Our Story
When the Peninsula Community Foundation (PCF) was launched in 2003, our founders believed that this Peninsula needed a community foundation charged with serving the whole Peninsula as a region of the Commonwealth - an anchoring organization whose job is to keep the whole community in mind, to maintain the “view from the balcony” perspective, and to improve the quality of life for all on the Virginia Peninsula.
We serve those organizations that serve our neighbors on the frontline of this community day in and day out, doing the hard work of meeting the greatest needs and rising to new opportunities. We have our ear to the ground so we can connect nonprofits with the people and organizations and businesses who can make a difference - making it easier for them to find creative ways to care for the community and change lives.
We broker partnerships, help to build organizational capacity, and are home to hundreds of charitable funds that provide financial possiblities.
Where We Serve
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Our Team
Collectively, the Peninsula Community Foundation staff brings over 100 years of nonprofit leadership experience in service to the Foundation and our community. Our small, dedicated, professional team is honored to be the administrative hands and feet for PCF, our donors, partners, and programs.
Our Board
From our founders to our current board, the Peninsula Community Foundation is led by some of our community’s most respected, dedicated, and generous individuals. Their varied backgrounds and experiences bring insight, wisdom, and compassion to the decisions they make, ensuring we are the best stewards of the trust, relationships, and resources, placed in our care.
Our Partners
A marvelous family of visionary supporters and community partners brought this Foundation to life. Their investment of resources and spirit continues to fuel our mission and service – to improve the quality of life for our neighbors across the Peninsula. We are pleased to share a few of their stories...
Whiting Chisman, Jr.
A Founding Visionary & Lasting Legacy
As a founding board member and visionary leader, Whiting Chisman, Jr. was a cornerstone of the Peninsula Community Foundation from its very inception. A dedicated underwriter with a steady hand, he leveraged his unparalleled experience and extensive relationships to navigate the Foundation’s most critical decisions and shape its long-term mission. Whiting’s legacy is woven into the fabric of our region’s nonprofit community, leaving a lasting mark on countless organizations. We are profoundly grateful for his foresight and leadership, which ensured the Foundation would grow into the vital, enduring pillar of community support it is today.
Gordon Gentry
Dedication to Service
The Peninsula Community Foundation holds a special place in its heart for Gordon Gentry. Together with our founders, he helped to lay the groundwork for what we have become. We thank him for his servant leadership that has championed the Peninsula. “This community,” he says, “has done far more for me than I could ever do for it.”
Ferguson Enterprises:
A Partner in Innovation
For nearly two decades, Ferguson has been a cornerstone partner of the Peninsula Community Foundation — helping launch ideas that have grown into regional traditions and life-changing programs. The partnership began in 2008 with the creation of the Ferguson Scholarship Fund. in 2013, Ferguson’s landmark $250,000 investment in regional homelessness research laid the groundwork for the Regional Housing Crisis Hotline and helped launch PCF’s Center for Community Research. From funding research on local policy changes to supporting the Foundation's broader growth, Ferguson continues to advance the region's economic well-being and quality of life through quiet, consistent investment.
Join Us In Our Story of Community Support and Service:
Whether you're looking to establish a fund, support a local cause, or partner with us to strengthen the Peninsula, we can help.