How to Apply for a Grant

Nonprofit grant requests are reviewed twice a year, in April and October.

Deadlines

For April review, steps 1 and 2 must be completed and submitted by March 1. For October review, Steps 1 and 2 must be completed and submitted by September 1.

How to Increase Your Chances for Funding

  • Demonstrate that your project is a strong fit with your organization’s mission and is aligned with a board-adopted strategic plan. Please include any strategic plan summary documents.

  • Demonstrate your nonprofit’s organizational and programmatic expertise and experience necessary to accomplish the project and include resumes of key staff.

  • Have a track record of providing effective programs to your target population – please list past successes in carrying out your mission.

  • Have a history of strong financial management.

  • Have a structured business plan for ongoing financial and community support to ensure the continuation of the program.

  • Bring new strategies to bear on the need, particularly in the area of re-orienting traditional service approaches to more fully engage clients in the program, as appropriate.

  • Have a program that is proven effective through a research methodology within the target population, as appropriate.

  • Do not duplicate approaches or services already in place on Virginia’s Eastern Shore

  • Include clearly stated goals, timeline, logic model and measurable knowledge, skill and/or behavioral outcomes that agree with your project budget.

  • Be able to measure the program’s effectiveness in achieving its stated objective.

  • Include a viable and effective component to measure interim and long-term program outcomes. (These outcomes should be tied to identified indicators within the field of service and others noted as of particular interest to us.)

  • Seek to creatively collaborate and cooperate with other organizations or agencies.

Step One

Organizations seeking a general discretionary grant from the Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation must first submit the following:

  1. Submit your organization’s information and include a concept proposal of no more than 1,000 words describing the organization's mission and the proposed project for which it is applying for a grant.

Concept proposals may be submitted at any time.  Foundation staff and/or the Grant Review Committee will review Step 1 material to determine whether the project meets current grant making priorities and guidelines.  The contact person listed on the Concept Proposal sheet will be notified regarding whether the proposal has been selected for further consideration.  Applicants should NOT complete or submit Step 2 until notified the Concept Proposal has been approved and selected for further consideration.  However, Step 1 and 2 both must be completed and filed prior to a final review.  Final deadline for the April review is March 1 and for the October review, the deadline is September 1.

THE CONCEPT PROPOSAL MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL USING THE FORM BELOW.  No mail request will be accepted.

Step Two

If the proposal has been selected for further consideration, a staff member has contacted the organization to proceed, the following information will then be required:

  • Mission and history of the organization (two pages maximum)

  • Project description

  • Project budget

  • Estimates from contractor or vendor

  • Sources of other funds for project

  • Organization funds available for project

  • Project schedule

  • Copy of IRS determination letter

  • Financials to include:  current balance sheet, last fiscal year profit and loss statement, and current year to date profit and loss statement.

  • List of board members, including mailing address and email address for each

  • Most recent IRS form 990

ALL ABOVE INFORMATION MUST BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL.  Mailed information is not accepted.

Step Three

The Foundation Grant Review Committee will conduct site visits, if appropriate, and perform its investigation of the application. The committee recommendation will be submitted to the Board of Directors for final consideration. Applicants will be notified immediately of action taken by the Board of Directors.

Questions

Any questions pertaining to the grant application process should be directed to the Foundation Executive Director at (757) 789-0910 or esvcf2016@gmail.com.