HR Community Foundation Launches Grants Fund For Black Non-Profits

HAMPTON ROADS

A major $1 million award to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation is earmarked to provide at least 20 grants to Black non-profits in the region. The Foundation is now accepting applications with a deadline of March 1, 2021.
Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit organizations in the region are eligible to apply for a grant through HRCF’s new Black Community Partnership Fund. Get the application at BlackCommunityPartnershipFund.org.
The fund was set up to advance racial equity and grants will be awarded to local organizations that are led by and whose clients and participants are a majority of Black people.
Grants are for those organizations that want to enhance their efforts, and they are primarily for operational funding.
The fund is from Facebook, which awarded the Foundation $1 million as a part of the social media company’s commitment to support Black communities.
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation was one of only 20 community foundations to receive the funding, allowing it to award at least 20 grants, starting this year. The award is part of Facebook’s commitment to support Black businesses and nonprofits.
In making the award, Marcy Scott Lynn, Facebook director of global impact partnerships, said, “We’re excited to work with the Hampton Roads Community Foundation to help bring much needed funding to nonprofits that are serving and supporting the Black community in Hampton Roads.
“We’re providing funding directly to the community foundation to build on its track record of supporting Black-led nonprofits and ensure that people locally are making the decisions about where these dollars are most needed and can have the most impact.”
HRCF President and CEO Deborah DiCroce said about the award, “We are elated that Facebook recognizes the Hampton Roads Community Foundation’s commitment to racial equity and chose to partner with us to support Black-led nonprofits.
“Too often, racial bias and inequities limit opportunities for Black people. Thus, the Black Community Partnership Fund will help challenge and dismantle structural racism in our community.”
In 2019, the HRCF affirmed its commitment to racial equity and has taken steps to mitigate the impact of racism and explore the history of race in the region, including hosting community-based forums, creating an annual Black philanthropy month celebration, conducting an
internal equity assessment of the foundation’s practices, and participating in numerous training sessions on racial equity.
Vivian Oden, the Vice President for Special Projects who manages the community foundation’s racial equity work, said the funding will address systemic racism by providing support directly to organizations led by Black people and that serve people in the Black community.
“The community foundation trusts Black-led nonprofits to know how to address critical needs in their communities,” Oden said. “The Black Community Partnership Fund will leverage the strength of Black leaders and organizations to make a lasting impact in the Black community.”
Specific details and applications are available now at
BlackCommunityPartnershipFund.org. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2021.
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is southeastern Virginia’s largest grant and scholarship provider. Since 1950 it has awarded more than $301 million in grants and scholarships to make life better in Hampton Roads.