Community Grants for Cultural Vitality

The Community Grants for Cultural Vitality initiative by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation aims to enhance the educational, social, and emotional well-being of youth through arts and culture programs. These grants support hands-on creative experiences for children, fostering skills in various art forms. By increasing participation from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the program seeks to improve academic performance and self-worth among youth, while reducing absenteeism and risky behaviors. This initiative is essential for nurturing resilient and engaged community members.

Why It matters:

• We believe the educational, social and emotional well-being of youth can be positively influenced through arts and culture programs.

Studies show that high-quality arts programs support youth development in engagement, productivity and navigational skills which, in turn, lead to life-long qualities of resilience, self-worth, individual contentment and community engagement.
Community Grants for Cultural Vitality support programs offering hands-on arts and cultural experiences for area children.
Programs should be available to all area youth regardless of ability to pay. They should strive to increase participation of youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Grant applicants should offer meaningful arts and cultural experiences that engage area youth in hands-on activities such as:

• Gaining skills in visual, musical or creative expression through the written word or performing artsParticipation in visual or performing arts
• Grant proposals for program funding should address one or more of these outcomes:

Children and youth demonstrate improved academic performance.Children and youth decrease occurrence of absenteeism.Children and youth display increased self-worth.Children and youth decrease engagement in risky and problem behaviors.

Eligibility

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation welcomes grant applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving residents of South Hampton Roads, including those in:ChesapeakeEastern Shore of Virginia (Accomack and Northampton counties)Grants to Eastern Shore nonprofits are awarded in partnership with our affiliated Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Foundation.FranklinIsle of Wight CountyNorfolkPortsmouthSuffolkVirginia BeachIf you received a Community Grant for seed and program projects, you can apply for a Community Grant for Vibrant Places (nonprofit facilities improvement). Similarly, if you received a Vibrant Places grant, you can apply for seed and program support. You can apply annually for a Special Interest Grant, which will not affect your eligibility for a Community Grant.

Ineligibility

If your organization has received a Hampton Roads Community Foundation grant in the past three years, we ask that you not apply for funding for the same type of grant. Grants are generally NOT available for:Organizations without tax-exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue CodeIndividualsFundraising events (such as tickets, raffles, auctions or tournaments), annual fundraising appeals or agency celebrationsOngoing operating supportCapital projects and facilities and equipment upgrades that can be considered routine maintenance or replacementsHouses of worship unless applying for the Nightingale Fund for Faith Community Nursing or the E.K. Sloane Fund for pianosReligious activities (organizations and activities that require religious participation by those receiving services)Political or fraternal organizationsEndowment buildingExisting obligations, debts or liabilities or costs that an agency has already incurredScholarly researchScholarships, camper fees, fellowships or travelPassenger vans for transporting youthNational or international organizations or purposesHospitals and similar health-care facilities unless applying for a Special Interest GrantProjects or services normally considered the responsibility of governmentPrivate primary or secondary schools, daycare facilities or academies other than those whose primary purpose is for students with special needsCapital campaign requests exceeding 5% of a campaign valued at $1 million or more