Community Organization Grant

The Community Organization Grant (COG) program is an initiative administered by the City of Virginia Beach, designed to provide financial support to qualified nonprofit organizations that deliver direct services to the city’s residents. The program operates under the oversight of the City Council-appointed COG Review and Allocation Committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing submitted applications, evaluating their merits, and determining the appropriate allocation of available funds across eligible organizations. The overarching goal of the program is to support community-based efforts that directly benefit the residents of Virginia Beach through measurable and impactful services. To qualify for funding under the COG program, applicants must be nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations that operate independently from the City of Virginia Beach. Eligible applicants must also comply with legal requirements set by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the IRS, and local city regulations. The organization must provide significant, measurable services directly to Virginia Beach residents and must be able to quantify its impact through unduplicated service counts. Faith-based and sectarian organizations are permitted to apply, provided the funds are used strictly for secular services delivered without regard to the religious affiliation of recipients. There are several disqualifying criteria for potential applicants. Organizations that receive funding through other City of Virginia Beach resources, including the Arts and Humanities Commission, are ineligible to apply for COG grants. Similarly, any entity that employs permanent City personnel or involves City officials in the application or reporting process is barred from participation. Additionally, applicants must be current on all reporting, auditing, and financial obligations from any previous city-administered grants or loans. Grant recipients are required to submit both financial and service delivery reports as part of their accountability obligations. These reports are reviewed by the committee to ensure compliance and appropriate use of funds. COG funds must be used exclusively within Virginia Beach and cannot support national organizations or be used for pass-through funding to other nonprofits. Additionally, recipients must comply with all local, state, and federal regulations concerning nondiscrimination, and the use of COG funds must remain non-political and non-sectarian in nature. The application process includes a series of required documentation. Applicants must submit a copy of their IRS determination letter, most recent IRS filing (990 or equivalent), a completed W-9 form, and appropriate financial statements based on their annual revenue. Organizations with revenue over $750,000 must submit an audited statement; those with $400,000 to $749,999 must submit a reviewed statement; those between $100,000 and $400,000 must submit a compiled financial statement; and those under $100,000 must submit a signed balance sheet and profit and loss statement. Other required documents include bylaws, articles of incorporation, state registration, board roster, and bids for capital items over $1,000. Applications for the 2026 cycle will be accepted from July 1 to July 31, 2026. Two related meetings of the COG Review and Allocation Committee will be held on March 30 and 31, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Building 1, Room 3008. The program does not require a letter of intent or any other gating steps prior to submission. Grants are awarded annually and are non-recurring unless explicitly re-applied for in subsequent cycles. Contact for the program is Joseph Brown, Budget and Management Analyst, reachable at [email protected] or (757) 385-8230.