History of Faith Works Coalition

FORMATION & MISSION

In 1984, a group of Virginia Beach Churches and Synagogues came together for the purpose of becoming a building partner with South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity (SHRHFH), identifying itself as the Covenant of Virginia Beach.  Unlike many building partners that came together for a single Habitat build, the Covenant was intended to be a permanent organization working with Habitat to provide affordable homes for deserving families within the City of Virginia Beach as part of each member church outreach ministry.

In late 2007, SHRHFH informed the Covenant of Virginia Beach that they no longer desired to work through the Covenant as a building partner for homes in Virginia Beach, but rather wanted to work directly with community churches and solicit funds for use throughout the entire South Hampton Roads region.  In response to this development, the Covenant decided to remain together to continue the charitable relationship that had grown into an effective, efficient construction oriented organization bound together in solid Judeo-Christian traditions and fellowship.  As they surveyed and considered community needs, the Covenant became well aware of a critical need for a variety of housing repair and renovation activities in Virginia Beach focused on assisting low income, senior citizens, disabled individuals, veterans and working families to repair and renovate their aging homes.

In January of 2008, the Covenant members made a commitment to one another to form a new not-for-profit organization that could focus exclusively on repairing existing homes of those in need primarily in Virginia Beach.  The name chosen for the new organization was Faith Works Coalition, Inc. (FWC), which formally established as its mission:

• Improve housing for low income elderly and working families;
• Improve quality of life in low income neighborhoods;
• Build community spirit in Virginia Beach, and enhance the joy of fellowship inherent in faith based, volunteer community projects; and,
• Provide emergency relief through repair and reconstruction of homes in communities suffering from natural disasters.

MILESTONES

The FWC Board of Directors was established with representatives from 15 original Covenant of Virginia Beach Churches.  The following is a list of milestones achieved by the Board to date:

• January 2008 – FWC Mission Statement is drafted and approved.
• January 15, 2008 – Articles of Incorporation are submitted to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• January 22, 2008 – FWC checking account is established at Bank of America.
• January 28, 2008 – Employer Identification Number is assigned by the IRS.
• January 28, 2008 – Certificate of Incorporation is issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• February 8, 2008 – An introductory letter is sent to our pastors announcing the formal foundation of FWC and enlisting their support.
• February 14, 2008 – The Board of Directors approves the Mission Statement, Organization Structure, Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• July 31, 2008 – IRS transmits our determination letter approving FWC as a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt, Non-profit organization.
• October 6, 2008 – Commonwealth of Virginia approves and issues state sales tax exemption.
• March 18, 2009 – Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue approves FWC as exempt from business license taxation.
• August 13, 2009 – Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue approves FWC’s application to be exempt from City Personal Property Tax.

FWC completed its first project on May 17, 2008, and by the middle of 2009, a total of 36 projects were completed.  For a listing of all completed projects consult the FWC Projects Summary.