Defending Our Values: Exploring the Role of Media and Philanthropy at the 2025 Annual Meeting
The room was full on a Tuesday afternoon in Georgetown—a testament to shared values even in challenging times. Nearly 100 staff, Trustees, partners and supporters gathered on September 30 for The Community Foundation's 2025 Annual Meeting. The event celebrated The Community Foundation’s remarkable community of givers - who have collectively invested nearly $2 billion in charitable resources since our founding in 1973.
“This annual meeting is our tribute to the region's leading changemakers,” Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation shared. “Thank you for standing with us to create lasting impact in this community.”
In FY25, The Community Foundation and its community of givers dispersed over $120 million through 5,000 grants to more than 2,800 unique organizations, with 78% of funding supporting causes directly in the Greater Washington region.
The 2025 fiscal year also brought a number of major milestones for The Community Foundation and its community leadership work, including:
Brilliant Futures: Launching a children's savings pilot supporting up to 350 children in Montgomery and Prince George's County schools with $1,000 annually for wealth-building opportunities.
Prince George’s County Small Business Program: Partnering with the PNC Foundation to award nearly $500,000 in grants and technical assistance to 17 small businesses along the Purple and Blue Line corridors.
Partnership to End Homelessness: Creating and preserving 924 units of critical affordable housing through impact investments.
DCA Together Relief Fund: Mobilizing nearly $800,000 in community support following the January 29 tragedy to aid families, first responders, and impacted communities.
Together, We Prosper Capital Campaign: Successfully concluding The Community Foundation's first comprehensive capital campaign for economic justice.
President & CEO Tonia Wellons addresses the 2025 Annual Meeting for the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
Community Resilience Initiative
Tonia also acknowledged the unprecedented challenges facing the region in 2025. Federal workforce reductions and cuts to federal and local funding have caused severe social and economic impacts across every jurisdiction in The Community Foundation’s footprint – particularly for nonprofits who are trapped between a rise in demand for services and a sharp drop in financial support.
“These have been some uneasy days,” Tonia affirmed. “But in times like this, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has continued to do what we do best – serve our community.”
Early in 2025, The Community Foundation reactivated its Community Resilience Initiative, and to date has deployed $2 million in grants and technical assistance to organizations facing funding disruptions. This support has included scenario planning, crisis communications training, and legal compliance assistance.
The Community Foundation also organized visits to Capitol Hill to engage congressional leaders about the needs and concerns of the region – specifically around DC’s right to self-governance and its ability to meet its budget requirements – and has worked to increase awareness of the growing needs and issues that have become prevalent across our region.
"The Community Foundation is committed to adhering to our mission, vision, and values," Tonia affirmed. “Building an equitable, just, and thriving region where everyone prospers.”
A Conversation on Democratic Values
Following Tonia’s introduction, the program featured a panel discussion moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mary Jordan, with Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO of POLITICO. The conversation explored the roles of media and philanthropy in today’s world, and the importance of protecting free expression which is paramount to the work of both sectors.
From left to right: Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation, Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO of POLITICO, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mary Jordan.
Speaking about the media, Sheikholeslami addressed the importance of supporting local media. She noted that approximately 3,000 local newspapers have closed in the last 20 years. "One of the main contributors to the lack of trust in media is the destruction of local news," she emphasized. “We need to make sure we're funding and nurturing local news organizations.”
On the philanthropic side, Tonia reaffirmed that The Community Foundation remains nonpartisan but not neutral, maintaining a clear focus on how issues impact the community and our collective ability to support those in need. Key among those issues is The Community Foundation's commitment to defending the freedom to give as a First Amendment right, noting fundholders have not slowed their generous support of the community.
Attendees were reminded that The Community Foundation's work—and the collective $120 million dispersed this year—represents a powerful indicator of civic engagement and community philanthropy in action.
"While I’m concerned that people feel the need to hide their support, I’m also encouraged by how many of them are generously offering it,” she shared. "Funders in our region are not slowing; they've stepped up."
“For the people of Greater Washington, we need you most,” Tonia shared. “Recognize that supporting local nonprofits, businesses and civic organizations, and engaging in the democratic processes that shape regional policy, contributes to the economic fabric that supports us all.”
“The federal policy environment will continue to evolve. What must remain constant is our commitment to each other and to the shared values that have always been about our greatest strength. Our job at hand is not just to weather this storm but to emerge from it more connected, more vibrant and more resilient than before.”
Click here to see more photos from the 2025 Annual Meeting!
For more on our FY25 impact, visit: https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/connect-philanthropy-to-impact