In times of crisis, the Greater Washington Community Foundation serves as a community convener, advocate, and philanthropic first responder to ensure our region is prepared and equipped to effectively respond to challenges. We mobilize community partners and resources to protect and preserve the essential work of this region’s nonprofit sector and help ensure critical services can continue without disruption. Our goal is to safeguard and sustain efforts aligned with our mission to build an equitable, just, and thriving region.
Given recent federal actions and their destabilizing effect on the nonprofit sector and our region, our current focus is on strengthening the capacity and resilience of this region’s nonprofit sector to address urgent and emerging needs through deep collaboration, coordination, and targeted resources. This effort will help ensure the region’s critical nonprofit organizations can continue to meet urgent needs, advocate effectively, and sustain impact for the communities we serve.
To date, we’ve deployed nearly $500,000 in grants and technical assistance to organizations across the Greater Washington region to convene, support, and advocate for the sector. Learn more about this effort.
CONVENE
We are creating spaces to foster ongoing trust and collaboration between nonprofits and philanthropy, enabling shared understanding, strategic planning, and the development of effective strategies.
Convening funders on a bi-weekly basis since November to share information and spark collective action to support the sector.
Co-convened nonprofits and funders in partnership with Meyer Foundation and Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership to foster radical transparency and communication among partners.
SUPPORT
We are taking a responsive, coordinated approach to providing technical assistance, training, and resources to help stabilize the sector, address ongoing challenges, and foster collaboration.
Strategic communications and crisis management tools and training to help organizations enhance messaging, adapt to challenges, and maintain public trust.
Hosting strategic communications trainings for nonprofits to share best practices for risk mitigation related to messaging and communications strategy.
Hosting virtual office hours in partnership with Spur Local to assist nonprofits with crisis communications planning and challenges.
Legal and compliance training and support to help organizations navigate legal challenges or undertake scenario planning, risk assessment, or strategic conversations about mergers and collaborations.
Hosting clinics for nonprofits in partnership with legal services organizations.
Engaging strategic partners to inform conversations on disruption and opportunity, exploring approaches such as scenario planning, strategic partnerships, shared services, mergers, and organizational sunsets.
Established a Bulletin Board for the nonprofit community with links to resources, articles, and events to help inform and equip them to navigate the current policy environment and it’s impacts on the sector.
ADVOCATE
We are focused on building capacity for sector and regional advocacy to communicate the impact of the nonprofit sector and important regional issues, and to respond to policies and actions that jeopardize the sector and regional stability.
We have made grants to key advocacy organizations that are working to defend and protect the region, our sector, and communities.