Previous Grants Focus and Grantees
Since 1998, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation has awarded $13,446,745 to more than 90 nonprofits serving Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, York County, and Gloucester County; as well as to Mary Immaculate Hospital and the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters to continue their ministries.
The determination of a focus for a given year’s grantmaking is first made by the Foundation’s Grantmaking Committee and then voted on by the full Board of Directors. Below, you will find each year’s focus, and to the right, you can view all the nonprofits awarded grants in that year. (For our current year funding, click here.)
2022-2023
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation awarded a total of $525,000 in grants to 35 nonprofits on the Peninsula to fund what each identified as an existing or new need/project/program. The Foundation also awarded $34,500 to Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital and $189,750 to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, for the continuation of their ministries. In addition to these grants, the Foundation made available $30,000 for Ongoing Education and Set-Aside Funds to cover unbudgeted emergencies.
2021-2022
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation awarded a total of $550,000 in grants to 16 nonprofits on the Peninsula to advance their missions and move their organizations to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity. The Foundation also awarded $33,000 grant to Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital and $181,500 grant to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, for the continuation of their ministries. In addition to these grants, the Foundation made available $20,000 in Set-Aside Funds to assist nonprofits with funding to help with emergency and/or unbudgeted needs; as well as $30,000 to support Ongoing Education needs of local nonprofits.
2020-2021
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation awarded a total of $100,000 in unrestricted grants to 20 United Way partner agencies whose funding was decreased. In addition, the Foundation awarded $100,000 to the Center for Child & Family Services to fund the Beacon Program—providing mental health counseling to clients and/or employees of nonprofits serving the Peninsula. The Foundation also awarded $100,000 to Smart Beginnings Virginia Peninsula to improve school readiness for each child in every community on the Peninsula. Lastly, the Foundation awarded $20,000 in Set-Aside Funds, $30,000 in Ongoing Education Funds, $27,000 to Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital, and $148,500 to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters for the continuation of their ministries.
2019-2020
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation awarded $163,090 in the third year of multi-year funding to nine nonprofit organizations. The Foundation also awarded a total of $120,000 in unrestricted grants to 12 organizations, and provided $30,000 in Ongoing Education Funds and $20,000 in Set-Aside Funds. In addition, the Foundation awarded $75,000 to collaborate with United Way in the areas of transportation and housing—two of the ten community aspirations identified by United Way to achieve its goals for “Pathways Out of Poverty” initiative. Lastly, the Foundation $25,500 to Mary Immaculate Hospital and $140,250 to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters to continue their ministries.
2018-2019
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation awarded $203,090 to the 2017-18 grantees, as committed by the Board in 2017. In addition, the Foundation provided $30,000 for Ongoing Education Funds, and $50,000 in Set-Aside funds for unbudgeted emergencies from nonprofits. Lastly, the Foundation awarded $27,000 Mary Immaculate Hospital and $148,500 to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters to further their ministries. The Foundation also awarded another $25,000 in unrestricted funds to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters as they celebrate 125 years of service in the fields of education, healthcare and human services.
2017-2018
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation identified abuse, neglect, and domestic violence as the focus for the year’s grantmaking cycle. Nonprofit organizations, whose primary focus is addressing the issues of abuse or neglect or domestic violence, were invited to apply for Core Operating Support funding or funding for an Existing Program or a New Program. Other organizations were also invited to apply for funding for an Existing Program or a New Program, as long as it addressed the focus. The Foundation awarded a total of $328,180 for two Core Operating Support Grants, three Existing Program Grants, and five New Program Grants. In addition, $25,500 was awarded to Mary Immaculate Hospital and $140,250 was awarded to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters to further their ministries.
2016-2017
Unlike previous years, the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation’s grantmaking was not an open grant application process. The Foundation awarded a total of $175,000 to seven nonprofit organizations for core operating support, as well as $100,000 to the Center for Child & Family Services. The Foundation also designated $25,000 for Ongoing Education and $100,000 was held to assist with funding local needs/endeavors. In addition, $24,000 was awarded to Mary Immaculate Hospital and $132,000 was awarded to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters for the continuation of their ministries.
2014-2015
The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation identified as its theme “Liberating the Peninsula Community.” As part of this theme, the Foundation awarded funds to organizations providing transformational services, especially for high barrier populations which are least served, least desirable to serve, and the most vulnerable. As a result, $125,000 was awarded to the Center for Child & Family Services to support programs the Foundation funded at start up in 2013-14. The Foundation also awarded a total of $80,000 to four nonprofits for Core Operating Support. These grants were prioritized for organizations providing housing to high barrier populations. The Foundation also awarded $100,000 to two nonprofits working in partnership to Liberate the Peninsula Community, and enabled them to make a significant impact in addressing a need or working toward a solution to a complex/serious problem. In addition, the Foundation provided $5,000 in Discretionary Grants, $10,000 for emerging needs, and $10,000 for ongoing education for nonprofit staff.