Community Impact Grants
The Suffolk Foundation’s Community Impact Grants Program supports qualifying nonprofit, charitable organizations that work to benefit the communities of Suffolk and Western Tidewater in Virginia. This includes the City of Suffolk, the City of Franklin, Southampton County, Isle of Wight County, and all municipalities therein. We fund a broad range of local projects, including (but not limited to) health, education, arts and culture, historical programs, human needs and services, environmental and animal welfare, and youth and senior programs. As a community-based foundation, we focus on local organizations making a tangible difference for people in our community.
ELIGIBILITY
Nonprofit, public charities that are tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) are eligible to apply for a grant. The proposed project or program must be located in, and serve residents of, Suffolk and/or Western Tidewater (Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, Isle of Wight County, and all municipalities therein).
Grants may be awarded in a wide range of categories, including:
- Human Needs
- Artistic, Historical, and Cultural Programs
- Education
- Environmental and/or Animal Welfare
- Health
We aim to build capacity in Suffolk and Western Tidewater; thus, we give priority to organizations with a strong, local presence in our service area, and leadership from Suffolk and Western Tidewater. We may sometimes also partner with larger organizations, in which case we prefer to fund direct project costs (as opposed to administrative or operating costs) for programs located in and serving our community.
Community Impact Grants are not generally available for:
- Non-tax-exempt organizations
- Individuals
- Debt reduction
- Research
- Event sponsorships
- Religious purposes (we do, however, support faith-based organizations for projects that contain no religious programming and serve the broader community–i.e., open to anyone, regardless of religion)
- Annual fund drives
- National or international purposes
- Government agencies
- Projects, programs, and facilities located outside of our service area
- Organizations that would re-grant Suffolk Foundation funding to other organizations
- Grants that would result in a direct, private benefit for a for-profit business, board member of the grantee, or another non-charitable entity, other than the intended charitable beneficiary
Responsibilities of the Grantee
- Upon notification of the grant award, grant recipients are required to sign and return a grant agreement in order to receive payment.
- Grantees are strongly encouraged to make public announcements about the project and the grant, and to acknowledge the Suffolk Foundation as grantmaker in all communications concerning the project. We ask grantees to send us copies of such communications for our records.
- We ask grantees to provide one or more photographs to us to illustrate the impact of the grant, to be used in our Annual Report and other publications.
Timeline
Our grant application is open in the fall of each year, with awards announced in mid to late December for funding for the following calendar year. Final grant reports are due by January 15* on the year following funding.
Grant Application Opens: September 1
Grant Application Deadline: October 15
Grant Decisions Announced: Mid to Late December
Grant Agreements Mailed: Mid to Late December
Grant Payments Made: Immediately upon the Foundation’s receipt of signed grant agreement
Grant Award Period: January 1 – December 31
Final Grant Report Due: January 15*
*The January final report is only required if the grantee does not apply for another grant the following fall, as our application form now includes questions for past grantees about grant results. A January report may also be required if the project is not concluded by the October 15 application deadline, or if grant funds are not expended by October 15. Grantees should contact the Suffolk Foundation staff with any questions about reporting requirements.
How to Apply
Our online application opens on September 1 of each year and is due on October 15. Please call or email our staff at 757-923-9090 or LMorrow@suffolkfoundation.org for the link to apply.
Before you begin an application, we will want to hear more about your nonprofit and your ideas for your application. We may ask your organization to send us your most recent financial statements (i.e., your balance sheet, your revenue and expense statement, and your budget), as well as your list of board members. This will allow us to learn more about your organization and determine your eligibility for a grant. We may ask to schedule an appointment to meet with you, visit your facility, or talk further on the telephone.
In addition to the potential community impact of a grant, here are some of the things we look for in an organization when we’re evaluating new grant partnerships:
- A volunteer board of directors that reflects broad community support (i.e., six or more directors who are not related to each other and not related to paid staff)
- For regional organizations, a strong presence in Suffolk and/or Western Tidewater, including board representation from our community
- Current financial statements that demonstrate the organization’s ability to steward grant monies
- Organizations that have a track record of successful programs, or strong leadership with depth of pertinent experience
- Organizations that follow best practices in governance and fiscal management
- Letters of reference from community partners, particularly if the grant would bring programs to a school or library system
Click here for a preview of the Community Impact Grant Application. (This is a sample for preview purposes only. The actual application is an online form; please contact our staff for the link. Please note that this preview includes all possible questions in the application, when in reality, several questions (particularly on the “prior year grants” page) only appear if you are a past grantee.)
Other Grant Opportunities
Community Action Coalition of Virginia Fund: The Suffolk Foundation is now managing grants for the Community Action Coalition of Virginia (CACOV). If your organization applies for a Community Impact Grant, your application will automatically be reviewed by both the Suffolk Foundation board for a Community Impact Grant, as well as by the CACOV committee for a CACOV grant. You only have to apply once.
However, if your organization does not meet the eligibility criteria for a Community Impact Grant, your organization may still be eligible for a grant from CACOV, especially if your organization is a past CACOV grantee. In this case, you may be invited to complete our new “EZ” Application, which is a little bit shorter than the full-blown Community Impact Grant application. The EZ Application is also due on October 15. To start an application, call our staff at 757-923-9090. (Click here for a preview of the EZ Grant Application. (This is a sample for preview purposes only. The actual application is an online form; please contact our staff for the link. Please note that this preview includes all possible questions in the application, when in reality, several questions (particularly on the “prior year grants” page) only appear if you are a past grantee.)
Coach Ron Killmon PRLPT Fund: The Suffolk Foundation has a new grants program through the Coach Ron Killmon PRLPT Fund, supporting nonprofit organizations and projects that serve disadvantaged children and youth, and that emphasize values such as character, work ethic, and discipline. Grants from the Killmon Fund are available to organizations serving Suffolk, Western Tidewater, Norfolk, and Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Accomack and Northampton Counties). There is not a separate application, process, or timeline for Killmon Grants; simply apply using our Community Impact Grant Application Form, following the timeline above. The Killmon Fund has $1,666 to award in 2025. Organizations and projects that meet the criteria for the Suffolk Foundation’s other grants may also be eligible for matching funds.
Women’s Impact Fund: The Women’s Impact Fund of the Suffolk Foundation awards annual grants to positively impact at-risk women and children in Suffolk and Western Tidewater. The Women’s Impact Fund has a separate grant application, timeline, process, and criteria. In 2025, the Women’s Impact Fund application will open on June 1, with an application deadline of August 1 at 5:00 pm. Click here for more information about Women’s Impact Fund Grants.
Emergency Needs: If your nonprofit has an urgent need that cannot wait for our regular grants timeline (i.e., funding in December), please contact us.
Community Impact Grantees
2024 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $350,000 in Grants Suffolk, VA, December 10, 2024 — The Suffolk Foundation is honored to announce the recipients of its 2024 Community Impact Grants Program, as well as the recipients of grants from the Community Action Coalition of Virginia...
2023 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $148,750 Suffolk, Virginia, December 20, 2023: The Suffolk Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 Community Impact Grants Program. The Foundation is awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations that are making a...
2022 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $149,350 In 2022 the Suffolk Foundation was honored to award $149,350 in Community Impact Grants to 32 nonprofit organizations serving Suffolk and Western Tidewater. This is thanks to hundreds of local donors who contribute to the Suffolk...
2021 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $160,600 December 08, 2021 For more information, contact:757-923-9090 office@suffolkfoundation.org For Release on December 08, 2021 On December 7, 2021, the Suffolk Foundation made its Annual Grant Distributions at Cedar Point Country...
2020 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $144,650 December 04, 2020 If you would like more information contact:757 923 9090 office office@suffolkfoundation.org For Release on December 05, 2020 On December 2, 2020, the Suffolk Foundation made its Annual Grant Distributions at Decoy’s...
2019 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $137,000 December 04, 2019 If you would like more information contact:757 923 9090 office office@suffolkfoundation.org For Release on December 05, 2019 On December 4, 2019, the Suffolk Foundation made its Annual Grant Distributions at the...
2018 Grant Awardees
Foundation Awards Grants View the original article here. December 7, 2018 For more information, contact office@suffolkfoundation.org By Kellie Adamson, The Suffolk News-Herald The Suffolk Foundation awarded a total of $141,300 to 32 nonprofit organizations during its...
2017 Grant Awardees
Press Release From the Suffolk Foundation December 7, 2017 If you would like more information contact: 757 923 9090 office office@suffolkfoundation.org For Release on December 7, 2017 Suffolk Foundation Awards $136,500 On December 6 2017, the Suffolk Foundation made...
2016 Grant Awardees
Press Release From the Suffolk Foundation December 12, 2016 If you would like more information contact: 757 923 9090 office@suffolkfoundation.org For Release on December 13, 2016 Suffolk Foundation Awards $128,875 On December 13 2016, the Suffolk Foundation made its...
2015 Grant Awardees
Press Release From the Suffolk Foundation December 9, 2015 If you would like more information contact: 757 923 9090 office office@suffolkfoundation.org For Immediate Release Suffolk Foundation Awards $116,500 On December 9 2015, the Suffolk Foundation made its Annual...
2014 Grant Awardees
Press Release From the Suffolk Foundation If you would like more information contact: 757 923 9090 office office@suffolkfoundation.org For Immediate Release Suffolk Foundation Awards $129,955 In December 2014, the Suffolk Foundation made its Annual Grant Distributions...
2013 Grant Awardees
SUFFOLK FOUNDATION AWARDS ITS LARGEST SINGLE GRANT OF $50,000 TO THE SALVATION ARMY $105,000 WAS AWARDED TO 25 NONPROFIT AGENCIES IN DECEMBER 2013 DURING THEIR ANNUAL GRANT CYCLE The Suffolk Foundation granted its largest, single gift of $50,000 to the Salvation Army...
2012 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $85,000 In December 2012, the Suffolk Foundation made its Annual Grant Distributions at the Foundation office. This year the Foundation was able to disburse $85,000 to twenty-four (24) different nonprofit agencies. Since the Foundation...
2011 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $75,000 Press Release: December 15, 2011 from the Suffolk Foundation. If you need further information please contact Mr. William Hill, Executive Director – Office 923-9090, Home 539-8520, Cell 469-1860 The Suffolk Foundation made its Annual...
2010 Grant Awardees
Suffolk Foundation Awards $70,000 By Heather McGinley Staff Writer, The Suffolk News-Herald Sometimes, everyone needs a helping hand. The Suffolk Foundation offers just that to deserving and qualified organizations, which received grant awards from the foundation in a...
2009 Grant Awardees
SUFFOLK FOUNDATION AWARDS $43,800 TO ELEVEN NON-PROFITS "In the face of the grinding recession that has frustrated non-profits around the country, the Foundation made good its commitment to enhance the quality of life for the people living in and around Suffolk."...
To discuss your proposal or learn more about our grants program, contact us:
757-923-9090 or office@suffolkfoundation.org.