Community Organization Grants
The Community Organization Grant (COG) program provides an opportunity for qualified nonprofit organizations that deliver services to Virginia Beach residents to receive funding from the City.
The City Council-appointed COG Review and Allocation Committee evaluates applications and determines how best to allocate funds among the organizations. Financial and service delivery reports are submitted by recipient organizations as a condition of grant awards.
Community Organization Grants
The Community Organization Grant (COG) program provides an opportunity for qualified nonprofit organizations that deliver services to Virginia Beach residents to receive funding from the City.
The City Council-appointed COG Review and Allocation Committee evaluates applications and determines how best to allocate funds among the organizations.
Financial and service delivery reports are submitted by recipient organizations as a condition of grant awards.
Applications will be accepted from Jan. 1-31, 2027.
Community Organization Grant Information
An applicant is eligible to apply for a Community Organization Grant (COG) from the City of Virginia Beach if it meets the following criteria:
- The applicant must be a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization meeting the legal requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the City of Virginia Beach. Furthermore, the applicant’s nonprofit status must be independent of the City of Virginia Beach. Neither the City of Virginia Beach departments nor programs administered by the City of Virginia Beach may apply for funding through COG.
- The applicant must provide significant, measurable direct services to residents of Virginia Beach. The organization must be able to provide an unduplicated count of the residents served.
- In accordance with Section 15.2-953 of the Code of Virginia, no organization shall be prohibited from applying for and receiving COG funds on account of its status as a church or sectarian society provided the COG funds are used to provide community services for secular purposes without regard for the religious affiliation of the recipients of such services. 4.5.
- The applicant may not receive grants from other City of Virginia Beach resources. For example, the applicant cannot be eligible to apply for a grant while receiving a grant through the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, or consecutive rounds of COG funding.
- Contractual services that a grant applicant provides to the City must be disclosed in grant applications. Payments for such services do not automatically exclude an applicant from grant eligibility. However, grant funds will not be provided to support the same services or costs that are provided under contract to the City.
- The applicant may not have any permanent City of Virginia Beach employees nor any City officials involved in the COG grant application, interview, or reporting process.
- The applicant must have fulfilled all service, reporting, auditing, and payment obligations for any previous loans or grants from the City.
- Programs, activities, employment opportunities, and any other operations of the applicant that may be fully or partially funded by the City of Virginia Beach must comply with local, state, and national legal requirements related to nondiscrimination. Programs, activities, or other operations of the applicant that may be fully or partially funded by the City of Virginia Beach must not advocate or advance a particular political or religious viewpoint.
- The applicant may not use COG funding as a means to provide grant or pass-through funding for other nonprofit organizations.
- All funds awarded through COG are to remain local (Virginia Beach) and are not to be used to fund national organizations (i.e., dues, etc.).
- If awarded a grant, the City shall have the right to audit all books and records relating or pertaining to the agreement, kept by or under the control of Contractor, including, but not limited to, those kept by Contractor, its employees, agents, assigns, successors, and subcontractors. Contractor shall maintain such books and records, together with such supporting or underlying documents and materials, for the duration of the Agreement and for at least three years following the completion of the Agreement, including any and all renewals thereof.
Attachments to the application must include:
- The IRS determination letter verifying the applicant’s nonprofit, 501(c)(3) status, or proof of application for that status.
- The most recent IRS filing (Form 990 or 990EZ), if required to file. Generally, tax-exempt organizations must file an annual information return. Most small tax-exempt organizations whose annual gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less can satisfy their annual reporting requirement by electronically submitting Form 990-N if they choose not to file Form 990 or Form 990-EZ. Churches, some church-affiliated organizations, and certain other types of organizations are excepted from filing. Information about who is exempt from filing can be found here: Charities and Nonprofits | Internal Revenue Service.
- The request for taxpayer ID Number & Certification-Substitute Form W-9.
- An Audited Financial Statement by an independent Certified Public Accountant completed within the last 18 months, if the organization has over $750,000 in revenue. A Reviewed Financial Statement by an independent Certified Public Accountant completed within the last 18 months, if the organization has between $400,000 and $749,999 in revenue. A Compiled Financial Statement prepared by an internal or external accountant, completed within the last 18 months, if an organization has between $400,000 and $100,000 in revenue. A Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statement signed by the preparer with their title if an organization has below $100,000 in revenue.
- The applicant’s current bylaws.
- The applicant’s charter (Articles of Incorporation).
- The applicant’s registration with the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Agriculture, Division of Consumer Affairs.
- Three bids for each capital item costing more than $1,000.
- The applicant’s board of directors listing.
Applications will be disqualified if the above-mentioned required attachments are not provided.
Community Organization Grant Review and Allocation Committee
Reviews grant applications from community organizations, interviews applicants and awards monetary grants to qualified nonprofit organizations to encourage those organizations to provide services that affect the quality of life for the City's residents.
Committee Information
The Committee's meeting schedule, agendas, minutes and other meeting documents, including subcommittee details, are available in the OnBoard archive.