Frequently Asked Questions
Are my donations tax deductible?
How do you allocate funds to assist people in need?
The River Ellis Foundation works through trusted referral partners including hospitals, social workers, care teams, counselors, educators, and community organizations to identify individuals and families experiencing immediate crisis. Funds are allocated to provide fast, compassionate gap-bridging support such as:
- Emergency housing or utility assistance
- Transportation and fuel support
- Grocery and meal assistance
- Childcare or family care needs
- Funeral and memorial support
- Temporary relief during medical or traumatic hardship
- Other urgent quality-of-life necessities
Our goal is to respond quickly so families can focus on healing, grieving, recovering, or stabilizing during incredibly difficult moments.
What does “Giving a Sunrise” mean?
At The River Ellis Foundation, “Giving a Sunrise” represents bringing hope into someone’s darkest moment. After experiencing the unexpected loss of their daughter, River, Doug and Rachel Ellis learned firsthand how life can change in an instant — and how meaningful immediate support can be during times of grief and uncertainty. A “Sunrise” symbolizes:
- Hope after hardship
- Light during overwhelming moments
- Compassion in action
- A reminder that no one has to walk through crisis alone
When supporters “Give a Sunrise,” they are helping provide real, immediate relief to individuals and families who need it most.
How do you receive funding?
The River Ellis Foundation is funded through the generosity of:
- Individual donors
- Monthly giving supporters
- Business sponsors
- Community fundraising events
- Corporate partnerships
- Grants and charitable contributions
- In-kind donations and collaborative community support
Every donation, sponsorship, and partnership helps expand our ability to respond quickly to urgent needs within our community.
How can businesses or individuals support through funding?
Individual Support: Individuals can support The River Ellis Foundation through:
- One-time donations
- Monthly giving
- Fundraising campaign participation
- Event sponsorship support
- Donating auction items, services, or experiences Every contribution helps provide immediate relief to individuals and families facing sudden and unexpected hardship.
Business Sponsorship: Businesses can partner with The River Ellis Foundation by:
- Sponsoring fundraising events or endurance initiatives
- Providing in-kind goods or services
- Becoming annual community partners
- Supporting awareness campaigns and outreach efforts Business partnerships allow us to expand our reach and respond quickly to urgent community needs throughout Hampton Roads.
How can I make a referral? The River Ellis Foundation accepts referrals through trusted community referral partners such as:
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Schools, counselors, and social workers
- Community organizations and nonprofits
- Mental health professionals
- Care teams and local support agencies
If you believe your organization could benefit from becoming a referral partner, please contact us through The River Ellis Foundation to begin the conversation. Our mission is to provide fast, compassionate support to individuals and families navigating sudden and unexpected hardship.