembered two of their favorite charities with her legacy gift: Bernie’s Book Bank, and the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Greenville, South Carolina. She also entrusted the Suffolk Foundation with a field-of-interest endowment to “provide relief to the poor, distressed, or underprivileged.” That gift is the basis for the Bradshaw Benevolence Grant.

Application Process

The Suffolk Foundation will only be awarding one Bradshaw Benevolence Grant each year. For that reason, we are first asking for short letters of inquiry (due November 19, 2025) from interested nonprofits. Contact the Suffolk Foundation staff before starting your letter to discuss your project ideas.

After our committee reviews the letters of inquiry, depending on content and quantity, we may request additional information in December or January from a small number of finalists, or request a meeting in January with finalists. The grant will be awarded on February 3, 2026. At this time we do not plan to award multi-year grants; however, prior grantees may be invited to apply for grant renewal.

Letters of Inquiry

Guidelines

Questions to Address in Your Letter

  • Briefly outline the goals, objectives, activities, and timeline for the project.
  • Is this a new or expanded project, or are you looking for sustaining funds for an existing project?
  • Briefly describe the population you are aiming to serve, including the specific number of people who will be served in Suffolk and/or Western Tidewater.
  • Please list the partners for your project.
  • If the Suffolk Foundation is not able to award this grant to your organization, will you be able to start/continue this project with other resources?

Budget Should Show

  • Total project budget
  • Project expenditures (does not need to be detailed)
  • Other sources of revenue for the project (if any)—and, are the other sources of revenue secured, pending, or not yet identified?

 

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