The Strength of Community: Looking Ahead After a Year of Resilience
Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! As we enter 2026, I find myself reflecting on an extraordinarily challenging year for our region and feeling deeply moved by how our community has responded.
From the start of 2025, federal actions threatened the stability of our nonprofit sector, the communities we serve, and the wider Greater Washington region. But we did not shy away from the challenge.
I have been inspired by the incredible acts of generosity, unprecedented collaboration, adaptive responses, and collective action from community partners, fundholders, and colleagues in philanthropy. Thank you for your partnership and your deep commitment to strengthening this community and beyond.
Early last year, The Community Foundation relaunched our Community Resilience Initiative to lead a coordinated regional response—convening partners, supporting nonprofits, and advocating for the nonprofit sector and our community. Since then, we have deployed $14.3 million in philanthropic investments and leveraged additional aligned giving from donor and foundation partners.
Throughout 2025, we adapted our approach as needs evolved—from regional coordination to capacity building to emergency response. Together, we provided Bridge Grants to more than 20 nonprofit organizations across DC, Maryland, and Virginia as they navigated sudden funding losses or began planning for their future. We helped launch Greater Washington Together and catalytic tools like DMV Monitor and Talent Capital to strengthen our region's economic resilience. We mobilized emergency cash assistance during the government shutdown. And we supported coalitions delivering everything from rapid response services to long-term systems change.
When I think about what we've accomplished in just one year, I'm filled with pride and deep gratitude for our nonprofit partners, donors and funders, community advocates, and team members who stepped up to help meet this moment.
This challenging year has also taught us invaluable lessons about building community resilience during times of uncertainty, including the essential role of advocacy, the immediate impact of economic mobility work, the power of flexible funding, and the importance of real-time data. These insights will shape how we work in the year ahead, and I invite you to read more about what we've learned in this recent piece.
As we look ahead, the work of supporting our region’s nonprofit sector and building community resilience remains essential. At The Community Foundation, we remain committed to serving as this community’s quarterback—convening partners, mobilizing resources, and ensuring our region's essential services remain strong.
One way we're doing this is by hosting Community Resilience Initiative stakeholder calls every other month to bring together our region's donors, nonprofits, funders, and local officials. These conversations offer a chance for you to hear directly from our team and frontline partners, stay informed about evolving challenges, and connect with others committed to Greater Washington's future. The next call will be held on Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m. Register here to join us.
What strikes me most about this past year is the strength, generosity, and determination of this community. That gives me hope for what we will accomplish together in 2026.
Sincerely,
Tonia Wellons
President and CEO
Greater Washington Community Foundation