Norfolk Southern Grant

The Norfolk Southern Grant aims to support nonprofits in the Hampton Roads community, distributing $1 million each year for five years. It focuses on critical areas such as education, community enrichment, and sustainability, encouraging organizations to address issues like food insecurity, homelessness, and workforce development. Eligible nonprofits must be 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing, operational since at least January 1, 2023, and serving the South Hampton Roads area. This grant fosters impactful community initiatives.

Norfolk Southern has been a long-standing supporter of the Hampton Roads nonprofit community. While it has transitioned its corporate headquarters to Atlanta, the company is committed to the Hampton Roads community and engaging with nonprofit organizations in the region. Norfolk Southern and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation will be distributing $1 million each year over five years through the Norfolk Southern Hampton Roads Community Fund to nonprofits working to make life better in the region. We are pleased to announce the guidelines for the fourth year of the program.
Grantmaking Priorities
Grant applications should explain how your organization addresses one or more of the following priority impact areas:

• Education and Workforce Development:Preventing middle- and high-school students from dropping out of school

Engaging youth in successfully transitioning from high school into collegiate education or career-based certificate programsCreating pathways to employment for adults with barriers to self-sufficiencyEnriching the Community:Providing support for organizations addressing food insecurity
Preventing and ending homelessness and housing instability
Enriching the human experience through arts and cultureImproving public health and safetySustainability:Restoring and protecting the region’s land, forests, and natural waterwaysImproving the region’s ability to adapt to the impacts of sea-level rise
Funding
In most cases, grants will be awarded for general support of your organization and can be used as the organization sees fit.
Applicants will not be asked on the application to request a specific grant amount. Award amounts will vary based on the applicant’s budget size and the number of grant requests received. To provide guidance for applicants, grant awards are anticipated to be in the following ranges:
Organization Budget Size:  Under $1,000,000 then this is the Grant Award Range: $5,000 - $25,000Organization Budget Size:  $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 then this is the Grant Award Range: $10,000 - $50,000Organization Budget Size:  Over $5,000,000 then this is the Grant Award Range: $15,000 - $100,000
The Community Foundation reserves the right to award larger or smaller grants if warranted.

Eligibility

All nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, with some limitations (see below) may apply that are:Serving residents in South Hampton Roads, which includes Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight County, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach.In good standing with the Internal Revenue Service and have been operational since at least January 1, 2023.Be governed by a board with membership of at least four individuals not including the CEO or Executive Director.Can provide financial statements and an operating budget, with a preference for audited financial statements or a recent IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.Organizations that have another HRCF grant may apply for this opportunity. Organizations that applied for a Norfolk Southern grant in previous years through this program are eligible to reapply whether or not your organization was selected for an award in previous years.

Ineligibility

Grants are not available for the following:Organizations without public charity tax-exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue CodeIndividuals Fundraising events (such as tickets, raffles, auctions or tournaments), annual fundraising appeals or agency celebrationsHouses of worship Religious activities (organizations and activities that require religious participation by those receiving services or that are providing religious education)Political organizations