Grants from discretionary funds are limited to organizations within a 50 mile radius of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia. The project being funded must be available to Portsmouth residents. The Portsmouth Community Foundation is interested in funding from its available discretionary funds charitable organizations that can demonstrate projects planned with respect to the community's overall needs. Grants from component funds may not be used to sponsor an event.
Grant applicants should keep in mind that priority is given to projects that:
• Reach a broad section of the community.
• Provide seed money for innovative programs.
• Encourage matching gifts or added funding from other sources.
• Yield substantial benefits for the costs involved.
• Promote cooperation among agencies.
• Meet demonstrable local capital needs.
• Address current pressing problems, the solution to which would, in the opinion of the Foundation's Distribution Committee, be most beneficial to this area.
The Portsmouth Community Foundation will not approve grants from discretionary funds under normal circumstances for:
• Organizations not tax-exempt under the IRS Code.
• Individuals.
• Deficit financing.
• Projects normally the responsibility of a government agency.
• Any organization that has received a discretionary grant from The Foundation within the preceding year.
Normally, grants are awarded for a single year. Second and third year funding may be awarded at a reduced rate but requires separate proposals. Second and third year funding relies heavily on first year performance and securing additional funding from other sources.
Do not call the Foundation office to inquire about board action on a grant proposal prior to receiving notification about the Board's action on your proposal.
Click here for information about our grants
Click here for a list of recently approved grants
