History

How It All Began

ESVCF traces its genesis to an October 2004 financial challenge issued to Eastern Shore citizens by The Norfolk Foundation, which had become acquainted with the needs of area nonprofits through years of making grants to nonprofit organizations on the Eastern Shore. Per the terms of the challenge, The Norfolk Foundation would dedicate $2 million of capital for a new community foundation on the Eastern Shore IF the local community could raise an additional $4 million within four years.

Energized by the challenge, Eastern Shore citizens organized and exceeded the financial goal in just three years.

The fledgling Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation worked with a consultant to craft the terms of an affiliation agreement with The Norfolk Foundation, an updated version of which remains in effect to this day. Note: the Norfolk Foundation merged with the Virginia Beach Foundation in January 2010 and is now the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.

Launch

Concurrently with this activity, The Norfolk Foundation conducted an Eastern Shore community assessment, which confirmed wide-ranging needs relating to healthcare, education, and poverty. After months of work by a dedicated organizing committee, ESVCF was launched in October 2004 as a limited liability company (LLC) captive to The Norfolk Foundation. In September 2006 ESVCF was granted 501 (c)(3) status, which significantly improved ESVCF’s flexibility to accommodate donors.

As conceived, the foundation would make grants from foundation assets to nonprofit organizations serving Eastern Shore residents. The newly established community foundation would also provide a flexible way for a variety of donors to build endowments to support the causes they care most about and improve the quality of life in Accomack and Northampton counties. These activities would be undertaken on a perpetual basis.

In the early years ESVCF served as advisor to The Norfolk Foundation on grant requests received from Eastern Shore applicants. In 2009 ESVCF initiated its own grantmaking program.