This database is a new tool, provided by the Peninsula Community Foundation as part of the new Peninsula Nonprofit Partnership (which includes the Virginia Peninsula Chamber, the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, and the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation), designed to help community members, nonprofit leaders, funders, and partners better understand the organizations serving our region. It brings together key information in one place to highlight areas of impact, service focus, and community need—making it easier to explore connections, identify gaps, and support meaningful work across the Peninsula. As this resource continues to evolve, additional context, analysis, and tools will be added to further strengthen its value and usefulness.
Nonprofit Database FAQs
What organizations are included in the Nonprofit Database?
The Nonprofit Database includes organizations recognized by the IRS as 501(c)(3) public charities, 501(c)(3) private operating foundations, and 501(c)(3) private nonoperating foundations that serve communities across the Virginia Peninsula.
Where does the Nonprofit Database live?
The Nonprofit Database lives at the Peninsula Community Foundation. It was built and is maintained in Notion, a flexible, cloud-based platform that allows the Foundation to organize information dynamically and make regular updates as needed to ensure it remains timely and accurate.
What sources were used to create the Nonprofit Database?
The database was assembled using a combination of trusted sources, including lists from the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the Christopher Newport University Center for Community Engagement, internal Peninsula Community Foundation records, and data from Candid. These sources were cross-referenced and consolidated to create a single, comprehensive resource that can be easily updated.
For whom will the database be helpful - and how?
This database is intended for a wide audience, including nonprofit leaders, donors, funders, researchers, community partners, and residents who want to better understand the nonprofit landscape and the services available across the Peninsula.
Nonprofits can easily learn about each other—and find partners in their work. Funders can quickly see organizations by their cause or location. Residents can determine where to turn for help, or where they want to direct their resources to be helpful in addressing specific needs.
What do the different fields and properties in the database represent?
Causes
The broad issue areas that best describe each organization’s work. Using AI-assisted analysis and local expertise, the full range of nonprofit activities was refined into 27 clear, easy-to-search categories. While many classification systems divide causes into hundreds of sub-topics, for us “causes” intentionally simplifies them to reflect how community members more naturally think about local organizations—by the causes they care about most, such as homelessness and housing, education, health, or the arts and culture.
Office Location
The city or county where an organization’s main office is located. It does not indicate the full scope of the area they serve. Many organizations provide services across multiple areas rather than being limited to the locality immediately surrounding the home office.
Revenue
The total income an organization received in its most recent fiscal year (that has been updated on Candid), as reported to the IRS or other public sources. Annual revenue includes all funding streams such as donations, grants, program fees, and other income. Revenue totals are broken down into the following levels:
- $0–50,000
- $50,000–100,000
- $100,000–250,000
- $250,000–500,000
- $500,000–1,000,000
- $1,000,000–2,500,000
- $2,500,000–5,000,000
- $5,000,000+
990 Form Year
Refers to the last year in which the organization submitted a 990 form to Candid (formerly GuideStar).
EIN Number
This is the Employer Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. It functions like a Social Security number for organizations and is used for official identification in tax filings, grant applications, and other legal or financial documents.
NTEE Number
The National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) code assigned by the IRS or National Center for Charitable Statistics. It classifies nonprofit organizations by their primary purpose or type of activity, making it easier to compare and analyze organizations within similar fields. This provides a very specific categorization that can be helpful when filtering organizations.
IRS Subsection
Refers to the specific section of the Internal Revenue Code under which an organization is recognized as tax-exempt (for example, 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6)). The subsection determines the type of organization, its eligibility for tax-deductible donations, and the rules it must follow. For our database, all organizations listed will be 501(c)(3).
Candid Profile
This is a direct link to the organization’s profile on Candid (formerly GuideStar). The profile provides additional information such as financial data, mission statements, leadership, and program details that may not be included in this database. This link also can be used to access an organization’s 990 form which can be found through Candid.
Foundation
This checkbox identifies the organizations that have the word “foundation” in their names.
Website
A link to the official website of the organization, providing direct access to its programs, services, news, and contact information. Some organizations do not have an official website and in that case their social media has been linked.
Candid Causes
These are the broad cause categories assigned by Candid (formerly GuideStar) that describe the main focus areas of the organization’s work, such as education, health, human services, or arts and culture. They provide a standardized way to group and compare nonprofits by mission.
Why was the Nonprofit Database created?
The Nonprofit Database was created to improve transparency, strengthen collaboration among nonprofits, and support informed decision-making by funders and residents across the Peninsula. By bringing nonprofit information into one shared resource, the Foundation aims to reduce duplication, identify unmet needs, and better align resources with community priorities.
How is the Nonprofit Database maintained?
The database is actively maintained by Peninsula Community Foundation staff and updated on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available. Updates may include adding new organizations, refining existing entries, and incorporating feedback from nonprofit partners and community users.
Moving forward, much of this information will be updated using data from Candid. We strongly encourage organizations that have not yet claimed or updated their Candid profile to do so. Keeping Candid profiles current helps ensure your organization is accurately represented to funders and the public, while also allowing the Foundation to more efficiently maintain up-to-date and reliable information across the database.
How can I provide feedback or request an update?
Users are encouraged to share feedback, corrections, or updates through the feedback form linked within the database. This input is essential to keeping the information accurate and relevant. The feedback link can be found in the description at the top of the database.
Can organizations request to be added to the database?
Yes. Organizations that meet the inclusion criteria may request to be added by submitting information through the feedback form. Submissions are reviewed before being published.
How often is the database updated?
The database is updated on a rolling basis, with periodic reviews twice a year, to ensure information remains current and useful.
Does inclusion in the database imply endorsement or funding?
No. Inclusion in the database does not imply endorsement, partnership, or funding by the Peninsula Community Foundation. The database is intended solely as a comprehensive informational resource about all nonprofits across the Peninsula.
Can I use this data for research or planning purposes?
Yes. The database may be used for general research, planning, and community understanding. Users can cite the Peninsula Community Foundation as the source and verify critical information directly with organizations when needed.
Accuracy & Disclaimer
This database is maintained by a small team and reflects the best information available at the time of publication. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, some information may change over time or contain errors. If you notice an issue or would like to suggest an update, we welcome your feedback and appreciate your help in keeping this resource current.
