The Norfolk Foundation announced recently the new Batten Endowment Challenege- a program designed to create a lasting source of funding for nonprofit organizations working to improve the educational attainment of children and youth in South Hampton Roads.

Horizons Hampton Roads and Young Audiences of Virginia are the first Batten Endowment Challenge recipients. Each organization will receive $1 million from the Batten Educational Achievement Fund to establish permanent endowment funds for the organizations at The Norfolk Foundation. In addition, each nonprofit is challenged to raise up to $500,000 in additional donations over the next five years. These funds are to be placed in organizational endowments at the Foundation and will be matched dollar for dollar by grants from the Batten Challenge Educational Achievement Fund.

To help the organizations increase their development capabilities, the Foundation will award them Building Excellence Development Capacity Building grants that will provide technical assistance. The Foundation plans to select two additional Batten Endowment Challenge recipients each year through 2012 and award each recipient a $1 million grant for endowments. Each organization will also be challenged to raise up to $500,000 in additional gifts and have them matched dollar for dollar.

Funding for the Batten Endowment Challenge is provided by the Batten Educational Achievement Fund started in 2003 at The Norfolk Foundation by philanthropists Frank and Jane Batten of Virginia Beach. Their $20.5 million gift was the largest single gift the Foundation has ever received. The Batten Fund is a donor-advised fund that has focused on helping area youth develop knowledge and skills needed to become productive, self-sufficient citizens.