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.

Community Voice and Visioning is Economic Justice - Reimagine's Dreamscape Journey

Dawnn Leary, Staff lead of Reimagine and Senior Director, Grants & Strategic Initiatives & Maryam Abdul-Kareem, Owner Heartwork Consulting

Economic justice is often defined by policies, metrics, and outcomes—minimum wages, unemployment rates, wealth gaps. But what if true economic justice isn't just about better numbers? What if it begins with the radical act of asking: Who gets to define what a just economy looks like?

For too long, the table for imagining our futures has been reserved for those with institutional power. Meanwhile, those most impacted by injustice—those building worker co-ops, fighting for tenants’ rights, and organizing for care workers—have been expected to implement someone else’s vision. We decided to flip that script.

Why We Embarked on a Community Visioning Process

In 2022, as we (Reimagine, formerly the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative) underwent a robust listening and learning discovery process, which we announced last year, we heard a clear call from nonprofit and movement partners:

“We want to help shape the framework—not just respond to it.”

That feedback lit the path forward. If we are truly committed to economic justice, we must start by redistributing not just resources, but power—including the power to define problems, set priorities, and imagine solutions.

So, we launched the Dreamscape Process: a multi-month, community-led visioning journey centered on the leadership, wisdom, and lived experiences of those on the frontlines. This was not a traditional “engagement exercise.” It was a reintroduction of our mission in practice. As the Dreamscape process launched, a group of twenty-one (21) funders participated in a parallel learning series focused on supporting community led systems-change—recognizing that truly honoring community wisdom requires philanthropy to engage in its own political education beyond centering institutional assets.

We chose the name Reimagine with intention. It’s not just branding—it’s a commitment. To reimagine, we must center imagination, redistribute decision-making, and rebalance our ways of working to include rest and restoration as a political necessity.

How We Designed our Dreamscape Process

We co-designed the Dreamscape Process with a planning committee made up of community-rooted leaders from Beloved Community Incubator, Tenants and Workers United, and Progressive Maryland. Together, we built a process that emphasized relationship, rest, and radical imagination.

We brought in Heartwork Consulting, led by Maryam Abdul-Kareem, whose liberatory facilitation approach made space for vulnerability, truth-telling, and deep visioning. Over

six months, we held in-person retreats and virtual gatherings with seven grassroots organizations:

• Beloved Community Incubator

• Maryland Center for Economic Policy

• Muslims for Just Futures

• National Domestic Workers Alliance

• Progressive Maryland

• Tenants and Workers United

• Virginia Solidarity Economy Network

Each organization received operating support grants in recognition of their time, expertise, and labor. From the outset, we honored lived experience as expertise—not as an add-on, but as the foundation.

Why Rest Was Central to our Process

“We can’t reimagine if we’re too exhausted to dream.”

Organizers are navigating relentless crises. Urgency is constant. Burnout is expected. So we asked: What would it look like to build rest into the core of economic justice work—not as a luxury, but as a requirement for sustainability and strategy?

In Dreamscape sessions, we intentionally slowed the pace. We created space for connection without agenda, for reflection without output. The insights that emerged didn’t happen despite the rest—they happened because of it.

“Rest isn’t separate from economic justice. It is the work.”

What We Learned: Insights from the Frontline

Throughout this process, powerful lessons emerged that are now reshaping our strategy, funding approach, and priorities. Here are just a few:

1. Long-Term, Flexible Funding is Non-Negotiable

“Funders need to keep up with the long-term commitment required to shift systems.”

Organizers need multi-year general operating support and trust-based relationships to scale sustainable models like worker cooperatives.

2. Fund the Work Behind the Work

“Unfortunately, funders don’t often support the work required to nurture and sustain the people doing this work.” —Felix Macaraeg, Beloved Community Incubator

Participants identified chronically underfunded areas essential to movement-building: political education, healing justice, language access, cross-collaboration, and imaginative visioning.

3. Accessibility is a Justice Issue

Funding processes must reflect the communities they aim to serve. That means phone or video applications, minimal reporting, and grantee-defined success metrics—not long, written-only applications.

4. Systems Change Requires Cultural Shifts

“Systems change is shifting policy, structures, and norms—including the idea that if someone wins, someone else has to lose.” —Kevin Slayton, Maryland Center for Economic Policy

Participants called for a broader definition of systems change—one rooted in divesting from harmful institutions, honoring care work, and building solidarity economies.

What Community Vision Looks Like

The Dreamscape Process affirmed that deep systems change comes from those who live the work every day. Their words were reminders and roadmaps:

“We are always getting into good trouble. That’s part of being an organizer—we can’t keep quiet.” —Evelin Urrutia, Tenants and Workers United

“We care for the community by keeping the joy and fostering hope.” —Mariam Ayoudon, Muslims for Just Futures

“Success is when we change how workers see their own power—and help them step into it.” —Alana Eichner, National Domestic Workers Alliance

These weren’t just powerful reflections—they were strategic insights rooted in deep practice.

From Vision to Action

The Dreamscape Process wasn’t a one-time project. It was a turning point.

Moving forward, Reimagine will:

• Expand multi-year, flexible funding opportunities

• Integrate healing and imagination into funding priorities

• Adopt accessible, human-centered grantmaking practices

• Support regular gatherings for peer learning, rest, and reflection

• Regularly engage organizers as a thought leaders.

This is what it means to reimagine, redistribute, and rebalance.

A Call to Join Us

This moment asks all of us—funders, organizers, movement builders, and neighbors—to do more than change outcomes. It asks us to change who defines the outcomes. It asks us to shift not just money, but mindsets. To fund what sustains us. To center rest. To trust frontline wisdom. To believe that new economies are not only possible—they are already being built.

“We build partnerships by knowing this work is happening—and we just have to connect the dots.” —Mariam Ayoudon

If you're ready to shift power, fund bold ideas, and help co-create the conditions for dignity, safety, and abundance—join us.  Let’s build an economy where every voice matters, and every dream is possible.

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.

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. 

CareFirst Invests $1.4M in Greater Washington Community Foundation Maternal Health Fund

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is proud to announce a new $1.4 million investment from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) to the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund and the opening of a new round of grantmaking focused on improving maternal health outcomes in the Greater Washington region. 

“CareFirst’s generous investment allows us to continue uplifting the vital work of community-based organizations tackling the root causes of maternal health disparities,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO at the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Together, we are building a stronger, more just maternal health ecosystem that centers women of color and their families—because where you live, your income, and your race should never determine whether you survive pregnancy or childbirth.”

This investment will support nonprofit organizations working to dismantle the structural barriers to optimal health outcomes for mothers, infants, and families to ensure all women and children in our community can thrive.

“The fact that the United States trails every other developed country in maternal death rates is unacceptable — and avoidable,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst. “This is not just a healthcare challenge or a public health challenge — it is a health equity challenge. CareFirst’s investment in the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Maternal Health Fund will help expand community-led solutions and build a healthcare system that works for every mother, every family and every community.”

Administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund is a strategic initiative focused on improving health outcomes for vulnerable and marginalized populations by advancing innovative, community-based solutions and advocacy. This new round of funding, made possible through CareFirst’s partnership, will provide grants ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 for eligible nonprofit organizations over a two-year period.

Grant funding will prioritize organizations addressing the social and structural drivers of health, including access to care, economic stability, housing, mental health, food insecurity, and community support. The goal is to create long-term change by supporting culturally responsive, community-led solutions that improve maternal health and reduce rates of maternal and infant mortality.

This new $1.4 million investment from CareFirst brings the total funding available in the grant round to $2 million, significantly expanding the Fund’s ability to support the efforts of trusted community organizations serving those most affected by maternal and infant health disparities.

“I’m proud to be working with the Greater Washington Community Foundation and CareFirst on an issue that is extremely urgent and important,” said Andrea Miano, Fund Advisor for the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund. “This investment from CareFirst is a powerful endorsement of the community organizations that are leading the charge to transform maternal health outcomes in our region.”

The new grant opportunity officially opened on April 25. Nonprofit organizations based in and serving the Greater Washington region are encouraged to apply. For more information about eligibility, funding priorities, and how to apply, visit https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/developing-maternal-health-loi. 

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About the Greater Washington Community Foundation

For over 50 years, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has ignited the power of philanthropy to respond to critical community needs and build a thriving region where every person prospers. A galvanizing force for economic justice, The Community Foundation partners with generous individuals, families, and businesses, making it easy and effective for our donors to identify impactful nonprofits and support the greater good in the communities we call home. As the region’s largest local funder, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has invested $1.7 billion in building equitable, just, and thriving communities across DC, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s County. For more information, visit thecommunityfoundation.org.

About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

In its 87th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.5 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2024, CareFirst infused over $403 million to support regional community impact to improve overall health and advance accessible, affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit www.carefirst.com.

Community Foundation's Sharing Community Initiative Announces $945,000 in Funding for Region Nonprofits

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is excited to announce $945,000 in grants awarded through its Sharing Community Funds this past cycle.

The Sharing Community Funds bring together donors who share our passion for building more equitable, just, and thriving communities.  With expert facilitation by Community Foundation staff, donors join together to learn first-hand about the challenges facing our community. Thanks to the generosity of this growing community of givers, together we discover and invest in visionary nonprofits working on the frontlines of our region’s most pressing needs.   

In alignment with our Strategic Vision, the Sharing Community Funds focused on the three intervention areas of the racial wealth gap — Basic Needs, Economic Mobility, and Community Wealth Building.

Grants were awarded in accordance with principles of trust-based philanthropy including investments in general operating and organizational capacity building.

See Below for a complete list of our nonprofit partners for 2025, sorted by category.

2025 Sharing Community Fund Nonprofit Partners - Basic Needs

• Sharing DC

  • DC American Academy of Pediatrics (2025 Multi-Year) is a key part of a national network focused on children's health. With nearly 500 members, including many trainees, DCAAP collaborates with over 67,000 pediatricians nationwide, particularly in the DMV region. The chapter addresses health inequities in Washington, D.C., through early interventions, family support services, and policy advocacy. DCAAP's mission is to promote children's health and development while supporting pediatricians. They advocate for basic needs through educational programs, community town halls, and legislative efforts, aiming for a healthier, more equitable future for children in D.C. and beyond. Through the organization’s service priorities and programming, DCAAP educates and bring awareness to critical issues in their community, including health equity, food insecurity integrated child health services, water quality, community safety, and early childhood development and education.

  • The Multicultural Spanish Speaking Providers Association (2025 Multi-Year) is a vibrant and diverse community of over 1,000 educators of which about 600 are DC residents. Their initiatives create a holistic impact by enhancing educational access, promoting entrepreneurship, and addressing the professional needs of DC’s early educator workforce. MSSPA community members are employed across more than 100 licensed early learning programs and several public schools. MSSPA’s work not only supports the immigrant community’s basic needs but also fosters economic mobility, contributing to a more equitable and thriving early learning sector.

• Sharing Prince George's

  • Community Outreach and Development CDC (2025 Multi-Year) focuses its efforts on Basic Needs, providing food, diapers, toiletries, and public assistance benefits enrollment to help persons who are in times of crisis overcome their situations.

  • Foundation Schools has been providing innovative programs and support services that address the educational, social, and mental health needs of children and adolescents with emotional disabilities and learning challenges.

  • Sasha Bruce Youthwork provides comprehensive support, including safe housing, life skills coaching, and mental health services, through programs like Promise Place (the County's only youth emergency shelter) and the Bruce Empowerment Zone (the County's only low-barrier drop-in center).

  • Jacob’s Ladder provides programming and educational support to help reduce the number of juveniles entering and returning to the juvenile justice system in Prince George’s County.

• Sharing Montgomery

  • AfriThrive empowers African immigrants to grow and share healthy, culturally appropriate produce with residents facing food insecurity. Its training programs help families achieve self-reliance and economic stability.

  • The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence unites traditionally marginalized communities to demand an education system that serves all students equitably. The BBC takes aim at dismantling systemic barriers that have underserved and limited the success of Black, Brown, and students from low-income families and fights for equitable access to the resources needed to thrive.

  • Care for Your Health provides culturally sensitive in-home health care to elders. Patients are served by trained staff from their own community in touch with their circumstances and needs.

  • Community Bridges, Inc. empowers girls in elementary, middle, and high schools to discover their unique identity, voice, and potential through leadership development, college and career readiness, and family support and mentoring.

  • Community Development Network of Marylandpromotes, strengthens and advocates for Maryland’s community development industry. Its Montgomery Housing Alliance is a coalition of members in the County who work to increase affordable housing through expanding public investment, promoting equitable development, and prioritizing the needs of vulnerable communities.

  • Community FarmShare strives to create a local sustainable food system. It supports small scale farmers by purchasing fresh produce for low-income children and residents struggling with diet-related chronic diseases.

  • CREATE Arts Centerprovides art classes, art therapy, and community outreach, with a focus on fostering academic, social and emotional development for students. To level the playing field for access and inclusion, CREATE provides free and reduced fee services to traditionally marginalized constituencies, including people living on low-and-fixed-incomes.

  • Crittenton Services of Greater Washington helps teenage girls achieve academic success, make healthy choices, and chart their own bright futures. Its virtual and school-based programs teach teenage girls to value their education, build healthy relationships, speak up for their own needs, and explore paths toward college and careers.

  • Home Care Partners provides in-home services that support vulnerable seniors, helping them to age-in-place with safety, dignity, and comfort. The organization serves approximately 1,000 clients annually in the DC metropolitan area.

  • Horizons Greater Washington supports students from low-income families for nine years, from kindergarten through eighth grade. The organization works to foster a joyful environment full of academic, artistic, and athletic activities that inspire young minds and build a love of learning.

  • Housing Unlimited provides affordable, independent housing for adults in mental health recovery in Montgomery County. The organization promotes independence and recovery by providing a stable and comfortable home, allowing tenants to focus on becoming valued and integrated members of the community.

  • KID Museum provides interactive programming to populations that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM. They foster a “mind of a maker” mindset in the kids and youth served, working with them to become empathetic and persistent problem-solvers, teammates, and changemakers.

  • Kingdom Global Community Development Corporation operates the East County Hub which distributes food, diapers, and COVID-19 support. The organization also has other public-private partnerships that address food security, health and wellness, education, employment, and housing.

  • Manna Food Center works to eliminate hunger through food distribution, healthy eating education, and advocacy. Its extensive network supported more than 60,000 participants over the past year, distributing 4 million pounds of food.

  • Mary's Center provides health care, education, and social services to build healthier and stronger communities. In response to COVID-19, Mary’s Center worked to prevent the spread of the virus by offering testing and vaccinations to community members through the Greater Washington region.

  • Montgomery County Food Council leads the coordination and advocacy to create a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable local food system by enhancing food access, expanding food education, and supporting the County’s farms and food/beverage businesses. The Council also addresses the impact of local food production, distribution, consumption and recycling on natural resources.

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montgomery County (NAMI MC) provides comprehensive support, education, advocacy, and public awareness to promote recovery so that individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

  • Rainbow Community Development Corporation provides relief for food insecurity paired with other safety net services including eviction and utility cutoff prevention, temporary short-term shelter, and job search and resume assistance.

  • Rainbow Place Shelter provides emergency overnight shelter to women during the hypothermia season and assists them as they transition to a better quality of life. Additionally, the organization is working to open a new year-round, LGBTQ-inclusive shelter to provide a safe haven for youth and young adults.

  • Red Wiggler Community Farm provides comprehensive on-farm training and education programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Half of its organic produce is donated to low-income households throughout Montgomery County.

  • Stepping Stones Shelter provides emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness with the goal of moving a family from crisis to stability within 90 days. Since 1982, Stepping Stones Shelter has served over 1,035 families in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

  • Story Tapestries utilizes the arts to promote accessibility and equity in educational and community spaces. Professional artists share the magic of the arts and enhance individuals’ literacy, social-emotional, and STEAM skills through performances, workshops, artist residencies, and educator training programs.

  • The UpCounty Hub (2024 Multi-Year) was founded with the philosophy of providing low-income individuals and families with food and essential social services, allowing them to maintain their privacy and dignity. It currently provides food to about 1,200 families weekly via drive-thru distributions, home deliveries, and choice-pantry walk-in services. Additionally, its wrap-around supports have grown to include social services, such as supporting applications for SNAP and connecting clients to other essential resources. 

2025 Sharing Community Fund Nonprofit Partners - Economic Mobility

• Sharing DC

  • ScholarChips (2025 Multi-Year) directly addresses the basic needs of college- bound young adults with incarcerated parents by providing them with essential support and resources. Through their scholarship program, they alleviate the financial burden of pursuing higher education, ensuring that these students have access to the same opportunities as their peers. Additionally, ScholarCHIPS’ mentorship program and college life skills workshops equip these students with the necessary tools to navigate college successfully. They also offer mental health supports to address their emotional well-being, helping them overcome the challenges associated with having an incarcerated parent.

  • Urban Ed plans to expand and enhance their STEMAcad workforce & career development program for upskilling & reskilling low-income people of color and advancing the minority pool of talent in STEM.

• Sharing Prince George's

  • Life After Release works with low-income Black women and families in PG County who are currently or formerly incarcerated to chart pathways out of poverty to help them build a self-determined life after release.

  • Life Asset offers microloans, training , and support for entrepreneurs to make their business dreams a reality.

• Sharing Montgomery

  • CareerCatchers is dedicated to working with under and unemployed, low-income and disadvantaged residents of Montgomery County. Annually, CareerCatchers serves over 1,000 people with intensive career coaching and career navigation services, the majority of whom live in areas with the deepest disparities in homeownership and income.

  • CollegeTracks (2023 Multi-Year) supports first-generation-to-college students and students from low-income and/or immigrant households, by providing customized support to navigate the admissions and financial aid applications, degree completion, and pathway to a career.  Each year, thousands of students in Montgomery County graduate from high school without a postsecondary plan that could lead to meaningful careers and upward economic mobility. Since 2003, its network of staff and volunteers has helped over 11,000 students. 

  • Crossroads Community Food Network provides training and support for startup food businesses and healthy eating education to local students and shoppers at Crossroads Farmers Market. Its farmers market nutrition incentives allow federal nutrition benefits recipients to double the value of these benefits spent at the market.

  • Future Link (2024 Multi-Year) is dedicated to closing the opportunity divide for first-generation-to-college young adults in Montgomery County (ages 18-25). The organization provides the professional development, resources, and individual support necessary for higher education, career-based training, and workforce entry, ultimately achieving lasting self-sufficiency. Annually, Future Link serves 315 students with comprehensive services including paid internships, career coaching, mentoring, tutoring, scholarships, and academic guidance.

  • Housing Initiative Partnership (2025 Multi-Year) is a 35-year-old affordable housing developer and HUD-approved counseling agency which develops innovative affordable housing, revitalizes neighborhoods and equips people to achieve their housing and financial goals.  At its Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center, HIP’s integrated services model transforms clients’ financial health through coordinated interventions and referrals to other community resources.

  • Identity, Inc. (2024 Multi-Year) empowers youth and their families with social-emotional, academic, workforce, and life skills to succeed in the modern world. It works with Latino and other historically underserved residents at schools, in the community and on playing fields. Like family, Identity celebrates victories and offers extra help when something more is needed. Last year alone, Identity assisted more than 50,000 Montgomery County residents.

  • Interfaith Works (2025 Multi-Year) ensures that Montgomery County residents have access to vital services and a pathway to greater stability. They achieve this through supplying basic needs (food, clothing, emergency financial assistance), a job readiness program, and a suite of housing programs including four emergency shelters, shared supportive housing, and a Drop-In Center. Interfaith Works employs over 200 staff members and partners with 7,000 volunteers to support 35,000 clients a year who are experiencing poverty.

  • Montgomery College Foundation co-leads the Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) program in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools and The Universities at Shady Grove. ACES provides individualized academic coaching, scholarship opportunities, and career readiness to underrepresented high school students, for a seamless and supportive pathway to a bachelor’s degree.

  • Montgomery County Black Collective (2025 Multi-Year) provides business development, coaching, and individual/family financial literacy opportunities for start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners. Its programs are rooted by tailored resources, mentorship, and peer supports which empower entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to achieve economic independence, build a more equitable future, and drive positive change in their communities.

  • Phase 3 Training Corporation provides hands-on training in the elevator/escalator, electrical, solar, and HVAC industries. Through innovative and effective training models, they aim to reduce economic disparities and foster long-term community development and well-being.

2025 Sharing Community Fund Nonprofit Partners - Community WEalth building

• Sharing DC

  • Latino Economic Development Center is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a 33-year history in Greater Washington. Their mission is to serve as a catalyst that drives the economic and social advancement of low-to moderate-income Latinos and other underserved communities by equipping them with the skills and tools to achieve financial independence, acquire personal and business assets, create generational wealth and become leaders in their communities. While each client of theirs has a different path to economic mobility, each department (Small Business/Lending, Housing Counseling/Eviction Prevention/Tenant Services, Direct Community Investments, and Financial Empowerment) helps them chart that path, stabilizing in the short term, while building long-term sustainability.

  • birdSEED is focused on creating economic mobility through home ownership so Black, Indigenous and persons of color who have been historically disadvantaged in the home buying process can begin building wealth. They do this by offering down payment assistance grants to first time home buyers.

• Sharing Prince George's

  • FSC First is a reliable provider of creative and innovative business financing solutions to established and emerging businesses in the State of Maryland. Their Level Up program provides access to capital, training, coaching, mentoring, and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

• Sharing Montgomery

  • Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland provides home preservation and homeownership programs that help low-income families live a more stable, self-reliant life. Its staff, homeowners, and volunteers have completed nearly 1,050 projects since its inception.

  • IMPACT Silver Spring supports the creation of inclusive local economies by connecting people in an intentional network spanning individuals, neighborhoods, and leaders in the community. Ultimately, IMPACT is working to advance racial equity by transforming county policies, institutions, structures, and systems.

2025 Sharing Community Fund Nonprofit Partners - Capacity building

• Sharing Prince George's

  • Nonprofit Prince George’s: Equips and empowers Prince George’s County nonprofits to better serve our communities.

• Sharing Montgomery

  • Montgomery Moving Forward is a collective impact initiative which convenes leaders from government, business, philanthropy, education, and nonprofits to solve complex problems facing the county. As a capacity building partner, Sharing Montgomery’s grant empowers MMF’s nonprofit leaders to advocate around pressing issues that affect their clients, especially around challenges related to economic opportunity and early childhood education.

  • Nonprofit Montgomery supports local organizations around government relations, advocacy, strategic communications, financial management, metrics tracking, and cross-sector problem solving. As a capacity building partner, Sharing Montgomery’s support will enable our direct-service grantees to receive the personalized support and connections that will help them deepen their impact.

• Sharing Northern Virginia

  *In order to promote organizational growth and stability amongst the 2024 cohort, the Sharing NoVA committee made the decision to focus it’s 2025 grantmaking on capacity building.

  • Joyful Hands (2024 Multi-Year) is deeply rooted in the conviction that education, literacy, and access to community resources are foundational pillars of thriving societies. They provide access to essential school supplies and nutritious food for community members.

  • Culmore Clinic (2024 Multi-Year) advances health by bringing community together to provide primary care, health education and disease prevention services at no cost to uninsured neighbors in Fairfax County.

  • Loving Hands Touch Ministry (2024 Multi-Year) addresses immediate community needs while empowering individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, ensuring access to necessities like food, shelter, healthcare, and education.

  • The Growth and Healing HUB (2024 Multi-Year) grows and nurtures the mental health and well-being of children, youth, young adults, and families. They provide services to anyone residing in the state of Virginia and strive to help all feel safe & supported and receive the help they deserve.

  • New Hope Housing (2024 Multi-Year) provides case management, permanent housing and shelter to support the needs of homeless individuals in Northern Virginia.

  • Arm & Arm, Inc (2024 Multi-Year) provides peer-to-peer mentoring and trauma recovery services to communities across Northern Virginia.

  • Future Kings (2024 Multi-Year) uses education, mentoring, training, practical experiences, and mastery of 21st century technology in order to create a pipeline of young men from underserved communities who excel in STEM related careers and positively influence their communities.

  • Hardemon Dynasty, Inc (2024 Multi-Year) provides affordable housing for young adults aging out of foster care and offer sufficient support during their transition to independence.

Building Capacity and Community Through Sharing NoVA

A patient receives a routine vaccination at the Culmore Clinic – a Sharing NoVA nonprofit partner.

For Lynette Sappe-Watkins, Executive Director of the Culmore Clinic – a Sharing NoVA nonprofit clinic providing healthcare services to uninsured adults in the Bailey’s Crossroads area of Fairfax County-- 2024 has been a very busy year.

“When we joined Sharing NoVA at the beginning of 2024, we were serving about 400 patients,” Sappe-Watkins recalled. “We ended the year with 888 patients.” An increase of more than 114%.

The clinic, which partners with local healthcare providers to provide medical services, diagnostic testing, health counseling and mental health services to low-income individuals and families received more than 7,000 visits.

When asked why she thought the numbers had increased so dramatically, Sappe-Watkins highlighted three words.

“Trust. Access. Acceptance.”

“We strive to create a safe, comfortable, and trustworthy environment for our community,” Sappe-Watkins said. “We focus on care and compassion – making connections with our patients – and our community can feel it.”

Meanwhile, along the Richmond Highway corridor in Fairfax County, Dr. Felicea Meyer-Deloatch, President and Co-Founder of The Growth and Healing Hub has been working to fill a mental health desert.

“There aren’t a lot of mental health practitioners in the Route 1 corridor,” Meyer-Deloatch shared. “But there is an immense amount of need!”

Part of the gap is due to a systemic barrier for mental health clinicians. After completing their degree, most mental health clinicians must complete at least 2 years or 2,000 hours of supervised work before they came become certified for private practice in the state of Virginia. With only so many mental health practices operating in our region, many potential providers are forced to pursue their careers elsewhere.

Launched in 2023, ‘The Hub’ aims to fill that gap, by providing opportunities for clinicians to become licensed, while offering culturally competent, community-based mental health services to families along the Richmond Highway corridor. To help lower financial barriers to care, the Hub accepts health insurance – an anomaly for most mental health providers – especially for smaller providers.

“Navigating the insurance world requires a lot of patience and administrative know-how,” Deloatch explained. “One of the first things we did when we received our Sharing NoVA grant last year was hire someone who could manage our accounts and work with insurance companies to ensure we were getting reimbursed for services rendered.”

“Within the first three months, that position brought in an additional $6,000 in reimbursements.” Medicaid reimbursement is crucial for nonprofit clinics as it provides a vital source of funding, especially for those operating in the social service sector. It helps offset costs, particularly for treating Medicaid patients and providing other community benefits.

Building for Case for Community & Capacity Building

For Yolonda Earl-Thompson, Executive Director of Lazera Ministries and facilitator of the Sharing NoVA initiative, Culmore Clinic and the Hub highlighted the need to support capacity building for the Sharing NoVA cohort.

Sharing NoVA partner, Joyful Hands leveraged their capacity building funds to develop a robust volunteer committee to support the coordination and execution of community events like their Back to School Supply Drive.

“When you’re a grassroots nonprofit – like many of the Sharing NoVA partners- you start from the mission, the passion – the problem that you’re trying to solve,” Earl-Thompson explained. “You’re not necessarily doing it from small business mindset. You’re not always thinking as much about the logistics, the finances, the administration. You’re trying to make your community better.”

Launched in the Spring of 2024, Sharing NoVA awarded $100,000 in multi-year general operating funding to eight different nonprofit organizations operating in the Bailey’s Crossroads and Richmond Highway corridor.

As part of that funding, the nonprofit partners were invited to participate in a cohort – facilitated by Earl-Thompson – to collaborate and share insights about ongoing community needs.

“The cohort was such an incredible experience for everyone,” Earl-Thompson shared. “Not only did we get to hear about the incredible work that these organizations are continuing to do – we were able to share information, form new partnerships, and find ways that we could work together to better serve our communities.”

Sharing NoVA partner, Loving Hands Touch Ministry, Inc leveraged their capacity building funding to implement a robust volunteer and board training program to support growth and sustainability.

Eventually, Sharing NoVA made the decision to invest an additional $100,000 in capacity building grants to help partners not only continue their work, but take things to the next level.

“Our Sharing NoVA nonprofit partners are doing such amazing work,” Benton Murphy, Director of Fund Administration and Special Projects at The Community Foundation explained. “We realized that in order to help them continue that work, we needed to invest in their future.”

For the Hub, that means investing in a permanent accounts manager position to help them manage insurance payments. It also means hiring a development team member who can help raise funds to expand the Hub’s services.

“Right now, we’re relying heavily on volunteers and people who care deeply about their community,” Deloatch explained. “We recognize that if we want to be sustainable, we need to invest in our infrastructure.”

“Sustainability means empowering and encouraging our nonprofit partners who serve the communities they live in,” Earl-Thompson added, pointing to the number of Sharing NoVA partners who are grassroots organizations. “By investing in their infrastructure and capacity building, we’re not only investing in their organization; we’re investing in their community.”

Staff at the Culmore Clinic review floor plans for a new office space - made possible in part by a Capacity Building Grant through Sharing NoVA

Culmore Clinic is also investing in infrastructure, in the form of a campaign consultant to help them secure a new space for their clinic. The organization was recently offered rent free space in a neighboring development project that is soon to be built. However, the offer would require them to raise $1.5 million to support the development – a price tag that is higher than the organization’s total annual operating budget. Sappe-Watkins said the organization plans to hire a consultant who can help them launch a capital fundraising campaign to secure a future home for the growing organization.

“With the growing number of people we continue to serve, we know that having a new space will mean so much for our community,” Sappe Watkins shared. “But to achieve big goals like that, we need a lot more capacity than we currently have. This grant makes a huge difference.”

Want to get involved in Sharing Northern Virginia and find ways to make meaningful investments in your community?

New committee members are always welcome! Contact Benton Murphy at [email protected]

Leaders of the Future: Meet Our Sharing Community Nonprofit Partners

In 2025, The Community Foundation continues to highlight 'Leaders of the Future' - individuals and organizations who inspire us to look towards a brighter future for Greater Washington.

This month, we are excited to highlight nonprofit leaders from our Sharing Community initiatives - which facilitate connections between donors and nonprofits to build more equitable, just, and thriving communities.

• ScholarChips, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  ScholarCHIPS serves children of incarcerated parents pursuing their college education in all wards of Washington, DC., and the Greater Washington Region.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  ScholarCHIPS' mission is to provide college scholarships, mentoring, mental health supports and a robust support network to children of incarcerated parents, inspiring them to complete their college education.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from Sharing DC, a Sharing Community Initiative, has positively impacted ScholarCHIPS' work as it has come at a time of great uncertainty and economic instability, which has given our staff encouragement to keep going in tough times. This funding also allows us to continue our necessary work with children of incarcerated parents, as we support them with scholarship funds to help alleviate the financial burden of a college education, in addition to mentoring, mental health supports, technology, professional development, soft skills training, and much more. To date, ScholarCHIPS has impacted over 100 scholars, now with 46 college graduates. Our scholars attend colleges and universities across the country and are entering into the workforce in critical fields such as law, prenatal care, dentistry, film, social work, and early childhood education, to name a few.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  Receiving Sharing Community funding for the first time is very exciting because of what it represents! Many people from our beloved community come together to put their resources together in order to help support local nonprofits doing critical work, and this is very encouraging and very powerful. It is a form of unity and is reminiscent of the adages... "It takes a village to raise a child," and "If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together."

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  As a nonprofit leader, my organization has faced numerous challenges as a result of the current political and economic climate. I have noticed generally that giving from individual donors on a large scale has stopped or slowed down, and that funding and disbursements from more traditional institutions have also been slow. With financial uncertainties, particularly as it relates to tariffs and drastic drops in the stock market, many investors and families are feeling worried and uneasy. Thus, as a precaution, many are cutting back on spending, and unfortunately, for many, this will include giving donations to charitable and nonprofit organizations. This has required my organization to reevaluate scholarship dollar amounts, timing of disbursements, and other operational factors. However, we remain strong and optimistic, and we will continue to provide our scholars with the best services possible to encourage them through their college journeys and onto their career paths.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader, one of my biggest dreams is to establish a large endowment for ScholarCHIPS! In the future, I also envision expanding ScholarCHIPS' work and impact to students in other states and across the country and even internationally. I envision ScholarCHIPS being a thought leader in the spaces and intersectionality of education, higher education, nonprofit work, and philanthropy.

• Community Bridges

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Montgomery County including Silver Spring, East Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton, Aspen Hill, White Oak, Rockville and Gaithersburg.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The mission of Community Bridges is to empower girls from under-resourced communities to become resilient young women who thrive as students, leaders, engaged community members and confident leaders. Through long-term mentoring, academic support, college access and success, leadership development, and family engagement, we help girls build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in school and beyond.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative has had a significant impact on our work at Community Bridges by helping us expand access to critical programs and support services for the girls and families we serve. Over the past year, this support has allowed us to enhance our college access and success programming—offering more one-on-one mentoring, college tours, and application support. It also strengthened our “Food is Medicine” initiative, ensuring families facing food insecurity receive healthy groceries, which has improved girls’ focus and participation in our programs. Thanks to this funding, we were able to expand our reach by adding three additional schools this year, serving an additional 75 students—bringing our total to over 525 girls across 23 MCPS schools. We are proud to share that we are on track to see 100% of our girls graduate high school, and 100% have been accepted to attend a college or university this fall.

  One powerful example is Alisha, a high school senior who has been on the verge of homelessness. Through our college access support, Alisha completed her FAFSA, was accepted to Towson University, and received food assistance through our “Food is Medicine” program. Despite the challenges she’s faced, she remains determined and is now on track to attend Towson this fall to study business. Her resilience and determination reflect the strength of our girls—and the life-changing impact of continued support.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  In recent months, our organization has seen an increased demand for our programs and resources as more families face financial instability. Many of the girls we support come from families with varying levels of immigration status, and there is heightened uncertainty surrounding immigration policies, which has created additional stress for families accessing support. Additionally, while we are still awaiting clarity on the full impact of government layoffs and furloughs, some of our donors—who are federal employees—have been affected by these uncertainties, which may impact their ability to contribute as consistently. Despite these challenges, we remain optimistic and focused on adapting to ensure that we can continue providing the essential support our girls and families need during this time.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader, my dreams for the future revolve around creating a sustainable, equitable environment where every girl in our community has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of her background. I aspire to see Community Bridges expand its reach even further, supporting more girls across additional schools, and continuing to provide vital resources such as college access, leadership development, and family support. I also hope to see a future where our work has a ripple effect, with our graduates not only succeeding in college and careers but returning to uplift their communities, serving as mentors and advocates for the next generation. Ultimately, my vision is for Community Bridges to become a model of community-driven change, where the resilience and potential of young women are recognized, nurtured, and celebrated.

• Home Care Partners

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Home Care Partners' Montgomery County Light Care program provides one or two weekly visits from a certified home care aide to older residents and adults with disabilities living in communities throughout Montgomery County, with a special emphasis on low-income residents living in subsidized apartment buildings. At present, this program serves individuals living in Silver Spring, (downtown, Wheaton and White Oak), Burtonsville, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Olney.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Home Care Partners is a private, non-profit in-home services provider serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area that supports vulnerable adults to remain in their own homes. We are committed to excellence in our workforce, programs and services; we embrace diversity; and we prioritize service based on financial need.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Sharing Montgomery funding supports the home care aide services that our clients receive. This program does not have one overarching source of funding and clients are low income and unable to pay for their care. Therefore, Home Care Partners combines funds from several sources to be able to continue providing these services to current clients and to be able to add new clients to the program. Although the services are very limited with only one or two brief visits from an aide per week, our clients overwhelming report that the services have helped them to remain in their homes. Over 90% of our clients report satisfaction with their service.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Home Care Partners receives a combination of federal and local state and County funding to support our programs throughout the DC metro area. The uncertainties regarding federal funds as well as extremely tight state budgets create a very stressful atmosphere in which nonprofit leaders are being asked to be prepared for potential funding changes that cannot yet be anticipated. In addition, some of our clients and staff may be impacted by immigration enforcement actions that affect family or friends or they may be concerned about losing their personal benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP and rental assistance. Although HCP doesn't provide any direct services through these programs, we are closely monitoring changes to these benefit programs that may indirectly affect our ability to provide quality services .

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, I aspire to provide the highest quality long term care services to vulnerable adults, while simultaneously supporting our dedicated workforce with the highest possible wages, benefits and other workplace support programs. I would like to see older residents of the community have a robust system of quality long term care options that enables them to age safely and with dignity in their own homes.

• Housing Unlimited

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Forest Glen Gaithersburg, Germantown, Layhill, Montgomery Village, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, White Oak, and Wheaton.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Housing Unlimited, Inc. (HUI) is a 501c(3) organization committed to community integration and independence for individuals in mental health recovery. To this end, we acquire and, when necessary, renovate scattered-site homes that provide independent, affordable permanent housing for individuals in mental health recovery.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from Sharing Community has helped HUI expand our work this past year in two major ways:

  1. New Home Acquisitions: Housing Unlimited (HUI) acquired two new homes. With these two additional homes, we now own a total of 92 scattered-site homes and serve a total of 253 very low income individuals in mental health recovery. One of the new homes is a new construction Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) three bedroom townhome in Montgomery Village. The other home is a resale MPDU townhome in Germantown. Both townhomes are located near shopping, employment, support services and public transportation.

  2. Extra Measure Property Management Program: Over the past twelve months, we carried out our “Extra-Measure Property Management” initiative in support of HUI's tenants. This included educational lease-signings. It also included regular weekly staff house visits to meet with tenants, check maintenance issues, and, in general, ensure our tenants are thriving in their independence. Overall, during the past 12 months, 96% of Housing Unlimited tenants sustained respectful relations with their housemates and 94% maintained a clean unit. 90% of tenants paid their rent on time. And 80% of our recent tenants have maintained their housing and independence for one year or more.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Over the past several months, HUI has started the process of contingency planning to identify potential financial and operational exposure due to the recent draconian cuts and potential future cuts to the federal workforce and federal programs. As of this date, the recent cuts have not directly impacted HUI. At the same time, HUI is closely monitoring potential future funding cuts and/or freezes of the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, CDBG Program, and HOME Program. HUI is particularly concerned about the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (HCV is a deep rent subsidy program) because HUI has 32 Project-based Housing Choice Vouchers that, on an annual basis, provide HUI with rent subsidy revenue of approximately $250,000.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  I look forward to the time when all levels of government-- federal, state, and local-- once again are full partners with the private sector in addressing the affordable housing crisis in our community and throughout the country. With a strong public-private partnership in place, I genuine believe a future is within reach in which all our residents have access to quality, affordable housing.

• The Foundation Schools

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Our schools are located in the 20774 and 20785 zip codes. However, our students come from throughout Prince George’s County and encompass, essentially, all potential zip codes in our region.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The Foundation Schools partners with local school systems to serve their most in-need special education students with emotional disabilities, autism, and other learning challenges. While enrolled in our schools, students receive intensive, personalized academic and therapeutic programming free of cost to ensure they can mainstream back to their home school or matriculate in our schools, working their way toward graduation and brighter futures.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The Foundation Schools operates specialized programs for nearly 250 students across our three schools. To best serve our students, we must cater classroom and mental health programming to the exact strengths and needs of each student. This may look like career programming focused on interview skills, basic needs provisions for a group of our most in-need families, or purchasing a state-of-the-art classroom learning program that bridges gaps in neurodivergent minds. There is rarely a one-size-fits-all scenario in our work, requiring us to implement a multitude of interventions just for one student. Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative will give our Prince George's County schools the funds they need to continue our holistic approach to caring for our students and their families, both in and outside of school.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  Being a part of the Sharing Community Initiative means a lot to The Foundation Schools. We exist in a network of incredible nonprofits, many of whom we partner with, and we are honored to be recognized for our impact in the county. In this political climate, having funds to implement necessary special education programming feels like a beacon of hope for our schools.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  The Foundation Schools is deeply fortunate to have strong relationships with the local school systems we partner with every school year. In light of the Department of Education's announcement to close, we stay fervent in our vision that "all students experience success."

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As the Director of Communications and Development, I feel inspired to help build local wealth and power, uplifting communities small and large. In the future, I would like to see a continuation of business / nonprofit partnerships that sustain important mission-based work.

• Jacob's Ladder, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  All zip codes in Prince George's County..

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is to reduce the number of juveniles entering and returning to the juvenile justice system through mentoring, educational programming, character building, life skills training, and community engagement.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  This is our first year receiving funding from the Sharing Community. So far, the support has allowed us to continue delivering impactful youth programming and launch our Strengthening Families Program, which helps families improve engagement, strengthen home dynamics, and take greater accountability for their children’s success.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  The continued partnership with the Sharing Community—and their confidence in our program—means so much. Their support not only uplifts our work through funding but also strengthens our ability to collaborate with other Sharing Community organizations to make a greater impact in the community.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  In recent months, the slower pace of receiving pledged funds has impacted our organization both financially and operationally. This has directly affected the number of instructors and staff members we’re able to support for our programs, limiting our capacity to serve youth and families at the level we strive for.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader, my dream for the future of our community is one where every young person is empowered to reach their full potential, and every family has the tools and support they need to thrive. I envision a future centered on individual and family success, where strong mentorship, educational opportunity, and life skills training build confident youth and resilient families.

• Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Habitat Metro Maryland works with lower-income individuals and families across Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our Mission: To build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable housing. Driven by the vision that everyone deserves a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland empowers individuals and families to partner with us to build or improve a place they can call home. Through homeownership, we help to break the cycle of poverty and change lives, one home at a time.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland was honored to receive Sharing Montgomery Grants for 2024 and 2025, to support our work scaling up our affordable homeownership and home preservation programs. This funding has been very impactful on our operations over the past year. As Montgomery County faces a growing shortage of affordable housing, Habitat Metro Maryland is significantly expanding the number of affordable homes we build and critical home repair projects we complete. Unrestricted funding, such as our grants from the Sharing Community Initiative, helps to cover our increased costs as we scale up our work. For 2024, funds from our Sharing Montgomery grant were spent on the Allium Place community we are currently constructing. This innovative community will feature 27 affordable homeownership units constructed by Habitat and 168 affordable rental units, constructed by a partner organization. All homes are scheduled to be completed with all families moved in by the end of 2025.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Habitat Metro Maryland is thankful that we haven't been materially affected yet. That being said, we are keeping a close eye on tariffs and how funding cuts and layoffs will affect state and local budgets, as well as community members more broadly. Uncertainty in markets and pricing makes planning developments, projects, and budgeting very challenging.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My dream for the future is that our region and community continues to step up to provide necessary funding for nonprofits especially as the Federal government's contributions to social service nonprofits decline. The need does not go away and will only intensify in the future.

• Phase 3 Training Corporation

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Montgomery county

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Phase 3 Training Corporation's mission is to empower underserved and marginalized communities by providing comprehensive training programs, industry-recognized credentials, and supportive services. Our goal is to enhance income, build wealth, and promote economic mobility for individuals, enabling them to achieve sustainable and prosperous futures. Through innovative and effective training models, we aim to reduce economic disparities and foster long-term community development and well-being.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The funding will be instrumental in expanding the depth and reach of our programming here at Phase 3 Training Corporation. This summer our Summer Bootcamp program will serve 25-30 in-school and out-of-school youth for 6 weeks. That will earn NCCER Core-construction industry credentials. The funding also allowed us to further our partnership with local employers to ensure our curriculum directly aligns with hiring needs, ensuring our graduates are job-ready from day one. Additionally, we’ve been able to provide wraparound services—like transportation stipends and mental health resources—that have dramatically improved program completion rates. This holistic approach wouldn't have been possible without the flexible and mission-aligned support of the Sharing Community Initiative.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  As a first-time grantee, Phase 3 Training Corporation is most excited about the opportunity to deepen our community impact with support from a mission-aligned partner like the Sharing Community Initiative. This funding will allow us to scale up our apprenticeship readiness and summer boost programming. We’re looking forward to learning from fellow grantees, exchanging best practices, and collaborating on innovative approaches to economic mobility.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  In recent months, the community we serve and Phase 3 Training Corporation as a whole have faced many new challenges. Financially, we’ve seen an increase in demand for our programs as more individuals seek pathways to stable, living-wage employment in the current economy. At the same time, securing sustainable funding to meet that rising demand has required us to be more strategic and resourceful than ever when applying for funds. Operationally, we’ve adapted by expanding our hybrid training models and investing in digital API tools to support better participants who face barriers to in-person attendance. We've also strengthened partnerships with local employers to ensure our training remains aligned with labor market needs. These shifts have helped us not only maintain but grow our impact. While the landscape has been complex, the resilience of our staff, participants, and partners continues to drive our work forward.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  At Phase 3 Training Corporation, our dream is to create a future where every individual—regardless of background, zip code, or past circumstances—has access to meaningful training, dignified work, and long-term economic stability. We envision a community where talent is recognized, nurtured, and valued, and where systemic barriers to opportunity are actively dismantled through intentional, equity-driven efforts. We aspire to grow into a regional hub for workforce transformation—offering not just job training, but a full ecosystem of support that includes mentorship, employer partnerships, and pathways to entrepreneurship. We want to continue building a model that’s scalable, community-informed, and rooted in real results—where individuals leave our programs not only with skills and industry credentials , but with confidence, networks, and a clear vision for their future. Ultimately, we believe that by investing in people, we’re investing in the future of our entire community—and we’re committed to being a catalyst for that change.

• Urban Ed, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Anacostia, ward 8, ward 7 and DC overall

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The mission of Urban Ed is to provide children, youth, and adults throughout the District of Columbia region with technology-driven education, information and skill development for sustained futures.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  We just received the grant this month (Apr 2025). However, in the coming year we will be looking at outcomes around enrollment & participation, enhanced economic stability, improved job skills & confidence, stronger community & corporate partnerships, positive social & health impacts for entire families, public assistance reduction, and potential replication of our successes.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  Receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative is incredibly exciting for us because it enables us to expand our reach and impact in the most distressed areas of DC and southern Maryland. This funding allows us to provide essential tech education and career development opportunities to low-income young mothers, particularly women of color, who face significant socio-economic challenges. With this support, we can offer accredited courses in high-demand fields like cybersecurity, IT support, and software development, helping participants secure stable, living-wage jobs and achieve economic independence. Additionally, the initiative's backing helps us address critical issues such as financial and housing insecurities, mental and physical health improvements, and the need for gender and racial diversity in STEM. Ultimately, this funding empowers us to create a brighter future for our participants and their families, fostering a cycle of empowerment and breaking the generational cycle of poverty.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  We are beginning to see how the new "political pandemic" threatens to be even more devastating to low-income families of color than COVID-19. The reductions in public programs and funding allocations have created uncertainty and increased the demand for our services. We are particularly concerned about the impact on healthcare, food security, and economic assistance programs, which are crucial for the families we serve. We are also concerned about the strain on DC government funds due to federal cuts, shifts in corporate & foundation funding, and the heightened need for stable funding for small nonprofits like ours.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  I envision a future where cyclical poverty is eradicated, where the term “low-income” is a term of the past, belonging only to history because people are striving and thriving. Where young mothers and their children are cohesive -- learning together, prospering together and households are stable and full of joy, free from the constant stress of "the lack of" (scarcity). I see a future for our communities that are flourishing with economic independence and empowerment with technology at the core, serving as the roots and stems of community change in all directions.

• Mary's Center

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Mary’s Center has been dismantling inequities for over three decades by serving communities who are disproportionately excluded from traditional health care systems. We ensure that Latino, Black, and immigrant communities have access to the highest quality of care. Mary’s Center provides quality healthcare, education, and social services to residents of Washington, DC, and Maryland (Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties), regardless of their ability to pay. We have three sites in DC (Adams Morgan, Fort Totten, and Petworth) and two sites in Maryland (Silver Spring and Adelphi). The communities Mary's Center serves rely heavily on the vital programs and services that we provide.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Mary’s Center’s mission is to embrace all communities and provide high-quality health care, education, and social services to build better futures. As a leader in community health since 1988, we offer over 40 critical services to approximately 65,000 uninsured and underserved individuals and families each year in Washington, DC and Maryland, as well as nearly $10 million in unreimbursed care annually. Mary’s Center’s integrated delivery of care is based upon our Social Change Model, which provides participants greater opportunities to achieve economic mobility and pursue a pathway for a better future.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The Sharing Community Initiative's funding has been instrumental in Mary's Center's success in Montgomery County. Over the years, this support has enabled us to triple our impact in Montgomery County, bring our sonography services to Montgomery County, expand our dental services, and meet our communities’ growing and insurmountable needs. This is a clear demonstration of the significant difference that the Initiative's funding is making in our communities, and we are deeply grateful for the Sharing Community Initiative’s continued support.

  In 2024, funding from the Sharing Community Initiative enabled Mary’s Center to meet the following outcomes:

  -Medical services to 11,099 individuals through more than 34,224 visits annually.

  -Behavioral Health to 1,151 individuals through more than 8,918 visits annually.

  -Dental services to 8,274 individuals through more than 21,167 visits annually.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  As we navigate the complexities brought on by the new landscape created by the current administration’s priorities, uncertainty looms over federal grant funding and Medicaid reimbursements, creating significant challenges for nonprofits like Mary's Center. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Mary’s Center receives federal funding, which is currently at risk of being reduced. Nearly 20% of our total revenue is federal grant revenue. The communities Mary's Center serves rely heavily on the vital healthcare, education, and social services that we provide. During these precarious times, support from our foundation partners is more crucial than ever. The continued success of our mission hinges on the commitment and partnership of our valued foundations.

  Our staff and leadership are doing what we must to control costs, but we cannot fulfill our mission by addressing a funding gap through cutting expenses alone. We also need to increase our revenue with flexible funding that can be used where it is needed most. General operating funds are crucial as they enable us to fill gaps in uncompensated care and be nimble in meeting the needs of patients and providing support to the growing number of uninsured patients who walk through our doors.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a trusted health center in the community, Mary's Center aspires to continue providing services to underserved individuals and families in the DC Metro Region who are in vital need of our comprehensive services. Our mission is at the heart of everything we do, and as we look toward the future, we are committed to evolving with changes occurring in the healthcare industry while staying true to our mission. This includes recruiting and retaining the best team members, constantly improving our quality of services and participant experience, and strengthening the financial sustainability of the organization. In evaluating the strategic opportunities to distinguish ourselves in the evolving healthcare arena, Mary's Center will focus our growth plans on the following four pillars over the next three years:

  Pillar 1: Team Vitality Transparent opportunities for growth & work-life harmony for all staff.

  Pillar 2: Participant Focus Increased access to the highest quality comprehensive care.

  Pillar 3: Financial Strength Financial self-sustainability through diversified revenue.

  Pillar 4: Service Innovation Enhanced agility to meet organizational & community needs.

  We believe that through our strategic pillars and a robust fundraising strategy – combined with an organizational culture of philanthropy – Mary’s Center will be able to sustain, expand, and scale its program to effectively serve the community for many years to come.

• Red Wiggler Foundation, dba Red Wiggler Care Farm

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Red Wiggler is located in Germantown, Maryland and serves all of Montgomery County.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Red Wiggler is a sustainable Care Farm where people with and without developmental disabilities come together to work, learn, and grow healthy food. Our vision is to create fertile ground to nourish a healthy and inclusive community.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Red Wiggler has been the proud recipient of funding from Sharing Montgomery for more than 20 years. Each year, the funding we receive supports our cross-functional programs that focus on working, learning, and growing at the farm. Last year, our Grower Program employed 19 adults with developmental disabilities. Growers work alongside and lead volunteers and other program participants in all aspects of farming. In 2024, Growers worked more than 4,900 hours and earned more than $76,000. The vegetables grown by Growers are distributed throughout our community, with more than 50% delivered to underserved Montgomery County residents. Funding from Sharing Montgomery made that possible.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Given the recent reductions in force and the large population of federal employees in Montgomery County, we suspect there will be an increased need for accessible fresh vegetables in our community. We plan to work with our partners like Manna Food Center, Community Food Rescue, and others to meet this need. While Red Wiggler has limited federal funding, we do have one grant through SARE and the USDA that we are unsure about its future. We also expect that individual giving may be impacted as the uncertainty of the time is impacting so many.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Red Wiggler continues to strive for a healthy and inclusive community. We are strengthening our impact though Care Farming Network, an initiative started by Red Wiggler to spread awareness, educate, and increase capacity for Care Farms. As a pioneer Care Farm, we believe that this model of using farming to promote health, well-being and belonging is crucial.

• Story tapestries

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Our target communities have limited access to services as well as innovative arts in education programs. We provide programming in a variety of public spaces including community centers, local theaters, libraries, and schools at no cost to participants. In 2023 we were able to reach over 1,481,631 individuals, reaching 62,928 with in-depth in-person programs and services. Over 60% of Story Tapestries’ programs are located in Montgomery County in key cities such as Silver Spring, Wheaton, Montgomery Village, Germantown, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Clarksburg and Wheaton, as well as Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Wicomico and Frederick Counties with a focus on the highest poverty communities and where there’s a high concentration of multilingual residents. Over 90% of those engaged through in-depth programs are from low-income households in which 33% of students read below grade level, 63% live in poverty, 34% speak English as a second language and 13% have specific needs. Based on the statistics of the communities we serve, our average audience and workshop attendees are 48% Hispanic, 32% African American, 7% Asian American, 5% Caucasian, 2% multiracial, and 6% other. 90% of the programs we execute are subsidized by grants or private support. We collaborate with like-minded organizations who share similar goals and target populations such as the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless and the Latin American Youth Center.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Celebrating its 15th year, and through the power of the arts, Story Tapestries helps children, young people and families communicate in effective and actionable ways. Their collaborations in quality education, mental health and workforce development; combined with independent evaluators and researchers, have led to data demonstrating innovative solutions that create definitive results within communities. Moreover, they address vital community issues for millions of people of all ages and abilities using the arts, in all forms, to create and deliver tailored, accessible programs.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  When people are moved by a story, they hear what you have to say, take it in, and act to improve outcomes. Through the DIVA’s fund and continuing with the Sharing Community initiative, we have been able to collaborate with the Jackson Road Elementary School Family supporting their social emotional learning programs. Before the start of the program, Story Tapestries worked with Jackson Road ES Community School Liaison, Lindsay Dankmyer. Together we identified the following program activities (sessions with multiple artists, professional development for the teachers and a family night) to support meeting their community school implementation plan objectives, especially goal #2: provide access to health and mental services and support both during and outside the school day, and goal #3: increase access to adult education. Arts-centered strategies were designed to engage both staff and students in exploring creative expression informed by the support of Dr. Cohen and School Counselor Ed Reed. These activities helped normalize discussions around mental health, self-care, and emotional well-being while boosting morale and promoting a positive classroom environment.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  Through the Sharing Community initiative, we will be able to continue to impact Jackson Road Elementary School next year providing the students, parents and staff with the tools of positive mental health – but also the tools to dream big and imagine what’s possible. We will be able to continue to custom design our program to fit the needs of Jackson Road Elementary’s families, with a special focus on supporting mental health. It is important and valuable to build upon the successes this year. Moreover, with the continuation of funding, we will be able as a team to continue to polish and expand our intentional mental health approach through the arts therefore to improve our ability to support the community. This past year the Story Tapestries team engaged in multiple Professional development activities to support skills and we will continue to do more next year. Our 3-hour training co-led by Michael Cohen, PhD, and Sue Snyder, PhD deepened participants’ understanding of the current landscape of mental health and social emotional development needs for students. Participants also explored activities that can support inviting students to process trauma through artistic practice and ways adults can pose questions and provide multiple means of response to meet students where they’re at as they learn to identify and share their emotions. Moreover, we are excited to continue to broaden and develop a stronger relationship with the community foundation both as a resource for giving and a collaborator to support the community. The Sharing Community fund could potentially be only the starting point of what is possible in partnership for Montgomery County, the DMV and Prince George’s County.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  For 15 years we’ve been able to support schools, community centers, non-profit and government partners charging nothing to the community directly. When a program was paid for by a site it was because they had written up a grant or raised the money. But this year in the first quarter, the funds are just coming through with the speed and if it continues more than 50% of our sites will not receive programs in the Summer and potentially the Fall depending on the wave of funding. Moving forward, we will need to continue to depend more on individuals, corporations and foundations than the previous state/county funds we received. Furthermore, we will need to be aware of our rhetoric and ensure that we are advocating with an approach that supports and pivots as necessary quickly with the community's needs.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a million dollar organization in its 15th year, Story Tapestries has supported mental health needs and wellness initiatives to serve nearly 4 million individuals. In all our years, we’ve never seen such high demand and urgent need to support this part of our community in meaningful ways. More than ever before, this community needs responsive solutions tailored to address critical needs with a long-term impact on building a brighter future. People are scared and stressed right now. We want people to see and use Story Tapestries as a beacon of light and hope.

  With the reality of current rising crises in mind, we want to continue to be able to provide free services to over 350,000 community members across the DMV region. We want to continue to allow Story Tapestries to thrive in communication, messaging, and media capture; addressing areas of education, early childhood education, mental health, and workforce development. We are working to build our capacity to respond and support the community and need more help both with stronger philanthropic partners as well as community entities building an endowment in the future of 10 million dollars to create longevity and sustainable support for the community no matter the state of the economy. Story Tapestries has grown from a $500K/year organization to $1M/year in just two years. To date, our growth has predominantly been step-wise: the more funding we raise, the more sites and individuals we are able to support. With data driven, scalable models and systems in place, we’re ready to take the next leap—to become a $5M/year organization within five years. We aim to achieve this “rocket boost” jump by leveraging our current donors with new investments.

  This growth will allow us to: Replicate successful Montgomery County programs particularly in the areas of early childhood and workforce development to Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria). Support 10 more early childhood sites, 5 new Digital Solutions sites, 6 expanded CHART mental health programs, and 5 new STEAM programs each year in the current region aligning with the needs of the area Continue to build a bigger pipeline for workforce development, by leveraging partnerships with businesses, community organizations, educational institutions to establish multi-purpose “Centers of Success” for community members to access technology, workforce training, and social connection.

• The Upcounty Hub

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Since our establishment in 2020, initially assisting the predominantly Hispanic, low-income residents of Middlebrook Mobile Home Park in Germantown, The Upcounty Hub has worked tirelessly to build strong, trusting relationships with the communities we serve, particularly focusing on the historically underserved region of upper Montgomery County, MD.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  We have recognized and responded to the unique needs of low-income families, including immigrant populations, by creating a “one-stop” shop where they can access essential benefits and assistance. The Upcounty Hub plays a crucial role in filling gaps in services that have long existed in the region, particularly by ensuring that vulnerable families receive the support they need to overcome the challenges they face. By engaging directly with our community through daily interactions, workshops, and community outreach initiatives, we are able to understand their particular needs on a personal level, enabling us to provide more relevant, tailored food distribution and social services.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  With the help of the Sharing Community Initiative, we have been able to support our food and social services in powerful and meaningful ways. Over the past year, we’ve seen a 20% increase in food relief services and a 40% increase in social services.

  One of our proudest achievements in 2024 was launching a school-based snack bag program—supported in part by public funding—which now reaches more than 1,400 students across 16 Montgomery County public schools. In addition, we established a social services division that assists families with critical applications such as SNAP, EBT, and FARM, helping connect them with longer-term resources beyond food. The impact of the Sharing Community Initiative is visible in every family we serve, every school we reach, and every meal we provide. This partnership has helped us scale our mission and build lasting support systems for our most vulnerable neighbors.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  What excites us most about receiving support through the Sharing Community Initiative is the opportunity to grow our impact in ways that truly transform lives. This support enables us to reach more families with dignity, expand access to culturally appropriate and nutritious food, and connect clients to vital social services. It also allows us to dream bigger—strengthening our infrastructure, deepening community partnerships, and helping families move from crisis to stability. With this backing, lasting change feels truly possible.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  ​In recent months, The Upcounty Hub, Inc. has faced significant operational and financial challenges due to substantial federal funding cuts to key food assistance programs. The termination of the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program has severely impacted our ability to serve the community. This has disrupted our supply chains and strained our resources, making it increasingly difficult to meet the growing demand for food assistance in upper Montgomery County. This situation mirrors the experiences of other local organizations, such as Manna Food Center, which has also reported being blindsided by these abrupt funding changes.​

  Compounding these federal reductions, local budget constraints have further exacerbated the issue. The Montgomery County Council's decision to halve the proposed funding for the Office of Food Systems Resilience—from $7 million to $3.5 million—has limited the support available to organizations like ours. Despite the county's allocation of $3.5 million in grants to support 48 food assistance programs, the need continues to outpace available resources, leaving many families vulnerable. At The Upcounty Hub, we are committed to adapting our strategies and seeking alternative funding sources to continue our mission. However, the convergence of federal and local funding cuts presents a formidable challenge that requires immediate attention and collaborative solutions to ensure that no resident in Montgomery County goes hungry.​

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, my dream is to ensure that every child has access to a well-balanced meal every single day—and that no family ever has to choose between food and other basic needs. But I also envision something even greater: a future where families not only receive the immediate help they need, but are also empowered with the tools, resources, and support to become self-sufficient. My aspiration is to build a system that uplifts our neighbors, connects them to vital social services, and walks alongside them until they no longer need our assistance. I want to see a community where children thrive, parents feel supported, and cycles of poverty are broken permanently—because we invested not just in feeding people, but in helping them flourish.

• Loving Hands Touch Ministry, Inc.

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Loving Hands Touch Ministry primarily serves communities and neighborhoods in Northern Virginia, with a strong focus on the following areas: Hybla Valley, Mount Vernon Along the Route One Highway Corridor, Springfield/Franconia, Bailey's Crossroad, Culmore, and Annandale

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The mission of Loving Hands Touch Ministry is to provide compassionate, faith-rooted services that uplift underserved individuals and families through health education, mental wellness support, caregiving, and food distribution. We are committed to addressing health disparities and strengthening communities by offering holistic programs that promote healing, hope, and empowerment

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative has been transformative in helping us expand and strengthen our services to meet the growing needs of our community. Over the past year, it has enabled us to implement board and volunteer training, resulting in increased leadership participation and more effective coordination of our programs and fundraising efforts.

  We launched a successful Youth-Led Mental Health Awareness Initiative in Hybla Valley, where young leaders have facilitated peer discussions and workshops focused on mental wellness and stigma reduction. Encouraged by its impact, we are now preparing to expand this program into Bailey’s Crossroads, an area identified in the INOVA Health Assessment Report as experiencing significant economic and mental health challenges.

  In addition, through a partnership with a local community organization, we began offering family and children’s sessions focused on bullying prevention in the Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads, and Culmore communities. These sessions can help families and children create safe spaces where they can openly discuss the emotional impact of bullying, strengthen communication, and develop healthy coping and conflict resolution skills. Due to the ongoing need in these communities and the strong engagement we've seen, this bullying prevention program remains active and continues to grow. This support has greatly enhanced our internal capacity and community outreach, allowing us to respond more effectively to the needs of vulnerable populations.

  How has capacity building funding impacted the work that you do? Feel free to share 1-2 examples of projects or outcomes you hope to accomplish this next year.

  Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative has significantly strengthened our ability to serve vulnerable populations with greater consistency and impact. It has supported wellness education efforts—including healthy eating, diabetes awareness, and mental health workshops—and enabled board and volunteer training that has enhanced leadership engagement and increased fundraising participation.

  One key success has been our comprehensive volunteer and board training program, which has led to stronger coordination, improved accountability, and a more engaged leadership team ready to support growth and sustainability. Another transformative effort has been the launch of our Youth-Led Mental Health Awareness Initiative in Hybla Valley. This program empowers youth to become mental health ambassadors, leading peer discussions, workshops, and creative outreach campaigns focused on reducing stigma and promoting emotional well-being. Due to its success, we are preparing to expand this initiative into Bailey’s Crossroads, where the need for youth mental health support continues to grow.

  These projects, along with the creation of a volunteer onboarding guide and mental health partnerships, have deepened our impact and increased our ability to serve the evolving needs of underserved communities.

  How would additional capacity building funding further the impact that has already been generated through this engagement with Sharing NoVA?

  Capacity building funding has been instrumental in strengthening our internal infrastructure and enhancing the effectiveness of our programs. It has enabled us to develop stronger leadership through board and volunteer training, implement coordinated systems for onboarding, and improve program delivery..

  Looking ahead, we are excited to launch EmpowerHER Business Academy, an online interactive platform designed to equip women entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and confidence needed to build and sustain successful businesses. We will also expand our Community Youth-Led Mental Health Awareness Initiative in Bailey’s Crossroads, empowering young people to advocate for mental wellness, reduce stigma, and connect peers with critical resources.

  In addition, we are committed to advancing the Bailey’s Crossroads Mental Health and Community Wellness Initiative, which directly addresses two critical needs identified in the INOVA Health Assessment Report—economic instability and mental health challenges. This initiative aims to support families and youth facing rising stress, anxiety, and barriers to care. To further increase economic resilience, we will incorporate community workforce development seminars, hands-on training, apprenticeships, and job placement opportunities through partnerships with local organizations. These efforts will help bridge gaps in employment and create long-term pathways to stability for community members.

  Together, these initiatives reflect our mission to uplift underserved communities through holistic support, empowerment, and expanded pathways to economic and personal advancement.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader, my dream is to build a thriving, resilient community where everyone, regardless of background, has access to essential resources, support, and opportunities to grow. I aspire to expand our impact by developing a holistic community wellness center that integrates mental health services, healthy living education, youth empowerment programs, and faith-based support under one roof. I envision a future where our volunteers, partners, and supporters work together to break cycles of poverty, uplift families, and inspire the next generation of community leaders.

• Hardemon Dynasty, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Richmond Highway Community

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is to provide affordable housing for young adults aging out of foster care and offer sufficient support during their transition to independence.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The Capacity Building Funding has allotted our organization to receive training which provided the tools and resources to assist us in better team collaboration and drafting a more beneficial strategic plan for our organization.

  How has capacity building funding impacted the work that you do? Feel free to share 1-2 examples of projects or outcomes you hope to accomplish this next year.

  We've gained knowledge on being more strategic in our efforts when funding, marketing, and involvement with the community. For 2025 we're excited about connecting with other organizations to garner more exposure through marketing opportunities and public awareness.

  How would additional capacity building funding further the impact that has already been generated through this engagement with Sharing NoVA?

  The additional funding would greatly help us train our volunteers and raise awareness about homelessness among young adults aging out of foster care.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Lately, we've observed a drop in website traffic and a decrease in donations, which has us concerned. It's crucial for us to reconnect with our supporters and spread awareness about our mission.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My heartfelt dream is to acquire the old Sunrise Building in Lorton, Va, and transform it into a nurturing and safe haven for young adults transitioning out of foster care.I hope to staff it with compassionate individuals who can provide guidance, support, and a sense of community for those who need if most.

• Joyful Hands

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Communities served by Joyful Hands programs are Murraygate Village Apartments, Stony Brook Apartments, Creekside Village Apartments, Audubon Estates & more.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is rooted in the belief that education, literacy, and community resources form the bedrock of vibrant societies.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative has played a critical role in the success of our programs and initiatives over the past year. One notable example is our 2024 Back to School Drive, where the generous support allowed us to expand our outreach and impact. With the additional resources, we were able to pack and distribute backpacks filled with essential school supplies to children in underserved communities. This funding not only ensured that students had the tools they needed for a successful school year but also helped foster a sense of community and support among families who might otherwise have struggled to afford these necessary items. In addition, we showed appreciation for our volunteers by providing meals and small monetary gifts to acknowledge their countless hours spent on distribution and programming. The impact has been significant, as it has empowered local families, encouraged academic success, and demonstrated the value of volunteerism in supporting our mission.

  How has capacity building funding impacted the work that you do? Feel free to share 1-2 examples of projects or outcomes you hope to accomplish this next year.

  Capacity-building funding has significantly enhanced our ability to improve and expand our programs. One key area where it has had a direct impact is in strengthening our volunteer base and infrastructure. For instance, thanks to capacity-building resources, we were able to develop a robust volunteer committee to support the coordination and execution of events like our Back to School Supply Drive. This funding not only allowed us to organize and manage the drive more efficiently but also helped to increase community engagement and volunteer retention. Looking ahead, we aim to build on this success by further expanding our volunteer network and providing additional training and support to ensure sustainability and growth. In the coming year, we hope to implement more strategic volunteer recruitment and engagement initiatives, ensuring a well-supported and active committee for future community-driven projects.

  How would additional capacity building funding further the impact that has already been generated through this engagement with Sharing NoVA?

  Additional capacity-building funding would greatly enhance the positive impact we’ve already seen through our engagement with Sharing NoVA. With this support, we would be able to further strengthen our volunteer committee, provide more comprehensive training opportunities, and invest in the tools necessary for more efficient program management. This would allow us to scale our efforts, ensuring that initiatives like our Back to School Supply Drive continue to grow and reach even more families in need. Additionally, this funding would help us expand our monthly food drive and extend our literacy program into various Fairfax County schools, allowing us to support more children and families in need. Furthermore, we would be able to develop long-term strategies for volunteer retention and program sustainability, ensuring that our community outreach continues to grow in both reach and impact. Ultimately, this funding would help us build a stronger, more resilient infrastructure to better serve our community and continue creating lasting change.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  With the contribution of the Sharing NoVA grant, we’ve been fortunate to accomplish great things. However, as we near the end of this funding period and face limited nonprofit funding, our organization has been impacted. Financially, we’ve seen a decrease in available resources, which has created uncertainty and forced us to prioritize key programs. Operationally, this has led to a reassessment of our services and a push to find alternative funding sources to continue supporting our community. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to adapting and exploring new opportunities to ensure the continued success of our initiatives.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, our aspirations for the future include developing one of the strongest literacy programs in the region, promoting the enjoyment of reading from the early stages of students’ lives. One of our key goals is to purchase and build a mobile reading van that will travel throughout the community, providing students with access to books and reading experiences outside of traditional settings through our mentorship program. Additionally, we aim to strengthen our food distribution efforts to address the nutritional needs of local residents, expanding our reach further down Richmond Highway and into other communities and provide educational resources and support, we hope to empower individuals and families to thrive in all areas of life.

• Sasha Bruce Youthwork

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, MD

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Sasha Bruce Youthwork works to end youth homelessness in the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County by providing safe housing, crisis intervention, and long-term support for stability and independence. In Prince George’s County, through programs like Promise Place, the Bruce Empowerment Zone, and the Resilience Project—a nationally recognized homelessness prevention initiative using direct cash transfers and coaching—we serve over 360 youth annually. Our services prioritize youth most at risk, including Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ youth, and are designed to promote lasting housing stability and economic mobility.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  We’re honored to receive our first grant from Sharing Prince George’s County—an energizing investment in the resilience and brilliance of Prince George’s County youth. This support strengthens our continuum of care, from emergency shelter at Promise Place to prevention and survival services at the Bruce Empowerment Zone Homeless Youth Drop-in Center.

  It also drives bold innovation. Through the Resilience Project—one of just eleven national Youth Homelessness Prevention Demonstration sites—we’re putting cash directly in young people’s hands, pairing it with coaching, and building a new model for wealth creation, stability, and self-determined futures as a tool to prevent homelessness.

  At a time when federal funding is uncertain, this grant boosts our staying power. We’re not just weathering the storm—we’re designing systems that are more equitable, sustainable, and led by youth themselves.

  We’re especially excited to join a network of changemakers committed to equity and community wealth building—values that are deeply aligned with our mission and vision.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  As a proud Prince George’s County resident, I know firsthand how deeply valued and appreciated Sasha Bruce Youthwork’s services are in our community. The impact of our work is visible every day—in the lives of youth and families who rely on us for safety, support, and stability. While we have not experienced immediate financial or operational disruptions in recent months, we face uncertainty. The looming threat of a potential lapse in funding creates concern about our ability to continue delivering critical services to the county’s most vulnerable young people.

  This uncertainty weighs heavily, especially as the need continues to grow. Having worked in Prince George’s County for years—with Sasha Bruce and as a mentoring leader recognized by the local school system—I’ve seen the transformative power of consistency, care, and community. I’ve been honored to help design and develop key programs such as our drop-in center and street outreach initiatives and oversee the county's only youth shelter. These aren’t just programs—they are lifelines.

  I remain deeply committed to ensuring that youth in our community have access to the services and support they deserve by any means necessary. Our young people are powerful, resilient, and full of promise. Our responsibility is to continue creating safe, empowering spaces where they can be seen, supported, and given every opportunity to thrive. We hope that our funding partners recognize the urgency of this work and join us in sustaining these essential services.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader and a proud Prince George’s County resident, I aspire for Sasha Bruce Youthwork to serve as a beacon of hope in our community. This guiding light brings young people out of the shadows and into spaces where they are seen, heard, and valued. I envision a future where youth are prioritized in both public and private sectors and recognized as experts in their own experiences. We must listen deeply, elevate their voices, and co-create solutions that reflect their lived realities.

  My dream is to transform the systems that often fail our youth—systems that overlook signs of distress and only intervene when it’s almost too late. I believe in the power of early intervention, of wrapping young people in support before they fall through the cracks. This means investing in preventative care, trauma-informed services, mentorship, and community engagement that meets young people where they are.

  We must also challenge the stigma that surrounds youth who face housing instability, mental health challenges, or justice system involvement. These young people are not defined by their circumstances—they are resilient, resourceful, and full of potential. At Sasha Bruce, I want us to be part of a movement that changes individual lives and shifts how our community sees and supports its youth.

  Ultimately, I want our work to reflect the belief that every young person deserves a future filled with possibility, purpose, and pride. And that starts with a commitment—from all of us—to walk beside them, to believe in them, and never to stop fighting for their right to thrive.

• NAMI Montgomery County

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Everyone in Montgomery County

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  We build communities of peers to provide support, education, and advocacy for all affected by mental illness. Our community includes individuals living with mental illness, caregivers of someone living with a mental illness, and allies who support our community. We offer free peer-led support groups and classes for those with a mental health issue and those who care for or are family members/loved ones of a person with mental health issues.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding has helped support signature support groups and evidence-based classes, etc. We will serve more people this fiscal year than last. We have also launched new programs for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  We have been fortunate to receive funding over the years.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Donations have been down, and we are in planning sessions to strategize for more changes as things shift in our community due to the new administration. The mental health of many has been significantly impacted due to the loss of jobs and overall uncertainty.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My personal goal for NAMI MC is to ensure every household in MoCo knows we are here and ready to serve them when needed.

• Crossroads Community Food Network

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  The Takoma/Langley Crossroads, known as Maryland’s International Corridor, is home to approximately 23,000 people from dozens of countries, primarily El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, as well as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mexico, Jamaica, Vietnam, and India.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  We envision a thriving community nourished by a just and sustainable food system. Everyone has access to fresh, affordable, culturally​ ​appropriate food; local ​farmers and food entrepreneurs have equal chances to succeed; and there is a robust public demand for local, nutritious food.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Sharing Montgomery is a general funds grant, so it allows us to pay for costs like payroll, staff development, and IT fees, among many others. These general operating costs are critical to our ability to manage the operations of the organization, as well as run our programs and maximize our impact in the community.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  As we prepare to open for the 2025 season of Crossroads Farmers Market later this month, what is typically a time of excitement and anticipation is now marked by growing concerns. The ongoing economic fallout from the pandemic continues to deepen existing disparities, leaving many in our community more vulnerable than ever. Food insecurity has reached record levels in Takoma Park, with even steeper increases in Long Branch and Langley Park, underscoring the urgent need for accessible, nutritious food.

  Economic hardship in the Takoma/Langley Crossroads area has led to rising unemployment, increased public safety concerns, and a surge in informal economic activity. These challenges are evident along Anne Street—where the market operates weekly from April through November—in the growing incidents of public intoxication, defecation, vandalism, and concerns about gang presence. More troublingly, the area has experienced an uptick in violent incidents, including an assault near the market site and a vendor being directly threatened last season.

  The presence of unlicensed vendors near the market has further complicated the situation. While the City of Takoma Park has attempted to address the issue, enforcement efforts have pushed these vendors from the adjacent MegaMart parking lot closer to Anne Street and University Boulevard, increasing safety risks for the unlicensed vendors and, at times, creating direct competition with Crossroads Farmers Market farmers and vendors.

  Perhaps most distressing is the heightened fear and anxiety in our community over potential ICE raids—including the possibility of enforcement actions occurring at the market itself. Despite our efforts to prepare by attending community meetings, bystander intervention and de-escalation trainings, and updating our emergency response plan, the reality is that no amount of preparation can fully shield our market from the devastating impact of immigration enforcement actions, often carried out without due process. While we will be contracting members of the DC Peace Team to be present on market days, fear is already running high. The unfortunate truth is that we cannot guarantee anyone’s safety—including some of our own staff members, who, though U.S. citizens, are part of the targeted communities.

  These challenges highlight the urgent need for increased support and resources for our community. As we enter the new market season, our focus remains on public safety and ensuring that CFM continues to be a trusted resource for fresh, healthy food. We are actively working with community partners, city officials, and local organizations to address these concerns and create a safe, welcoming space for all.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  No need for nonprofits! That all people have the food, shelter, healthcare, education, and income we all need to survive and thrive.

• birdseed

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Washington DC, Prince George's County MD, Montgomery County MD, the Counties of Arlington and Fairfax, and the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in the Commonwealth of Virginia

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  birdSEED helps close the racial wealth gap by supporting historically disadvantaged communities achieve home ownership. We do this by providing no-strings attached down payment assistance grants.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Since we began offering housing justice grants in 2021 we have had over 30 grantees purchase their first home and start on the path to creating generational wealth. Our goal is to reduce the racial wealth gap one home purchase at a time.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  With the support from Sharing DC, we are excited to grow our program and increase the number of our grantees who currently live in DC who are able to purchase in DC.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  We at birdSEED remain committed to our mission of working to reduce the racial wealth gap by helping historically disadvantaged homebuyers purchase a home. Our Board has reviewed the language we use to describe our program and had many conversations with businesses that support us and donors about the challenges of operating in the current political environment.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  At a recent event for the HEF grant recipients, I was in a small group that discussed abundance. I would love to see more funding to assist people reach their dream of purchasing a home. Right now I interact with so many not for profit organizations that received federal funding being impacted by the sudden cuts. I would love to see support for the social safety net restored and work towards helping to build wealth for those who have been discriminated against in the past.

• Culmore Clinic

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  While our services are available to any adult resident in Fairfax County who meets eligibility requirements, the Culmore Clinic primary service area is the Bailey's Crossroads/Culmore/Seven Corners corridor (much of which is located in the "Mason District" of Fairfax County, VA). Sixty-five percent of our patients have a Falls Church Zip Code (excluding the City of Falls Church).

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The mission of Culmore Clinic is to advance health by bringing the community together to provide medical care and health education at no cost to uninsured neighbors in Fairfax County. "Bringing community together" is truly at the core of operations here at Culmore Clinic. There are more than 100 volunteer who come together to support the Clinic and perform a variety of clinical and business/administrative roles. In addition, the individuals and the business community further supports us through sharing financial and in-kind resources. Dozens of local faith congregations are involved by providing outreach donations, announcing volunteer opportunities and supporting "work days" to help improve the infrastructure of the organization.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The Sharing Community Initiative aligns so perfectly with the mission and values of Culmore Clinic. With its focus on building more equitable, just and thriving communities, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has developed a program that brings together a diverse group of nonprofit organizations to learn from one another, network and connect clients/patients with complimentary services. Grant support from the Sharing Community Initiative was integral to helping Culmore Clinic meet its primary goal of serving more patients in 2024. Understanding that our local population works hard, but rarely has access to health insurance, motivates us to be available to support as many people who qualify as possible. This grant has helped us increase the number of patients by 114% over one year.

  How has capacity building funding impacted the work that you do? Feel free to share 1-2 examples of projects or outcomes you hope to accomplish this next year.

  The capacity building funding has come along at just the right time as we have been offered an amazing opportunity to build a permanent home in a soon-to-be built senior affordable housing community adjacent to our current location. The no-rent lease agreement will help us keep our operations costs low year over year. However, we are responsible for the cost of building out the new location and comes at a cost of between $1.8 and $2 million. The capacity building grant is supporting our initial task associated with our capital campaign, the feasibility study. This eases the overall costs of our first-ever capital campaign.

  How would additional capacity building funding further the impact that has already been generated through this engagement with Sharing NoVA?

  The afore mentioned building project is one that is both exciting and overwhelming. Building out a space that has designed from the ground up to meet our needs is a dream come true. Raising the funds to complete this project, while also raising the operations funds necessary to keep the Clinic running and our patients healthy, is a daunting task. Additional capacity building funds could help us get to our capital campaign goal which leads to the completion of our new permanent home where we will be able to grow our nonprofit medical practice and drive greater impact on the health of our neighborhood.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  The policies and actions of the new federal administration these past few months have led our organization to put into place new policies and procedures in preparation for possible activities related to law enforcement efforts to "round up" members of our community whose home countries are not the U.S. While healthcare environments already have strict privacy policies, we have increased our vigilance and trained our staff and volunteers on what actions to take if law enforcement arrives at our doors. We have educated our patients on their Constitutional rights, regardless of documentation status. We have also lost what was to be our lead donation of $500,000 for our new facility as a result of the federal governments "continuing resolution."

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  We are hopeful for the future. We cannot lose sight of our goal to lessen the burden of our neighbors by providing barrier-free healthcare. Our patients persevere, and therefore we stand alongside them in solidarity. We have a short-term goal of opening our new permanent headquarters location in 2027. And... we have longer term aspirations to expand to satellite locations in Fairfax County where we know there other significantly unmet healthcare needs. We want to be known as a leader within the healthcare safety net, and know that step-by-step, with determination and sound leadership, we will accomplish our goals.

• Montgomery Moving Forward

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  All of Montgomery County

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Montgomery Moving Forward (MMF) was launched in 2013 as a collective impact initiative guided by a Leadership Group representing all sectors of the Montgomery County community. MMF leverages the Collective Impact Model to address complex community problems, bringing together leaders from government, business, philanthropy, education, and the nonprofit sector to collectively tackle some of the County's most difficult challenges.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  With the support from funders like the Sharing Community Initiative MMF has focused on two core issues—workforce development and early childcare education. The workforce development focus led to the creation of Workforce Montgomery, the leading workforce development service provider in the County. The early childcare education work led to the creation of the Children’s Opportunity Alliance, specifically focused on ensuring that Montgomery County’s children are thriving. MMF serves as an example of the significant impact that cross-sector partnerships can have on the County.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  We envision opening a new Collective Impact Center where our model can be anchored in the community. The Center will serve as a space for diverse stakeholders – where renters and property owners, parents and education leaders, business leaders and community activists come together to listen, learn, define problems, and coauthor solutions.

  The Center can help address our most pressing issues in a way that fosters trust, leverages each sector's strengths, and brings our diverse community together to establish a common agenda that enhances the prosperity and well-being of Montgomery County.

• Latino Economic Development Center

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  LEDC serves D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  LEDC’s mission is to drive economic growth by equipping individuals and families with the skills, resources, and access to capital needed to achieve financial stability and build generational wealth. We support this through a range of services including small business development, affordable housing preservation, and financial empowerment.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  As an organization with 33 years of servicing the DMV, we’ve witnessed the evolving needs of our diverse communities. Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative will allow us to meet these needs with greater flexibility and responsiveness, adapting our programs to support residents and entrepreneurs where it matters most. Over the past year in D.C., we have served more than 4,500 individuals, launch 35 small businesses, preserve 793 units of affordable housing, assist 12 first-time homebuyers with over $835,000 in down payment support, and disburse more than $20 million in direct financial aid. This funding will be vital in ensuring that our impact continues to reach those who need it most.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  We’re deeply excited to receive general support through the Sharing Community Initiative, as it empowers us to invest in the foundational work that fuels our mission. As strong advocates of a localized approach to economic development, this kind of support enhances our ability to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

  It also opens the door to deeper collaboration with GWCF and its partners- expanding our network, amplifying our impact, and strengthening our organizational resilience for the long term. Together, we believe we can meet this moment and strengthen our collective efforts to support the communities we serve.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  In recent months, we’ve dedicated considerable effort to scenario planning in light of potential reductions in government funding—evaluating not just the operational impact on our organization, but the broader implications for the communities we serve.

  Some of our most ambitious initiatives are taking longer to get off the ground as we reimagine them within the constraints of potentially reduced funding and evolving federal guidelines. In this context, the support of initiatives like Sharing DC is more essential than ever to help us move forward and meet pressing community needs.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Our aspiration is to help create a more level economic playing field—where residents across the region can build financial assets, access stable housing, become homeowners, and contribute to a thriving, inclusive business ecosystem. We envision a future where entrepreneurship drives job creation, where individuals can strengthen their credit and financial standing, and where everyone has the opportunity to not just survive, but to truly thrive.

• Manna Food

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve all of Montgomery County, Maryland.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is to strive to eliminate hunger through food distribution, education, and advocacy. We want our Community to be a place where all people at all times have access to safe, sufficient, nutritious food in order to lead fulfilling lives and contribute to making Montgomery County, Maryland a place where all live in dignity.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative has profoundly impacted the operations of Manna Food Center, empowering us to partner effectively with groups like the Black Physicians Healthcare Network. This strategic alliance has facilitated the rollout of pop-up pantries throughout the region, providing critical access to nutritious food for families facing food insecurity, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. The initiative's financial support has enabled Manna to expand its reach and enhance its services, making it possible to offer not just food assistance but also vital health resources in tandem with nutritional support. By linking food access with healthcare initiatives, this partnership addresses both immediate hunger and the broader health disparities within the community, showcasing a holistic approach to tackling food insecurity and promoting overall wellbeing.
  
  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Manna Food Center is navigating a difficult environment with decreased federal support and rising community needs. The financial strain from funding cuts threatens its operational capabilities, especially its fresh food programs reliant on USDA grants. At the same time, the surge in food insecurity has lengthened wait times and stretched resources, making it harder for Manna to meet the increased demand effectively. Its leadership acknowledges these challenges with a cautious outlook, highlighting the critical role of continued support from donors and policymakers to maintain their services in Montgomery County

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My dreams and aspirations for our future reflect a commitment to not only alleviating hunger, but also fostering long-term change and improving the overall quality of life for families in my community. Through intentional collaboration and innovation in delivery of services, I know we can achieve what seems impossible.
  

• Arm & Arm

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Fairfax Rt 1 Cooridor, Ft Belvior Lorton, Annandale, Reston

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The Arm & Arm Mission is to change the paradigm of how the ransition process is addressed. Using our empathetic-based approach, we empower individuals during critical transition periods with tools that enable them to make rational evaluations of themselves and their situations.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  As a result of the support from the Sharing Community Initiative we have been able to assist more of our outreached participants with community navigation. We are also able to capture more of their current crisis situations and challenges through the one on one interactions that are afforded. This has added to better data collection and transitional response from our staff to include referrals. Additionally, we have had two individuals take the Peer Recovery Specialist Training. Now these individuals are working as interns with our organization and connecting with still others who are challenged with some of the issues that they have worked through and are in the same areas where our interns used to hang out/sleep. This is the epitomy of the Peer Support Model.

  How has capacity building funding impacted the work that you do? Feel free to share 1-2 examples of projects or outcomes you hope to accomplish this next year.

  This year we are working on rolling out our focus groups in the community. While we have been very successful with our work at our locations we will be holding supportive services on the sport as a part of crisis interveion and stablization. This comes from our experience with recurring individuals who continually get cards share there challenges but don't come to the center for the next step. These services also include the "Harm Reduction." of narcan training, education and distribution. We have gotton a digital intake form that captures the data in real time through QR code and we have it for the follow interation whether it be in the center or in the community.

  How would additional capacity building funding further the impact that has already been generated through this engagement with Sharing NoVA?

  While we have been very successful with our work at our locations we will be holding supportive services on the sport as a part of crisis interveion and stablization. This comes from our experience with recurring individuals who continually get cards share there challenges but don't come to the center for the next step. These services also include the "Harm Reduction." of narcan training, education and distribution. We have gotton a digital intake form that captures the data in real time through QR code and we have it for the follow interation whether it be in the center or in the community. Unfortunately we are still small even with volunteers, we must use unconventional ways of connecting with our crisis populations and we must have trained staff to do this work the additional funding can provide help us fill these gaps and increase our impact in the community by creating self-sustanability in certain community areas/situations.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  Operationally: We have had to restructure our support group that was largely Hispanic and had ex-gang members and returned citizens in it. We have a need to incorporate more mental health service areas due to the anxiety that our country is facing but these populations that we serve even more so. We have been traininig our staff in self-care and healthy work enviorment more. Financially: We have been denied funding for grants that we've sought. We have been asking for voluteers assist with grants research and funding opportunites. We have are striving as so many others to do more with less and that becomes strenuous as you know.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  I hope to see our programs and service approach spread throughout the DMV and the nation as an alternative to incarceration, homelessness, and other crisis situations like domestic violence. I hope to see prevention become to preferred model and educational training be delivered on platforms that individuals considerfun and fulfilling. "That is how my training becomes my way of life."

• Rainbow Community Development Center, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Rainbow serves communities throughout Eastern Montgomery County with weekday food distributions by appointment and reaches residents across all of Montgomery County through our Saturday Grab and Go events. We also provide monthly food distributions for residents at two senior low-income apartment complexes in the White Oak community of Silver Spring.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Rainbow Community Development Center is dedicated to supporting individuals and families in need by offering vital services that promote stability and well-being. Our programs include nutritious food distributions, eviction and utility assistance, emergency shelter, and financial literacy classes — all designed to help people overcome challenges and move toward self-sufficiency.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Support from the Sharing Community Initiative has made a meaningful difference in Rainbow’s ability to grow and serve our community. Since receiving this funding, we’ve increased the number of families we serve by 20% each year. It has also opened doors for our Executive Director to connect with new partners and donors, resulting in three corporate partnerships that bring 10 to 15 volunteers each month — along with generous financial contributions from both the companies and their employees.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  In recent months, we’ve experienced a significant rise in demand for our services, with 250 more households seeking food assistance each month compared to 2024. Requests for eviction prevention and utility assistance have also reached record levels, outpacing our available funding. Additionally, we’re seeing unique challenges within our Haitian immigrant community — many families, though here legally, are afraid to leave their homes due to current immigration policies. In response, we’ve been asked to deliver food directly to these families and are actively working to secure the necessary resources and transportation to support them.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader, my dream for the future is to build a stronger, more resilient community where everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive. I aspire to expand our reach, ensuring that no one faces food insecurity, housing instability, or financial hardship alone. I also hope to create deeper partnerships that amplify our collective impact, allowing us to provide more sustainable solutions for families and individuals. Ultimately, my goal is to empower people to achieve self-sufficiency and build a future where all community members can flourish.

• American Academy of Pediatrics, DC Chapter

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  DCAAP serves the District of Columbia through our chapter members, pediatricians and allied health professionals that practice clinically in community clinics, private practices and health systems found in all wards of DC. Through educational programming, community outreach, and clinical care we also serve the greater DMV.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is to promote the optimal health and development of children and adolescents of Washington, D.C. in partnership with their families and communities, and to support the pediatricians who care for them.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  DCAAP plans to utilize the Sharing Community grant funding to increase our reach among families and pediatric care providers. In particular, we are excited to expand the involvement of parents and teens in our chapter programming through a community advisory board. Greater community participation will ensure the advocacy goals we champion best represent the priorities of the residents that we serve. We also hope the Sharing Community Initiative will allow us to strengthen ongoing community partnerships, including an ongoing collaboration with DC Women Infants and Children (WIC). This work has already led to an increase in referrals, utilization, and bi-directional communication between DC WIC and healthcare providers, serving as an excellent example of how our organization services families and pediatric care providers.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  The support of the Sharing Community Initiative is critical for our ongoing mission, and we expect it will lead to the opportunity for increased participation by the DC community in shaping Chapter programming. We are also thrilled to be joining the Sharing Community family and look forward to the future opportunities for learning and collaboration this connection provides.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  The cornerstone of DCAAP’s work has been to address health inequity, which is not a current federal priority. We seek to uplift and encourage diverse voices in our community through our programs which can also be challenging in times of uncertainty. Although our organization does not currently have federal funding, our work has benefited from being integrated into federally funded programs including partnerships with federal social programs (WIC), public campaigns to increase pediatric vaccinations, and training in trauma informed care. As an organization of pediatric care providers, DCAAP also strives to provide guidance for families around healthcare and well-being rooted in evidence-based policy and guidelines, leaving politics and sensationalism out of the equation

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Our vision is that all children and adolescents in DC are healthy, both physically and mentally; have access to quality pediatric health services; and have strong advocates in their families, communities and government.

• AfriThrive, inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve underserved African immigrant and minority communities in Montgomery County (Aspen Hill, Glenmont, Wheaton), Prince George’s County (Lanham), and the greater Baltimore area, including Essex and Northeast Baltimore City.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  AfriThrive’s mission is to advance food security, economic empowerment, and community wellness among African immigrant and minority families. We do this through culturally appropriate food assistance, community gardening, youth development, and economic empowerment programs that address social determinants of health and create pathways to opportunity. Our vision is to build thriving, self-sufficient communities rooted in dignity and resilience.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Thanks to the Sharing Community Initiative, AfriThrive transformed our 2-acre cultural farm in Poolesville into a vibrant source of food security, health, and cultural pride. This support allowed us to grow and deliver fresh, culturally appropriate produce to 400 families each month — offering not just food, but dignity, wellness, and hope. Families are now growing their own food in community gardens, saving up to $300 a month, and our partnerships with local schools and health centers have deepened. We are especially excited to launch a new Food as Medicine initiative, using culturally tailored foods to directly impact the health of school children. This investment is helping us sow lasting seeds of change across the communities we serve.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  In recent months, AfriThrive and the community we serve have faced tremendous challenges. Many families have experienced job losses, while the cost of fresh produce and transportation has continued to rise sharply. At the same time, unexpected funding cuts have made it harder to sustain critical programs and staffing. The growing demand for culturally appropriate food and economic support has stretched our resources, but it has not shaken our commitment. In response, we have doubled down on building partnerships, expanding our farm operations, and launching initiatives like Food as Medicine to address not just hunger, but health and resilience. These challenges have only deepened our resolve to stand with our community and create lasting change.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My dream is to continue building a future where solutions are created with the community, not just for them. I envision expanding AfriThrive’s work by deepening partnerships with schools, health centers, local farmers, and grassroots organizations — working side-by-side with families to grow food, build economic opportunity, and strengthen health and wellness. Together, we can create a future where culturally appropriate food, healthcare, and opportunity are within reach for every family. True resilience will come from collaboration, shared leadership, and the belief that lasting change is built in community, not in isolation.

• CareerCatchers, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  CareerCatchers serves Montgomery County, Maryland, with a focus on communities in Silver Spring, Wheaton, Gaithersburg, and surrounding neighborhoods. We work with individuals from non-mutually exclusive groups including low-income immigrants, domestic violence survivors, returning citizens, youth aging out of foster care, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those with limited English proficiency or digital literacy—many of whom face overlapping barriers to employment and stability.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  CareerCatchers empowers individuals facing barriers to employment by providing individualized career counseling, job readiness training, and access to supportive services. Our mission is to promote stable employment and upward mobility, enhance self-esteem, and foster long-term self-sufficiency. We believe in an equity-driven, client-centered approach that ensures each individual has the tools to thrive.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative has been pivotal in strengthening both our direct services and internal infrastructure. With this support, CareerCatchers has made meaningful progress in expanding employee benefits, advancing our IT roadmap to better support secure and efficient remote operations, and enhancing basic services like job readiness workshops and coaching. In 2024, we also launched a targeted healthcare workforce development program that helped over 25 clients—many with intersecting barriers—begin new career paths with ongoing coaching and support. These capacity-building investments have elevated our service delivery and long-term sustainability.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  The past several months have brought meaningful growth and some new challenges. We’ve expanded our outreach and are now offering free Basic Services to laid-off federal and contract workers, helping more people at a critical time. While this growth has increased demands on our staff, we remain committed to meeting client needs as efficiently as possible.

  On the funding front, we’re closely monitoring potential changes to federal support, particularly for our Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) program. While no official changes have been announced, our county partners have indicated that adjustments could be coming. We’re planning ahead to minimize any potential impact and ensure service continuity.

  To strengthen our financial resilience, we’re actively diversifying our funding sources. A new Board-led development strategy, a dedicated Fundraising Committee, and expanded donor engagement are positioning us for greater long-term sustainability.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Our vision extends beyond merely surviving the current challenging times—we aspire to create an environment where our organization can truly thrive and expand its impact. We envision a future where: We have successfully diversified our funding streams, creating resilience against government funding fluctuations. Our donor base has expanded significantly, with strong individual giving programs complemented by sustainable corporate partnerships and foundation support. This financial stability allows us to plan strategically rather than reactively.

  Our Basic Services package has evolved into a comprehensive support system that addresses the full spectrum of our clients' needs. We've optimized our operations to serve more people without compromising quality or depleting staff resources. Our service model has become a recognized benchmark that other organizations seek to emulate.

  Our team operates in an environment that fosters innovation and prevents burnout. Professional development opportunities abound, and our retention rates reflect the supportive culture we've cultivated. Our Board of Directors has transformed into a powerhouse of advocacy and fundraising, with members who are deeply engaged and leverage their networks effectively.

  Our organization is widely recognized as an essential community resource. Local businesses, government agencies, and other nonprofits actively seek partnerships with us. Our thought leadership on addressing community needs during uncertain times has elevated our profile and influence in policy discussions.

  Most importantly, we see our clients not just surviving but thriving. The support services we provide create lasting positive change, with former clients returning as donors, volunteers, and advocates. Their testimonials speak to the transformative impact of our work, creating a virtuous cycle of community strength and resilience.

  In this envisioned future, the challenges we currently face have become the catalyst for our greatest period of growth and impact. By remaining adaptable, forward-thinking, and deeply committed to our mission, we will not only weather the current storm but emerge as a stronger, more effective force for positive change in our community.

• Interfaith Works

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Interfaith Works serves people experiencing homelessness and poverty all across Montgomery County, MD.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Interfaith Works (IW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides vital services and a pathway to greater stability to over 35,000 Montgomery County residents each year. Interfaith Works programs provide emergency shelter, supportive housing, essential needs, and employment programs.

  For those receiving Sharing Community funding for the first-time, what excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  Sharing Montgomery’s generous investment will make a big impact by assisting Montgomery County residents with bridging the gaps between their needs and available resources. The grant will help Interfaith Works provide our neighbors with emergency financial assistance, free clothing and household goods, vocational and educational services, and a complete continuum of housing, including shelters and supportive housing. This means each client will have access to the tools, resources and skills they need to seek stability, wherever they are in their personal journey.

  As a nonprofit leader, how has your community or organization been impacted in recent months (financially or operationally)?

  These are extraordinarily difficult times for our entire community. There is distressing news regarding proposed budget cuts at Federal agencies including HUD. These cuts would pose extreme challenges not just for Interfaith Works, but for social service programs across the county and the entire country. And even before any cuts are made, it is clear an increasing number of our neighbors find themselves experiencing homelessness. In Montgomery County alone, we have witnessed a 97% increase in homelessness between 2022 and 2024, a trend we expect to continue. Supportive housing programs like ours play a crucial role in reducing the number of people living outside and ultimately help people exit shelters. This is a significant issue in our community no matter what happens with the Federal budget. To put this in a statewide perspective, almost 20 percent of people experiencing homelessness in Maryland are in Montgomery County. Cuts to homeless services programs will have deep and lasting impacts in our community. We are part of a robust system of care in our County involving many partner organizations that will be hit hard as well. The expected shrinking of available resources comes at a time when pressures on the system are likely to grow with many residents affected by Federal layoffs potentially seeking help, some for the first time ever. We have begun to field inquiries from these former Federal employees about getting help. We must be ready for what lies ahead.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader, our community will need a nonprofit sector that is:

  - Well-funded with sustainable resources to meet the growing needs in our communities and genuinely valued and recognized by the broader community for its essential work in addressing critical social needs.

  - Positioned to respond effectively as community needs continue to grow, especially as government resources (Federal or otherwise) are forecast to shrink.

  - Equipped to make more nimble data-driven decisions to effectively address the most pressing social challenges in our community.

  - Focused on advocacy to drive meaningful systemic change through policy reform, while using our power to convene and educate the community about - the most pressing social needs, where policy change is needed, and how they can become actively involved in creating systemic change.

  - Defined by strong partnerships and collaborations between social service nonprofits, where we share resources, strategies, and pursue joint funding opportunities to maximize our collective impact.

  We see new opportunities to collaborate with our community partners, our donors, our volunteers, and our clients so we are able to meet this moment together.

DCA Together Relief Fund Latest Updates and Impact

Our hearts continue to go out to the families impacted by the tragic midair collision on January 29 that claimed the lives of all 67 passengers, service members, and crew.

We are deeply grateful for the incredible support shown by our community in response to this tragedy. The DCA Together Relief Fund has mobilized over $100,000 in generous contributions to aid impacted families, first responders, and foster community recovery and healing. This effort has been strengthened by the generosity of corporate partners including Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Truist, Forvis Mazars, and Legum & Norman/Associa Cares, Inc.

Grantmaking Efforts

Thanks to this incredible outpouring of support, we made two immediate emergency response grants. The first supported Food on the Stove to provide hot meals and hydration to first responders involved in the recovery effort. The second supported the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing to provide no-cost trauma and grief counseling services for impacted individuals and organizations in our community.

Providing Relief for Affected Families

Working in partnership with the Wichita Foundation and its ICT Together Fund, we are currently distributing $200,000 in direct financial assistance to immediate family members, ensuring those affected receive the care, resources, and support they need during this difficult time. These resources will help families meet their immediate and long-term needs – including to cover basic necessities and/or grief counseling or other mental health supports.

We will also distribute additional funds to the families raised by the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Legacy on Ice program – following the live event on March 2, the national broadcast on March 30, and an online benefit auction running through April 3.

All proceeds and donations from the event will benefit and be split equally among the U.S. Figure Skating Foundation, our DCA Together Relief Fund, and DC Fire & EMS Foundation.

We remain committed to fostering resilience and well-being to help heal from this tragic loss, and we are profoundly grateful for the ongoing support from community members that makes this effort possible. Together, we are making a meaningful impact, and we cannot thank you enough for supporting the families during this challenging time.

About the DCA Together Relief Fund

The DCA Together Relief Fund is a community-supported crisis response fund providing aid to impacted families, first responders, and nonprofit organizations supporting recovery and healing. The goal is to offer immediate and long-term assistance to help provide hope and healing to those directly impacted by the tragic midair collision on January 29.

The fund was established by the Capital Region Community Foundations, a partnership including ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and Greater Washington Community Foundation.

In Solidarity: Creating Soft Spaces in Hard Times

From left to right: Sara Brenner, Executive Director, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Washington, Habib Bako, Founder of Aligned Minds, LLC, and Tonia Wellons, President & CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation

This post is written by Habib Bako, founder of Aligned Minds, LLC, a strategic community engagement firm. Habib is leading the design and implementation of a new initiative launched by The Community Foundation and our partners from the Jewish Community Foundation at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington that aims to build a faith-inspired community through building trust, bridging difference, and strengthening democracy throughout the region.

By Habib Bako

In February, I was honored to facilitate a remarkable event to launch a new project called In Solidarity: Trust, Truth, and Transformation. In Solidarity – led by the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the Jewish Community Foundation – seeks to build the capacity and skills of people from multiple faiths, religious, racial, and ethnic groups across the DMV

The aim of this initiative is to bring faith-inspired leaders together to bridge across difference, forge deeper relationships, and come together across shared purpose and values in order to ultimately strengthen our democracy and advance equitable outcomes in the Greater Washington region. But in this February meeting, it was clear people also sought to create a space to ground in their shared humanity, to hold their anxieties about the current state of our region and country, and to get inspired by stories of hope and resilience from leaders past and present.

Having worked in community engagement spaces in cities across the country, I understand the importance of building that space to hold people’s experiences and anxieties. But what is unique and special about this time around is that this community is in the DMV, a place I’ve called home for most of my life. 

In this February In Solidarity launch event, we called on leaders to consider Martin Luther King’s question and title of his 1967 book, “Where do we go from here: chaos or community?” It’s the timeless question we could have asked at every moment of national upheaval and pain. This moment, right here in 2025, is no different. Throughout the launch event, it was clear that people needed time to be with one another. In the opening of the event, we asked participants to share the values that brought them to that event. They brought in the values of: love, community, determination, resilience, and resistance. That energy was clear throughout.

As principal leaders of the two partner organizations, Tonia Wellons and Sara Brenner really set the tone for the evening with their introduction. They talked about their relationship with one another and why that relationship models the types of trust, truth, and transformation that In Solidarity hopes to elevate and accelerate through this initiative. Their work led them to intentionally choose partnership and abundance for the two community foundations over scarcity and competition for resources. They began having difficult conversations on race, religion, and the divides that often show up in our communities, and what began to bubble up was a relational bend to the philanthropy they saw their donors practicing often anchored in their communities of origin, and their ethnic and religious ties. Sara and Tonia quickly realized that these relationships were the common ground that could move their communities forward.

We also heard from two DMV leaders who are living In Solidarity through their everyday work. Reverend William H. Lamar IV, the pastor of the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, moved the crowd by imploring them to not “shrink from the blood demand of our ancestors.” He shared the remarkable story of winning ownership of the Proud Boys trademark in court and using that power to turn evil into good. While it has brought an onslaught of threats to his congregation, he stands by the decision to pursue the lawsuit. He told the participants that it was our time to fight against the division and hate that permeates our culture. And he reminded us that the fight was not done in the name of anger, but in the name of love – the practice of love.

Our next speaker was Diana Aviv, founder and principal of ourCovenant, an organization that builds and deepens partnerships within communities of faith in support of democracy. A community leader and native of South Africa, she grew up where racism was the law of the land, acutely aware of the privilege her skin color afforded her under apartheid. Having Diana at this event was a personal delight for me as I worked for her more than a decade ago. Diana spoke about her deep faith in the goodness of people to solve their own problems. She noted it is within American civil society – the thousands of nonprofit organizations and the millions of people who are employed by and volunteer with them – where that kind of hope and determination to solve our own problems can be found. “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy,” she said. “The biggest mistake is to wait until [the threat] passes and assume things will get better. We have to take action now. Civil society is the glue that holds us all together. Progress happens when civil society is strong and democracy functions.”

The event then turned to the participants, where the most valuable interactions took place among the people in the room and in discussion about how In Solidarity can continue to be a place for choosing community over chaos. The themes that came out in the read-outs from the tables presented several opportunities to design and grow this work. The challenges to our communities right now are immense, but the opportunities are attainable and achievable.

In the end, the words that people used to check out of the In Solidarity gathering made it clear that people were ready to put in the mental, physical, and spiritual energy and time toward this goal of choosing community and being in solidarity with one another.

This is just the beginning of this initiative and I look forward to sharing more about it as we build it together over the next two year. Here’s to being In Solidarity with you all.

If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, you can reach me at [email protected]

Supporting Nonprofits in Uncertain Times: What You Can Do Right Now

Nonprofits across the country, but especially right here in the Greater Washington region, are facing a challenging and uncertain landscape. With the threat of federal funding cuts and shifting policies that could have major impact on our region, many of our nonprofit partners are preparing for a period of financial uncertainty.

The work of our region’s critical nonprofit sector is more important now than ever – from providing essential services to keep families housed and children fed, to organizations supporting education, mental health, marginalized communities, or offering other services that enrich our lives and ensure that our communities continue to thrive. These same nonprofits are now grappling with policy changes, budget shortfalls, inflationary pressures, and anticipating an increase in demand for their services as funding cuts and layoffs are projected to hit our region especially hard.

While private philanthropy cannot fully step in to replace the loss of public funding, The Community Foundation and our donors and partners can help play a critical role in sustaining and strengthening this region’s nonprofit sector.

Here are a few recommendations for both individual and institutional philanthropists to consider:

1. Reach Out to the Nonprofits You Support - It is important to check in with the organizations you care about to ask what they need most right now. A simple conversation can go a long way. Understanding their immediate and long-term needs can help you align your giving in the most effective way possible. Don’t be afraid to ask them how they are doing – recognizing these challenges have also been difficult for their staff and board members too.
   

2. Increase Your Support - We can all play an important role in helping nonprofits weather this crisis and minimize disruptions to their critical services. If you are in a position to give, now is the time to increase your support. This follows a similar conversation happening among many private foundations (both locally and nationally) that are increasing their annual payout rate.
   

3. Make Your Support Flexible - If you truly believe in the organization and its mission — then you should give them the flexibility to deploy those dollars where they are needed most in the community. Providing flexible, unrestricted funding allows these organizations to remain responsive, resilient, and effective in their work. You may also consider making a multiyear gift, which allows the nonprofit to plan more effectively by focusing less on fundraising and more on its mission.
   

4. Invest in advocacy and community organizing - While much of charitable giving is directed towards direct services that help individuals and families to meet basic needs, philanthropy can also support advocacy and organizing that can help shift policies and practices at both the local and national level. Investing in advocacy groups is a great way to ensure that your philanthropy aligns with your values and to ensure that the causes you care about have the support they need to continue their important work in the community.
   

5. Invest in Nonprofit Resilience & Infrastructure Nonprofits need more than just funding—they need strategic investments in organizational infrastructure that will allow them to weather economic uncertainty and adapt to ongoing challenges.
   
   If you are passionate about long-term impact, consider directing some of your giving to capacity-building efforts, such as leadership training, strategic legal counsel, or communications support. These investments can ensure that organizations are equipped to meet urgent needs, advocate effectively, and continue delivering meaningful impact across our region for the foreseeable future.
   

6. Partner with The Community Foundation - As your community foundation, we believe in the power of community and we stand in solidarity with our nonprofit partners providing critical programs and services to our neighbors who need it most. We are in constant communication with partners from across the region to understand the urgent and emerging needs they are facing.
   
   We remain committed to the values that have guided our work to build a stronger, more inclusive, and resilient region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. You can partner with us and support our efforts to make strategic investments in response to today’s needs and tomorrow's challenges. You can also reach out to your local Community Foundation Officer to learn more about specific needs and opportunities to support the work in your local community and across the region.
   
   Together, we can make a difference.
   

7. Stay Engaged and Advocate Beyond financial support, your voice matters. Engage in conversations about the value of nonprofit work, advocate for policies that strengthen the sector, and stay informed about the challenges and opportunities facing philanthropy in our region.

   A few examples of this include:

• Stay informed and combat the spread of misinformation by attending Town Hall meetings or informational webinars about local issues impacting nonprofit partners in your community.

• Donate your time! Whether you’re a weekend volunteer or offering your professional expertise, donating your time can be a great way to support a nonprofit partner’s work and ongoing mission.

• Join us for a community event! The Community Foundation regularly hosts events around the causes and organizations most relevant to our region. Reach out to your local Community Foundation Officer to find opportunities to engage with community partners in your neighborhood.

• Join your local Sharing Community Fund. This community grantmaking initiative allows you to be in community with like-minded peer philanthropists while seeing the impact that nonprofits are having in your backyard!

Your generosity has always played a vital role in shaping strong, vibrant communities across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. As we navigate these uncertain times together, your continued support, leadership, and advocacy will be more important than ever.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to philanthropy. If you have questions about how to maximize your impact, the Greater Washington Community Foundation is here to help.

DCA Together Relief Fund: Crisis Support for Flight 5342 and Army Black Hawk Families

The Greater Washington community is devastated by the tragic event on January 29 that claimed the lives of all 67 passengers, service members, and crew on board American Airlines Flight 5342 and the Army Black Hawk Helicopter. We also recognize the heroic efforts of our region’s first responders working on the recovery effort to help provide some closure to grieving families.

Our Greater Washington Community is strongest when we stand together as neighbors helping neighbors. Through the generosity of our community and partners, we will stand united in remembrance and resilience.

In the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy, the Capital Region Community Foundations have partnered to launch a crisis response fund to aid impacted families, first responders, and nonprofit organizations supporting recovery and healing. In close coordination and partnership with the Wichita Foundation and its ICT Together Fund, the goal is to provide immediate and long-term assistance, ensuring that those affected receive the care, resources, and support they need during this difficult time.

We are working in close coordination with federal and local authorities, the Wichita Foundation, and community partners across our local jurisdictions to determine the best way to support impacted families.

The DCA Together Relief Fund: Crisis Support for Flight 5342 and Army Black Hawk Families will aim to provide:

• Assistance for impacted families to help meet their immediate needs.

• Resources and support for our region’s first responders and organizations aiding in recovery efforts.

• Support for nonprofits that are providing impacted families and communities with resources such as mental health services, trauma and grief counseling, and other community healing efforts.

You can make a difference in this critical time. Your contribution will help bring hope and healing to the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.

The Capital Area Community Foundations is a partnership among several of our region’s leading community foundations including ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and Greater Washington Community Foundation. Together, the community foundations serving the region have a more than 100-year history as community connectors and conversation brokers who work tirelessly to preserve, enhance and protect the quality of life for our neighbors. This role often places us directly in the middle of our community’s most important decisions, most pressing issues, and most promising opportunities.

A Year in Review: Looking Back at the Top Milestones from 2024

2024 was a year full of milestones for The Community Foundation and our community of changemakers – from launching a children’s savings pilot program in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to unveiling the 2024 VoicesDMV Community Insights Report, and celebrating new and exciting investments across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Here are some of our most meaningful milestones from 2024.

Celebrating the Spirit of Philanthropy and Alex Orfinger at the National Building Museum

On March 21, The Community Foundation honored Alex Orfinger with the 2024 Spirit of Philanthropy Award, as part of the Celebration of Philanthropy at the National Building Museum. The event raised more than $500,000 towards building a stronger community in the Greater Washington region.

Reimagine Work: Aligning Workforce Development within an Economic Justice Framework

In January, The Community Foundation introduced Reimagine (formerly known as the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative) - a coalition of funders committed to co-creating solutions alongside communities and people to advance systemic economic justice rooted in reimagining, redistributing, and rebalancing work, opportunity, and sustainability.

Greater Washington Community Foundation and PNC Foundation Support Small Businesses in Prince George’s County

In April, The Community Foundation announced the launch of the Prince George’s County Small Business Support Program made possible through funding from the PNC Foundation to support small business infrastructure and development in Prince George’s County. The fund awarded over $330,000 in grants to 17 small businesses along the Purple Line and Blue Line corridors. The grants will enable businesses to harness the economic benefits of development along the transit corridors.

Thrive Prince George’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Begins Monthly Payments

In April, Thrive Prince George’s  - the county’s first-ever guaranteed income pilot program, began monthly cash distributions to 50 youth (age 18-24) who have aged out of foster care and 125 seniors (age 60+) for a 24-month period with no strings attached.

The pilot – which was announced in November 2023 - received a tremendous response with more than 5,500 applications submitted for 175 slots. All applications went through a carefully designed and impartial review process that utilized best practices in applicant selection including weighing essential eligibility criteria and randomization. This process also ensured inclusion of our two special populations - care givers and returning citizens.

In October, The Community Foundation convened guaranteed income advocates from nine different guaranteed income pilots from across the region  - including Thrive Prince George’s - to discuss how to amplify the effects of guaranteed income pilots in the Greater Washington region.

The Community Foundation Launches Brilliant Futures Children’s Savings Pilot at Jackson Road Elementary School and Bradbury Heights Elementary School

In June, The Community Foundation announced the launch of Brilliant Futures, a children’s savings pilot program that will provide kindergarten students at Jackson Road Elementary School and Bradbury Heights Elementary School with up to $1,000 each year from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Community Foundation has committed to funding the program for two consecutive kindergarten cohorts at each school — specifically the future graduating classes of 2036 and 2037 at Jackson Road Elementary and classes of 2037 and 2038 at Bradbury Heights Elementary schools. The program is expected to enroll up to 400 students and was launched in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Public Schools, and community partners, Parent Encouragement Program and Reid Community Development Corporation.

In October, The Community Foundation was recognized with the Superintendent’s Award of Excellence at the Foundation for PGCPS Hall of Fame Gala in recognition of Brilliant Futures.

Building Towards Belonging: New Voices DMV Report Highlights Critical Needs & Strategic Priorities for the Greater Washington Region

In May, The Community Foundation released the 2024 Voices DMV Community Insights Report, which provided an update on the state of our region, including key regional challenges and insights from a comprehensive survey conducted by The Community Foundation in partnership with Gallup and its Center on Black Voices.

First launched in 2017, VoicesDMV is a community engagement initiative designed to help philanthropy, community leaders, policymakers, and others better understand the diverse experiences of the people who live and work in the Greater Washington region.

In December, the Washington Association of Black Journalists awarded The Community Foundation the 2024 Dr. Sheila Brooks Community Impact Award in recognition of the VoicesDMV initiative and its commitment to amplify the voices and needs of underrepresented communities across the DC metropolitan area.

Greater Washington Community Foundation Welcomes Sean Morris as New Board Chair

In September, The Community Foundation welcomed Seán Morris, Principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees. Seán succeeded Richard K. Bynum, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer for The PNC Financial Services Group, who has served as Board Chair since September 2022.

The Community Foundation also welcomed Thomas Penny, President of Donohoe Hospitality as a newest member of the Board of Trustees and welcomed Artis Hampshire-Cowan, as a member of The Community Foundation’s Board Emerita.

The Board has been extremely supportive of The Community Foundation’s President & CEO, Tonia Wellons – who has continued to receive well-deserved recognition for her outstanding leadership in the Greater Washington region. This year, Tonia was once again recognized as a member of the Washington Business Journal’s 2024 Power 100 Index. She also joined the Board of Directors for CFLeads – a national network of community foundations committed to community leadership and innovation to build stronger communities.

Celebrating Community Impact Through Partnership at the 2024 Annual Meeting

In October, The Community Foundation gathered with friends and supporters for the 2024 Annual Meeting and public kick-off for Together, We Prosper, a $75 million Campaign for Economic Justice in the Greater Washington region.

The meeting celebrated another year of exciting landmarks. In FY2024, our fundholders disbursed over $87 million to a diverse range of causes across the region.

The evening also included exciting updates on the Together, We Prosper Campaign for Economic Justice, which seeks to mobilize philanthropy to close the racial wealth gap in our region by investing in innovative economic mobility programs to boost wealth building in priority high opportunity neighborhoods.

Partnership to End Homelessness Celebrates Five Years of Impact

This past year, The Community Foundation’s Partnership to End Homelessness celebrated five years of impact.

Since 2020, The Partnership has successfully leveraged more and aligned more than $20 million in funding to support affordable housing and grantmaking to nonprofits, helped to build and preserve 924 homes for low-income families, and supported advocacy efforts that helped 3,254 individuals and 1,542 families exit homelessness.

The Partnership also welcomed five new members to its Leadership Council - a group of committed, private sector individuals representing foundations, housing developers and owners, healthcare institutions, and universities who are dedicated to ending homelessness in DC.

Investing in Community Safety and Gun Violence Prevention

In 2024, The Community Foundation announced its intentions to support the development and funding of a comprehensive strategy to enhance harm reduction efforts in DC to promote community safety and prevent gun violence. The organization awarded $1 million in investments in partnership with DC government agencies, joined the CF Leads Gun Violence Protection Network, and – in partnership with the Public Welfare Foundation - hired a Senior Fellow for Community Safety and Harm Reduction to coordinate further efforts.  

In September, The Community Foundation and Public Welfare Foundation organized the first of several convenings for philanthropic partners, business leaders, city government representatives and advocates for community safety to discuss ways to promote and sustain community safety.

Greater Washington Community Foundation Celebrates $26 million investment in innovative DC Health Equity Partnerships

In 2024, The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund announced $25.8 million in multiyear investments in five transformative projects focused on collaborative approaches to increasing economic mobility and wealth building.

Since 2022, the $95 million Health Equity Fund has distributed more than $58.9 million to community-based nonprofits that serve District residents.

In addition to transformative funding, the initiative has also served as a powerful convener for DC’s nonprofit community. In April, The Community Foundation brought together more than 200 changemakers from across the area for the 2024 Health Equity Summit - a day of music, speakers, and deep conversations around the pursuit of health equity, economic justice, and liberation in the Greater Washington region.

In August, in recognition of the Fund’s impact on the region, the Washington Business Journal honored Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund, as part of the inaugural 2024 Innovators in Health Care Awards.

2024 Celebration of Giving – Saluting Bob Buchanan, the 2024 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year

On November 21st, donors and community partners across Montgomery County gathered for the annual Celebration of Giving honoring Bob Buchanan, founder of Buchanan Partners, as the 2024 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year.

The evening included a special video tribute to Bob, an update from President & CEO Tonia Wellons regarding the Together, We Prosper Campaign for Economic Justice, and a surprise $250,000 Challenge Match from the Honoree himself!

Stronger Together - Our Commitment To Greater Washington

This week, we reaffirm our commitment to the values that have guided the Greater Washington Community Foundation for over 50 years as we work to strengthen our region. Our work has endured through many changes in political leadership, and each transition brings its own impact to our community. In these times, we stay true to our purpose— to build racially equitable, just, and thriving communities so that people of all races, places, and identities can reach their full potential.

As your community foundation, we believe in the power of community and stand in solidarity with our partners working to help the most vulnerable or marginalized among us. We reaffirm our commitment to actively listening to our community to ensure their needs and experiences guide our work. We pledge to actively deploy our resources, voice, and efforts to build a stronger, more inclusive, and resilient region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Washington, DC, is not only the capital of our democracy but also a vibrant community of individuals dedicated to strengthening our shared future. By working together, we have the power and the potential for creating deeper, more lasting impact toward achieving economic justice and prosperity for all. 

Unlocking the Power of Guaranteed Income in the DMV

Earlier this month, The Community Foundation gathered with guaranteed income advocates from across the region to discuss how to amplify the effects of guaranteed income pilots in the Greater Washington region.

“At The Community Foundation, we believe that guaranteed income is one of the best ways that we can combat poverty with dignity” The Community Foundation’s President & CEO Tonia Wellons shared. “That’s why we’re so excited to convene so many incredible changemakers in this space and discuss how we can continue this work in our region!”

The meeting brought together representatives from nine different guaranteed income pilots across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, including Bread for the City’s Cash Rx, Arlington Community Foundation’s Arlington’s Guarantee, City of Alexandria’s ARISE, iF, a Foundation for Radical Possibility’s Let’s GO DMV!, My Sister’s Place’s RISE Trust, Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot, Montgomery County’s MoCoBoost, Mothers Outreach Network’s MotherUp, and The Community Foundation’s Thrive Prince George’s.

A graphic captured by Belinda Jackson at Picture it Possible, showcases the various guaranteed income pilots that attended the convening.

“We’ve seen the impact that guaranteed income has had across the country,” shared Mandi Koba, Program Officer for Economic Mobility at The Community Foundation. “Now we have a chance to explore the impact that it has had – and will hopefully continue to have in the DMV!”

Nationally, there are more than 150 guaranteed income pilots that are currently active or recently concluded – including at least 12 different pilots in Greater Washington region.

Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate at the Urban Institute provides an overview of guaranteed income pilots across the country.

During the event, representatives had the chance to network with peers from across the region and share best practices. They also heard a presentation from Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate at the Urban Institute about guaranteed income pilot best practices and trends, nationally. Bogle and her team at Urban have provided research and evaluation for guaranteed income pilots across the country and the region.

“The socioeconomic impact of guaranteed income is clearly positive,” Bogle shared. “What we need is to continue to research and advocate for more funding so we can discover the scope and scale of that impact for our community.”

After Bogle’s presentation, representatives were divided into break-out groups to discuss various themes relative to guaranteed income work including Narrative Building, How to go from Pilot to Policy, and ‘Failing Forward: Best Practices for Project Implementation.

A graphic captured by Belinda Jackson at Picture it Possible, highlights the main takeaways discussed in each of the various break-out groups.

In the “Failing Forward” group, participants talked about the importance of working with funders to build relationships of trust in order to communicate outcomes and impact within a realistic, holistic lens – but also to be innovative in the types of outcomes they measure – outcomes like improved mental health or increased time spent with children that may fall outside traditional benchmarks for programmatic success

Meanwhile, the Narrative Building group discussed the importance of storytelling and narrative building in painting an accurate picture of the impact of guaranteed income initiatives.

“Welfare queens, ‘Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps’ – there are so many negative narratives out there that don’t accurately represent the realities faced by those we serve,” shared one representative. “As we work with our participants to empower them to share their own stories, we are able to elevate narratives of dignity and community that are the backbone of this work.”

Finally, the pilot to policy group discussed ways to leverage narrative building and evaluation findings to plan for the future – by advocating for funding and policy to continue their efforts at scale.

Across the board, partners expressed the need to continue to collaborate across jurisdictions to share information, combat false narratives, and continue to advocate for funding and support across the region.

“Collaboration and partnership is the key to bringing about lasting and sustainable change,” Wellons added. “We look forward to continuing to partner with all of you, as we work together to promote economic mobility in the Greater Washington region.”

The Community Foundation is committed to continuing to invest in, advocate for, and support the progression of guaranteed income pilot programs across the Greater Washington region. For more information, visit https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/guaranteed-income

ACT for Alexandria Community Advisory Board Pilots Racial Equity Grantmaking Initiative

Members of the ACT for Alexandria Community Advisory Board meet with ACT for Alexandria President & CEO Heather Peeler.

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 2024, The Community Foundation teamed up with ACT for Alexandria to support ACT’s Fund for Racial Equity, a participatory grantmaking fund made up of 10 community advisory board members who live or work in Alexandria, Virginia and come from a diverse range of backgrounds and life experiences.

The Community Foundation is proud to support ACT’s Fund for Racial Equity, which recently announced its inaugural round of mini-grants to 19 different local organizations and individuals.

For Mahlet Tefera, attending the ACT for Alexandria Community Advisory Board meeting is one of the highlights of her very busy week.

Originally from Ethiopia, Mahlet has lived in Alexandria for the past 13 years. A working mother of four, Mahlet splits her time between four jobs: a Nursing Assistant during the school day; a waitress on weekends; a devoted parent and partner with her husband, who is self-employed in the transportation industry; and a passionate advocate for mothers and the Ethiopian community.

“I love being able to bring my experience to the table – as an Ethiopian and as a mom,” Mahlet shared. “It’s so important that our voices are heard and our concerns considered.

In 2023, Mahlet and ten other community members were invited to join ACT for Alexandria’s Community Advisory Board to help orient the organization’s strategic planning process – specifically, building a plan to advance racial equity in Alexandria.

Racial equity is a topic that hits close to home for many Alexandrians. Once home to the largest slave-trading operation in the US, as well as the first successful library sit-in during the Civil Rights Era, Alexandria has a long history in the struggle for racial equity – one that government and philanthropic leaders have acknowledged continues to be a challenge for residents of color.

“It is well-established that racial disparities are the greatest roadblock to achieving social and economic opportunity and health and well-being for all residents,” Brandi Yee, Chief Program Officer for ACT for Alexandria shared. “That’s why ACT for Alexandria is committed to investing in community-driven decision making – centering the voices and perspectives of those most impacted by systemic racism so we can better understand and support the full experiences of Alexandrians.”

All members of the Community Advisory Board are members of (or work closely with) communities of color in Alexandria, including the African American, Latino, Ethiopian, Afghan, and homeless communities. This past year, the board members combined their experiences to set four funding priorities for the inaugural grant round of the new Fund for Racial Equity at ACT for Alexandria, to include child welfare, health, housing, and education.

“We learned so much about our community, just through the conversations we had amongst ourselves,” Advisory Board member Bill Campbell, a long-time Alexandria resident and former member of the Alexandria City School Board shared. “All of us come from diverse backgrounds and were able to provide unique insights so that we could identify the most urgent needs in our community.”

Community Advisory Board members also had the chance to participate in a training session on Racial Equity provided by Service Never Sleeps, which helped ground the discussion and provided a baseline which the Advisory Board could build off of.

“It was important for us to consistently talk about what equity was,” Bill added. “We ended up having a better appreciation for the thoughts and challenges amongst people of color.

The Community Advisory Board shares information about upcoming opportunities at a resource fair in Alexandria.

Once the group established a shared understanding of equity and identified the funding priorities, they set about designing the application process and establishing the criteria for funding. They designed an application process that was shorter and easier to navigate for both individuals and community organizations. It was also translated into several different languages.

The Community Advisory Board also publicized the opportunity throughout the community including in places where RFPs (Requests for Funding Proposals) aren’t usually found, such as Recreation Centers, apartment and grocery store message boards, places of worship, and RHA (Redevelopment Housing Authority) meetings.

“We wanted this fund to be truly grounded in the community,” Shelley Spacek-Miller, Program Manager for ACT for Alexandria shared. “Our goal was to ensure that this opportunity reached places and people that traditional funding opportunities might not normally reach.”

The result were 19 grants, totaling $38,000 in funding supporting a wide range of projects including a community spelling bee for underserved students, a mobile eye health clinic, an eight-week mental health and wellness program to promote healing from racial trauma, and support for students filling out FAFSA applications.

Support for the Fund for Racial Equity grants was provided through the contributions of generous donors, ACT for Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion Giving Day, as well as a matching contribution from The Community Foundation.

“The Community Foundation is proud to support participatory grantmaking efforts across our region,” Chief Program Officer, Dawnn Leary shared. “ACT for Alexandria’s Racial Equity Fund aligns with our strategic vision as outlined in our VoicesDMV initiative – convening community groups, hearing their experiences, and ensuring their voice and vision is incorporated into the initiatives that impact their communities.”

“As a board, we understand that even small investments can make a large difference,” Bill shared. “Especially for the individuals on the community level who are doing the work.”

“We realize that $38,000 worth of investment isn’t going to solve inequity in our community – a problem with trillions of dollars in impact – but it’s an important first step. One that I hope we’ll continue to build on.”

"Through this grant process, we continue to learn about how to shift power to our community,” Heather Peeler, President & CEO of ACT for Alexandria added. “Community Advisory Board members bring an important strategic lens.  Their intentionality inspires and challenges us in terms of how we do our work as a foundation."

For more information about future opportunities like this one, read about ACT for Alexandria’s Fund for Racial Equity on their website.

Building Towards Belonging: Voices DMV Report Highlights Critical Needs & Strategic Priorities for the Greater Washington Region

Almost half of DMV residents are struggling or suffering in their overall well-being, according to the latest Voices DMV Community Insights Report.

The report - which was released this week -- provides an update on the state of our region, including key regional challenges and insights from a comprehensive survey conducted by The Community Foundation in partnership with Gallup and its Center on Black Voices.

“This is not just data for data’s sake,” shared Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “This data is a reflection of what we can do better – what our community requires of us. It provides a roadmap for how we can shift what we’re doing – as funders and as community and nonprofit partners -- to better meet their needs.”

First launched in 2017, VoicesDMV is a community engagement initiative designed to help philanthropy, community leaders, policymakers, and others better understand the diverse experiences of the people who live and work in the Greater Washington region.

This year’s report marks the third iteration of VoicesDMV. Data from the previous iteration was gathered just weeks prior to the  COVID-19 pandemic that exacerbated pre-existing socio-economic disparities across the region.

Nearly four years later, the latest VoicesDMV Community Insights Report shows that many of those disparities are still prevalent – and in some cases have widened further in the aftermath of the pandemic.

According to the report, at some point during the past year, half of residents in the DMV worried about not being able to pay their rent or mortgage. Meanwhile, among Black and Hispanic residents, more than 1 in 3 have run out of money for food. Click here to view the Full Report

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The report surveyed more than 2,800 residents across DC, Maryland, and Virginia – with an oversampling among communities of color across the region, including several neighborhoods identified by The Community Foundation as priority neighborhoods.

“This report is important because we need to make sure we’re all singing from the same sheet of music,” Camille Lloyd, Director of the Gallup Center for Black Voices shared at a launch event for the report. “No matter how well we’re doing as a region, if we don’t understand who’s being impacted negatively – and how they’re being impacted – we won’t know who is being left behind.”

Lloyd provided insights on the survey’s methodology and moderated a panel discussion with members of The Community Foundation’s Community Investment team about key takeaways from the report.

“COVID really changed the conversation about ‘work’ and the employment space as we know it,” Dawnn Leary, Chief Program Officer at The Community Foundation shared. “On a philanthropic level, it’s forced us to re-examine how we invest in workforce development and where.”

According to the latest report, nearly three in four residents described available job opportunities as a barrier to achieving their financial goals. At the same time, residents also identified a number of critical barriers to finding and keeping those jobs including access to public transportation, credit history, and access to childcare.

Leary is the chief facilitator of Reimagine – formerly the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative. The initiative recently shifted its focus following a robust listening and learning discovery process with community members about the needs of the community – many of which were outlined in the report.

“When we talk about impact, we need to get out of the tendency to only focus on programmatic outcomes,” Leary explained, outlining one of the reasons for the shift. “Instead, we need to prioritize how we are responding to the actual needs on the ground.”

Jennifer Olney, Senior Community Investment Officer with the Partnership to End Homelessness shared how her initiative is advocating for more funding to meet one of the most urgent of those needs – access to affordable housing.

Olney shared how the growing number of residents struggling to pay rent has played out across the DMV, as the number of people experiencing homelessness in our region increased by 12% last year. This statistic had actually decreased during the pandemic, but has since reversed course as COVID relief and rental assistance programs expired and more residents find themselves struggling to get by.

“Like many challenges facing our community, homelessness is one issue where the public sector needs to be at the table and make the necessary investments,” Olney shared. “That’s why it’s critical for us to empower community members and those with lived experience and ensure that their voices and advocacy are heard.”

“We need to constantly ask ourselves how are we supporting and investing in the agency of people,” Leary added. “Not just listening to their voices and providing input, but finding ways to step back and let those who are closest to these issues lead.”

“Those who are living these experiences know what the solutions are – what they need is investment and support. They need to be the ones that are engaged in driving change in their community; not just philanthropy.”

“As you read this report, don’t just take it as another input for data,” Leary concluded. “Think about how this insight will change the way you work. How can you use it to change you interact with the community you serve.”

Following the panel discussion with members of the Community Investment team, Duc Luu, Director of Sustainability Initiatives/Journalism at the Knight Foundation moderated a panel discussion that dived deeper into other aspects of the report – specifically those related to the sense of belonging, social connections, and resident voice.

“A sense of belonging is more than just being seen or feeling included,” shared Vanessa Mason, Principal on the Building Cultures of Belonging team at Omidyar Network. “It means having a voice and an opportunity to use it to make demands on the society that they are a part of.”

“Belonging is more than aspirational,” Dr. Wendy Ellis, Director and Founder of the Center for Community Resilience at George Washington University added. “It’s something that is real and is measurable.”

According to Gallup and  the VoicesDMV Community Insights Report, a sense of belonging is the biggest predictor of whether residents are thriving. It also represents one of the biggest areas for improvement for our region – especially as residents look to their future. Just over half of residents expect living conditions in their communities to be ‘about the same’ five years from now, while about one in three expect them to them to be worse.

“We can’t create belonging for anyone else,” Dr. Ellis shared. “We can only create the conditions for belonging. That requires intentionality and investments that foster social cohesion – which over time develops into social capital and hope for a brighter future.”

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“I do this work because I believe that belonging cannot happen without power,” Allison Dunn-Almaguer, Executive Director of Washington Interfaith Network shared. “It’s about building agency – bringing people together across, race, religion, sexuality, and ethnicity to promote collective decision-making.”

Following the panel, Darius Graham, Managing Director of Community Investment, expressed The Community Foundation’s commitment to continue to build upon the community insights of the VoicesDMV Report by turning ideas into action. He shared information about the VoicesDMV Fellowship which will facilitate deeper engagement between The Community Foundation, residents, and organizations in priority areas to ensure authentic community voice is at the center of our work.

He also shared information about the 2024 VoicesDMV Community Action Awards. Started in 2020, the Community Action Awards provide microgrants to nonprofits working to make our region more equitable and inclusive by addressing issues and challenges highlighted in the Community Insights report.

Among the past Community Action Award Honorees were Erin McKenney, Executive Director of Just Neighbors and Lauren McDanell, VP of Strategy & Growth at SEED SPOT. Both recipients shared how the Community Action Awards allowed them to build a sense of belonging amongst the communities they serve.

“We hope that you leave this room today with a shared commitment to intentionality,” Tonia Wellons shard in conclusion. “May we glean what we can from this report and interrogate how it plays out in our communities and in the work that we do.”

“If we are to do this work effectively, it is imperative that we adapt to the needs of our community – we cannot keep doing the same things and expect different outcomes.”

“This report is only the beginning of our work – and we have a responsibility to our community to see that it’s carried out.”

Click here to see photos from the VoicesDMV Launch. For more information about VoicesDMV, visit www.voicesdmv.org

New Community Listening Survey Shows DMV Residents Are Significantly Less Optimistic Now Than They Were in 2020

Worries about being able to pay rent or a mortgage in the Greater Washington region have soared; fewer residents believe changes where they live will benefit them

A new community listening survey conducted by Gallup in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation shows that DMV residents are now significantly less optimistic about the future of the region than they were in 2020. DMV residents have become less positive in their views about who will benefit from changes in the area, and a staggering 85% of residents believe they have little to no influence on local government decision-making.

The number of residents who expect living conditions in the Greater Washington region to get “better” in the next five years dropped by nearly half, from 29% in 2020 to 16% in 2023, while the number of people who think living conditions will get “worse” in the region has increased from 24% to 32%. In 2020, 27% of respondents said changes in the area would benefit “more people like me,” but this is now down to 19%.

“Our last survey, conducted just before the pandemic, documented wide disparities in income and opportunity that were preventing many residents from accessing the region’s economic growth and prosperity. Today, many of these hardships remain, and have been exacerbated by the health and economic trauma of the past few years,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Recognizing the challenges many people face, we’re redoubling our efforts to facilitate deeper engagement with residents and are investing in microgrants for individuals and organizations with ideas for improving neighborhoods to ensure every person has the opportunity to thrive.” 

The Voices of the Community (VoicesDMV): Community Insights survey is one of the only large-scale community listening and engagement tools in the region that seeks to understand how residents are experiencing key quality of life indicators across a wide range of topics: economic opportunity, wellbeing, safety, influence in our democracy, and general perceptions about livability in the region. Through VoicesDMV, The Community Foundation has committed to engaging our community every three years to help keep a finger on the pulse of the community by deeply and authentically listening to the voices, experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of people who are generally not heard from in philanthropy.

This year’s publication reveals that while the DMV is outpacing the growth of other northeast regions, and more than half of residents are thriving, many people still lack access to basic needs. Nearly one in five DMV residents say there were times in the past year when they didn’t have enough money to pay for healthcare or medicine or food for themselves or their family, while 11% say they were unable to provide adequate shelter. Black and Hispanic residents are more likely than other racial subgroups to report struggling to afford basic needs — including more than a third who say there were times in the previous year when they did not have enough money to buy food and more than a quarter who experienced not having enough money for healthcare or medicine.

“Economic precarity has been a consistent theme throughout Gallup’s and the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s research across pre- and post-pandemic measures, revealing inequalities that could persist or even expand if gone unaddressed as the DMV region continues to change,” said Camille Lloyd, Director of the Gallup Center on Black Voices. “These findings demonstrate the need for programs and services that help residents catch up and keep up financially, move up the economic ladder, and ultimately build wealth.”

Additionally, worries about being able to pay rent or a mortgage in the DMV have soared since 2020. The percentage of people who are “very” worried about not being able to pay their rent or mortgage has more than tripled – from 8% in 2020 to 27% in 2023. When asked which amenities are “good” or “excellent” in the region, across all geographies, the availability of affordable and accessible housing was ranked last. 

Results for the survey are based on a mail survey of adults living in Washington, DC, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Arlington County, Alexandria City, Fairfax City, and Falls Church City. Gallup mailed a total of 27,000 surveys, available in both English and Spanish, 2,832 of which were completed between May 5 and June 26, 2023. Previous iterations of the survey were completed in 2017 and 2020.

Along with the release of the new report, The Community Foundation will relaunch its Community Action Awards, a microgrant program for nonprofits, as well as the new VoicesDMV Fellowship, a leadership opportunity for residents. The full report and an online dashboard with further geographic and demographic breakdowns of the VoicesDMV survey data is available at VoicesDMV.org.

Sharing NoVA: Building Community, One Grant at a Time

The small but mighty team behind Joyful Hands - a first-time nonprofit partner with Sharing NoVA that works to provide education, literacy and access to community resources in the Richmond Highway Corridor.

For Yolonda Earl-Thompson, making a difference in the community has always started in one place – in the community.

“Community-led efforts are important because they bring humanity and trust into the change that the community seeks,” Earl-Thompson shared.

“When change happens from within the community, it is a seed planted that takes root and encourages future community members to value and evolve the work.”

Currently the founder and Executive Director of mental health advocacy nonprofit, LAZERA Ministries, Earl-Thompson has more than a decade of experience in community-based advocacy and nonprofit work in the Richmond Highway Corridor in Southeast Fairfax County – one of the priority neighborhoods identified by The Community Foundation in its 10 Year Strategic Plan.

So when The Community Foundation decided to launch its Sharing Northern Virginia initiative, this past year, they asked Earl-Thompson to help facilitate -- ensuring that the new initiative would have the greatest possible impact on communities in Northern Virginia.

“Sharing Community Funds are designed to connect donors to the organizations that are doing the most good in their community – no matter how big or small they are,” shared Benton Murphy, Director of Fund Administration and Special Projects at The Community Foundation. 

First launched in Montgomery County and later in neighboring DC & Prince George’s County, The Community Foundation’s Sharing Community Funds are designed to bring together donors who share passion for building more equitable, just, and thriving communities. 

A community event with Loving Hands Touch Ministry, Inc, a nonprofit partners with the new Sharing Northern Virginia initiative that provides essential human services to underserved communities.

Facilitated by The Community Foundation’s staff and partners like Earl-Thompson, Sharing donors learn first-hand about the challenges facing their specific community. Together, they meet with and make impactful grants to visionary nonprofits working on the frontlines of our region’s most pressing needs.

Across the region, the initiatives have already had a tremendous impact -- distributing more than $2.7 million to dozens of nonprofit organizations in DC, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County since 2022 alone. 

For the inaugural launch of Sharing Northern Virginia, The Community Foundation convened a small group of community leaders and professional advisors like Lindsay Shetterly to be a part of this exciting initiative. Shetterly is a wealth advisor who works with clients to help them maximize the impact of their charitable giving.

“Through the Sharing NoVA program, I learned from local leaders about the diversity and depth of needs in our community,” Shetterly explained. “While many of these organizations are young and still building their foundations, their work is incredibly meaningful and crucial to many.  They are changing lives.” 

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of this initiative.  I am now more aware of how I can support and serve the organizations that are bridging the gaps, creating pathways for success, and inspiring people to make their dreams a reality.”

Working with Earl-Thompson, the Sharing Northern Virginia committee met with several nonprofit organizations based in The Community Foundation’s priority neighborhoods in Richmond Highway and Bailey’s Crossroads. Committee members learned about the history of the communities, as well as ongoing issues of food insecurity, accessibility of transportation and educational opportunities, and other pressing community issues that nonprofits are working tirelessly to meet in their communities.

“It’s important that we take the time to not only meet the people doing the work, but also to understand the community where the work is being done,” Earl-Thompson shared. “The better we can understand the community, the more impactful our investments can be.”

Hardemon Dynasty, Inc a nonprofit partners with the Sharing Northern Virginia initiative that provides affordable housing and wrap-around services to young adults aging out of foster care.

At the end of the process, the Sharing Northern Virginia Committee awarded a total of $100,000 in multi-year funding to eight different nonprofit organizations. The grants were awarded towards general operating costs – allowing organizations to invest in their infrastructure and sustainability. What is especially exciting is that many of these organizations were receiving a grant from The Community Foundation for the very first time. 

“What makes Sharing Funds unique is that we have an opportunity to fund organizations that haven’t yet received the funding or recognition that they deserve,” Benton added. “A lot of them are younger, innovative organizations that are doing incredible work, but don’t have the capacity, staffing or connections to go after big grants or media opportunities.”

Organizations like Joyful Hands – a small nonprofit that has been providing access to school supplies and nutritious food to over 300 school-age children in the Richmond Highway corridor. 

“We are incredibly enthusiastic about the opportunity to increase our service capacity in our community,” Founder Elizabeth T. Rainey shared. “This multi-year funding will help us expand our reach, deepen our impact, and enhance our community programs.”

The Community Foundation plans to use the multi-year funding as a platform to create a cohort with the eight nonprofit partners – allowing them to learn from each other and collaborate in order to have an even greater impact on the community. The cohort will also provide a forum for The Community Foundation and future Sharing Northern Virginia committees to learn more about community needs and discuss ways to make more innovative and impactful investments in future funding rounds.

Click here to Meet the 2024 Sharing Northern Virginia Nonprofit Partners!

Want to get involved in Sharing Northern Virginia and find ways to make meaningful investments in your community?

New committee members are always welcome! Contact Benton Murphy at [email protected]

Leaders of the Future: Sharing Northern Virginia Nonprofit Partners

In 2024, The Community Foundation is highlighting 'Leaders of the Future' - individuals and organizations who inspire us to look towards a brighter future for Greater Washington.

This month, we are excited to highlight nonprofit leaders from our very first round of Sharing Northern Virginia funding. Sharing Community Initiatives facilitate connections between donors and nonprofits to build more equitable, just, and thriving communities.

Part of that initiative includes awarding intentional, multi-year grants designed to empower our nonprofit partners and the communities they serve. In 2024, Sharing Northern Virginia was pleased to award $100,000 in multi-year grants to eight incredible organizations doing impactful work in Northern Virginia. Below are a few responses from some of our partners about the critical work they are doing in our communities!

• Joyful Hands

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Murraygate Village Apartments, Stony Brook Apartments, Creekside Village Apartments, Audubon Estates along the Richmond Highway corridor in Alexandria, Virginia are among the vibrant communities that Joyful Hands has had the privilege to serve. While we have provided assistance to several communities, our primary focus and dedication lie with the Murraygate Village community.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is deeply rooted in the conviction that education, literacy, and access to community resources are foundational pillars of thriving societies.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The funding from the Sharing Community Initiative will have a significant impact on our work at Joyful Hands. With this support, we will be able to expand our reach and deepen our impact. For example, we provided essential school supplies to over 300 school-age children and access to nutritious food for more residents each month. This funding will be invaluable in addressing food insecurity and enhancing our community programs.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  At Joyful Hands, we are incredibly enthusiastic about the opportunity to increase our service capacity. By expanding our reach to more families and youth, we aim to make a more profound impact on the overall well-being of our community and its residents. Through our expanded services, we hope to provide vital resources and support that will not only address immediate needs but also create lasting positive change in the lives of those we serve. We believe that by extending our reach, we can foster a stronger, more resilient community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  As a nonprofit leader, our dreams and aspirations for the future are deeply rooted in creating a more equitable and compassionate society. We envision a future where every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We aspire to continue expanding our impact, reaching more marginalized communities, and providing meaningful support that empowers individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. Ultimately, we hope to contribute to a future where kindness, empathy, and collaboration are the cornerstones of our communities, creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to lead a fulfilling and dignified life.

• Hardemon Dynasty, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We currently serve communities in Alexandria, Woodbridge, Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Petersburg, Virginia.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our Mission and continued effort is to provide affordable housing to young adults that will age out of foster care along with providing support and resources such as life skills during their transition to independence.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  With the funding received from Sharing Community Initiative, we're able to get one step closer to our goal of assisting 2 young adults with a financial housing subsidy and hygiene essentials for this year.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  What excites us the most is that others believe in our vision and understand the need to be a support system for our young adults who are ageing out of foster care.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Our dream is that no child has to face homelessness. We are inspired by knowing that every effort we make on their behalf is a step in the right direct towards their future. With the help from partners like Community Foundation we can build a housing development where they are safe in the comfort of their own home.

• Culmore Clinic

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We provide healthcare services at no cost to eligible adults in Fairfax County and our primary service area is the Bailey's Crossroads to Seven Corners corridor. Fifty-five percent of our patients have a Falls Church address.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Culmore Clinic advances health by bringing community together to provide primary care, health education and disease prevention services at no cost to uninsured neighbors in Fairfax County. We serve a diverse, growing population of adult residents in a densely immigrant populated area of Fairfax County. Residents of our community are often unable to access healthcare, affordable health insurance or public assistance. Culmore Clinic exists to help these uninsured residents of our region receive the healthcare they need to thrive.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  Funding from the Sharing Community Initiative supports our patients by helping us sustain our volunteer supported healthcare services. As a medical home for our patients, we are not only supporting annual check-ups, but also chronic disease management and medical screening for a variety of health conditions. As an example, one of our female patients is currently undergoing radiation treatment after a mastectomy. This 56-year-old patient was referred for mammography after an in-clinic exam revealed a lump in her breast requiring further screening. This patient credits Culmore Clinic with saving her life. The support from the Sharing Community Initiative allows Culmore Clinic to continue to provide cancer screening and other health and wellness initiatives.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  The collective impact of the Sharing Community funding throughout our region is the perfect demonstration how regional philanthropy programming expands the offerings of nonprofits for the benefit of community members for whom meeting basic needs can be challenging. We are fortunate to be among those organizations receiving support and are eager to be connected to the broader community of nonprofits who all share a mutual interest in helping our neighbors.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Our commitment to patient health and wellness is our greatest priority. We strive to provide culturally sensitive medical care to all members of the community who struggle to access quality care. Our "why" is the widespread need for healthcare services. Our "how" is the community of volunteers and donors who come together to support their neighbors. It is our hope that this model of harnessing the expertise and skills of community members to help their neighbors in need is multiplied across the region.

• Loving Hands Touch Ministry, Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve Mount Vernon, Hybla Valley, Bailey's Crossroads, and Springfield communities in Northern Virginia

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Loving Hands Touch Ministry is a non-profit organization that provides essential human services to underserved communities. Its mission is to address immediate needs while empowering individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, ensuring access to necessities like food, shelter, healthcare, and education. Through its vital services, the organization aims to uplift marginalized communities and break the cycle of poverty.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The funding from the Sharing Community Initiative will be instrumental in supporting our efforts to serve underserved communities. The funding will also be a game-changer, allowing us to expand our outreach and provide vital services that make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.

  One successful outcome was our summer drug prevention program in Baileys and Hybla Valley last year. This program provided educational resources and counseling to at-risk youth, teaching them healthy coping mechanisms and positive decision-making skills. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and their families, with many crediting the program for helping keep them away from substance abuse.

  Another impactful outcome was the Women's Health is Wealth program, which empowered women through health education and screening services. By improving access to healthcare, we facilitated referrals for screening of various conditions that impact women, ultimately enhancing the overall well-being of women in our community. Numerous participants expressed gratitude for the life-changing support provided through this program.

  Additionally, our after-school bullying program for elementary students proved highly beneficial. This program equipped young students with essential coping strategies to constructively address bullying situations. By cultivating a supportive environment and promoting empathy, we aimed to create a safer and more inclusive school experience for all children.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  As a first-time recipient of the Sharing Community Initiative funding, I am most excited about the opportunity to expand the reach and impact of our programs within the communities we serve. This vital financial support will enable us to strengthen existing initiatives and explore new avenues to address pressing needs more comprehensively.

  One area I am particularly enthusiastic about is the potential to enhance our youth development programs. The funding could allow us to introduce additional educational and mentorship components, providing young people with valuable skills, guidance, and resources to navigate challenges and unlock their full potential. By investing in our youth, we can foster a brighter future for the entire community.

  Furthermore, I am excited about the prospect of collaborating with other organizations supported by the Sharing Community Initiative. Such partnerships could lead to innovative cross-sector approaches, leveraging our collective expertise and resources to tackle complex social issues more effectively. By joining forces, we can amplify our impact and create sustainable, holistic solutions that uplift our communities.

  Above all, I am grateful for the recognition and support from the Sharing Community Initiative, which will enable us to continue our mission with renewed vigor and increased capacity. This funding represents a vote of confidence in our work and will empower us to effect meaningful, lasting change in the lives of those we serve.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  Firstly, I aspire to see our organization become a beacon of hope and empowerment for even more individuals and families in need. My vision is to expand our reach, forging new partnerships, and exploring innovative approaches to address the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalized communities. By consistently evolving and adapting our programs, we can remain responsive to the ever-changing needs of those we serve.

  Additionally, I dream of fostering a more inclusive and equitable society where every person, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the resources and opportunities necessary to thrive. I envision our organization playing a pivotal role in breaking down systemic barriers and advocating for policies and initiatives that promote social justice, economic mobility, and equal access to essential services.

  Furthermore, I aspire to nurture a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the nonprofit sector. By fostering strong networks and open dialogues, we can learn from one another's experiences, leverage collective wisdom, and amplify our collective impact. Together, we can champion sustainable solutions that address the root causes of societal issues, rather than merely treating the symptoms.

  Ultimately, my dream is to witness a future where our organization's services are no longer as desperately needed – a future where every individual and community has the means to achieve self-sufficiency and live with dignity. While this may seem like an ambitious goal, I believe that through unwavering dedication, strategic partnerships, and a shared commitment to positive change, we can make significant strides toward creating a more just and equitable world for all.

• Future Kings

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve the Hybla Valley community in Northern Virginia.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  We want to use education, mentoring, training, practical experiences, and mastery of 21st century technology in order to create a pipeline of young men from underserved communities who excel in STEM related careers and positively influence their communities.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  This funding has allowed us to expand our offering from Prince William County into the Rt. 1 corridor of Fairfax County. In this case, this funding will allow us to bring a cybersecurity internship program to the Hybla Valley area.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  Most exciting for us is the support for helping us reach students in our target demographic access advanced training in college-level cybersecurity training. This training will directly impact the students ability to gain entry-level employment in cybersecurity

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  We would like to see a pipeline of students from economically challenged household into lucrative STEM-based careers

• The Growth and Healing HUB

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  The Growth And Healing HUB can provide service to anyone residing in the state of Virginia. However, our office is strategically located in the Mount Vernon/Gum Springs/Alexandria region of Fairfax County, in the 22306 and 22309 ZIP codes.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  The HUB’s mission is to grow and nurture the mental health and well-being of children, youth, young adults, and families. We accept most major insurance and will turn no one away due to inability to pay.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  The Sharing Community initiative is a game-changer. It allows us to expand our fiduciary team, keeping administrative costs lean. This translates directly into more resources for what matters most: our community. By hiring additional clinicians, we can make an even greater impact on the lives of those we serve. That's what the HUB is all about – creating a meaningful difference.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  The HUB aspires to be the cornerstone of mental wellness in our community. We strive to be recognized for exceptional care and impactful outreach programs. Here, everyone feels safe and supported, receiving the help they deserve.

• New Hope Housing

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  We serve homeless individuals in northern Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax and Alexandria City.

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our mission is to provide case management, permanent housing and shelter to support the needs of homeless individuals in Northern Virginia.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  We just received the funding and believe it will help us to improve our organizational capacity and infrastructure.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  I'm excited to have the opportunity to rethink the way the organization delivers service and to reimagine the work. As the new ED its a perfect time to work with the staff to help them vision for the future.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  My goal is to deliver services in a way that we can demonstrably see how it puts our clients on a pathway to sustainable housing. I am also excited about playing a role in reducing incidents of homelessness and making sure that clients have tools to help them navigate in a community that has priced them out.

• Arm & Arm Inc

  Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?

  Rt 1 Richmond Hwy Corridor, Mt Vernon

  In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization

  Our Mission is to work with individuals during high-crisis transition periods of their lives. Changing the paradigm of how transition servicess are delivered.

  How has funding from a Sharing Community Initiative impacted the work you do? Feel free to share any brief examples of projects or outcomes you've seen over the past year.

  The Sharing Community Initiative has allowed us to increase our outreach capacity in some of the most hard hit areas like the 7-elevens on Lockheed, and Russell. This has lead to an increase in supportive services and a decrease already in erratic bus behaviors.

  What excites you the most about receiving support through the Sharing Community initiative?

  We are most excited about the new networking connection and opportunities with other small non-profits in the area. We are also excited about the simplicity of the application process.

  As a nonprofit leader in our community, what are your dreams or aspirations for the future?

  We want to grow our Peer-Based work to the point where those served will become members, volunteers and serve yet others who we can't reach. This builds whole and health communities and empowers residents.

Want to get involved in Sharing Northern Virginia and find ways to make meaningful investments in your community?

New committee members are always welcome! Contact Benton Murphy at [email protected]