Make-A-Will Month: Your Legacy of Impact Starts Today

August is National Make-A-Will Month, and at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, we want to share an opportunity to expand your philanthropic impact for future generations.

For those who are already giving back, you’ve probably seen firsthand how your contributions can create meaningful change in the Greater Washington region and beyond. But have you thought about how your values and generosity could continue making a difference long after your lifetime?

Why Legacy Planning Matters Now

Recent studies show that many Americans lack a will or estate planning documents—something that spans all income levels and ages. However, for philanthropically-minded individuals, legacy planning isn't just about dividing assets; it's about making sure your values endure, and your impact continues to grow.

When you include charitable giving in your estate plans, you:

• Amplify your lifetime giving by potentially making a larger gift than ever possible

• Reduce tax burdens for your heirs while supporting causes you care about

• Create a lasting legacy that reflects your values and commitment to community

• Inspire family members to continue a tradition of giving

Simple Steps, Lasting Impact

Legacy giving doesn't always have to require complex financial instruments or massive wealth. Some of the most meaningful planned gifts come from thoughtful individuals who simply:

Name your fund or favorite charitable organization in your will, trust, or through a beneficiary designation. Leaving a lasting legacy to a fund at The Community Foundation is simple and straightforward. Our team can provide you and your estate planner with sample bequest or beneficiary language tailored to your needs for review with your advisor.

Consider appreciated assets. Donating stocks, mutual funds, real estate, or other appreciated assets can provide significant tax advantages while creating a substantial charitable impact.

Explore life insurance options. Naming your fund or preferred organization as a beneficiary of a new or existing life insurance policy can create a substantial legacy gift at a relatively modest current cost.

Take Action This Month

This Make-A-Will Month, we encourage you to schedule a free, confidential consultation to discover how legacy giving can boost your charitable impact or request a complementary Estate Planning Guide.  

Our gift planning team can work closely with you (and your professional advisors) to ensure your legacy plans align with your current fund agreement and philanthropic goals. We handle the administrative details so your family can focus on honoring your memory and values.

We'd be honored to help you take the next step to ensure that commitment continues to support the change you want to see in the world. Contact us now at: 202-955-5890 or email us at [email protected].

Thank you for your continued trust in the Greater Washington Community Foundation and for all the ways you make our community stronger.

The Humanity Behind the Headlines: How DCA Tragedy Sparked Community Support and Healing

Six months after the January 29 tragedy near DCA, Debi Epstein reflects on healing, community support, and the fight for safer skies.

Ian Epstein poses with an American Airlines flight outside of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where he was based.

For 53-year old Ian Epstein, being a flight attendant was more than just a job; it was a calling. A former salesman who was always quick with a joke or two (or twelve) and a smile, Ian made flying a memorable and enjoyable experience for anyone who had the pleasure of flying or working with him.

“He believed that laughter and smiles could and would change the world,” his ex-wife Debi remembers. “Being a flight attendant was the perfect way for him to do that – one flight at a time.”

Videos of his ‘mid-air stand-up routines’ abound on social media – including his signature flight check song (sung to the tune of Barney’s ‘I Love You’) – “We love you, you love us – we’re much, much faster than the bus; We hope you appreciate our hospitality – marry one of us and you’ll always fly for free!”

Debi recalls receiving one such video taken on the afternoon of January 29th, as Flight 5342 was preparing for takeoff from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, DC with a flight full of talented, young figure skaters.

“He was making them all laugh, and they were having a good time on the plane,” Debi describes. “Four hours later, he was gone.”

Debi stands in for Ian during the Daddy-Daughter Dance at her daughter's wedding.

The Road to Recovery and New Beginnings

The tragedy came at a busy time for Debi and her four children – the youngest of which was engaged to be married two months after her father’s tragic accident.

“We were joking about how we'd have to get the mic away from him at the wedding," Debi recalls with a bittersweet smile. "Then all of a sudden, we were planning his funeral.”

Through it all, the Epstein family was blessed with tremendous support from their community. Flight attendants and pilots from across the country attended Ian’s memorial service. Messages poured in from travelers across the country whose lives had been touched in small and simple ways by Ian’s legacy – the most moving among them, tender letters of love and support for the bride-to-be.

“It’s the little things like that, that made all the difference,” Debi shared. “It really brings the humanity back.”

A Community of Care: The DCA Together Relief Fund Response

For Debi, the DCA Together Relief Fund stands as one of those examples. Launched by the Capital Region Community Foundations, in partnership with the Wichita Foundation, the fund was designed to support the families, as well as first responders and other organizations supporting community healing.

The fund, which raised significant contributions from over 500 donors across 32 states and multiple countries, demonstrated how tragedy can unite communities far beyond the immediate area of impact.

For Debi, learning about the fund came as a surprise. "We didn't know that it was going on until we received the email," she recalls.

Having built a successful career, she initially hesitated to accept help. "When we got to DC, people told me to set up a GoFundMe. I didn't want to—there were a lot of children on the plane. I felt there were people that needed it more."

Debi and her children at her daughter's wedding.

Ian's co-workers leave special mementos for the father-of-the-bride.

However, as the weeks went by and the mental and emotional stress began to take its toll, Debi realized she needed all the help she could get.

“These first six months have been such a whirlwind,” Debi shares. “Between the funeral, the wedding, trying to get estates in order, trying to support my children emotionally.”

“It’s been a lot to process,” she adds. “We’re still coming to terms with it all.”

With support from the DCA Together Relief Fund, Debi and her children have been able to access mental health resources – as well as a community that has helped them look forward to a brighter future.

“For us, DCA Together wasn’t so much about the money; it was about caring,” Debi shares. “Knowing that there were people out who cared about me and my family and were willing to offer emotional and financial support made the world of difference.”

Healing Through Travel and Flight Advocacy

Through her experience, Debi has gained insight into challenges facing the aviation community that most passengers never see.

“Our family has had a hard time – but the flying community is also part of our family – and they are still struggling because of what happened.”

Penny (far left) and Debi (second from the right) share a tender moment with fellow flight attendants on their flight to Rome.

One such adopted family member, Ian’s coworker, Penny – whom he often referred to as his “work wife” – has become especially close with the Epstein family.

“People like Penny take to the skies every single day to make sure everyone on-board feels happy and safe– they deserve so much better!”

After the wedding, Debi and Penny traveled to Rome together— their first major trip since January; a trip that Ian and Penny had been planning together prior to the accident.

“It was an incredible healing experience to take that trip with her,” Debi reflected. “It reminded both of us how much we love travel and the flying community.”

The Epstein family also started a tradition of handing out gift cards to the flight attendants and crew on every flight they take – a simple gesture to thank them for what they do and honor Ian’s legacy to “Smile Often”.

Outside of the airport terminal, the Epstein family has become heavily involved in advocacy and policy change to push for safer skies. The family regularly engages with the media, writes letters to senators, and pushes for changes in air traffic control guidelines.

“We don't want anyone to live what we are living right now. We are a forgetful country—very easily we forget. This is one of the things we can't forget.

A Message of Gratitude

Debi says that the impact of DCA Together Relief Fund means more than most people realize.

“The fund showed us that we're not going through this alone,” Debi shared. “When you're dealing with grief, especially something this public and tragic, you can feel very isolated. But knowing that people you've never met took the time to contribute—that they were thinking about our families—that means everything.”

 “Thank you for bringing the humanity back into our lives, for not forgetting about our loved ones and acknowledging that what happened to them shouldn't have happened. It's greatly appreciated.”

As Ian used to tell passengers with his characteristic optimism: “I promise you things are going to get better.” Through advocacy and the community's continued support, Debi and her family are working to make that promise a reality.

The DCA Together Relief Fund, managed by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, was a community-supported crisis response effort to provide aid for impacted families, first responders, and organizations supporting community recovery and healing. The intent of this effort was to ensure that those affected receive the care, resources, and support they need during a difficult time.

To learn more about the fund, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/dca-together-relief-fund

Stand with DC: Defending Our Community's Right to Self-Governance

We invite philanthropic, business, nonprofit, and faith leaders to sign on to the statement below to join us in supporting DC’s right to self-governance and investments in proven community-based solutions.

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Recent federal actions targeting DC – including the deployment of National Guard troops, seizure of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, and withholding of over $1 billion in local funds – threaten our city’s public safety and critical services as well as our autonomy and right to self-govern, authorized by the United States Congress.

Each year, as many as 27 million visitors feel safe enough to enjoy our city’s outstanding cultural assets and historic institutions. But our city is more than malls, museums, and monuments. It is a city of over 700,000 residents, the vast majority of whom are thriving, resilient, and working every day to be good neighbors and to strengthen our communities. DC is a well-managed city with a $22 billion dollar budget, which rivals some state budgets.

Over the past few decades, our city has made meaningful and significant progress in housing, public safety, economic development and more. We all want to be part of a safe DC where everyone has a chance to thrive in a welcoming environment. But these new actions will roll back considerable progress made to improve community safety and decrease homelessness; and they are an abhorrent example of unnecessary federal overreach.

As the region’s philanthropic, business, nonprofit, and faith leaders dedicated to strengthening our community and supporting all residents, we believe that any strategies and investments from the federal government should build on progress made and what is working to address community needs:

1. The people of DC deserve the same right to self-governance and self-determination as the residents of the 50 states. Washington, DC is much more than just a tourist attraction and the nation’s capital. It’s a world-class city, with hundreds of diverse and bustling neighborhoods, state-of-the-art commerce, a thriving arts scene, and a world-class restaurant culture. DC residents are real people, in a real city living real lives. We’re coders, nurses, educators, salespeople, and more, driving one of the most vibrant local economies in the nation. Washingtonians’ local taxes pay for all our city services, and we have the right to control our local tax dollars like taxpayers in every other U.S. state and city. Washington is a distinct territory and home to a population that goes back generations, with a unique personality and culture just like every state in the nation. We deserve to self-govern our city as guaranteed by the 1973 Home Rule Act without federal government overreach.

2. Everyone deserves to live in safe neighborhoods. Safety matters to everyone, but unprecedented federal overreach and ‘tough on crime’ enforcement practices only make communities less safe. While we share concerns about public safety, the reality is that violent crime is at an unprecedented low in DC and other cities because of recent large-scale investments in community-based programs and services—the very programs and services that are now in jeopardy because of funding cuts. 2024 marked DC’s lowest violent crime rate in over 30 years, with a 35% drop in violent crime compared to the previous year, and preliminary data for 2025 indicate a continued decline. These safety gains are in jeopardy because of cuts to healthcare and food assistance, along with prior cuts to violence prevention, affordable housing, mental health and drug treatment, and more. Investments in community-based programs and services, paired with data-informed law enforcement, are effective solutions that deliver results. To keep momentum, we need sustained funding for proven violence intervention programs, youth services, and mental health resources that we know drive safety gains because a truly effective public safety program must be preventive, not just reactive.

3. Affordable housing is the foundation for safe and thriving communities. Over the past five years, Washington, DC has seen a 19 percent decrease in homelessness thanks, in part, to over $1 billion in strategic public investments in affordable housing and supportive services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased federal and local investments boosted housing stability and decreased the number of people sleeping outside. While we have made progress, housing costs continue to outpace wages. In DC, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is over $2,000 and a person working a minimum wage job would have to work 90 hours a week to afford a modest place suitable for a family. We must focus on lowering the cost of living, including housing, and continue to invest in proven solutions like eviction prevention, rental assistance, and permanent supportive housing to truly solve homelessness. We’ve seen in other cities that criminalizing homelessness is not only morally reprehensible but also strategically ineffective, it actually leads to increases in the number of people experiencing homelessness.

We are committed to building a stronger, safer, and more equitable Washington, DC which requires funding for proven solutions. We are non-partisan, but we are not neutral about supporting and protecting the health of our city and the values that make it a welcoming and inclusive community for visitors to enjoy; and especially for those of us who call DC home.

Once again, we call on Congress to release the $1 billion in local DC funds that have been in limbo for months and to uphold our city’s right to self-governance. This is the only way to ensure that our actions and investments continue to promote what works for our city and reflect the will of the people of DC.

Signed,

ACLU of DC

Agua Fund

AmeriHealth Caritas DC

AnthroDocs

Aridai

Black Women Thriving East of the River

Borealis Philanthropy

Coalition for Nonprofit Equity

Community of Hope

Compass Pro Bono - Greater Washington

DC Action

DC Affordable Law Firm

DC Justice Lab

Democracy Fund Voice

Diverse City Fund

English Hudson

Fair Chance

Frontline Solutions

Funders Together for Housing Justice

Georgia Avenue Family Support Collaborative (GAFSC)

Good Insight

GOODProjects

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Greater Washington Urban League

Hill-Snowdon Foundation

Brenna Holmes Advisory Consulting

iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility

Jews United for Justice

The Andrew and Julie Klingenstein Family Fund

LIFT-DC

McClendon Center

Mendelsohn, Gittleman & Associates, LLC

Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

Meyer Foundation

Nature Forward

Open Horizon

Prince Charitable Trusts

Protea Fund

Rogliano Real Estate Group

Rooted Communities

SARC Consulting

Sasha Bruce Youthwork, Inc

Spur Local

Thrive DC

United Philanthropy Forum

Voices for Progress

Ward 8 Woods Conservancy

Washington Area Women's Foundation

Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

Weissberg Foundation

The Wild Gifting Project, Inc

Yachad

The Young, Black and Giving Back Institute

Belinda Cook: Building Pathways to Financial Planning

The Community Foundation is excited to continue our Leaders of the Future series, highlighting the work and experiences of incredible individuals and organizations from across our community of philanthropic, community, professional advisor, corporate, and nonprofit partners.

In honor of National Make a Will month and Black Philanthropy Month, we’re pleased to feature Belinda Cook, private client relationship advisor at Brown Advisory and a valued member of our Prince George’s County Advisory Board.

For Belinda Cook, financial planning is about more than dollars and cents – it’s about growth and building community.

“I love the idea of doing something that continues to make the world grow,” Cook shares. “Everyday, millions of dollars are exchanged in the financial markets – it’s a huge opportunity to build community and make a difference in people's lives.”

As a former Vice President and Trust Officer at Bank of America Private Bank and a current Client Relationship Advisor at Brown Advisory, Cook has spent the past 7 years doing exactly that – helping high-value clients and organizations meet their goals and challenge their expectations of what’s possible for the future.

“I enjoy meeting people where they’re at,” Cook added. “But my goal is always to help them get to a better place than when I found them.”

Cook at her graduation from Bennett College in 2014

From Economic Club Scholar to Financial Planning Professional

Surprisingly, financial planning was not always part of Cook’s career or life goals.

Born in Landover, MD, but raised in DC, Cook graduated from HD Woodson HS in Northeast DC and became the first member of her family to attend college – thanks in part to a scholarships from the College Success Foundation and the David M. Rubenstein Scholarship program through the Economic Club of Washington.

The scholarships not only allowed her to attend the school of her choice (Bennett College in Greensboro, NC), it also connected her to an extensive network of professionals in the finance and financial planning industry – opening up a world of possibilities that she previously had little exposure to.

“In high-school, I had friends that were bank tellers,” Cook recalled. “But most of the finance world – investing, 401Ks, stock market options – wasn’t really something the people in my life did for a living or knew that much about.”

Cook accepts the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Economic Club of Washington in 2024.

Over the course of her first semester, Cook participated in the Economic Club’s Scholars to Leaders program, where she learned more about the finance world. After attending several events for Economic Club Scholars, Cook felt inspired to change her major from Psychology to Business Administration.

Thanks to connections made through the Economic Club’s network, she landed an internship at investment giant Merrill Lynch, where she accepted a fulltime job immediately after graduation and quickly worked her way into the trust and estate planning space at Bank of America and later at Brown Advisory.

The Importance of Estate Planning

One of the biggest concerns Cook tackles in her current role is helping her clients understand the importance of making a will – especially for clients of color. Research shows that nearly 70% of Black homeowners don't have a will or estate plan, compared to 35% of white homeowners—this estate planning gap is something that Cook attributes- at least in part- to cultural and educational barriers.

"A lot of people put off getting their affairs in order because they’re uncomfortable talking about death - especially in the Black community," Cook explains. "We should not wait until it’s too late to have these important conversations. The longer we wait, the harder it will be for all of us."

Another common issue is the misconception that estate planning or making small investments in things like life insurance policies are only for the wealthy.

"You don't have to have a million dollars or even $100,000 to make a will,” Cook explained. “If you can afford to buy new shoes, you can afford a life insurance policy to leave your family in the best position possible."

"You can start anywhere—but you have to start somewhere!"

Giving Back Through Community Involvement

Cook at a Fundraising Event for Girls on the Run DC

In addition to her work in financial planning, Cook enjoys giving back to her community – specifically young people. She currently serves as the Community Volunteer Chair for the DC Chapter of Girls on the Run.

"I remember what it's like to be a young girl in DC and not be able to look up to people who look like you,” Cook shares. “I want to provide that for all young girls – so they can see that they can be whatever they want to be in the world and find fulfillment in that."

Cook is also heavily involved with the Economic Club of Washington – where she helped launch and Chair the Alumni Leadership Council to connect scholars with past honorees to serve as mentors and ambassadors for the program. In 2024, she was recognized as an Economic Club Distinguished Alumni.

It was through her involvement with the Economic Club of Washington that Cook was introduced to The Community Foundation’s President & CEO, Tonia Wellons, and later joined the Prince George’s County Advisory Board.

“It’s super important to give back and pull people forward as you grow,” Cook shared. “I feel like it’s part of my duty to ensure that someone else is doing just as well as you are.”

“That’s why I’m excited to be involved with The Community Foundation! I’m looking forward to giving back to my community.”

From Profit to Purpose: Strategic Charitable Giving Tips for Small Business Owners

Are you a small business owner? If so, you're likely already making a difference for your community. Over 90% of small business owners support charities and community activities. But are you maximizing the tax benefits while creating meaningful change?

Donating your business interests to charity can be a powerful strategy that achieves both your financial and philanthropic goals. Here's what you need to know:

Choose The Community Foundations Over Private Foundations: When you donate closely-held stock to The Community Foundation, you can typically deduct the full fair market value (up to 30% of your adjusted gross income) and avoid capital gains tax. With a private foundation, you're limited to deducting only your cost basis (up to 20% of AGI)—a much less favorable outcome.

Timing Is Everything: Plan your charitable gift before reaching out to potential buyers and definitely before finalizing any deal. This separation is crucial because it allows you to avoid significant unrealized capital gains that have accumulated over the years. When done correctly, your charitable fund receives 100 cents on the dollar for its portion of the stock, and your deduction remains valid.

Get Proper Valuation: Always obtain a professional valuation for charitable deduction purposes when contributing business interests. This has become even more important following the recent Supreme Court decision in Connelly v. United States, which could result in higher taxable estates for business owners—creating additional incentive to include charitable giving in your planning.

Ready to explore how your business success can create lasting community impact? Contact our General Counsel & Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Tiffanie Purvis at [email protected] to discuss how charitable giving can work for your specific situation.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or financial advice. Please speak with your own advisor to assess your specific situation.

From Day Shelter to Grantmaker: How Rachael's Women's Center Evolved to Continue Serving DC's Homeless Community

When Ward Howick first walked into Rachael's Women's Center in 1997, he immediately felt the warmth and safety that defined the organization. Located in a four-story townhouse on 11th Street between M and N, the center had been serving women experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC since 1979, providing a crucial daytime refuge in downtown DC where women could find community, resources, and hope.

"It almost felt like home," recalls Howick, who joined the board that year and would eventually serve as Chairman. "No matter where you came from or what you were going through, everyone felt safe and comfortable there."

For over three decades, Rachael's Women's Center was more than just a day shelter—it was a lifeline. The statistics tell a remarkable story of impact: over 1 million meals served, 162,750 showers provided, and more than 75,000 women served since opening its doors. The center offered everything from case management and counseling to job training programs, computer classes, and connections to permanent housing.

A Family Atmosphere in the Heart of DC

What made Rachael's unique wasn't just the breadth of services, but the family-like atmosphere that permeated every interaction in the heart of downtown DC. As a day shelter, Rachael's filled a critical gap in the city's homeless services landscape—providing a safe, welcoming place where women could spend their days when other facilities were closed or unavailable. From its downtown location – the center was easily accessible to women throughout the city, offering a vital refuge in an area where such services were desperately needed.

Women could receive mail at the center—a critical service for those without permanent addresses. The kitchen staff, led by individuals with lived experience, provided not just meals but caring connections. Annual talent shows gave women opportunities to share their poetry, artwork, and music, celebrating their talents and humanity.

The center's approach was holistic, addressing not just immediate needs but working toward long-term stability. Staff helped women access benefits, connect with legal services, and transition into permanent housing.

Howick himself became deeply involved in job placement efforts, frequently connecting women from the center to temporary employment opportunities through his company, the Midtown Group. Many of these placements were with DC government agencies, leveraging Howick's professional connections to create pathways to stable employment. This direct pipeline to work became one of the center's most valuable resources, providing women with both income and professional experience.

The organization also partnered with more than 75 nonprofit organizations throughout the metropolitan area, creating a network of support that extended far beyond their physical location. They developed programs that taught practical skills—from barista training to interview preparation—while also addressing the underlying challenges that contributed to homelessness.

Facing Difficult Realities

By the early 2010s, however, Rachael's Women's Center faced a challenging convergence of circumstances that many nonprofits encounter: aging infrastructure, rising operational costs, and the constant pressure of sustaining both programs and facilities. The organization owned multiple properties that were deteriorating, and the financial burden of maintaining these buildings while continuing to serve hundreds of women annually was becoming overwhelming.

The board members, who had poured decades of their lives into the organization, found themselves caught between their deep commitment to the mission and the harsh realities of operational sustainability. As Howick recalls, they were "beaten down with constantly worrying about it—thinking about how much money we had after we paid everybody."

What made the situation particularly complex was that the organization was successful in its core mission. Women continued to need and benefit from their services, the staff remained dedicated, and the community impact was undeniable. Yet the infrastructure challenges were threatening the organization's ability to continue operating effectively.

"Eventually, we realized that we needed to try something different," Howick reflects, with emotion in his voice. “It was painful; but I think we knew it would ultimately be the better option in the long-run.”

The decision-making process stretched over at least a year, with board members carefully weighing their options and grappling with questions that went far beyond finances: How do you honor the legacy of an organization that has been a lifeline for thousands of women? How do you balance the needs of current staff and clients with long-term sustainability? And perhaps most importantly, how do you ensure that the mission continues even if the organizational structure must change?

A New Model for Continuing Impact

In 2015, after 36 years of operation, Rachael's Women's Center closed its doors. But rather than simply disbanding, the board made a transformative decision: they would use the proceeds from the sale of their properties to establish Rachael's Fund through the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

The transition represented a fundamental shift in how the organization would continue its mission. Instead of directly serving women experiencing homelessness, they would now support other organizations doing similar work across DC. The board remained committed to the cause that had driven them for decades.

"We knew which organizations needed the help because we had worked in the space," explains Howick. This deep familiarity became the foundation for a distinctly personal approach to grantmaking.

It also allows the fund to make strategic investments in organizations that might otherwise struggle to access funding, particularly those operating with annual budgets below $1 million—a deliberate choice based on the board's own experience understanding the challenges of operating at that scale.

The numbers tell the story of steady, sustained impact: 47 grants totaling $308,500 distributed to eight different nonprofit organizations. The fund typically awards $45,000 to $50,000 annually, with grants sized to make meaningful differences for smaller organizations while ensuring the fund's longevity.

While the fund initially focused on organizations serving women experiencing homelessness—staying true to Rachael's Women's Center's original mission—it has thoughtfully expanded its scope. Current grant recipients include organizations working with children, families, and members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, reflecting a broader understanding of the pathways into and out of homelessness.

As Howick explains, "We always took care of women experiencing homelessness, so we want that to be included, but we've branched out... anything that's going to prevent homelessness in the future, we're going to try and invest in that."

The services these organizations provide mirror many of those once offered directly by Rachael's Women's Center: substance abuse counseling, emergency shelter for homeless families, job training programs, life skills counseling, and case management. In this way, the fund has become a multiplier of impact, enabling multiple organizations to carry forward the comprehensive approach that defined Rachael's original work.

One of the fund's most meaningful aspects is how it has maintained the relational approach that characterized the Women's Center. In the early years, Howick would personally deliver grant checks to recipient organizations—a practice that reflected the fund's commitment to relationship-building rather than just check-writing.

A Legacy of Care

Today, Rachael's Fund continues to evolve. For Howick, who has now been involved with the organization in various forms for over 25 years, the continuity of mission matters more than the structure.

The transformation from Rachael's Women's Center to Rachael's Fund represents more than just an organizational restructuring—it's a testament to the power of adaptive leadership and unwavering commitment to mission. In an era when many nonprofits face difficult decisions about sustainability and impact, Rachael's story offers hope that organizations can find creative ways to continue serving their communities, even when traditional models no longer work.

The warmth and safety that defined Rachael's Women's Center for over three decades now lives on through the organizations they support, ensuring that the legacy of care continues to reach some of DC's most vulnerable residents.

In a city where homelessness remains a persistent challenge, Rachael's Fund stands as proof that sometimes the most impactful way to continue a mission is to empower others to carry it forward.

The Community Foundation is proud to support organizations like Rachael’s Fund in continuing to make a difference in our community. For more information about Rachael’s Fund, contact Mary Lou Tietz at [email protected].

Together, We Prosper: Celebrating A Historic Campaign for Economic Justice

The Greater Washington Community Foundation's Celebration of Philanthropy on June 17th at the National Museum of Women in the Arts marked a historic milestone, celebrating the triumphant conclusion of our Together, We Prosper Campaign for Economic Justice. The evening brought together passionate community leaders, generous donors, and dedicated partners who have made transformational change possible across our region. 

Campaign Success: Beyond All Expectations 

The goal was to raise $75 million in gifts to support programmatic work today; and legacy commitments and endowed funds designated for this community, tomorrow. We raised a total of $78 million, exceeding the goal. Designed as an ambitious campaign to increase economic mobility and begin to address the racial wealth gap, the Together, We Prosper Campaign was launched in the Fall of 2022 – one year into The Community Foundation’s bold 10-year strategic vision.  

Built on two central pillars—investing in strategies to close the racial wealth gap and endowing Greater Washington—the campaign mobilized more than 1,200 donors from across the region. Some of the capital raised is already having an immediate impact including Guaranteed Income pilots like Thrive Prince George’s and MoCo Boost, the Brilliant Futures children’s savings pilot, and the Prince George’s County Small Business Support Program.  

As Karen Leder, Campaign Co-Chair, shared, "What makes this successful isn't just the numbers we've achieved; it's the stories of the lives that have been changed – and will be changed in the years to come."  

The majority of funds raised – upwards of $50 million - are by way of legacy commitments and through contributions to endowed funds.  

These inspiring contributions came from donors who trust the Foundation to carry out their philanthropic vision long into the future—representing not just financial investment, but a profound bet on the strength and potential of our region. This, in addition to generous donations to The Community Foundation’s endowment fund, will enable the organization to continue to create lasting change in our region for years to come. 

“Prospering Together is not just a theme,” Seán Morris, Chair of the Board of Trustees added. “It’s a call to action – a call that each of you have heeded.” 

Honoring Our Champions 

The evening recognized a number of individuals and organizations whose exceptional leadership and generosity made this campaign possible. 

First, The Community Foundation honored John ‘Terry’ Beaty, a long-time friend and supporter of The Community Foundation, as the Prospering Together Legacy Champion.  

Early last year, Terry and his wife Anne Mehringer established The Beaty Endowment Challenge Match to encourage donors to establish an endowment with The Community Foundation.  

For each donor that chose to convert their fund to an endowment, name an endowment as their fund’s final purpose or establish a future endowment through a documented bequest intention, Terry and Anne made a $20,000 gift to the Endowment for The Community Foundation—committing $1 million in endowment matching funds. 

To date, the $1 million endowment challenge is more than halfway toward its goal and has raised over $620,000 towards The Community Foundation’s Endowment. The award was presented by 2024 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year, Bob Buchanan – a longtime friend of Terry and Anne’s. 

Next, The Community Foundation recognized the PNC Foundation as the Prospering Together Corporate Champion.  

In April 2024, the PNC Foundation partnered with The Community Foundation to launch the Prince George’s County Small Business Support Program. The program provided over $500,000 in grants and technical assistance to small businesses along the Blue Line and Purple Line corridors in Prince George’s County to help them harness the economic benefits of development along the transit corridors.  

The award was presented by Samia Bingham, Founder and CEO of Flavors Culinary Hub, a participant in the Prince George’s County Small Business Support Program. 

The final award of the evening – the Campaign Champion Award - was presented to Karen Leder and William (Bill) Taylor, Co-Chairs of the Together, We Prosper Campaign. Karen & Bill’s dedication and leadership were instrumental to the success of the Together, We Prosper Campaign. 

Q&A with Tonia and Denise Barnes 

A highlight of the evening was an engaging conversation between Tonia and Denise Barnes, publisher of the Washington Informer, that explored the leadership journey and strategic decisions that made this campaign successful. 

Tonia reflected on the Foundation's response during the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of not forgetting the lessons learned about combating inequities. She emphasized the Foundation's deliberate 10-year strategic framework, noting that "you can't address issues of inequality in a 2-3 year time span." The conversation touched on how the Board of Trustees courageously embraced difficult conversations about race and wealth and sought to understand how to address the racial wealth gap that exists across our region. 

The discussion concluded with a powerful reflection on the campaign's journey." It felt almost impossible when we first started and here we are, tonight, celebrating the success of it," Tonia shared, expressing gratitude for the community's surprising willingness to participate in this transformational work. She emphasized her confidence in the leaders gathered that evening, noting, "we came here to make a difference, together—and together we're going to do that." 

The Impact Continues 

While the Together, We Prosper Campaign has officially concluded, the transformational work it launched continues. The programs, partnerships, and systems changes set in motion will serve as the foundation for decades of community wealth-building and opportunity creation. 

As we celebrated on June 17th, we honored not just the achievement of surpassing our ambitious goals, but the collective commitment to a vision where prosperity is shared by all. The campaign's success belongs to everyone who made it possible—from major donors to community partners to the countless individuals who believed in this transformative work. 

Together, we have proven that our region's strength lies in our shared commitment to justice, equity, and prosperity for everyone. The celebration marked not an end, but a powerful beginning of the lasting change this campaign has made possible. 

Note: The Community Foundation would also like to thank Levine Music, Story Tapestries, Mosaic Visions, and the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Step Team, “Dem Raider Boyz” for generously sharing their time and incredible artistic talents with us.  

Photos of their amazing performances, as well as other images from the event can be found on on our SmugMug account. You can also watch a complete recording of the evening’s program and awards presentations. 

Graves, Gatherings, & Golden Retrievers: Building Community at DC's Historic Congressional Cemetery

(Photo: Congressional Cemetery)

Every neighborhood needs a gathering place—somewhere people can connect, learn, and celebrate together. For a growing number of Washingtonians, that place happens to be a cemetery.

Historic Congressional Cemetery, a 200-year-old national historic landmark, has reimagined what it means to be a community space, bringing people together on 35 acres of Southeast DC where history comes alive and neighbors become friends.

We're excited to announce that Historic Congressional Cemetery has opened a nonprofit endowment fund with The Community Foundation, marking the beginning of what we hope will be a long partnership with one of DC's most unique community organizations.

America's First Cemetery of National Memory

Founded in 1807 – just sixteen years after Washington, DC was established - Historic Congressional Cemetery predates Arlington Cemetery by nearly 60 years, earning its distinction as America's first cemetery of national memory.

Senator Uriah Tracy of Connecticut, the 1st member of Congress interred in the Congressional Cemetery.

(Image: Ralph Earl, Uriah Tracy, 1790, oil on canvas - Litchfield Historical Society)

When Senator Uriah Tracey from Connecticut died while in office in 1807, city planners realized they had overlooked one crucial detail in designing Washington, DC—where to bury the dead. This was during a time before air or rail travel, when the majority of the city’s residents came from out-of-state.

Local parishioners from Christ Church Washington Parish stepped up to meet this urgent need, establishing the first burial ground for the nation’s capital and its growing population.

The cemetery was pioneering in its approach, serving as a precursor to the rural cemetery movement of the 1830s, which emphasized natural landscapes and peaceful settings away from urban centers. The cemetery became the final resting place for many prominent Revolutionary War officers and generals, most of whom served in Congress and died in the nation's capital.

What started as a practical solution quickly became something much more significant. By 1815, the cemetery had become the designated resting place for members of Congress, complete with distinctive Latrobe cenotaphs—special markers honoring those who died in office. Today, 179 of these cenotaphs dot the landscape, with 58 containing the actual remains of congressmen who never made it home.

The Public Vault at the Congressional Cemetery - commissioned by Congress in 1832 to serve as a temporary resting place for government officials.
(Photo: Kitty Linton)

A Latrobe Cenotaph for President John Quincy Adams. Latrobe Cenotaphs honored members of Congress who died in office between 1815 and 1876.
(Photo: Congressional Cemetery)

In 1832, Congress constructed a Public Vault at the Congressional Cemetery, which served as a temporary resting place for figures like Presidents John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, First Lady Dolley Madison, and other government officials – until they could be reinterred closer to home.

A Microcosm of American History

The stories buried at Congressional Cemetery read like a who's who of American history—but not just the names you'd expect. Yes, you'll find FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Stars & Stripes Forever Composer John Phillip Sousa, former DC Mayor Marion Barry, and renowned Civil War photographer Mathew Brady.

The President’s Own Marine Band visits the Congressional Cemetery to celebrate John Phillip Sousa’s 169th Birthday. A native Washingtonian, Sousa directed The President’s Own from 1880-1892 and remains one of America’s most iconic composers. (Photo: Vincent Vassal)

Mathew Brady’s compelling tombstone showcases images that he captured during the American Civil War. (Photo: Kitty Linton)

But you'll also discover Belva Lockwood, the first woman to run for president, Elbridge Gerry, the 5th Vice President who inspired the phrase ‘gerrymandering’, and Lucy Bell, who was born enslaved and dedicated her life to reuniting her family after the largest nonviolent slave escape attempted in US History.

"You can literally trip over the history here," says Anthony 'A.J.' Orlikoff, the cemetery's Director of Programming and Interim Executive Director. "I'll be walking in the cemetery, and I'll find a grave that teaches me something new."

Leonard Matlovich’s tombstone at ‘Gay Corner’ in the Congressional Cemetery (Photo: Kitty Linton)

The cemetery has also become a major landmark for the city’s LGBTQ+ community, as the final resting place of Leonard Matlovich – a renowned activist who appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine in 1975 as one of the first openly gay service members.

A victim of the AIDS crisis, Matlovich decided to use his death as a form of advocacy, creating a provocative tombstone that would continue his fight for equality even after he was gone. His "death advocacy" inspired dozens of LGBTQ+ advocates and allies to choose to be buried alongside him, creating what's become known in the Congressional Cemetery as "Gay Corner”.

Each June, the cemetery welcomes LGBTQ+ advocates and allies from across the region, hosting Pride Tours, a “Gays and Graves” Festival, and more than 1,400 runners for the DC Front Runners Pride 5K.

The DC FrontRunners Annual Pride 5K at the Congressional Cemetery (Photo: Congressional Cemetery)

Life in the Cemetery

"This is a place of life, not just death," says Orlikoff. "It starts with 'life'—life is the guideline. We celebrate life and we vibrate with life. That sets us apart."

Orlikoff explains that in Victorian times, cemeteries were social spaces where families would regularly visit, picnic, and gather. Congressional Cemetery has reclaimed that tradition, hosting over 200 programs annually that bring the community together in celebration of both history and life.

Their programming is as diverse as the stories buried within their gates. "Cinematery" transforms the grounds into an outdoor movie theater during summer months. In the fall, "Soul Strolls" bring history to life through immersive theater performances at gravesites, where actors portray the cemetery's ‘interred residents’ through carefully researched vignettes.

"It's not haunted where people jump out at you, it's macabre history done with real narratives," Orlikoff explains. "We're trying to show people that this was a real person who lived; they had a real legacy."

‘Cinematery’ offers community members a chance to watch their favorite summer movies outdoors, amongst the tombstones. (Photo: Kitty Linton)

(Photo: Congressional Cemetery)

Members of the K9Corps at a summer doggie play date at the Congressional Cemetery. (Photo: Congressional Cemetery)

A group listens to an actor portray the life of one of the Congressional Cemetery’s ‘interred residents’ during a Soul Stroll tour. (Photo: Kitty Linton)

Perhaps most beloved is the K9Corps, a dog-walking program that began in the 1980s by a group of canine-loving Community members who chose the Congressional Cemetery as their preferred meeting ground for play dates and service projects.

Today, over 1,000 dogs from 750 families (including one of our own team members) are part of this program – including many that come to visit former members at the Congressional Cemetery’s Pet Cemetery, affectionately known as the “Kingdom of Animals”.

(Photo: Congressional Cemetery)

Building Tomorrow's Community

As DC continues to evolve, Congressional Cemetery faces the same challenges as many historic institutions encounter—limited space and the need for sustainable funding. But rather than retreat from their community mission, they're doubling down on it.

As an active cemetery that continues to serve grieving families, Congressional Cemetery offers a wide range of initiatives to build relationships and help residents find community amongst the tombstones, including death cafés where people can openly discuss mortality over tea and cake, estate planning workshops, and educational programs that help demystify death and dying.

"Washington is a really special place," Orlikoff reflects. "It's often said that it's so transient—but the intransience of Washington is a quality in it of itself. No matter where you come from, if you live here, you're a Washingtonian."

The cemetery's location—nestled between RFK Stadium and in the shadow of ongoing urban development—makes its preservation even more critical. These 35 acres of green space represent not just historical significance, but environmental stewardship and community gathering space in an increasingly dense city.

Preserving the Past, Building the Future

As we partner with Historic Congressional Cemetery through their new endowment fund, we're reminded that the most meaningful community organizations are often those that help us understand our place in a larger story. Congressional Cemetery doesn't just preserve history—it makes history accessible, relevant, and alive for each new generation of Washingtonians.

In a city where power and politics often dominate the conversation, Congressional Cemetery offers something different: authentic stories, genuine community, and the reminder that we're all part of an ongoing American narrative. It's a place where senators and stonecutters, photographers and civil rights pioneers, longtime residents and newcomers all share the same ground—and where the living continue to write new chapters in that shared story.

To learn more about Historic Congressional Cemetery's programs and history, visit their website or consider joining one of their many community events.

A Call to Action: Protecting Our Community's Housing Priorities

In a time of unprecedented challenges to housing security and homelessness prevention efforts, the Partnership to End Homelessness hosted "A Call to Action: How You Can Protect Our Community's Housing Priorities," a webinar bringing together experts, advocates, and individuals with lived experience to discuss the path forward and strategies for collective action.

Progress Worth Protecting

Launched in 2019, The Partnership to End Homelessness has made remarkable strides in addressing homelessness in DC. The Community Foundation’s President and CEO Tonia Wellons opened the session by highlighting the significant impact of the Partnership’s collaborative work over the past five years.

"Since 2019, we've created and preserved nearly 1,000 homes for low-income individuals and families," Wellons shared. “We've leveraged and aligned nearly 20 million dollars in funding to invest in affordable housing and grants for DC nonprofits. And we've advocated for over a billion dollars successfully in public sector investments."

These aren't just numbers—they represent real progress that must be protected in the face of current threats. Scott Schenkelberg from Miriam's Kitchen reinforced this message, reminding attendees that we know what works: housing.

"We know that housing ends homelessness," Schenkelberg emphasized. "There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about well, if people just got their behavioral health improved, or their physical health improved, or any number of things. And that's all true—we want those kinds of outcomes for people, but without the foundation of a home, without a stable place to do recovery, or to get healthier, to look for work, without any of those things, all those other outcomes are really challenging."

In Miriam's Kitchen's permanent supportive housing program, the housing retention rate after one year is an impressive 99%. This represents thousands of individuals who now have a safe place to call home, a foundation from which they can begin to rebuild their lives.

Federal Updates: A Starvation Budget

Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness at the 2022 National Conference on Ending Homelessness.

Amanda Andere from Funders Together to End Homelessness painted a concerning picture of federal developments. The recently released FY26 budget proposal has been dubbed the "Starvation Budget" for good reason—it threatens to strip away critical lifelines for our most vulnerable neighbors.

Amanda explained how the proposed cuts to HUD's homeless assistance grants would effectively eliminate funding for permanent supportive housing—the very model that has proven so successful in our community. The restructuring of federal rental assistance into state-based grants with arbitrary time limits reveals a fundamental shift away from viewing housing as a human right. Instead, it treats housing assistance as a temporary handout rather than a foundation for stability and growth.

Perhaps most troubling is the suggestion that cities could be penalized for not using punitive approaches to homelessness. This would pressure local governments to criminalize the very people they should be helping, pushing encampment residents further into the margins rather than connecting them with resources and housing.

Local Impacts on DC

Meanwhile, on the local level, Erica Williams from the DC Fiscal Policy Institute described the perfect storm brewing for DC's residents.

Erica Williams, Executive Director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute.

"We are projecting that about 40,000 DC workers will lose their jobs because of mass layoffs at the Federal level," Williams warned. "That of course has a big impact for the people - the families that are experiencing that job loss directly - for communities that may lose people who have made this place their home, but also our economy.”

“We are projecting that DC is heading into a local recession because of the layoffs - that's going to mean about a billion less in revenue than we were expecting over the next 3 years in our budget."

The situation is further complicated by congressional actions that are forcing DC to revert to previous spending levels, essentially cutting over $400 million from services in the current fiscal year. As Erica shared that two-thirds of DC's budget goes to education, health, human services, and public safety, the implications became clear—these cuts will harm the most vulnerable residents first and worst.

Potential Medicaid cuts loom particularly large in the housing discussion. As Erica explained, Medicaid covers permanent supportive housing services. The proposed changes would push tens of thousands of District residents out of coverage, including many who depend on these services to maintain their housing.

Impact on Direct Service Providers

Scott Schenkelberg, President & CEO of Miriam’s Kitchen

For Scott Schenkelberg and the team at Miriam's Kitchen, these policy threats translate into daily challenges in their work to end homelessness. Scott shared how 70% of the cost for supporting people in housing comes through Medicaid dollars. If those funds disappear, the support services that maintain that impressive 99% housing retention rate become endangered.

Scott described how their meal service numbers have increased dramatically—up 50% since early 2023—and how each time he thinks they've hit a plateau, a new higher number arrives. This isn't just about serving more meals; it's a canary in the coal mine indicating growing housing instability in the community.

The acceleration of encampment closures has created another layer of difficulty. Scott explained how their outreach team is attending to encampment closures daily, disrupting the relationships they've carefully built with residents.

"Every time somebody is moved, every time their belongings are taken, every time they lose some semblance of normalcy, even if they are sleeping outside, it makes it that much harder for outreach workers to connect with them," Scott said. "If our goal is to really move people inside, doing the encampment sweeps in the fashion they are doing right now is very counterproductive."

The Human Impact: A Voice of Experience

Tony Burns, Community Advisory Board Member with Miriam’s Kitchen.

Tony Burns brought the human dimension to what might otherwise remain an abstract policy discussion. As a Guest Advisory Board member from Miriam's Kitchen and a graduate of their permanent supportive housing program, Tony shared his journey with candor and emotion.

"What you don't know can hurt you," Tony reflected, describing his initial skepticism about Miriam's Kitchen before they helped him secure housing in Foggy Bottom—a neighborhood he never imagined he could afford to live. February marked his seventh year in that home, a milestone that visibly moved him as he spoke.

As someone managing HIV for 35 years and a cancer survivor, Tony expressed the weight and anxiety that policy threats create: "You just think about even now, what is life going to look like? It doesn't feel good."

Yet through his story came hope as well. Tony shared how he was able to connect a mentee to Miriam's Kitchen, where they not only provided a meal and case management but also helped secure housing. "This is the kind of work that Miriam's Kitchen does," he said with pride, reminding everyone of the human impact of these programs and policies.

Opportunities for Action

Despite the overwhelming challenges, speakers shared ways forward that blended pragmatism with hope.

Amanda Andere emphasized that while philanthropy can't fill all the funding gaps, it can invest in people and organizations working to change systems. She shared the concept of "block and build"—an organizing strategy that focuses on blocking harmful policies while simultaneously building better systems for the future. "As these systems of care get torn down, many more people will be harmed, but many more people will be searching for a system that works for everyone," she explained.

Erica Williams urged everyone to bring a united voice to local leaders, calling on DC Council members to dig deep and meet this moment by prioritizing health, housing, and economic security in budget decisions. "We cannot mitigate everything," she acknowledged, "but we can reprioritize. We do have some tools at our disposal."

Scott Schenkelberg highlighted The Way Home Campaign, which has successfully advocated for investments in homelessness prevention and housing for over a decade. He reminded everyone that their advocacy has already made tangible differences: "We've seen a much more rational system of how people are prioritized for housing, and we have made the conditions under which people have experienced housing better. And it's all through advocacy."

Perhaps the most poignant call to action came from Tony Burns, who simply urged: "Don't stop giving... you never know the hope that you will give to one of those folk who come from a background like me."

The Greater Washington Community Foundation invites you to join in advocacy efforts to protect housing priorities. Visit our website to learn more about the Partnership to End Homelessness and how you can get involved.

New Faces & Exciting Changes at The Community Foundation

The Community Foundation is excited to welcome a number of new faces and exciting changes within our Community Foundation family these past few months!

The Community Foundation Board of Trustees

The Community Foundation is excited to welcome the following individuals as new members of our Board of Trustees:

David Ford, Independent Advisor

David Ford is an independent business and legal advisor to, as well as an investor in, the seniors-housing industry, commercial real-estate ventures and start-up enterprises. He is a principal investor in (and former Vice Chairman of) a leading developer and operator of seniors-housing communities in California, Nevada and Washington.

David previously served as the COO and General Counsel of a government contracting firm that provided IT consulting services to defense and other federal agencies. For the first two decades of his professional life, he was an attorney in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare, technology and government-contracting industries.

Dr. Monica Goldson, President & CEO, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington

Dr. Monica Goldson is the first black woman to lead a nonprofit organization that implements equitable, rigorous, scaled and sequenced future-readiness curricula and experiences for school systems to bring unique programming to every student from middle school through high school focused on financial literacy.  Junior Achievement of Greater Washington engages global, national and local business leaders in meaningful and authentic interactions with students. We recruit and train thousands of volunteer mentors from our community to provide consistent guidance, insights and support for over 40,000 students in the region every year.

Prior to taking on this role, Dr. Goldson retired from Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) as the Chief Executive Officer after 32 years of service. She began her career as a high school mathematics teacher with plans to become an actuary. Within her first few weeks on the job, she realized that education was her true calling. She steadily moved up the administrative ranks, serving in such roles as principal, associate superintendent, deputy superintendent and chief operating officer, just to name a few, prior to her appointment as CEO. During her tenure, Dr. Goldson leveraged a full-scope alternative financing model to design, build, finance and maintain the internationally-recognized Blueprint Schools construction program to build six new middle schools in two years — the very first U.S. public school system to use a public-private partnership (P3) for construction.  Using a traditional and non-traditional construction program model, Dr. Goldson ushered in 17 new schools that will be built in 5 years. 

Dr. Goldson holds three degrees from HBCUs – a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree in Elementary and Secondary School Administration from Bowie State University, and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy from Howard University.  She served on President Biden’s HBCU Advisory Panel and is currently the Vice President for the Maryland State Board of Education. Beyond the schoolhouse, Dr. Goldson is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. 

Jeff Hamond, Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates

In 2011, Jeff Hamond recognized something few others did – that philanthropic organizations were not doing enough to tell their story in Washington.  He felt so strongly about this, he left a senior economic policy position on Capitol Hill to develop and lead Van Scoyoc Associate’s Philanthropy Practice – the only one of its kind.  

Today, as the field of philanthropy evolves quickly – with private foundations growing in policy influence, and also living donors, mission/impact investing, and social entrepreneurs playing an expanded role – Jeff is one of sector’s fiercest advocates.  He understands the enormously important role philanthropy and not-for-profits have in American society and culture, and helps these organizations highlight their work for policymakers.  As a Vice President at VSA, Jeff works directly with private and community foundations, and others in the philanthropic space, to share the good work they are doing in local communities, as well as educate lawmakers about the consequences of adverse policy decisions.

Renee Licht

Renee is a retired federal government executive with nearly 30 years’ experience in legal and administrative positions at the Federal Communications Commission, an agency charged with overseeing the Nation’s communications systems.  Since leaving government, she has been active in non-profit grant making in the greater Washington DC area. 

At the FCC, Renee held a variety of positions including Deputy General Counsel, Deputy Chief of the Mass Media Bureau, Deputy Managing Director and senior advisor to several Chairmen and Commissioners.

Following her early retirement, Renee joined Giving Together, an area women’s giving circle supporting women and families in need.  She co-chaired the Grants Committee, the Accelerator Subcommittee (a subgroup targeting grants to BIPOC-led and -serving local residents) and the Racial Equity Working Group.  A long-time Giving Together Board member, in 2022 she became Co-President.  During her two-year term, the giving circle experienced unprecedented growth.

Richard Newman

Richard handles real estate, finance, and tax matters for numerous cultural institutions (including The Phillips Collection, The Arena Stage, and The Shakespeare Theatre); public policy groups (including the World Wildlife Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America); quasi-governmental entities (The Smithsonian Institution, The National Academies of Science, and the Institute for Defense Analyses); and other large and small nonprofit organizations.

Richard is a former general counsel to The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, The AIA Legacy Foundation, and Discovery Create Children’s Museum. He is a member of the board of The Arena Stage, The Washington Hebrew Congregation, and serves as general counsel to the Washington Housing Conservancy, a nonprofit workforce housing operator. 

Richard was recognized as a leading real estate lawyer in Washington, DC by Chambers USA from 2006-present, and by The American Lawyer. He was recognized as a Leading Lawyer by The Legal 500 US (2019-2023). He has been selected by Super Lawyers magazine as a leading real estate lawyer since 2011. Richard was named a “top lawyer” in real estate by Washingtonian magazine’s biennial list and he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. In 2023, he was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” for Public Finance Law, Washington, DC by The Best Lawyers in America. 

Montgomery County Advisory Board

The Community Foundation in Montgomery County is pleased to welcome the following individuals as the newest members of it’s Advisory Board:

Uma Ahluwalia

Uma S. Ahluwalia is a respected social services and public health services professional with extensive experience in the field.  Prior to joining HMA, she had a 22-year public sector career in state and local government.  For twelve years she served as director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services in Maryland where she led the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, oversaw the move to a more integrated and interoperable health and human services enterprise, and managed public-private partnerships and programs.

Uma’s work experience also includes executive leadership in Child Welfare as the interim director in the Child and Family Services Agency in Washington, DC, and assistant secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services in the State of Washington for the Children’s Administration. 

Her HMA consulting practice spanning across states and counties around social services, public health and behavioral health has further refined her approach to integrating social services with public health and behavioral health to improve outcomes across the lifespan and reduce disparities based on differences across socio-economic conditions.

She has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Delhi in India and a specialist, post-master’s in health services administration from George Washington University. 

Robert G. Brewer, Jr.

Robby is a retiring real estate attorney whose career has been spent at regional law firm, Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025.  He represented regional developers and institutional owners through the critical phases of planning, developing, expanding, buying and selling real estate in Montgomery County and surrounding jurisdictions. He frequently served as his law firm’s board chair and managing partner.

He has been an active leader in many of the area’s most prominent civic, community, and cultural organizations, including the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, the Music Center at Strathmore, KID Museum, Imagination Stage, the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, and the Bethesda Urban Partnership.  Since 2018, he has served as operating president of Miracle League of Montgomery County, which sponsors baseball programs at the Washington Nationals Miracle Field in Germantown for kids with intellectual and physical disabilities.  He is an active volunteer at Nourishing Bethesda.

Robby has received recognition and awards from a variety of professional and community groups, including the Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame, Rebuilding Together, Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission, Washington Adventist Hospital, Boy Scouts of American and Chambers, USA. He received his undergraduate degree from Hamilton College, and his law degree from the University of Maryland.

Jennifer Farkas

Jennifer Farkas is the Publisher of Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Today, where she is responsible for the overall success of the organization, overseeing all aspects from content creation to distribution, revenue and marketing. Her leadership ensures that both publications continue to serve as trusted sources of news, lifestyle content and community engagement in Montgomery County.

Jennifer started with the organization as associate art director in 2007 under the guidance of co-founders Steve and Susan Hull. Her creative background, dedication to high-quality storytelling and passion for business development helped her rise through the ranks, ultimately taking the helm as Publisher in 2024.

Jennifer serves on the advisory board of her children's school, contributing to the advancement of educational initiatives, and is a board member of the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, where she advocates for local businesses and community development.

A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Jennifer brings a personal passion for community building to her work and is committed to uplifting and celebrating the region she has always called home. Jennifer lives in Kensington with her husband and their two children, where they enjoy being active members of the community.

Bill Keating

Bill Keating is the owner of SaniJohn Services and Rapid Service Group, a FedEx contracted service provider. His companies provide transportation services to a variety of municipal and commercial customers in the construction, hospitality and waste industries. Prior to December 2016, Bill was the President and COO of Bowie’s Inc., a DC-based waste collection firm that was sold to Envirosolutions Inc.  Early in his career Bill worked as a Vice President at AmeriChoice Healthcare and with the First Boston Corporation and the Blackstone Group.

Bill currently serves as a member of the RLJ Private Equity Executive Network, a $250 million private equity firm based in Bethesda, MD. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and earned his MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

Kirsten Quigley

Kirsten is the Founder and CEO of Lunchskins, a mission-driven, women-owned B Corp that creates innovative sustainable consumer products. A lifelong environmentalist, she expertly merged her conservation background with business acumen to address the growing plastic waste crisis through thoughtfully designed eco-friendly alternatives. She received a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University, with a special focus on International Health and the Environment. Kirsten also serves on the Maryland/DC Chapter Board of Trustees of the Nature Conservancy.

She resides in Potomac, MD with her husband and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys visiting her adult children in California, Vermont, and Massachusetts. When not leading her company's sustainability initiatives, Kirsten can be found gardening, cooking, skiing and hiking mountains out west, or exploring the woodland trails near her home.

Linda Caro Reinisch

Linda Caro Reinisch is an artist, musician and retired nonprofit executive with a lifelong commitment to the arts and education. She has helmed a range of organizations in the arts including Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Co-founder), Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and Zenith Community Arts Foundation. Her board service includes the Washington Waldorf School, the League of Washington Theatres, and the Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation in Nepal.

Since retiring, Linda has remained deeply engaged in civic life, organizing local teach-ins to empower citizens on local and state issues. She spends much of her time making art, painting, drawing and working with fiber. As a classically trained singer Linda has performed, recorded and toured with numerous concert choirs, small ensembles and rock bands. Inspired by the bold vision and the creative, compassionate minds at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Linda currently serves as a member of Sharing Montgomery and the DIVAs (Donors InVesting in the Arts) giving circle.

The Community Foundation Staff

Leslie Jefferson, Program Officer

Leslie joined the Greater Washington Community Foundation in March 2025 as a Program Officer with the Community Investment team. Leslie works closely on general community engagement initiatives such as Opportunity Accounts and VoicesDMV. Leslie was formerly a Development Officer with The Brookings Institution, frontline fundraising for research initiatives such as the Latino Wealth Initiative. Leslie previously served as the Sponsored Research Grants Manager for the Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Environmental Justice departments at Georgetown University. Prior to that, she served just under 12 years at The SEED School of Maryland in several capacities including Senior Federal Grants and Community Engagement Manager and Family and Community Engagement Coordinator.

Leslie currently serves as an adjunct professor in the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy and leads grassroots consulting with The Black Mill. She is a doctoral student in Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, focusing her research on better representation in U.S. philanthropy. She also proudly serves as Co-Chair on the Board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network.

Leslie resides in D.C. with her two children and believes wholeheartedly that, “To whom much is given, much is required”.

Benton Murphy, Senior Director, Advisory Services & Fund Administration

The Community Foundation is excited to share that Ben is being promoted to Senior Director of Advisory Services & Fund Administration. Ben provides overall fund administration and impact measurement functions and supports the overall business operations of the organization. Ben has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. We are excited to continue to benefit from his expertise.

Jennifer Olney, Program Director, Partnership to End Homelessness

We’re excited to share that Jennifer has been promoted to Program Director of the Partnership to End Homelessness. Jennifer joined the Greater Washington Community Foundation in November 2019 and quickly became an integral part of The Community Foundation’s approach to end homelessness in DC. As the Program Director for the Partnership to End Homelessness, Jennifer brings together the public and private sectors to advance effective and innovative solutions to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring in DC. We are grateful for her leadership and dedication as she continues to coordinate this critical work for our region.

Rachel Crawford, Controller

We’re also excited to share that Rachel Crawford will be assuming a new role as Controller for The Community Foundation. As Controller, Rachel has primary responsibility for the investment functions for the Foundation, which includes monitoring, implementing and maintaining appropriate internal controls for the organization; as well as leads the annual audit.

Kirby Gaherty, Senior Felllow, Community Safety & Harm Reduction

The Community Foundation would like to congratulate Kirby Gaherty who recently accepted an exciting new position with Cities United - a national network dedicated to reducing homicides and shootings among Black men and boys.

Over the past year, Kirby has done incredible work to accelerate the community safety ecosystem in DC by convening with strategic partners across business, philanthropy, nonprofits, and local government.

We are so grateful for everything that she has done on behalf of our organization and the larger DC community and wish her all the best in this exciting next chapter of her career!

National Pet Appreciation Week

Finally, did you know that June 1-7 was National Pet Appreciation Week? Our team celebrated by sharing pictures of some of our furry family members.

From our family to yours, we hope you have a wonderful summer!

Gun Violence Awareness Month: A Conversation with the Women Leading the Work

Kelli D. Sneed, Executive Director of the DC Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (ONSE)

Gabrielle Stevens, Director of Grants Management & Community-Based Programs with the DC Office of the Attorney General.

Washington, DC currently has two Community Violence Intervention (CVI) initiatives run by city agencies. Cure the Streets through the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has been operating since 2018 and the Violence Intervention initiative operated by the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement or ONSE (in operation since 2017).  

Currently, two Black women leaders oversee the city’s CVI efforts- Kwelli D Sneed, Executive Director of DC’s Office for Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (ONSE) and Gabrielle Stevens, Director, Grants Management and Community-Based Programs with the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG).  

Below, we learn more about these two leaders and the city-led (but community-based) efforts to curb violence. 

Talk a little bit about the work that you lead here in DC. 

KDS: As a native Washingtonian, my commitment to the well-being of the District is deeply personal. Growing up here, I’ve seen both the challenges our communities face and the tremendous resilience within them. That perspective fuels my devotion to making a meaningful impact through my work. 

Throughout my career across various roles in DC government, I’ve had the opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of how our government systems operate— and more importantly, how to navigate those systems to ensure residents are truly served. 

As the Director of ONSE I get to continue to do this as I lead our agency toward our mission of reducing gun-related violence in every ward across the District 

GS: In my role as Director, one of my chief responsibilities is managing OAG’s Violence Reduction Unit and flagship community violence interruption program, Cure the Streets (CTS). The CTS program is built on the belief, supported by research, that empowering communities to intervene with those at highest risk of gun violence and changing the social norms surrounding it can have significant, lasting impacts. 

Over the last seven years, we have seen transformation in the program staff, participants, and communities that we serve. The CTS program has been successful in reducing gun violence in key neighborhoods across the District. More information about the program and our impact can be found on our website.  

When you think about your partners in the community that work on the frontlines to interrupt and intervene in violence- what do you want residents of DC to know about them. 

KDS: When I think about our partners in the community who are on the frontlines interrupting and intervening in violence, I want DC residents to know that these are not just workers—they are neighbors, mentors, healers, and protectors. Many of them have lived the very experiences they now work every day to prevent. They bring credibility, compassion, and a deep commitment to the people and communities they serve. 

These individuals put their lives on the line—day and night—responding to shootings, mediating conflicts, supporting families in crisis, and helping people find a different path. They do this work quietly, often without recognition, but the impact is profound. Their presence helps prevent retaliation, ease community tensions, and connect people to critical resources like housing, employment, and trauma support. 

What people often miss about community violence intervention (CVI) in DC is that it’s not just about responding to violence—it’s about preventing it through trust, relationships, and consistency. CVI isn’t a quick fix. It’s a long-term investment in people, communities, and healing. When paired with housing, jobs, and mental health support. 

GS: I have met some of the most dedicated, passionate, and inspiring partners in doing this work. Our frontline staff work tirelessly to address gun violence. The program employs credible individuals who have trusted relationships and influence within their neighborhoods. CTS staff on the frontlines are trained to mediate conflicts, provide resources and support to high-risk participants, and engage with the community to build coalitions and develop strategies to reduce gun violence. 

The community-based organizations (CBOs) that we work with also play a huge role in the success of the program. They understand that community violence interruption saves lives and addresses the root causes of gun violence. Our CBOs employ more than 90 CTS frontline staff and work in partnership with OAG to ensure the program is implemented with fidelity to the model. 

There would be no CTS without our partners, and a large part of the program’s success is attributed to the CBOs and frontline staff. 

Women in CVI are a powerful force both here in DC and across the country- talk a bit about how you've tapped into that network of women leaders both locally and nationally (particularly in a field where men have at the forefront historically) 

KDS: Women have always been at the forefront of community building, saving, and sustaining. I come from women who have always stepped up to serve and I am thankful to work alongside the women across ONSE, our grantees, and CVI to bring about a world without gun violence. I was fortunate to participate in the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago where I connected with so many women doing this work on the national level. I look forward to ONSE continuing to be a convener for partners across backgrounds. 

GS: I appreciate this question and recognize that women have always been pioneers as it relates to community-led programs and initiatives. I am grateful to have found support in many women through my journey of leading CTS over the last three years. Women have played a huge role in my success, and it helps to have government, non-profit, and federal partners that not only support the work that I do but also support me. In turn, I have worked to create a safe space for other women who are leading CVI work, including my OAG team and CTS staff. 

What is one thing that you think people need to know about CVI in DC that is often overlooked or misunderstood? 

KDS: The data is clear: community-based violence intervention efforts work—we see this nationally and right here in DC. Violence Intervention isn’t a quick fix but a long- term investment to resocialize individuals and communities— into choosing alternative pathways to violence. 

GS: Community violence interruption initiatives are a crucial component of a comprehensive approach to gun violence in the District. CVI is designed to address localized conflicts and require sustained commitment and time to make long-lasting change. I feel like people look to CVI to be an immediate solution to long-standing conflicts and then fault the efforts and programs as not working when there is continued conflict. People don’t see all the work that happens behind the scenes between program staff and community. Often people are only using one metric to measure CVI work, when there are many ways to measure the success of CVI. 

DC has made major strides in reducing violence over the last year. How do you envision these declines continuing? 

KDS: In 2024 we saw a substantial reduction in gun violence by thirty-seven (37%) and will continue to work hand-in hand with public and private sectors to build on this. With the support of the mayor, we hope to be able to continue to innovate, scale, and further institutionalize these efforts. 

GS: With continued support, I envision violence continuing to reduce through programs like CTS. CTS staff have worked to build deep connections in the neighborhoods they serve, act as role models to program participants, and change community norms about violence. 

Finally- what do you see as philanthropy's role in CVI here in DC? 

KDS: It takes all of us in the fight—gun violence is public health crisis and like any other crisis every sector must be hands in. CVI is a shared responsibility. Philanthropy can be a catalyst for change, working in partnership with communities and government to build a safer DC. 

GS: Philanthropy can use its convening and funding power to support CVI in the District. CVI is under attack, and it will take more than government to continue to advocate and support this work. Philanthropy should also work to shift the narrative, locally and nationally, about the need to support CVI work. 

Healing from Within: Why DC Must Bolster Community-Led Solutions to Gun Violence

Across Washington, DC, residents face extraordinary challenges. Yet DC natives hold their own solutions. Local leaders who understand both the pain and potential for healing make daily impact. 

Gun violence is merely a symptom of a larger epidemic. Saving lives requires robust funding of community-based gun violence prevention and Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs. Two remarkable organizations—the TraRon Center and the National Association for Returning Citizens (NAARC)—demonstrate the transformative power of community-led solutions. 

Ryane Nickens, Founder of TraRon Center at an event for Gun Violence Awareness Month.

The Prevention Imperative: Starting Where Hope Lives 

Ryane Nickens was 15 when her sister Tracy was killed by their next-door neighbor. At 17, she lost her brother Ronnie to a friend's gun. These devastating losses left her clinically depressed and struggling to trust. 

Ryane left DC for college in North Carolina, seeking space to heal. During her senior year, when another close friend fell to gun violence, she felt called to return home. She enrolled in Howard University's School of Divinity and began working with the Washington Interfaith Network on gun violence prevention outreach in Wards 7 & 8. 

"Meeting with community members -- including mothers of victims to gun violence -- was a powerful experience for me," Ryane shares. "I saw in them the same pain and lived experience that I had gone through." 

Ryane realized what policymakers were overlooking: the need to create healing spaces for community members impacted by gun violence, especially in Wards 7 & 8. 

A 2020 DC Health Matters Collaborative study found that nearly 1 in 4 residents in Ward 8 struggle with poor mental health—a tenuous situation where lack of mental health access overlaps with communities marked by gun violence. 

"Our community doesn't have a safe space to process and cope with trauma," Ryane shares, recalling how she would ride the bus for nearly an hour to reach the nearest therapist as a teenager. "Our community needs somewhere that they can process their emotions; their trauma and heal in place." 

Building Sacred Spaces for Healing 

In 2017, Ryane started the TraRon Center—named after her siblings—as a safe space where children ages 4-14 and their families can acknowledge pain, process trauma, and learn therapeutic skills to navigate complex emotions. 

"I want our children to achieve their hopes and dreams. We need to start by helping them process the trauma and pain that is holding them down," Ryane shares. 

Each child takes an Adverse Childhood Experiences Study or ACES—a nationally recognized trauma assessment. Almost everyone registers scores indicating severe or significant trauma. 

"We want these children to thrive," Ryane shares. "Their joy and quality of life is our long-term goal, as an organization." 

Beyond therapeutic treatment, the TraRon Center provides educational opportunities including museum trips, embassy cultural center visits, and team-building summer camps. "We teach them that they are global citizens," Ryane explains, expanding their sense of possibility. 

Ryane's program succeeds through authenticity. She understands violence not as abstract policy but as lived experience, channeling personal trauma into preventive healing. This creates trust outside organizations cannot establish. "Once you have their attention and they know they're in a truly safe space, you can start to unravel the causes of their trauma an begin exposing them to not just trauma informed treatments but open their minds to the beauty around them and inside of them," Ryane observes. 

Since 2018, the TraRon Center has engaged over 150 children and achieved significant improvements in participants' ACES scores as youth move from surviving to thriving. These youth have gone on to become volunteers and advocates for the TraRon Center – extending the cycle of healing for those that need it. 

"We want our kids headed to college, to the workforce, working towards something greater and making generational changes in community and family," Nickens says. 

Intervention That Works 

Eric Weaver, Founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens (NAARC).

Eric Weaver's journey exemplifies the transformative power of second chances. While incarcerated, Eric earned his GED and degree, led self-help groups, and tutored peers, establishing support networks to prepare people for post-release life. 

"When I got out, a lot of people were asking why I wasn't doing the same things I was doing inside," Weaver recalls. How could he continue the transformative mentoring and education work outside of the prison walls? 

The answer came through Peaceaholics, one of DC's earliest community violence intervention programs started in 2004. Eric began teaching GED classes and running programs. His credibility was unquestioned—when he arrived to take program participants to class, "every time, they got in the car. They needed someone who understood." 

However, the initiative's impact was short-lived. Following a mayoral administration change in 2010, funding and public support for Peaceaholics quickly dried up. The results were devastating: "Everybody that was in the GED class, every last one of them is dead or locked up. That's what happened when the program stopped." 

Building Credible Community Intervention 

This tragedy crystallized Weaver's understanding: consistency matters in violence intervention work. In 2010, he founded the National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens (NAARC). In 2018, when the DC Office of the Attorney General introduced Cure the Streets—a Community Violence Intervention model proven in metropolitan cities—many in the community resisted due it’s connection to cities outside of DC. Where others saw invasion, Weaver saw opportunity. NAARC was among the first to pilot the program. 

For many violence intervention workers—eighty percent of whom are returning citizens—this represents their first real post-incarceration opportunity. "Where other career opportunities look at their background as a burden, here it makes them credible in the neighborhood," Weaver notes. Cure the Streets intervention experts receive signature neon yellow uniforms and training to stop violence before it happens. 

"This work saves them and helps them get on their feet, but this job also is a public safety initiative," Weaver explains. "Had these people not been able to get this job, they could have been a victim or a predator of violence." 

Weaver has watched workers graduate to college and move into DC government positions. The organization includes professional development because "we don't want violence intervention workers to make a career out of it—we work with them to find the next step in life." 

Beyond Crisis: Expanding Possibilities 

Weaver's genius lies in understanding that intervention means more than stopping fights or retaliation—it means expanding possibilities. Beyond intervention, he has organized etiquette classes, purchased suits for youth, and provided new experiences and opportunities for those that have not been afforded to them. 

"It expands a person's range; it expands their dreams," Weaver reflects. "When you give them the opportunity to explore other opportunities and see that anything is possible, they start trying to do more." 

Yet like the TraRon Center, NAARC faces the fear of funding instability. DC has a pattern: violence prevention and intervention funding follows political cycles rather than community needs. Programs start with fanfare, build relationships and trust, show results—then vanish when administrations change. 

"Our work is 100% based on trust," Weaver explains. "Our community trusts that no matter what happens, we'll do whatever it takes to show up for them. We need our elected officials to do the same." 

A Call to Action 

DC stands at a crossroads. We can continue the expensive cycle of responding to violence after it occurs—through emergency rooms, courts, and prisons—or we can invest in community-based solutions that address root causes and build lasting peace. 

As Nickens puts it: "We know that our community faces obstacles beyond their control. We want to love them through it, while giving them the tools to plow through the obstacles and reach their dreams -- no matter how impossible they may seem." 

Funding community-based gun violence prevention and intervention isn't just about public safety—it's about justice, dignity, and recognizing that every person deserves the chance to thrive rather than merely survive. 

The question isn't whether we can afford to fund these programs. The question is whether we can afford not to. 

Loud & Proud - Supporting LGBTQ+ Advocacy Across Greater Washington

Throughout the year - and especially during Pride Month - The Community Foundation is proud to support the work of our partners who advocate for systems change on behalf of LGBTQ+ communities across the DMV.

We know that Pride isn’t just about celebration - it’s about recognition, resilience, and ongoing work towards a world where everyone can live authentically and feel seen, heard, and loved.

This Pride Month, we celebrate not just the vibrant diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, but also the incredible advocates, allies, and everyday heroes who stand up for equality and inclusion.

• DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  The DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition serves LGBTQ+ communities across all eight wards of Washington, DC, with a strong focus on those who are most systemically marginalized.

  This includes:

  • Black and Brown transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals

  • LGBTQ+ youth and seniors

  • Low-to-no-income residents

  • People with disabilities

  • Unhoused and housing-insecure individuals

  Briefly describe the story behind your organization. What was the inspiration to focus on changing systems rather than just providing services?

  The DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition was born out of a shared frustration with the status quo, where LGBTQ+ organizations had to compete for minimal funding, and structural change felt out of reach. Rather than focusing solely on direct services, a small group of community organizers and advocates came together to ask: What would it look like to reshape city systems and budgets to reflect the needs and leadership of LGBTQ+ people?

  With a vision of collective power, we shifted toward budget advocacy to secure long-term, systemic investments in housing, healthcare, safety, and economic opportunity. What began as a handful of voices has grown into a powerful coalition of over 20 LGBTQ-led and LGBTQ-serving organizations working in unison to push for transformational change.

  What changes have you seen that give you hope, even when the work feels challenging?

  In just a few years, we’ve helped secure over $20 million in investments for LGBTQ+ programs and services. We’ve seen the District fund initiatives led by trans-led organizations, expand shelter and housing options, expand governmental competency trainings to include LGBTQ+ identities and experiences, provide seed funding for the new and improved DC LGBTQ+ Community Center (akin to centers in LA, NYC, Chicago, etc.) and invest in mental health resources tailored to our communities.

  Perhaps most heartening is the shift in narrative — policymakers are beginning to see LGBTQ+ people, especially those at the intersections of race, gender identity, and class, as essential voices in shaping policy, not just as service recipients.

  How do you make sure the full diversity of LGBTQIA+ experiences shapes your work?

  First and foremost, we are mission-driven. We prioritize leadership from those most impacted: Black and Brown trans folks, youth, and disabled LGBTQ+ residents, and ensure they are at the center of priority setting, strategy, and meetings with decision-makers. We engage in continuous dialogue with community members through listening sessions, surveys, and peer-led convenings. This happens on small and large scales, including organizing the first-ever LGBTQ+ housing summit in DC in 2023. We also support individuals and smaller, underfunded grassroots groups to ensure their perspectives are heard and uplifted.

  What do people misunderstand about the challenges LGBTQIA+ communities face today?

  There’s a widespread misconception, largely rooted in high-profile wins like marriage equality, that LGBTQ+ people have “won” the fight for rights. But beneath these legal victories lies a more complex and painful reality: trans people of color still face disproportionate violence, many queer youth are unhoused or unsupported by their families, and affirming healthcare remains out of reach for many.

  People often overlook how structural issues — housing, policing, education, mental health — impact queer and trans people uniquely. Our work is about addressing those root systems of harm, not just symptoms.

  In particular, Black and Brown LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face increased risks of HIV due to systemic barriers to prevention, testing, and care. Economic inequity and limited employment opportunities — especially for Black and Brown trans and nonbinary people — further entrench cycles of poverty and marginalization. Legal progress like marriage equality doesn’t erase the material realities our communities still navigate every day.

  What resources or support have been game-changers for your organization's effectiveness?

  Support from The Community Foundation and other funding sources over the past several years has been transformative. Multi-year, flexible funding has allowed us to invest in the often-overlooked foundations of systems change: relationship-building, community-led strategy, and sustained political education.

  Strategic support from a lead coordinator of the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition has enabled the alignment and coordination of over 20 partner organizations, ensuring we move with clarity and purpose toward shared goals.

  Access to the DC Council budget process and strong partnerships with legislative allies, built and maintained through this support, have helped shift public resources toward LGBTQ+ communities most impacted by systemic inequities.

  While this progress is significant, continued and expanded investment is essential. Additional funding is needed to sustain momentum, deepen impact, and ensure long-term support for the work and infrastructure of the coalition.

  If we were having this conversation again in five years, what change would you hope to be celebrating?

  • A fortified and fully funded LGBTQ+ agency within DC government — the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs (MOLGBTA) — equipped to lead, coordinate, and resource transformative policy and programming across the city.

  • A fully funded youth homelessness services continuum that includes prevention, emergency housing, transitional programs, and long-term supports tailored to LGBTQ+ young people.

  • Permanent funding for trans-led housing and safety programs.

  • Sustainable, affordable, and dedicated housing options for LGBTQ+ youth and seniors — designed with and for community members to ensure dignity, stability, and long-term impact.

  • Full access to comprehensive healthcare and affirming care for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community — with a focus on ensuring trans people can receive the respectful, competent, and life-saving services they deserve.

  • Multiple pathways to and expanded access for culturally competent mental health services — especially for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness, living with chronic conditions, or navigating trauma.

  • A culture shift where queer and trans leadership is reflected more in the DC government (and nationally) as elected officials, agency leads, etc.

• Free State Justice

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve all of Maryland’s marginalized communities. Every day we do our best to connect with and provide resources to LGBTQ+ Marylanders, people living with HIV, Black and Brown communities, and the many other groups who are too often left out of ongoing conversations around support.

  Briefly describe the story behind your organization. What was the inspiration to focus on changing systems rather than just providing services?

  FreeState Justice actually has a very unique origin story; we were created from the merging of two separate organizations, Equality Maryland and FreeState Legal Project. These were both groups that operated in the early 2010s fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ Marylanders, with Equality Maryland especially being instrumental in legalizing same-sex marriage! In 2016 they combined, taking the most valuable aspects of each to forge FreeState Justice, Maryland’s leading LGBTQ+ legal nonprofit. We were founded through innovation, by organizations committed to improving society for all — we’re proud to say that changing systems has always been a part of our mission!

  What changes have you seen that give you hope, even when the work feels challenging?

  It cannot be overstated how elated FreeState Justice is regarding the recent passing of the Carlton R. Smith Jr. HIV Modernization Act, a piece of legislation we’ve been pushing for years. In a time when our communities are constantly facing legislative attacks, seeing a bill that safeguards the rights of those living with HIV — an illness whose criminalization disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ and Black/Brown communities — receive so much support has been so uplifting. It's a reminder of the immense good our communities can do when we work together, and it's helped everyone at FSJ re-commit themselves to our mission.

  How do you make sure the full diversity of LGBTQIA+ experiences shapes your work?

  We recognize that the most effective form of advocacy is one that is constantly in conversation with those being advocated for. We are lucky that Maryland's LGBTQ+ community is filled with different identities, and we host many opportunities throughout the year for these people to speak with us on how we can improve our services. From policy listening sessions, to digital town halls, to literally speaking with people at Pride festivals, we are constantly looking for feedback to ensure our work is one that supports the full diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community.

  What do people misunderstand about the challenges LGBTQIA+ communities face today?

  Too often, individuals within the LGBTQ+ community focus on our different identities rather than the fact that we are all one big community. It makes it far too easy for our more privileged members to believe that attacks on our more vulnerable members — especially our Trans siblings — don't affect them. It's only until we overcome this divisive mindset and commit to completely supporting the rights and respect of one another that we can hope to move forward as a community. Now more than ever, we have to unite and remember that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us!

  What resources or support have been game-changers for your organization's effectiveness?

  While FSJ is immensely grateful for the institutional grants and donations we receive throughout the year, it's been the uptick in local support that has truly been a game changer. Our entire mission is dedicated to serving Maryland's LGBTQ+ community, so to have seen an outpouring of donations from local organizations, coalitions, and individuals in recent years means more than I can describe. Not only is it essential for us to provide what we do, it helps our staff see the direct impact of their work and improves effectiveness overall.

  If we were having this conversation again in five years, what change would you hope to be celebrating?

  In five years, I hope we’ll be celebrating the massive amount of pro-Trans, LGBTQ+ inclusive legislation that FreeState Justice has been able to help pass. Not only will our organization continue providing free legal services and resources to those who need it most, with the recent announcement of our C4, FreeState Equality, we’ll play even more of a role in passing legislation that makes this state — and the entire country — more inclusive for all.

• Equality Virginia

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve LGBTQIA+ Virginians across the Commonwealth.

  Briefly describe the story behind your organization. What was the inspiration to focus on changing systems rather than just providing services?

  Equality Virginia was founded in 1989 as Virginians For Justice with the goal of advancing the cause of equal justice for all across the Commonwealth. Today, the organization is known as Equality Virginia and our mission is to advocate and organize across Virginia to build a future where LGBTQ+ people thrive. We believe that lasting change happens not just through supporting individuals, but by transforming the systems that harm or exclude them in the first place. While direct services are essential, they often address symptoms rather than root causes. We focus on addressing those root causes, shifting narratives, and building power within LGBTQ+ communities.

  Since 2020, our movement has faced a wave of policy attacks on LGBTQ+ people, especially trans people. Anti-equality forces have weaponized trans youth in particular. Unless we solve this, it’s not just LGBTQ+ rights that suffer - democracy, bodily autonomy, and progress toward racial justice also hang in the balance. As we look ahead, we know the legislative landscape will present challenges, especially given a hostile federal administration and states governed by extremist legislators who continue to target transgender people as part of their anti-rights agenda.

  As a movement, we’ve invested in research on how to talk about specific issues affecting trans people, such as transition-related care and the ability to participate in sports. We see the need to invest in a comprehensive framework that fundamentally shifts worldviews toward empathy and justice for transgender people, is authentic to the diverse experience of transgender people, and is grounded in community organizing and capacity building. Across the LGBTQ+ and allied movements, leaders and funders recognize the need to shift culture through new narratives and organizing strategies, and we are ready to meet the challenge.

  What changes have you seen that give you hope, even when the work feels challenging?

  Pure and simple-- we've seen people power. That's what gives me hope.

  And we're seeing greater collaboration across movements for racial justice, reproductive freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights. That kind of intersectional, community-led momentum gives me real hope. It reminds us that progress isn’t always linear, but it is always possible when people show up for each other.

  How do you make sure the full diversity of LGBTQIA+ experiences shapes your work?

  In early 2024, Equality Virginia embarked on a strategic planning journey to shape a clear, actionable vision for the organization’s future. The process began with a focused pre-Gather phase, where Equality Virginia’s leadership and Strategic Planning Team came together to define key questions and goals that would ensure a strategic plan rooted in the organization’s mission and responsive to the current climate.

  Committed to genuine community engagement, Equality Virginia prioritized gathering input from a broad range of voices. This decision led to one-on-one interviews with 19 stakeholders, engagement with 184 community members through a comprehensive survey, a staff retreat with its five-member team, and a strategically focused board retreat. These conversations provided valuable insights and perspectives that informed the objectives of the strategic plan.

  Our 2025-2027 Strategic Plan is truly informed by the community we serve and the goals within the plan provide continuous opportunities for community engagement and feedback.

  What do people misunderstand about the challenges LGBTQIA+ communities face today?

  Many people assume the work is done because of marriage equality or growing LGBTQ+ visibility. Many people assume that enacting laws and policies addressing the challenges we face makes those challenges go away. Many people assume that the threats we face are not imminent or real, but they are.

  What resources or support have been game-changers for your organization's effectiveness?

  General operating support and volunteers are game-changers!!

  As a small team with a critical mission, general operating support has been an absolute game-changer for Equality Virginia. Flexible funding is both kindness and trust. It allows us to be nimble and responsive. It means we can focus on strategy and impact.

  Equally important are the incredible volunteers who power our work—from leading voter registration drives to sharing their stories.

  This combination of trust, flexibility, and people power is what makes our work both possible and powerful.

  If we were having this conversation again in five years, what change would you hope to be celebrating?

  For Equality Virginia, I hope we're celebrating a larger staff! I hope we're celebrating an increase of meaningful investments in LGBTQ+ movement work in Black, brown, trans, and rural communities.

  Broadly speaking, I hope we're celebrating a culture and narrative shift. I hope we've built, or are starting to build, durable change for transgender and non-binary people through community-informed tools and organizing strategies.

Medicaid: A Lifeline for People Experiencing Homelessness

In the ongoing national conversation about healthcare funding, the debate around Medicaid spending hits especially close to home.

In Washington, DC, more than 257,000 people – 38 percent of the city’s population – depend on Medicaid to get the healthcare they need. That includes 83 percent of all nursing home residents, 51 percent of working-age adults with disabilities – and the overwhelming majority of some of our most vulnerable neighbors – people experiencing homelessness.

Beyond Basic Healthcare: How Medicaid Transforms Lives

For those experiencing homelessness, Medicaid provides far more than just basic healthcare coverage. It creates pathways to stability, dignity, and permanent housing solutions.

Recognizing the relationship between health and affordable housing, in 2022 the city created the Housing Supportive Services (HSS) Medicaid program to leverage Medicaid funds to help people experiencing homelessness receive the case management services they need to obtain and maintain stable housing – including Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH).

Since then, The Partnership to End Homelessness has provided funding to support training for dozens of PSH providers across DC to help them adapt to new billing procedures to fund their housing case management services. These trained PSH providers are also now better equipped to help their clients navigate the complex Medicaid system to access benefits.  

“Medicaid isn't customer-friendly,” Shauna Figueroa Vice President of Housing Services at Friendship Place shared. “It's multi-layered and convoluted, with steps that must be done in a specific order and a lot of paperwork required. Without our case managers, hundreds of people who qualify for Medicaid simply wouldn’t have access.”

 “We recognize that the population we serve really needs access to these resources – but they also don’t have access to a computer or a mailing address,” added Christy Respress, President & CEO of Pathways to Housing DC. “Our staff play a big part of getting people on Medicaid and keeping them enrolled.”

““People will die if Medicaid is cut - for any population. For most people, the fear of losing a job isn’t just about losing income. It’s also about losing access to healthcare.””

— Christy Respress, President & CEO, Pathways to Housing DC

The impact of this work is immediate and life-saving.

"Two weeks ago, a gentleman we'll call Mr. J came to our U Street location in really bad physical and mental shape,” Figueroa shared. “He was living on the street and was HIV-positive with bipolar disorder and active addiction issues. He told us he couldn't sleep on the street anymore – you could see the look of despair on his face.”

“Because he was in the Medicaid system, we were able to quickly provide him with food, secure his medication that he hadn't taken for 60 days, and get him into bridge housing within just two hours."

Arianne Clyburn, Acting Director of Housing at Miriam's Kitchen, notes that Medicaid has "opened up the door for clients to be transferred to higher levels of care" and provides access to medications and preventative care for those who need them most. “Our clients can get yearly medical exams or access eye care and dental work that they haven't had in many years."

In addition to PSH and basic healthcare treatment, Medicaid coverage provides access to:

• Essential medications: For those experiencing chronic homelessness, accessing critical medications is a challenge. "Medication is so expensive," Respress explains. “If you had to choose between taking your meds and having a roof over your head or food to eat, which would you choose?”
  
  “Medicaid allows people to get the treatment they need for things like diabetes and hypertension so that conditions don't reach a point where they need to be hospitalized. It also covers medications for depression and anxiety, which are essential for behavioral health."

• Holistic support services: Medicaid-funded programs provide critical wrap-around services that dramatically improve accessibility and quality of life for those at risk of experiencing homelessness. These services can include transportation to medical appointments, nutritional support, and even gym memberships for high-risk individuals.

• Respite & rehabilitation services: For those experiencing critical illness or struggling with substance abuse or mental health challenges, having access to a place of refuge is critical to their rest, recovery, and long-term stability.

• Durable medical equipment: Items like walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and other assistive devices provide increased mobility and improved quality of life – especially for seniors and individuals that are recovering from traumatic events or living with a disability.

• Home health aides: For many in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), access to a home health aide is crucial. As Respress notes, "Many DC residents are aging in place and just need help with basic activities of daily living. They don't need to be in a nursing home (which many can’t afford); they just need a helping hand so they can stay in their home and maintain their independence."

A senior with Open Arms DC, a permanent supportive housing provider in Congress Heights.

Beyond the Individual: How We All Benefit

When Medicaid helps our neighbors experiencing homelessness, the positive effects ripple throughout our entire community. These aren't just abstract "system benefits" – they're tangible improvements that touch all our lives:

• Less crowded emergency rooms: When was the last time you or a loved one waited hours in an emergency room? Those wait times grow longer when people without healthcare access are forced to use the ER as their primary care provider. Christy Respress explains, "With regular access to medications and preventative care through Medicaid, people don't reach the crisis point that sends them to the emergency room. This means shorter wait times and critical resources for everyone who needs emergency services."

• Safer, healthier communities: We all want to live in neighborhoods where people aren't suffering on the streets. Medicaid coverage means fewer untreated mental health crises in public spaces, less suffering, and communities where everyone can access the care they need. "When people get proper treatment for mental health issues or substance use disorders, we see dramatic improvements not just in their lives, but in neighborhood stability and safety," notes Respress.

• Your tax dollars working smarter: Like it or not, we all pay for healthcare one way or another. Figueroa points out: "Treating someone's chronic condition through regular doctor visits and medication is dramatically less expensive than paying for an ambulance ride and emergency room visit every time they have a crisis. When we invest in preventative care through Medicaid, we're actually saving significant public funds for emergency services." Those savings can translate to lower healthcare costs and taxes for everyone.

• Reduced strain on public services: From police responding to non-violent mental health crises to sanitation workers addressing public health concerns, many public services are stretched thin dealing with the consequences of untreated health conditions. As Clyburn from Miriam's Kitchen observes, "When our clients have access to appropriate healthcare through Medicaid, they're less likely to need emergency interventions from other public services. This frees those resources for other community needs."

A young family served by Friendship Place’s Permanent Supportive Housing Program

The Threat of Medicaid Cuts: "Unfathomable" Consequences

When asked about the potential impact of Medicaid cuts, our partners didn't mince words.

Christy Respress of Pathways stated: "It's unfathomable. It is literally unfathomable.”

“People will die if Medicaid is cut - for any population. For most people, the fear of losing a job isn't just about losing income. It’s also about losing access to healthcare."

The consequences would cascade throughout our communities:

• Hospitals would suffer: Proposed cuts to DC’s Medicaid would slash more than $2 Billion from local hospitals – forcing hospitals to lay-off doctors, cut services, and even close facilities to make ends meet.

• Emergency services would be overwhelmed: Without access to Medicaid, those without insurance will be forced to go to hospitals and urgent care centers to get the care they need, putting additional strain on already stretched emergency services.

• Housing stability would collapse: Figueroa from Friendship Place warns, "Without Medicaid, our clients wouldn't just lose their healthcare – they'd likely lose their housing too. This would cause a level of instability that would bring about relapse for many, cause children to be displaced from their families, and increase demand for shelter placements that we simply don't have capacity for."

• Seniors would struggle: Across DC and our region, many seniors rely on Medicaid to cover rising medical costs – such as home health aides - that Medicare and private insurance won’t cover. In DC alone, 34 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are also covered by Medicaid.

• Community safety concerns: Without access to proper medical care or housing support, some fear that many experiencing homelessness would be criminalized and forced into the criminal justice system – resulting in increases in crime (including violent crime), as desperate needs continue to go unmet.

When asked about potential Medicaid cuts, Clyburn from Miriam's Kitchen expressed immediate concern about "whether we would be able to continue providing essential services and whether our clients would be able to get the support they need to survive and move forward with their lives."

Conclusion: Medicaid as Essential Infrastructure

For people experiencing homelessness, Medicaid isn't just healthcare coverage – it's essential infrastructure that enables stability, dignity, and the possibility of recovery. As Figueroa from Friendship Place summarizes: "Across the board, Medicaid provides individuals the ability to get wraparound holistic services – housing, medical, behavioral, and mental health support. Medicaid is truly invaluable in creating pathways out of homelessness."

"There's something profoundly important about living in a society where we don't allow our neighbors to suffer without medical care," Respress reflects. "The knowledge that we're not abandoning our most vulnerable citizens benefits us all on a fundamental human level."

As our nation debates the future of healthcare funding, we must remember that Medicaid is not merely a line item in a budget. For our most vulnerable neighbors, it is quite literally a lifeline – and cutting it would have profound, far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities alike.

A Victory for Maryland's Future: Baby Bonds Study Moving Forward

Darius Graham, Managing Director for Community Investment with Maryland Delegate Mark Edelson

By Darius Graham, Managing Director for Community Investment

Maryland is taking a meaningful step toward expanding economic opportunity for children and families. The state’s budget that was signed in May by Governor Moore includes a provision directing the Comptroller to study the feasibility of a statewide baby bonds program that could help children born into poverty build wealth and achieve long-term financial security. With this study underway, Maryland is one step closer to making baby bonds a reality for children across the state.

At the Greater Washington Community Foundation, we’re proud to have played a leading role in bringing the idea of baby bonds to the forefront in Maryland. We were grateful for the opportunity to introduce the concept of a statewide baby bonds program to Delegate Mark Edelson and to work closely with him to craft House Bill 753 — the precursor to the provision ultimately included in the budget bill. We also provided testimony in support of the bill, recognizing its potential to chart a new course for building generational wealth, particularly for children from low-income families.

Maryland isn’t starting from scratch. Last year, the Community Foundation and our partners launched Brilliant Futures, a program serving up to 400 kindergartners in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Each student receives an initial deposit of $1,000, with up to $1,000 deposited annually through 12th grade. Upon graduation, these students will have approximately $13,000 to use for education, homeownership, entrepreneurship, or other wealth-building activities. This study marks a pivotal step in our ongoing effort to transform innovative pilot programs like Brilliant Futures into public policy — turning bold ideas into lasting impact for children across the region.

The study will examine what it would take to scale a model like this statewide. It will explore sustainable funding sources, assess infrastructure needs, and analyze the potential impacts of baby bonds on key indicators like homeownership rates, higher education attainment, and small business development. This isn’t just about dollars and cents — it’s about opportunity. It’s about ensuring that every child in Maryland, no matter the zip code they’re born into, has a fair shot at building a stable, successful future.

“I truly believe that Baby Bonds can radically change outcomes for children facing poverty,” Delegate Edelson said. “I was so pleased to be able to move the needle on this discussion and I am looking forward to seeing the report when it is published.”

We’re excited to be part of this journey and grateful to Delegate Edelson — not only for advancing the original bill, but also for helping ensure the baby bonds study was included in the final state budget. We look forward to sharing more as the study progresses and to continuing the push for a future where all young Marylanders have the financial resources they need to pursue their dreams.

Gun Violence Awareness Month: Elevating Community-Centered Approaches to Violence

Friends and organizers with T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, a DC-based gun violence prevention organization on Wear Orange Day

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month and at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, we aim to provide both local and national context to the region around our efforts-and those of our partners-to promote community safety. This is particularly timely as funding for Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs both nationally (and here in DC) faces uncertainty. 

The Origins of Gun Violence Awareness Month & Wear Orange Day  

The House of Representatives first designated June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in 2021. But the movement began years earlier as a tribute to Hadiya Pendleton - a high school student from Chicago who was shot and killed on a playground in 2013, just one week after marching in President Obama’s inauguration.  

On the first Friday in June – what would have been her birthday - Hadiya’s friends chose to celebrate her life by wearing her favorite color, orange. The gesture was quickly adopted by advocates across the country, as a way remember and honor victims of gun violence.  

By 2015, communities across America began observing Wear Orange Day/Gun Violence Awareness Day on the first Friday of June – to honor those - like Hadiya – who lost their lives and to take a stand against gun violence. 

The Role of a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Ecosystem 

Reducing gun violence is complicated and requires multifaceted approaches and work across sectors. But some of the most promising solutions lie in the communities that are most impacted. CVI Ecosystems link a variety of approaches toward gun violence reduction to holistically address the issue. These ecosystems are most impactful when community, hospital, and school-based interventions collaborate, are rooted in data and are connected to city resources and supports. 

In most cities, a very small percentage of people - often less than 1% - drive most of the gun violence. CVI leans into this population through intensive engagement and interventions led by relatable teams of frontline workers (sometimes called credible messengers or violence interrupters). 

To learn more about these strategies and CVI more broadly, check out our webinar from February titled Building Safer Communities: A Donor's Guide to Community Violence Intervention Strategies. 

DC’s Violence Prevention Network - The Promise & Potential 

Members of Cure the Streets, a CVI initiative driven by the National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens (NAARC) with Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I - At-Large)

Here in DC, we’re fortunate to have a fully committed network of people working to prevent and interrupt violence. Through city-led efforts via ONSE and OAG and their partnership with those on the ground and in hospitals, a group of individuals with diverse expertise are invested in this work. Over the last year, we partnered with the Public Welfare Foundation to convene the DC Community Safety Collaborative - a group of philanthropic, corporate, business, and community leaders that have been working to identify key priorities for local attention and investment. We know that through continued collaboration and cross-sector investment, DC has the ability to further drive down violence and build capacity in public health approaches.  

In addition to our philanthropic and private sector partners- several key city and nonprofit representatives sit at a table with us in developing our strategy. Below, those partners and the work they lead to reduce and prevent violence locally (making up elements of our local CVI Ecosystem) are highlighted: 

• Office of the Attorney General of DC’s Cure the Streets operates in discrete high violence neighborhoods using a data-driven, public-health approach to gun violence by treating it as a disease that can be interrupted, treated, and stopped from spreading. 

• NAARC (National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens) is committed to supporting formerly incarcerated residents of DC. While NAARC leads a variety of programs, their work to lead several Cure the Streets sites helps to interrupt local violence through trusted, credible violence interruption teams. 

• Peace for DC is committed to addressing gun violence holistically. The DC Peace Academy provides advanced, hands-on classes for the professional and personal development of DC’s violence intervention professionals.  

• Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) leads a Violence Intervention initiative that uses a three-pronged approach that incorporates a public health perspective. The approach focuses on all persons affected by violent acts, including victims, perpetrators, and their support systems/networks 

• Project CHANGE is the District’s Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) and provides services to individuals and their families who have experienced a life-threatening intentional injury. 

While negative headlines can sometimes overshadow progress, we're committed to highlighting the positive, life-saving work happening in our local gun violence prevention and intervention space. 

Join Us in Making a Difference 

Throughout Gun Violence Awareness Month, we'll be sharing more insights on this critical issue. Together, we can build safer communities through collaborative, community-centered approaches to preventing violence. 

From Global Relief to Mutual Aid: Former USAID Workers Leverage Cash Transfer Expertise to Support Their Own

Solidarity Fund volunteer Claudia, second from left, with other USAID staff visit a post-flood cash distribution program in Bangladesh in October 2024. Photo Credit: USAID

In honor of Public Service Recognition Week, The Community Foundation is proud to highlight the incredible volunteers behind The Solidarity Fund – a new relief fund that provides emergency cash assistance for former USAID workers suffering financial hardships.

The Community Foundation is proud to partner with the volunteer organizers of the Solidarity Fund to support our incredible community of public servants.

We thank and celebrate you – and all of our public servants - for your example and your dedicated service!

As a 15-year veteran in the international development space, Laura’s career with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has touched hundreds of lives all over the world.

From helping Venezuelan migrants in Colombia afford food to providing relief for war-ravaged communities in Ukraine, Somalia, and Yemen, Laura and her colleagues at the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) spent decades delivering billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to communities around the world.

“I love playing a small role in making the world a better place – one life at a time,” Laura shared of her career. “No matter what country or community I’ve worked with, it’s such a rewarding experience to bring relief to those who need it and help them rise above whatever challenges they may be facing.”

However, when workforce reductions at USAID left thousands out of work, Laura and her colleagues turned their attention a little closer to home – providing emergency cash assistance to support their own through the Solidarity Fund.

Cash Transfers: An International Solution to a Domestic Crisis

The Solidarity Fund is designed for international development professionals by international development professionals - leveraging the same principles and procedures that have helped millions of people around the world for decades. It all starts with one very simple concept – cash transfers.

Solidarity Fund volunteer Laura with an entrepreneur who received USAID cash transfers in Colombia, 2024. Photo Credit: USAID

"It was obvious to all of us that cash was the way to go," explains Jacob, a 12-year veteran of USAID's BHA who helped establish the fund after being part of the first wave of staff departures on January 30. "In the days and weeks after the layoffs, people’s biggest needs were rent and groceries – and cash payments are the best ways for us to meet those needs."

“Cash programming was one of our biggest funding interventions at BHA,” added Claudia, a former BHA contractor who had been with the organization for 2 years. “In FY24, we provided more than $2 billion in cash and food voucher assistance, worldwide. We know it works.”

Within a few weeks of the initial USAID layoffs, the concept for the Solidarity Fund was born – led by a group of experienced former BHA employees and drawing from a wealth of institutional knowledge within the network of the international development community.

Together, they developed a detailed application and review process for an emergency cash assistance initiative that would help their former USAID colleagues facing financial struggles or economic hardship. The process – which is based on standard humanitarian aid best practices and procedures – is carefully designed to protect applicants’ privacy, respect individual dignity, prevent bias, and provide relief for the most vulnerable members of their community.

“We’ve spent years designing programs to get cash into the hands of people that need it – it’s what we do,” Claudia said.

The only piece that was missing was a fiscal sponsor to support the operations.  

"Cash payments require a pretty robust technical and financial infrastructure," explained another volunteer who joined the effort in late February. "Even though we had the vision and the expertise, if we were going to get these payments out quickly, we needed an organizational partner who could help us manage the administrative components.”

“After meeting with more than a dozen organizations, we finally found the perfect partner in The Community Foundation.”

“Once we got in touch with The Community Foundation, things really started to move,” Jacob said. “We reached out to request a meeting, a week later, the fund was established, and we were able to start helping people.”

 “We couldn’t have done this work without The Community Foundation.”

“These Folks Served Others – It’s Time for Us to Show Up for Them”

Solidarity Fund volunteer en route to visit earthquake-affected communities in Haiti, 2021. Photo Credit: USAID

Since partnering with The Community Foundation, the Solidarity Fund team has wasted no time in making a big impact on their community.

Since launching the fund on March 20, the team has distributed over $32,000 to 21 households. This is in addition to 9 families who meet the Solidarity Fund’s high needs criteria and are currently on the waitlist. To date the committees have reviewed over 230 applications.

“These folks have served people in need around the world for years,” Jacob said. “We want to make sure we’re showing up for them by clearing our waitlist and getting these funds out the door as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, messages of support and gratitude continue to pour in from across the country.

"I am truly honored and grateful to receive the news about the Solidarity Fund’s recommendation for the grant,” one recipient wrote. “Thank you so much for your kindness, support, and for believing in me during this challenging time… Your support not only eases some of the financial burden but also brings great encouragement to me and my family. Thank you once again for your generosity and for standing in solidarity with those in need.”

“I am in tears reading this,” another replied. “I cannot thank you enough for your consideration and kindness. This grant will quite literally keep my children fed.”

Echoing these heartfelt messages, the architects of The Solidarity Fund say they continue to be amazed by the outpouring of support and generosity during this difficult time for so many in the sector.

“It has been so inspiring to see the way the international development community has come together,” Laura shared. “To date, almost all of our fundraising has been a grassroots effort.”

“We may not work for USAID anymore, but through The Solidarity Fund,
we believe its mission can live on.”

— Claudia, Solidarity Fund volunteer

“These are people who have devoted their lives to the service of others,” another volunteer added. “As public servants, they’ve missed holidays and special occasions with kids, deployed to war zones, and spent years far from their family for a greater purpose. They know what it means to sacrifice – and even now, they continue to give and support others.”

“As public servants, we believe in USAID’s mission,” Claudia said. “To end extreme poverty, save lives, alleviate suffering, reduce the impacts of disasters, and ultimately help people become more self-reliant and realize their potential in democratic societies.”

“We may not work for USAID anymore, but through The Solidarity Fund, we believe its mission can live on.”

If you would like to learn more about this initiative, please visit tinyurl.com/solidarityfund-onepager for more information.

To donate to The Solidarity Fund, visit tinyurl.com/solidarityfund-donate.

For former USAID employees in need of assistance, applications can be submitted at tinyurl.com/solidarityfund-apply.

Leveraging the Technology Industry to Pursue Economic Justice in Prince George's County

On April 15, leaders from across Prince George's County converged to share a vision towards economic justice: establishing the county as the East Coast's premier hub for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity innovation.

Click here to watch a complete recording of the convening

"Prince George's County can be a place where industry leaders and partners look here first when they think about AI or Cyber," Mike Echols, Founder & CEO of Max Cybersecurity and Chair of the Advisory Board for Prince George’s County at the Greater Washington Community Foundation stated.

The convening was part of a larger series "Building the Future in the Time of Crisis: Pursuit of Economic Justice in Prince George's County," which brought together government officials, education leaders, technology experts, and community advocates to map out a transformative vision for the county through the Partnership for Prince George’s County.

Over the course of the series, AI innovation quickly emerged as a leading opportunity for growth and prosperity in the county.

Currently, California’s Silicon Valley acts as the hub for investments in AI and technology innovation. However, with ever-growing presence of AI in daily life and in public policy and its proximity to key government agencies utilizing AI and cybersecurity technology, many believe that the Greater Washington Region - and Prince George’s County, in particular - holds the potential to become a second hub for innovation and investment on the East Coast.

This vision goes beyond simply attracting tech companies to the region—it aims to create an integrated ecosystem where innovation, education, and community development work together to generate economic opportunities for all county residents while establishing Prince George's County as the East Coast's premier destination for AI and cybersecurity advancement.

From Education to Career – Building a Pipeline to Innovation

Echols and other panelists outlined a future where AI and cybersecurity research labs establish headquarters in the county, educational institutions create direct career pipelines from Prince George's Community College to other Higher Education Institutions like Bowie State University to Fortune 500 companies, and where barriers to education and business creation are systematically dismantled.

"Bowie State University is poised to play a pivotal role as a strategic partner in this vision as the oldest and only HBCU in Prince George's County,” Gail Bassette, Director of Economic Development/Strategic Engagement at Bowie State University shared. "We can create a center of excellence to drive change and have the continuous learning that we need to upscale and retool our community that so desperately needs this training and skillsets."

"What we tend to see is those who are able to play around with and get familiar with AI and Cyber are better off; they have access to resources that many families don't," shared Eugene Powell, President of the Prince George’s County Tech Council. "As part of this initiative, we need to find ways to level the playing field and expand AI access to everyone who wants it."

A New Collaborative Model

Meeting participants acknowledged the challenge of distinguishing Prince George's County in a competitive regional landscape. Rather than competing directly with established tech hubs, the strategy focuses on creating a distinctive model that leverages the county's unique strengths.

“We have to adopt an asset-based mentality for our county,” shared Peter Shapiro, Chair of the Prince George’s County Planning Board. “Instead of adopting a competitive, deficit-based mentality, let’s look for ways to build something new by leveraging our strengths.”

Bassette agreed: "We need a collaborative approach that highlights each other's strengths and helps us understand where we all fit in the puzzle – a governance structure or platform that allows businesses, entrepreneurs, county leaders, and residents to feed into that system. Once that’s established, and folks see we work well together, more will come and participate."

Next Steps and Implementation

The tech hub initiative will be advanced through the Partnership for Prince George's and the Prince George’s County 100 Group – a group of community members dedicated to advancing technological innovation and development in Prince George’s County.

Based on ideas generated at the April 15 meeting and subsequent individual consultations, the group will present and open letter  outlining next steps for establishing Prince George's County as an inclusive AI and cybersecurity hub.

As Echols powerfully concluded: "I believe that Prince George's County can be the place where the next industrial revolution meets social mobility; this is our moment to build a model county for AI and Cyber—let's not just participate in the future; let's define it."

For more information on how to get involved with Prince George’s County 100, fill out this form or contact Eliza Tolbert-Howard at [email protected]

Andrew Vincent, Horning - Building Bridges to Affordable Housing

As an affordable housing developer with more than a decade in the field, Andrew Vicent understands that successful endeavors are all about collaboration.

“Problem solving isn’t a solo sport,” Vincent explained. “There’s no one person who understands all the nuances. You need to work with the right partners to ask the right questions.”

“That’s one of the things that attracted me to the Partnership to End Homelessness – having that collaboration and diverse spectrum of perspectives.”

From NASA to Baltimore and Back – An Unlikely Career Path

Vincent’s career began far from the world of affordable housing. After earning a degree in economics with minors in environmental studies and political economy, he joined Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the nation's leading consulting firms. There, he worked on diverse projects ranging from NASA initiatives to nuclear decommissioning.

"I realized my job didn't give me a lot of control over the reports I was working on," Vincent recalled. “I wanted to do something more meaningful that was also intellectually challenging – that allowed me to do something well, while also doing something good.”

At the time, Vincent was living in DC and was a first-hand witness to the urban development taking place across the region.

Inspired by the changing landscape around him, Vincent decided to take an urban planning course at George Washington University, and realized he had a passion for development work. He left Booz Allen to pursue a master’s degree in real estate development from the Columbia University – eventually settling in Baltimore, to write his master’s thesis.

“At that time, Baltimore represented a great opportunity to preserve and rebuild housing stock in a way that helped the community,” Vincent shared. “We had the chance to reinvest in urban areas and reutilize the existing infrastructure, so it worked better for the people that live there!”

Vincent took a job at Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) Greater Baltimore – an Arlington-based affordable housing developer working to preserve and create affordable housing for low-income individuals, focusing particularly on those earning 0-30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Vincent was just the second employee hired by the organization after it opened its new office in Baltimore.

Over the next 14 years, the one-person office grew to seven staff members, as the organization expanded its portfolio from managing a few hundred units to several thousand.

 The Power of Collaboration in Building Community

"One of the things I love about real estate development is how dynamic it is,” Vincent reflected. “It brings a bunch of different skillsets together - with the community – to build something from the ground up."

Eventually, Vincent’s career brought him back to Washington, where he now serves as the Chief Investment Officer for Horning, one of the oldest and most established real estate development firms in the DMV.

As part of his role, Vincent oversees development and acquisitions and the broader community approach that Horning takes to its investment projects. He also serves on the board of Wesley Housing; a nonprofit affordable rental housing developer working to build and preserve affordable housing across Virginia and DC.

“Development work is a collaboration,” Vincent said of his role. “It requires doing a lot of listening and collaborating with the community members to make sure that we are creating something that will make a lasting difference in people's lives – whether that’s affordable housing, a commercial development, or a combination of both.”

For Vincent, that shared approach is part of what makes the work of the Partnership to End Homelessness so appealing. This past year, Vincent joined the Partnership to End Homelessness Leadership Council– a diverse group of funders, developers, healthcare representatives, and private sector leaders from across the District working to end homelessness in DC.

“I love the collaboration and diverse spectrum of perspectives that exist within the Partnership,” Vincent shared. “Together, we get to bring all the issues to the table and work to understand them and find the best solutions for everyone.”

As a developer, Vincent brings a practical financial perspective to the partnership's mission-driven work. "Change comes because it works on a practical level. While we all have common goals, we need to meet them in a way that is practical and executable from a financial perspective."

The Role of Developers in the Fight Against Homelessness

Developers, Vincent explained, play a critical role in the fight to end homelessness, as they work to increase and improve the housing stock within the community and provide services for residents from across the economic spectrum.

It’s also a role that comes with a high degree of financial risk, as developers struggle to balance covering rising mortgage, operating, and maintenance costs, with providing housing that is both affordable and sustainable. Things like Low-income Housing Tax credits (LIHTC), PSH vouchers, and operating subsidy programs – supported in large part by funding from the DC Government – play a big role in maintaining that sustainability.

"Affordable housing is a team effort,” Vincent said. “Planning and constructing affordable housing is only half of the battle – maintaining it requires collaboration across the community – including both public and private partners.”

This includes improving coordination between developers and homeless service providers operating programs like Rapid Rehousing and Housing First to prevent eviction through improved wrap-around services for low-income residents who receive rent subsidies.

“Development work is a collaboration - it requires listening and working with community members to make sure we are creating something that will make a lasting difference in people’s lives.”

— Andrew Vincent

As part of the Partnership to End Homelessness Leadership Council, Vincent has played a key role in advocating the DC government for increased funding for homeless services. He’s also learned about how developers like Horning can play a greater role in the housing landscape.

“I feel a lot of personal value in working in the affordable housing space,” Vincent explained. “While affordable housing is certainly more complex than providing straight market housing, I believe that coming together – as a group – to provide this service is ultimately more rewarding in the long-term.”

The Community Foundation is grateful for Andrew Vincent’s ongoing Leadership, as a member of the Partnership to End Homelessness Leadership Council.

If you would like to support the work of the Partnership to End Homelessness, visit https://donate.thecommunityfoundation.org/give/588288/#!/donation/checkout

For more information on the Partnership to End Homelessness, visit https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/partnership-to-end-homelessness

Defending the Right to Expression Through Philanthropy

During a time when so many anchor institutions in our country are coming under attack and increased scrutiny, The Community Foundation has joined a coalition of philanthropic organizations to stand in solidarity and support of our constitutionally protected freedom to express ourselves through charitable giving that aligns with our values and strengthens our communities.

For over 50 years, The Community Foundation has partnered with thousands of philanthropically-minded individuals and families, corporations, and community partners as they’ve exercised their right to support causes across the Greater Washington region and beyond.

Together, as a community, we have provided food access for families living in food deserts, affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness, support and empowerment for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, and economic opportunity for community members of all races, genders, faiths, and nationalities who call this region home.

We have mobilized community resources during times of plenty and times of crisis – including disasters, both natural and manmade – to meet urgent community needs, support our neighbors, and strengthen communities throughout this region. Together, our efforts have shored up gaps in the social safety net to help low-income families move from crisis to stability.

As our community faces the steep impact of federal funding cuts and mass layoffs of federal employees and contractors, the work of our region’s critical philanthropic and nonprofit sector is more important now than ever.

In this time of great need for communities across Greater Washington, our philanthropic and nonprofit sector must have the freedom to direct charitable resources where they are needed most to improve lives today and build a stronger future for all who call this region home.  

We are proud to join with over 400 organizations in signing on to the following statement:

Everyone—wherever we're from or whatever our point of view—wants to live in a nation that upholds the fundamental rights and liberties we all deserve and need to thrive. 

As charitable giving organizations – private and family foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations, and more – we contribute to communities in every corner of America. Together, we support new parents and elders, veterans and school children, hospitals and libraries, churches and food kitchens, artists and researchers, throughout rural, suburban, and urban communities in every state and territory. Yet in this moment, we face the threat of governmental attacks on our ability to carry out this vital mission, when the communities, organizations, and individuals we support need it most.  

We don’t all share the same beliefs or priorities. Neither do our donors or the communities we serve. But as charitable giving institutions, we are united behind our First Amendment right to give as an expression of our own distinct values. Especially in this time of great need, we must have the freedom to direct our resources to a wide variety of important services, issues, and places, to improve lives today and build a stronger future for our country.  The health and safety of the American people, our nation’s economic stability, and the vibrancy of our democracy depend on it.