The mission of the Suffolk Foundation is to benefit the people of Suffolk and Western Tidewater by facilitating and developing philanthropy, and by awarding grants and scholarships to meet community needs.
Focus Areas
HealthEducationArts, culture and humanitiesHuman needs and servicesEnvironmental and animal welfareYouth programsSenior programsWomen and children (Women’s Impact Fund)
Who They Fund
residents of Suffolk and Western Tidewater (geographic focus)students / scholarship recipientslocal nonprofits and community-based organizations
Funding Style
About Suffolk Foundation
Suffolk Foundation’s scholarship work is a defining part of its grantmaking: it administers multiple scholarship programs for students pursuing college or trade school, with annual scholarship distribution of more than $100,000 and awards ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Beyond education, the foundation supports local nonprofits serving Suffolk and Western Tidewater through community impact, women’s and children’s grants, and responsive funds tied to human needs, arts, health, and environmental stewardship.
In the recent grants list, that local approach shows up in awards to Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Foundation and Suffolk Education Foundation, two organizations embedded in the community it serves. The foundation also backs direct-service organizations such as Western Tidewater Free Clinic and Salvation Army, alongside grants for youth and family support through organizations including Forkids and Roc Solid Foundation. The mission statement emphasizes philanthropy, grants, and scholarships to meet community needs in Suffolk and Western Tidewater, and the active programs reflect that through both competitive grantmaking and administered scholarship funds.
Its giving pattern suggests a community foundation that combines donor-advised administration with named programs and local responsive support. The latest 990 year on file is 2025, and its annual grants given total $2,151,420.
What Suffolk Foundation Funds
Education is one of Suffolk Foundation’s clearest funding areas. Through its scholarship programs, it supports graduating high school seniors and continuing students, including those headed to college or trade school. Awards use a common application for most scholarships, and the program covers a range of donor-specific criteria and fields of study.
Community health and basic needs also appear in the recent grants list. The foundation gave $48,700 to Western Tidewater Free Clinic and $48,000 to Salvation Army, showing support for health access and emergency assistance.
Arts and culture are another visible priority. Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Foundation received $64,705 in 2025, and Rawls Museum Arts Inc received $21,017 in 2025. Environmental stewardship appears as well, with a $26,500 grant to Nansemond River Preservation Alliance for local conservation work.
How Suffolk Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.1M
Total Assets
$22.2M
Total Revenue
$6M
Total Expenses
$2.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $24K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$24K
Geographic Reach
Local4 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
O KERMIT HOBBS JR
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Deep Analysis
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regional community grantmakingscholarship provisionfacilitation of local philanthropyresponsive/local needs funding
Topics
education access and scholarshipscommunity health serviceshuman services / basic needsarts and cultural programmingenvironmental conservation and stewardshipdisaster relief and recovery
Typical awards cluster around a modest community-grant size: the 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $10,500, and the 75th percentile is $23,700. The grant list also shows a mix of one-time and recurring support, with several organizations appearing in multiple years, including Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Foundation, Roc Solid Foundation, Townebank Foundation, and Nansemond River Preservation Alliance. Suffolk Foundation operates as a regular funder and also administers scholarship programs, including a common application for many awards. Scholarship grants are accepted through that shared process.
Where Suffolk Foundation Makes Grants
Giving is highly local. Ninety-three percent of grants go to recipients in Virginia, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Suffolk appears repeatedly in the grant list, along with Franklin, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Courtland, and surrounding Western Tidewater localities. Named grants also reach nearby communities such as Raleigh, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, but the center of gravity remains Suffolk and adjacent Virginia cities and counties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Suffolk Foundation
What types of programs does Suffolk Foundation support?
The foundation supports education and scholarships, community health, human services, arts and culture, environmental and animal welfare, youth programs, senior programs, and women and children’s initiatives. Its active programs also include Community Impact Grants, the Women’s Impact Fund, scholarships, and managed grants through the Community Action Coalition of Virginia fund.
How does Suffolk Foundation handle scholarships?
It administers multiple scholarship programs for students pursuing college or trade school. Most scholarships use a common application, and the awards range from $1,000 to $10,000. The scholarship program includes both graduating high school seniors and continuing students.
How large are Suffolk Foundation’s typical grants?
Typical grant sizes cluster around $8,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,500 at the median, and $23,700 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes a separate $25,000 Bradshaw Benevolence Grant and larger program-related awards tied to named funds.
Where does Suffolk Foundation give most often?
Its giving is concentrated in Virginia: 93% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Virginia is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Suffolk, Franklin, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Courtland.
Does Suffolk Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. The Community Action Coalition of Virginia-managed Community Impact process accepts unsolicited applications, and the Scholarships, Women’s Impact Fund Grants, Community Impact Grants, and Bradshaw Benevolence Grant are also marked as accepting unsolicited applications.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Suffolk Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: $750 – $50K
Community Impact Grants
Human needsHealthEducation+6 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities. The proposed project or program must be located in and serve residents of Suffolk and/or Western Tidewater, including Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, Isle of Wight County, and municipalities therein. Individuals, government agencies, non-tax-exempt organizations, national or international purposes, debt reduction, research, event sponsorships, annual fund drives, religious programming, and projects outside the service area are generally ineligible.
Deadline: Applications open September 1 annually and are due October 15, generally by 3:00 pm or as specified by the current application instructions. Awards are announced in mid to late December for the following calendar year.
Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $2K
Coach Ron Killmon PRLPT Fund Grants
Disadvantaged childrenYouthCharacter development+2 more
Who can apply: Organizations and projects must serve disadvantaged children and youth in Suffolk, Western Tidewater, Norfolk, or Virginia's Eastern Shore, specifically Accomack and Northampton Counties. Applicants meeting the criteria for the Foundation's other grants may also be eligible for matching funds.
Deadline: Uses the Community Impact Grants timeline: applications open September 1 annually and are due October 15.
Open nowLOI due Nov 19, 2026Closes Nov 19, 2026Award: Up to $25K
Bradshaw Benevolence Grant
Poverty reliefFoodClothing+3 more
Who can apply: Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Suffolk, Franklin, Southampton County, or Isle of Wight County that provide food, clothing, shelter, and/or medical care to local people and families facing poverty, hardship, or other struggles. Projects should be new or expanded initiatives, although any qualifying nonprofit providing the specified services may apply.
Open nowRolling / open intake
Emergency Needs Funding
Emergency needsUrgent nonprofit assistance
Who can apply: Nonprofits with an urgent need that cannot wait for the regular grants timeline may contact the Suffolk Foundation.
Deadline: No fixed deadline; urgent requests should be made when the need arises.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Deadline: Letter of inquiry due by 5:00 pm on November 19, 2026. Finalists may be contacted in December or January; interviews are scheduled for January 22, 2027, and the grant will be awarded February 2, 2027.
