We Bring Neighbors Together

The East Beach Institute is an independent, nonprofit dedicated to community development across Ocean View neighborhoods in Norfolk, Virginia. We bring neighbors together to enrich and sustain our Ocean View family life and culture, a community shaped by the miles-long natural beauty of our Chesapeake Bay beachfront.

Once also known as the East Beach Foundation, the Institute had been largely focused on funding cultural life and social events within the East Beach neighborhood.

In 2019, the Institute figuratively crossed Shore Drive that fronts East Beach to begin to expand our reach and value to the entire Ocean View community with more than $17,000 in grants.  This was three-times the amount of grants funded by the Institute in its previous 12 years.

Since then, the Institute has annually increased its pool of available award dollars year-over-year.  For 2021-2022, the Institute increased its award pool by $10,000 over 2020, awarding grants totaling $33,000 to 11 deserving organizations. 

As a well-funded, 501(c)(3) organization, our plan is to sustain this level of grants year-over-year.  See our latest, publicly-available IRS Form 990. 

We generate year-round revenue for grants from those who also value the sustainability of Ocean View – businesses, other philanthropic organizations, and individuals.  East Beach homeowners contribute a transfer fee upon the sale of their homes, according to the East Beach Book of Operating Principles, Chapter 5.2 Assessments. 

This revenue is annually aggregated into an available pool of funds.  The Institute only accepts applications for grants each summer.  Our Board of Directors awards annual grants each fall to our Partners: other nonprofits or programs on the southside of Hampton Roads that best fulfill our Mission across one or more of our goals:

• Philanthropy endeavors in and around East Beach and the Ocean View communities.
• Enrichment of East Beach residents and the surrounding community through the arts and education.
• Engagement within the surrounding Ocean View community. 

Read the stories that frame Our Goals for Ocean View.  They speak to the value of Ocean View neighbors working together, crossing streets to help remove the invisible barriers that separate us, keep us apart. 

John Greene, President

Past President, East Ocean View Civic League. Retired U.S. Department of Defense executive and U.S. Army Officer.

Rich Nolan, Vice President

Program Director for Fleet Integration, U.S. Navy Installations Command. Retired career U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer. Former Commanding Officer, USS Chosin and USS Cole. 

Karen Mounaime, Treasurer

Past President, Virginia Beach Medical Society Alliance. Past Leader, East Beach Circle of the King's Daughters. Former Office Manager.

Carole Palma, Recording Secretary

Retired U.S. Agency for International Development Foreign Service Officer.

Nancy Koury King, Corresponding Secretary

President, Westminster-Canterbury at Home.  President, Senior Options.

Each board director must be a resident owner in the East Beach neighborhood, according to the Institute's Articles of Incorporation.