Visions in Leadership

Our Mission

The mission of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is to strengthen the Washington metropolitan region by encouraging and supporting effective giving and by providing leadership on critical issues in our community.

We are a community of givers, dedicated to inspiring and creating change across the Washington region and beyond. The Foundation, and our two regional affiliate foundations --The Community Foundation for Montgomery County and The Community Foundation for Prince George's County --  are part of a network of some 700 community foundations nationwide, each a tax-exempt, public charity made up of charitable giving funds established by individuals, families, corporations and other organizations.  We currently manage more than 800 donor funds with assets totaling more than $360 million. We are the largest funder of nonprofit organizations in the metropolitan Washington region, with grants in FY2010 of more than $50 million.

Like most community foundations, we play many roles  -- fund manager, grantmaker, convener, catalyst and more.  And there are a wealth of reasons why giving through The Community Foundation makes sense for you. Click on the topic tabs above or visit the  “What We Do” section of our website to learn more about how we can support you in making the difference you want through your charitable giving.

Our History in Brief

We were founded in 1973 by a group of visionary leaders committed to bettering the Washington metropolitan area through philanthropy.

Over the years, our board of trustees has included such prominent Washingtonians as Katherine Graham, John Hechinger, Jr., Eleanor Holmes Norton, R. Robert Linowes, Mario Morino, Lawrence Hough, Victoria Sant, Lee Folger and Henry Strong, to name just a few.  This tradition continues today with our current Board of Trustees consisting of a diverse, volunteer group of Washington-area citizens representing excellence in the corporate, education, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.