Quick Links to Questions

General Information

What is the mission of the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation and what does the foundation do?

Our mission is simple, and compelling: making Virginia's communities safer by providing leadership education through partnerships among citizens, business, students, and law enforcement.

Created by Virginia police chiefs who wanted to focus on enhancing the educational and training opportunities of law enforcement and citizens alike, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation (VPCF) was established in 1993 to become a charitable and educational foundation with its primary concentration on education and training. Since that time, the scope and program offerings have been broadened to not only address education and training, but to also offer scholarship programs, develop partnerships, and offer programs for our youth.

Who runs the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation?

The VPCF is governed by a Board of Directors composed of police chiefs, citizens, and business/corporate representatives. The Board of Directors has appointed Lex Eckenrode to serve as the chief executive officer of the foundation.

What is the relationship between the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police??

The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation was established in 1993 by Virginia chiefs as the charitable and educational arm of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, with a mission to design and implement leadership education programs. Since that time, the scope and program offerings have broadened to include not only education and training, but scholarship offerings and youth programs.

Are the governing Boards of the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police different?

Yes, two different boards of directors serve each of these organizations. The VPCF is governed by a Board of Directors composed of police chiefs, citizens, and business/corporate representatives. The VACP is governed by a board of directors of police chiefs only. The activities of the foundation are administered by its chief executive officer, who is appointed by the Board of Directors and serves at their pleasure.

How can I become involved with the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation?

There are several ways you or your organization can help make Virginia a safer place and become more involved with the VPCF. There are partnership opportunities available for businesses to support our education programs or youth programs, sponsor golf tournaments and other fundraising events, make in-kind donations of materials, time, or prizes, or contribute to scholarships.

The foundation also accepts donations. Funded primarily by training tuition fees, support from police agencies, and the contributions of citizens and businesses, the foundation is a registered 501(c) 3 charitable organization and all gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you would like to show your support by making a donation, you can do so by mailing a check or money order to:

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 134
Richmond, Virginia 23288

We also accept credit cards. To make a donation directly, please call our office at (804) 285-8227.

Other ways to make a donation include stock gifts and a will or estate plan. See the "Make a Donation" section of this website.

Does VPCF have a federal ID number?

Yes, the foundation's Federal Tax Identification Number is 31-1502529.

How can I get information on the foundation mailed to me?

Information on the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation can be obtained by calling our office at (804) 285-8227, or writing to us at:

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 134
Richmond, Virginia 23288

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Donor Information

How do I make a donation to the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation?

As a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation is funded primarily by training tuition fees, support from police agencies, and the contributions of citizens and businesses. However, the foundation depends on the generosity of individuals and businesses to support our education and training programs. If you would like to show your support by making a donation, you can do so by mailing a check or money order to:

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 134
Richmond, Virginia 23288

We also accept credit card payments. To make a donation directly using your credit card, please call our office at (804)285-8227.

Other ways to make a donation include stock gifts and a will or estate plan. For more information, please see the "Make a Donation" section of this website.

If I donate to the foundation, is my donation tax deductible?

Yes, all donations made to VPCF are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. The foundation is registered with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Consumer Affairs.

A telemarketing agency contacted me and claimed they were soliciting donations on behalf of the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation. Are they legitimate?

Yes. The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation relies on the services of the Civic Development Group, LLC, our fundraising partner, to help us secure funds to run our education and training programs. More than 28% of our funds is raised by a fundraising partner.

We are a small, non-profit organization, with limited staff and resources. We rely on the use of a fundraising partner to receive donations to support our many educational and training programs. Obviously some of the funds raised by our fundraising partner are retained by them for staff operating costs. However, if you want to make sure all of your donation dollars go to support the foundation and its programs, the best way to accomplish this is to send your donation directly to the foundation. If you have questions regarding our fundraising efforts, please contact the foundation at (804) 285-8227.

To make your donation directly to the foundation, you may do so by sending a check or money order directly to the foundation at:

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation

1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 134

Richmond, Virginia 23288

What do my donations go toward?

General, unspecified donations to the foundation may go toward specific programs or to operating costs. However, when you make a donation to the foundation, you may designate specific programs or scholarships that you’d like your contribution to benefit. Please see the “Support the Foundation” section of this website for details.

How much of my donation goes toward actual programs?

One hundred percent of funds sent directly to VPCF are used to support our programs. You may also designate your gift for a specific educational or scholarship program.

Can I make a stock gift to the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation?

Yes. Please see the “Support the Foundation” section of this website for detailed information.

How would I make arrangements for the foundation in my will/estate plan?

Please see the “Support the Foundation” section of this website for detailed information.

How can I receive a copy of your financial statement?

VPCF is registered with the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs. A copy of our latest financial statement can be obtained by contacting the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209, phone (804) 786-2042.

How can I be added to your mailing list for any annual fundraisers?

You may contact the foundation directly by calling (804) 285-8227, or by emailing Stephanie Diaz, administrative assistant, at Stephanie@vapolicefoundation.org, and asking to be placed on the mailing list.

Training Information

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Are training and education programs available only to law enforcement personnel?

To meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation offers two tracts of professional development courses that teach leadership and advanced business skills. In the first tract, provided through its Center for Leadership Education, the foundation offers a Professional Executive Leadership School, Institute for Leadership in Changing Times, and we're currently developing a business leadership model for business executives, expected to debut in 2009. These educational programs are offered to both law enforcement managers and business executives who want to enhance their leadership skills. Please see the Center for Leadership Education section of this website for specific courses offered.

In the second tract, our Law Enforcement Training and Development Programs are geared toward law enforcement at various levels in their careers—from the first-line supervisor to the new chief, in developing skills in media relations, leadership, and management of police departments. Please see the Law Enforcement Training and Development Programs section for specific classes offered.

How do I register for a training or education program?

Registration requirements vary from course to course. Applications for specific programs can be downloaded from our website. Please see the Leadership Education and Training sections to download applications.

Where do I submit registrations for training?

Registrations may be submitted by mail or fax. The mailing address is:

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation

1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 134

Richmond, Virginia 23288

Fax: (804) 285-3363

How is billing handled for training and education programs?

Police agencies and other governmental agencies may request an invoice be mailed for individuals to attend classes. Private citizens, students, and business executives may pay by personal check or credit card. Please see the “Education and Training” section of this website for specific information.

How would I receive information on training and education programs as they become available?

Every six months we publish an events calendar on our website. Refer to the calendar section to view the most recent calendar.

You may also request to be added to our mailing list by contacting the foundation directly. You may call (804) 285-8227, or email Stephanie Diaz, administrative assistant, at Stephanie@vapolicefoundation.org, and asking to be placed on the mailing list.

What scholarships are available from the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation?

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation College Scholarship Program (formerly the Roger L. Foster Scholarship)

The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation acknowledges the support police officers give their communities. In recognition of this, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation has established the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation College Scholarship Program (formerly the Roger L. Foster Scholarship Program) for dependent children of active police officers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (This scholarship is not available to dependent children of sheriff's deputies, federal officers, or civilian personnel working in police agencies.)

Please click on this link for an application or more information on this scholarhip program: VPCF College Scholarship

Philip Morris USA Scholarship for ILCT

Thanks to the generosity of Philip Morris USA, two scholarships for the Institute for Leadership in Changing Times (ILCT) are now available to individuals from police agencies of cities, towns and counties that qualify for attendance at ILCT.

For information on the 2007 Philip Morris USA Scholarship for ILCT, please click on this link: Philip Morris USA Scholarship for ILCT

Needs-Based Scholarships

Thanks to the support and generosity of the Criminal Justice Services Board/Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation is proud to offer needs-based partial scholarships for members of participating law-enforcement agencies to attend any of our leadership education or training programs.

The scholarships have been made available to increase the learning opportunities for law-enforcement officers in Virginia, especially those from smaller departments whose training budgets and manpower are limited, and those departments that have been unable to take advantage of foundation education and training programs due to limited resources.

Needs based-scholarships are available for the following VPCF training and education programs:

For more information on our needs-based scholarship program, or to apply for a scholarship, please contact Lex Eckenrdoe at (804) 285-8227, or email us at info@vapolicefoundation.org.

PELS Alumni Association Scholarship

Each year, the PELS Alumni Association awards one scholarship to an individual who will be attending a PELS course that year. The PELSAA scholarship for PELS is needs-based.

For more information on this scholarship program, or to request an application, please contact the foundation at (804) 285-8227.

Thank you for visiting with us and we hope you take time to view our entire web site.

The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation

Suite 134

1606 Santa Rosa Road

Richmond, Virginia 23288

Phone: (804) 285-8227

Fax: (804) 285-3363