Hope & Healing Violence Mitigation Grants

In the wake of the November 22, 2022 mass shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake, United Way of South Hampton Roads launched the Hope & Healing Fund to foster hope and healing for the broader community impacted by this tragedy. Over $1.8 million in grants were awarded to 16 nonprofit organizations through the Hope & Healing Violence Mitigation Grants in 2023.

Geographic Scope: South Hampton Roads region, with requirement for 25% of funded program activities to serve City of Chesapeake residents

Focus Areas:

• Community violence reduction
• Innovative, targeted, and adaptable strategies to reduce violence
• Development, implementation, and assessment of violence mitigation programs

Fund Details:

• Initial $1 million gift from Wal-Mart Foundation
• Additional individual and corporate gifts brought total raised to over $1.2 million
• $900,000 awarded from Hope & Healing Fund
• United Way matched with additional $900,000 from their own funding

Award Ranges:

• Individual applications: $37,500 - $54,000
• Collaborative applications: $95,883 - $225,000

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status or have a fiscal sponsor
• Must agree to devote 25% of funded program activities to City of Chesapeake residents

Grant Recipient Requirements:

• All grant recipients required to continue participation in Hope & Healing Coalition
• Must share progress and challenges with coalition
• Participate in identifying best practices applicable to other communities

2023 Grant Recipients (16 organizations):

• Blakey Weaver Counseling Center, Inc.
• Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters
• CHIP of South Hampton Roads
• Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Healthy Chesapeake, Inc.
• HEB Foundation
• Ketchmore Kids
• League of Advocates
• Micro Nonprofit Network
• New Vision Youth Services, Inc.
• Quality of Life, Inc.
• Stop the Violence 757
• Sylver Strategies, Inc.
• Teens With a Purpose
• Virginia Hospital Research & Education Foundation
• Walk In It

Application Process

In February 2023, UWSHR launched a request for proposals for the Hope & Healing Violence Mitigation Grants. A total of 24 applications were received, reviewed and scored by volunteers.

Requirements:

• Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor
• Commitment to devote 25% of funded program activities to City of Chesapeake residents
• Proposal focused on developing, implementing, and assessing strategies that reduce community violence
• Programs/approaches must be innovative, targeted, and adaptable

Note: This appears to be a one-time grant program launched in response to specific tragedy. Current application status and whether new rounds are planned is unclear from provided materials.