VB Home Now Grants

VB Home Now is a nonprofit foundation based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, that supports and enhances the local system of services, programs, and facilities dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. The organization mobilizes the community to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis, with a mission to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. For over thirty years, the Virginia Beach community has collaborated through nonprofit, faith-based, and city organizations to address homelessness, and VB Home Now continues that tradition by providing targeted resources and fostering strategic partnerships. The 2025 funding opportunity seeks innovative projects that strengthen the Virginia Beach homeless services system. Funding priorities include programs that provide prevention services such as financial assistance, rental subsidies, and case management for households vulnerable to homelessness. VB Home Now also emphasizes reducing the average time families and individuals experience homelessness, with a stated goal of cutting the current average of 160 days down to 90 days. Projects aimed at supporting individuals in maintaining stable housing, particularly through supportive services, affordable housing, workforce development, and partnerships with health care providers, are strongly encouraged. The foundation follows principles of Housing First, equity and inclusivity, innovation, and strategic collaboration. Applicants must also participate in the coordinated entry system and Homeless Management Information System if their project provides prevention or housing assistance. The geographic focus is limited to the City of Virginia Beach, and the foundation welcomes funding requests from organizations that serve residents in this area. Eligible uses of funding include building programmatic capacity, providing direct assistance to clients in need, and starting new programs that address recognized community needs. Funding will not be provided to organizations that have received VB Home Now funding for the past three consecutive years, those that have failed to submit all required documentation for prior awards, or generally for overhead expenses such as salaries, benefits, rent, and utilities. The performance period for funded projects will run from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2025, by email to Erin Walker, resource development coordinator, at ewalker@vbgov.com. Applicants may be invited to give a brief presentation in September 2025. Funding decisions will be made by the VB Home Now Board of Directors in October, with disbursement of funds expected on December 10, 2025. Applicants are required to complete a funding request application, which includes providing organization details, a proposal summary, and a two-page narrative covering project background, goals, objectives, and evaluation methods. The application also requires a budget narrative, a one-page sustainability plan explaining how the project will continue beyond 2026, and submission of required documents including proof of nonprofit status, board member list, and most recent IRS Form 990. Each proposal must include a signed endorsement letter from an authorized board member confirming the submission and agreement to comply with VB Home Now’s grant conditions. Grantees will be required to submit a six-month interim report by July 31, 2026, and a final report by January 31, 2027. Reports must include outcomes, activities, variances, and a human-interest story demonstrating impact. The foundation may publicize supported projects in its publications. Additionally, acceptance of the grant entitles VB Home Now to send a representative to one board meeting of the recipient organization to present the award and learn more about its work.