Rooted & Ready: Strengthening Nonprofits to Navigate Uncertainty & Lead with Confidence
Nonprofits are invited to explore the programs and services below, all of which are covered through The Community Foundation’s Community Resilience Initiative and offered at no cost to nonprofits. To learn more or take advantage of any of these opportunities, please reach out to the contact listed for that opportunity. Space for each opportunity is limited. Nonprofits do not need to be a grantee of the Greater Washington Community Foundation to participate.
Nonprofits across the Greater Washington region are facing unprecedented pressure, from federal funding cuts and staff capacity challenges to shifting community needs, all while demand for services continues to grow. In 2025, through our Community Resilience Initiative, the Greater Washington Community Foundation provided more than $14 million in grants to help nonprofits meet surging demand, fill budget gaps, and advocate for key resources for the communities they serve.
As an evolution of that work, and in direct response to feedback from nonprofits, we are launching Rooted & Ready to provide programs and services that help nonprofits navigate ongoing challenges and uncertainty while building organizational infrastructure and capacity. The programs and services listed below are covered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation through our Community Resilience Initiative and are provided to nonprofits at no cost.
Programs
RevUp Greater Washington
Facilitated by 20 Degrees
Most nonprofits are told to fundraise harder, but there’s a different way. RevUp Greater Washington is a program built on a simple belief: your mission doesn’t have to rely solely on philanthropy. Through a four-part workshop series, one-on-one coaching, and a cohort of up to 10 nonprofit peers across the DC metropolitan area, participants will explore earned revenue strategies — generating income through services, products, or programs that people pay for — to build a more sustainable, differentiated revenue model.
The program culminates in a Revenue Showcase where your earned revenue concept comes to life.
Interested in learning more or being the first to hear updates about RevUp GW? Visit: https://wkf.ms/4ttorH3
Board Governance & Crisis Leadership Peer Coaching Circle
Facilitated by Elizabeth Scott, PhD, CEO, Brighter Strategies
Nonprofit boards are under more pressure than ever and the EDs navigating that pressure often have no structured space to think it through with peers who truly get it. This six-month virtual peer cohort (June–November) brings together 8–12 Executive Directors from nonprofits across the DC/MD/VA region for twice-monthly facilitated sessions covering board-ED partnership, financial oversight, crisis leadership, and maintaining mission integrity under pressure. Sessions run 75–90 minutes and are designed to be practical, grounding, and honest. Space is limited and a brief intake process ensures cohort fit. Board Chairs are warmly encouraged to join their ED — and we'll designate at least one session as a bring-your-chair session open to both.
Interested in learning more or completing the intent to join form, please visit this website: https://brighterstrategies.com/leadership-peer-coaching-circle/
Strategic Consulting & Training and Peer Support for Small and Mid-Size Nonprofits
Provided by Compass Pro Bono & Spur Local
Compass Pro Bono and Spur Local have partnered to provide a joint capacity-building initiative specifically designed to help small and mid-sized nonprofits in the Greater Washington region navigate funding instability, operational strain, and leadership burnout. This collaboration pairs Spur Local’s actionable training and peer support with Compass Pro Bono’s bespoke strategic consulting to help leaders make informed decisions and stabilize their operations during times of transition. The menu below of services provides comprehensive support and allows organizations to choose the level of support that best fits their current needs.
Strategic Consulting (Compass Pro Bono): Consulting engagements led by teams of business professionals who provide expertise and guidance tailored to your specific goals. Compass staff will help you determine the right project and scope to address your challenges through 2- or 4-month consulting engagements. Projects include strategic planning, financial sustainability modeling, board development, funding strategy and more.
Training & Peer Support (Spur Local): Actionable advice when you need it, Spur Local will host 30-minute, tactical webinars on scenario planning, managing during uncertainty, current fundraising trends and responses, and related topics. Most webinars have tools that leaders can apply to their organization. There will also be office hour days for nonprofits to meet with an expert to get a specific question answered. These 45-minute conversations will provide direction on strategic challenges facing your organization. Finally, we will host two Executive Director cohorts. The first will be for leaders receiving Compass consulting support, the second for other local leaders. The cohorts are peer-led spaces where participants drive the conversation on topics including staff engagement during stressful times, board management and recruitment, and budgeting during uncertainty.
How to Sign Up or Express Interest
For Strategic Consulting: Interested organizations can begin the process by reviewing consulting program information and scheduling an intake call with Beverly Ross, Program Director.
For Webinars & Peer Support: These are open-access resources. To view the schedule or register, please visit: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8832004/Upcoming-Spur-Local-Resources-for-Uncertainty-and-Planning
“Da Community Cookout” Peer Group Talk Circles
Facilitated by Zakkiyya Cunningham
Monthly virtual talk circles for frontline staff with a focus on burnout prevention and self-care. Sessions will take place on the first Friday of every month starting this May and will feature mental health professionals, holistic wellness providers, and other practitioners to support nonprofit professionals with overall wellness. Each session will allow for professionals to decompress, vent, and take away tangible tools for wellness in a safe and trusted environment.
The space is intended for direct service providers, victim advocates, and support professionals directly tied to engaging with clients and client-centered work. Supervisors are welcome to attend, but we ask that executive-level professionals keep this space reserved for individuals that are in direct support roles. To develop rapport and trust in the safe space, we invite attendees to attend as many talk circles as possible and really get the chance to develop a peer support community.
There will be a limited number of spots for each session, roughly 30 people maximum, so please RSVP in advance. Attendees will not need any materials, other than maybe pen and paper, for the sessions. Just bring yourself, some water, and be ready to engage and be in community with like-minded professionals.
Registration or learn more here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uuCTa8B2RtKjv7hBg3KIXA
Services
Technology Support to Strengthen Operations
Provided by Community Tech
Community Tech partners with nonprofits across the Greater Washington region to improve operations, strengthen infrastructure, and build long-term organizational capacity through practical technology solutions. Since 2014, we have supported organizations by helping them reduce costs, improve efficiency, maintain compliance, and build sustainable internal systems. Our approach focuses on hands-on implementation, not just consulting—ensuring organizations leave with solutions they can manage independently. Services include:
Database Development & Data Management
Technology Infrastructure Assessments
Network Configuration & Equipment Setup
Internal Workflow & Process Improvement
Compliance & Reporting Systems Support
Data Protection & Information Management Protocols
Staff Technology Training & Professional Development
Learning Management Systems (LMS) Setup
Virtual & Hybrid Operations Support
Grant Reporting & Administrative Systems
Whether your organization needs stronger systems, better reporting tools, improved staff workflows, or technology support for growth, Community Tech is available to help. Contact: [email protected]
Legal Counseling on Organizational Matters
Provided by Changemaker Legal
So many talented individuals and groups have bold ideas, fire, and creativity to transform their communities and our world. But many lack the legal knowledge and capacity needed to make such transformation sustainable. We equip changemakers with legal scaffolding so they can reach their highest heights. We provide contract review and negotiation; guidance on tax exemption, compliance, and governance matters; assistance with policy development; risk mitigation strategizing; conflict prevention and resolution support; and other legal services. These services are free thanks to a grant from the Greater Washington Community Foundation. If you are interested in working with Changemaker Legal to address your organization's legal needs, please email [email protected].
Risk Management, Contingency Planning, and Responding to Current Threats
Provided by Heidi Ellis, and Ruben Gonzales, Strategic Partners, and Daniel Penchina, President, Penchina Partners.
Penchina Partners are a values-driven confederation of consultants grounded in social justice movements that focuses on helping make progressive and social justice organizations more impactful, efficient, and resilient. Beginning in early 2024, Penchina Partners brought our experience working in government and at the helm of movement groups to support dozens of social justice organizations on contingency planning, including with the LGBTQ+ community, climate activists, democracy reform advocates, and reproductive rights groups – among many others. That work allowed us to deeply familiarize ourselves with the unprecedented series of threats originating from the federal government, including increased regulatory scrutiny, Congressional oversight and investigations, and funding uncertainty. In addition, threats to physical and cyber security and staff burnout have added to a sense of overwhelm. As organizations deal with these dynamics, Penchina Partners is delighted to bring its knowledge and expertise in contingency planning, risk management, fundraising, organizational management, and strategic restructuring to grantees.
Penchina Partners is available for one-time conversations or ongoing consultations. To schedule, contact: [email protected]