Community Foundation Awards $1 million in Relief Funds to Prince George’s County Small Businesses

The small business sector is a key economic driver in Prince George’s County; it makes up 95% of all businesses in the County. Unfortunately, Prince George’s County was hit hard by the pandemic.

50% of the jobs created over the past five years were lost in the first two weeks of COVID-19.

Many businesses have shuttered and far too many have closed for good, taking the jobs they’ve created with them. These losses have left individuals, families and communities struggling to survive and gain an economic foothold.

Helping residents improve their social and economic status is an important yet complex goal—and that’s exactly what the Greater Washington Community Foundation is doing as part of its new focus on equity and economic mobility in Prince George’s County.

The Legacy Fund, seeded with a $1 million gift directed by Sam Brin and a $10,000 gift from Meridiam, provides critically needed access to capital for small businesses in Prince George’s County. It provides direct relief to small businesses in Prince George’s County impacted by COVID-19 to help minimize vulnerability to closure and to enable small businesses thrive.

The Legacy Fund is helping blunt the impact of business closure and job loss with grants ranging from $2,000-$10,000 to 173 small businesses. These investments resulted in the retention of more than 650 full time jobs and provided the funding that businesses need for technology and other business enhancements. Additionally, through our partnership with FSC First, these companies can access technical assistance to help them better navigate new business and economic realities and ensure long-term development.

Grants were awarded to companies in all nine Councilmanic Districts in the County and across multiple industries including retail, IT, business services, restaurants, and health, beauty and fitness. While each of the companies we’ve invested in supply critical goods and services, they’re also community gathering spaces and are important institutions in the County.

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Below are a few examples of small businesses that received grants and how they play a critical role in our community.

Spiritual Essence Yoga, in Upper Marlboro, has supported the mental, physical, and emotional health of the Prince George's County community since 2008. While the stress of the pandemic has increased the community’s need for these services, the company was required to close for several months. This grant helped them reopen and begin offering virtual and in-person classes.

BLE Executive and Virtual Office Suites, in Largo, provides individual offices and virtual services to hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses in the County through a flexible office space business model. With more people working from home, and in-person meetings no longer an option, BLE has had to contend with reduced demand for its services. This grant will enable BLE to maintain critical staffing levels and continue to provide the high quality business to business services that are important for the growth and sustainability of small businesses and entrepreneurship.

Minimizing business closure and reducing job loss are important goals of the Legacy Fund, but we also recognize that in order to work families need childcare. The staff at Loving Hands Enrichment Center, a childcare facility in Clinton have cared for children in the community for 14 years. Like most companies, they’ve been forced to scale back due to the pandemic. Funding is helping the center retain staff and improve their operating systems. They are, once again, providing a strong educational and nurturing environment for child development in Prince George’s.

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2020 Legacy Fund Grant Awardees

21st Century Expo Group

4EVER 2012 Corporation

Acbles Adrian Wilcox Agency, Inc.

Adventure Tours Aga Group

Aggie Family Child Care

Airport Metro Connection Inc.

Angarai Management Services

Appreciation Moments

Around the Clark Trucking

Ayers Natural Aztlan, Inc.

BC Tours & Travel, Inc.

Bea's Hive Assisted Living

Behind The Scenes Production

Belmont Executives, Inc.

Beltway Trophy Co.

Best Sweet Frog

Biruk Chewaka

BizyBee Professional Staffing & Biz'Ness Solutions

BLE Executive & Virtual Office Suites

Bright Horizon Ventures

Bruce T. Blake Insurance Agency, Inc.

Cameau Enterpises dba Camp Space

Centered Support

Charlene Mitchell

Cheerful Speech Therapy

Choice Clinical Services

Chung & Oh

Cipher Logix, Inc.

Clearview Optics dba Sterling Optical

CN Accounting & Management Consulting

College Park Yoga dba Numi Yoga

Colors by Tangie

Corporate Wheels

C-Pup Pet Walks

Cursor Logistics

Custom Plumbing and HVAC

Cuts Unlimited, Inc.

Cybersoft Technologies Corporation

Cynthia Cephas Photography

DAPO Group

DC Vegan

DCG Construction

Deanna Robinson Fitness

Defined by Design Events

Dickey & Associates

DMV Healthy Insurance

DNA Fitness, Inc. dba Curves of Glenn Dale

DSSP Consulting, Inc.

DXT Therapeutic Services

DY Food Wholesalers

Dynamic 3, Inc.

Dynamic Technical Solutions One

Eby Health Services, Inc.

Elites Care

Emmanuel Management Enterprise, Inc.

Envisage Management Solutions

Eric Kruszewski

Essentially Everything Events

Exact Financial Services

Executive Electrolysis, Inc.

Expressions of Faith

Extra Mile Logistics

Felicia C. Everett Insurance Company, Inc.

Femsterimages Productions

First Lady

Fitness Martial Arts

Flavors Culinary Group

Forty Winks

Front Street Management

G&D Construction

Garcia's Investments

Goins Worldwide, Inc.

Goldleaf Academy

Green Ivy, Benefit

Greenbelt Barber and Beauty Shop

Greenbelt Foods

GS Consulting and Communications, Inc.

Hair + Space Blowdry and Beauty Company

Harbor Wines

Hawkeye Medical

Higher Ground Transportation Services, Inc.

Hutchinson Design Group

Innovations 2000

Intuitive Group

Iwynn Productions

J and A Transport

J.D Clark Professional Services

Jiivana-LIFE Yoga & Wellness LLC dba Spiritual Essence Yoga

K&W Plumbing

KBM Realtors

KC Enterprise

Kery's dba Christina O Salon & Spa

KIK, Inc.

Kimi Nails & Spa

Kinetic Solutions

Klub Kid

Lamaha Hospitality

Laugh House

Law Offices of Sharon Theodore-Lewis & Associates

Legacy Partners Distribution

LG Total Fitness/Triple Delight Aquatics

LLF Handyman Services

Lord & Mitchell, Inc.

Lovi Family Daycare, Inc.

Loving Hands Enrichment Daycare

Maryland Carpet Repair & Cleaning

Maryland Physical Therapy and Wellness Center

Melton Digital

MF Communications Trade, Inc.

Min Wireless, Inc.

Mixin' Mimi Mixology

My Wealth Store

Neshama, Inc.

NITDOT

N'Style Hair Grooming Barber and Salon

Old Town Hospitality

Oni Family Day Care

Own Your Own DMV

PG Family Dentistry

Physical and Sports Rahab, Inc.

Premier Eye Care Center

Prince of Peace Homes for Seniors, Inc.

Printing Express & Designs

Pro Spex, Inc.

Prominent Solutions, Inc.

Quality Time

QW, Inc.

R.A. Investments

Regina Robinson Enterprises

Rickenbacker's Preparation Services

Roman Mechanical

Salon 809

Seeram Enterprises

SELA Hair and Nails

Shan's Jumping Gymnasium

Sidnea Global Enterprises, Inc.

Silver Canady & Associates

Sky Nails

SLDB

SNR Holdings dba Misfit Winery

Something Vintage Rentals

SRC Eldercare Services

Sutter Design, Inc.

Tajick Dental Clinic PC

TCH Enterprize

Team Power Linx

TechOpps, Inc.

Temple Hills Swim Club, Inc.

The Face Paint Ladyn Inc.

The Groom Room

The Joseph Company

The Mercy Law Firm

The Mobile Experience

The SEMCAS Group

The WaterHole

Total Interior

Toth Distribution Service, Inc.

Transcend Solutions

Tucker Moor Law Group

Turning Point Solutions

University for Tots-Suitland Child Care Center, Inc.

viaJ Entertainment Services

Vino 301 Wine Concierge

VIP Financial Services

Visage Dermatology and Aesthetic Center

Way To Live Initiative

Wills Trucking & Excavating, Inc.

World View Early Learning Center, Inc.

Youth Avenue Solutions

About the Legacy Fund

The Legacy Fund made a big difference for 173 businesses on the brink of closure. It’s a key part of our effort to build thriving communities and help individuals and families in Prince George’s County build wealth and leave a legacy for generations to come.

For more information about our work in Prince George’s County, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/princegeorges.

Continue the Workforce Justice Conversation

Since the pandemic hit, Greater Washington’s unemployment rate has grown from 3.5% in to 8.5%. Our Black and brown neighbors have been amongst the hardest hit, especially immigrant workers and women of color. These populations are also disproportionately employed in low-wage, essential jobs, exposing them to COVID-19 at much higher rates than those working at home.

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve stayed in conversation with our community about how we can care for our region’s workforce in the short-term—and how we can create greater equity in the long-term.

Tune in below for several recent events we hosted or participated in, which examine urgent workforce justice issues in our region.

VoicesDMV Social Justice Town Hall

Ensuring Equity for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

In our recent VoicesDMV Community Insights survey, we found that more than 1 in 6 of our Black and African American neighbors rated the availability of good jobs in the area where they live as poor. As part of our VoicesDMV Social Justice Town Hall series, we invited local thought leaders to discuss how small business and entrepreneurship can be tools for addressing unemployment and ensuring economic equity.

The Urban Institute’s Evidence to Action Series

Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis: Providing Direct Cash Assistance to DC Residents

In this Urban Institute virtual event, our President and CEO Tonia Wellons joined a panel of Urban Institute and local nonprofit experts to discuss the THRIVE East of the River program. THRIVE provides direct cash and food assistance to help DC residents weather the pandemic.

This conversation explored what people living on low incomes in Ward 8 are experiencing amid the pandemic, and provided context for those experiences, especially the history of structural racism and segregation in Washington, DC.

WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show

Low wage workers: the pandemic’s forgotten

Our local economy depends on thousands of low-wage workers, but many lost their job when the coronavirus pandemic shut the region down, and they were unable to pay their rent. Rent protection has expired in Virginia, and it is set to expire in D.C. and Maryland.

Are we at the cusp of seeing a massive increase in evictions and homelessness, and food insecurity for low-wage workers?

Join Kojo Nnamdi, along with our President and CEO Tonia Wellons; Radha Muthiah, President and CEO of Capital Area food Bank; Dipti Pidikiti-Smith, Deputy Director of Advocacy, Legal Services of Northern Virginia; and William “Sandy” Darity, Samuel DuBois Cook Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, Duke University to discuss.

#MakeADifference Monday: Workforce Development

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic.

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $10 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $10 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference.

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring.

CareerCatchers

With funding received from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, CareerCatchers hired additional staff and part-time contractors so that the organization could expand its reach and serve more clients during the pandemic.

Notable milestones include:

• Working with 355 clients to help them with upward mobility and stable employment

• Increasing the number of clients participating in work skills and trainings programs by 200 percent

• Helping more than 100 clients with unemployment insurance claims—through both one-on-one support and Zoom workshops

• Acting as a processing agency for Montgomery County Government’s Emergency Assistance Relief Payment (EARP) program, providing immediate financial assistance to households not eligible for federal or state COVID-19 aid

CareerCatchers will continue to fulfill its critical mission—providing personalized and individualized career counseling for survivors of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, people with disabilities, returning citizens, youth aging out of foster care, and disconnected youth.

Future Harvest

Future Harvest advances agriculture that sustains farmers, communities, and the environment through mini-cash grants to farmer entrepreneurs who do not qualify for federal stimulus programs.

Future Harvest combined its Greater Washington Community Foundation grant funds with other sources to create the “Feed the Need” Fund, which awarded more than $60,000 to 22 small-to mid-sized, financially struggling family farm operations—14 of whom were BIPOC farmers.

One grant recipient, Owl’s Nest Farm in Upper Marlboro, MD, grows a diverse array of vegetables on 4 ½ acres of land. “Last year, we made a commitment to see how we can share our produce with people who otherwise couldn't afford it.” Each week, Owl’s Nest Farm provides CSA shares to families at the Richardson Dwellings public housing complex.

Funding from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will allow Future Harvest to continue advancing agriculture that sustains farmers, communities, and the environment.

New Futures

New Futures supports under-resourced young people who are pursuing community college as the launching point to further education and rewarding careers—young people who also provide in some way for their families or are their household’s primary financial provider.

In the earliest weeks of the COVID-19 crisis, many were laid off suddenly from part- or full-time jobs in the most vulnerable industries of food service, hospitality and retail, among others.

New Futures established a Scholar Emergency Fund to play a role in preventing Scholars’ sudden, short-term financial disruptions from cascading to devastating challenges that impacted their ability to persist in and complete their credentials. This fund is saving lives and preventing financial disaster.

“My family is so happy because of this support. Please, let all the New Futures personnel know that we are so grateful with this unconditional love and support.”

People for Change Coalition

Small businesses have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and pivoting business strategies has proven critical to staying afloat.

That’s why People for Change Coalition used its funding to create a COVID-19 Small Business Rescue (SBR) program—a program that ultimately helped 10 Prince George’s County small businesses and entrepreneurs develop a digital strategy to adjust to the new norms caused by Covid-19.

“Businesses were caught unexpectedly by Covid-19 and needed a rescue plan to keep their doors open, retain existing customers and clients, as well as secure new ones.”

The businesses who participated in SBR are using their new brand, look, and marketing materials to promote their business, get new clients and contracts, and increase their sales.

COVID-19 Response Fund Issues Over $10 Million in Emergency Grants

300+ Critical Nonprofits Across the Region Received Support to Weather Pandemic

The Greater Washington Community Foundation today announced an additional $2.04 million in phase three grants from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, reaching a combined total of more than $10 million in emergency support distributed to address the public health and economic crisis. The Fund’s rapid response grantmaking helped local nonprofits to expand critical services, ensure continuity of operations, transition to virtual service delivery, and counteract lost revenue due to closures or event cancellations. 

In total, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund’s impact includes: 

• Over $10 million raised and invested in regional response efforts

• 300+ social service and health nonprofits funded

• Grants range from $1,000 to $250,000

• 50% of nonprofit partners led by people of color

Phase three funding was spurred in part by a $1 million dollar commitment from IKEA to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Maryland where some of its facilities are located. IKEA calculated unemployment claims submitted by its employees and donated that money back to the state through a partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation to disperse the resources to communities in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. 

Phase 3 Grant Highlights

Improving Food Security

$250,000 to Capital Area Food Bank and its partners to address the dramatic increase in food insecurity among Northern Virginia residents in Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties and the City of Alexandria. CAFB’s goal is to provide an additional 9 million pounds of food in these areas, including to many disproportionately impacted communities of color.

A $200,000 investment in Dreaming Out Loud to address DC’s food security crisis by connecting fresh and nutritious food offerings from local Black-owned farms in our region to food insecure residents, including 1,300 weekly CSA shares and 150,000 prepared meals.

$188,000 allocated to help Food for Montgomery meet the urgent need for food, support restaurants and farmers by purchasing meals and fresh produce, and to strengthen our hunger relief system.

$200,000 to help resource Get Shift Done for DMV operations through the end of the year. The initiative is paying displaced hospitality workers to help local nonprofit providers prepare food and meals for neighbors facing hardship due to COVID-19.

$214,000 to support food assistance providers in Prince George’s County to make and/or deliver prepared meals, produce, and shelf-stable foods, and to connect food insecure households to additional food resources.

Support for Childcare

$188,000 allocated to the Children’s Opportunity Fund to expand affordable childcare and distance learning support options for up to 1,000 low-income families in Montgomery County.

$150,000 allocated to the D.C. Childcare Reopening Fund, in partnership with Mary’s Center, to invest in a network of local family childcare providers to ensure that low-income children and youth remain in licensed childcare programs that support healthy and safe development.

$50,000 investment in the Early Care and Education Funders Collaborative, led by the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, supporting advocacy efforts to improve early childhood systems infrastructure, expand access to high quality early education programs, and help early educators effectively meet the needs of all children.

$100,000 invested alongside the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia to support local family-based early care providers through the Infant Toddler Family Day Care, a high-impact local provider that will directly support 85 Northern Virginia-based family childcare providers, all of which are led by women of color.

$50,000 to Prince George’s Child Resource Center to provide support and technical assistance to childcare providers to ensure their sustainability and ability to create healthy and nurturing environments for children by helping families and educating caregivers.

Expanding Employment Opportunities

$300,000 allocated to the Equity Fund in Prince George’s County to support programs selected through an open call for applications that are preparing workers for meaningful employment and ensuring that people facing barriers to employment can access high-quality education and job opportunities which pay a family-sustaining wage.

Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability

$150,000 allocated to The Partnership to End Homelessness for work with DC Bar Foundation and other funders to prevent evictions and help low-income residents maintain stable housing. Initial investments will focus on building the capacity of the system to make sure tenants are aware of their rights and can access the rental assistance and other resources that are available.

Previous Funding and Priorities

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was established on March 12, 2020 and administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, which also was a donor to the effort. Community Foundation staff in collaboration with a steering committee and working groups, comprised of regional philanthropic leaders, subject matter experts, and local government advisors, met regularly to discuss needs, vet proposals, and coordinate efforts.

The Fund received contributions from nearly 800 foundations, corporations, and individuals. A list of the major contributors to the Fund can be found here.  

More than 1,600 nonprofits across the region applied for approximately $60 million in grants. Priority was given to direct service providers with deep roots in the community and the ability to both address urgent needs and reach historically underserved populations.

Phases 1 and 2 (March-August) investments were made across five issue areas:

• To provide cash assistance to impacted workers, including hourly and gig economy workers, contractors, and workers excluded from unemployment or stimulus funds.

• To bridge the digital divide and expand resources for low-income families, youth disconnected from school or work, and students with special education needs. 

• To provide PPE and other equipment for frontline workers, expand medical care for marginalized communities, and increase access to mental health support services.

• To support individuals, families, and youth experiencing homelessness by expanding access to housing/shelter, health care, and other emergency services.

• To help stabilize nonprofits, expand emergency food assistance, address the uptick in domestic violence, and support the civil legal aid needs of individuals and families.

Phase two investments also included funding for advocacy and community organizing projects focused on improving systems for food security, violence prevention, medical care access, affordable housing, childcare, and more.

A full list of the Fund’s grantees can be found here. To learn more about the unique stories of the organizations supported by the Fund, click here for impact videos.

#MakeADifference Monday: Housing and Homelessness

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic.

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $10 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $10 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference.

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring.

Bethesda Cares

Bethesda Cares aims to prevent, ease and end homelessness in our community. Throughout the pandemic, Bethesda Cares has rapidly responded to individuals experiencing homelessness by pivoting its case management and counseling services to virtual “house visits.”

And, it has focused on decreasing homelessness as a further way to help clients self-isolate and reduce community spread of COVID-19.

As a COVID-19 Response Fund partner, notable milestones include:

• Helping 20 clients safely isolate in hotels and moving 9 individuals into permanent supportive housing. In addition to these programs, Bethesda Cares also helps individuals who have transitioned to permanent housing. 

• Providing hot meals to over 30 individuals daily that experience homelessness and food insecurity.

Mi Casa, Inc.

The economic impact of COVID-19 is unmistakable—lost jobs, leading to decreased and eliminated wages, leading to housing insecurity issues. This has made more urgent
Mi Casa’s mission to provide affordable housing in the Washington, DC, area in order to foster healthy, diverse, and thriving neighborhoods.

With the funding received from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Mi Casa has provided long-term support to more than 40 DC households, helping mitigate the impact of reduced wages or lost work.

Through its Emergency Rental Assistance and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance programs, it also helped more than 15 residents access critical housing resources. More than 400 households received virtual trainings around financial education, food banks, unemployment benefits, and the financial effects of the pandemic.

The Church of the Epiphany

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, The Church of Epiphany has partnered with Street Sense Media to expand their reach and serve more individuals. Grants from the emergency response fund have helped provide cleaning products, hot meals, clothing, and information about COVID-19 to individuals experiencing homelessness.

“We’ve been able to serve an additional 50 people with breakfast and other regular meals, we’ve utilized the church building to house homeless individuals. And through it all we have remained COVID-19 free and not seen any community transmission among those served.”

These funds allow The Church of the Epiphany to continue to feed the hungry, build diverse and inclusive community, worship as one, and give and receive the love of Christ.

FAIR Girls

FAIR Girls focuses on ending human trafficking through trauma and survivor-informed services, prevention, and advocacy. Through their COVID-19 grant award, FAIR Girls was able to address survivors needing housing during the pandemic by partnering with local hospitality partners to help them self-quarantine in hotels for two weeks before transitioning to their Vida Home.

This assistance was especially impactful for Tiffany (name changed):

Tiffany was being stalked by her trafficker. After ensuring Tiffany’s immediate safety, FAIR Girls was able to support Tiffany by providing her with temporary housing at a local hotel and through Vida Home, and ultimately enter a program farther away where she can begin a new chapter. Tiffany remains in contact with her FAIR Girls coordinator as she awaits out-of-state housing.

FAIR Girls continues to expand its services by increasing its crisis intervention hotline operating hours to 24/7, as well as creating Webinar Wednesdays, a tool that provides virtual trainings about human trafficking, that has reached more than 1,000 people since March.

Why Black Voices Matter

By Darius Baxter, Chief Engagement Officer at GOODProjects, Co-Chair, Black Justice Fellows (DMV)

My generation has been influenced by Barack Obama’s historic inauguration in 2008, as much as we were by the police killing of twelve-year-old Tamir Rice while he innocently played in a park. Our hope and righteous anger are fueling our moral courage to fight day after day in cities across America.

In June my team embarked on the Purpose Tour, traveling to 15 cities, from Washington, DC, to Oakland, California, to engage with Black leaders on the ground. We protested beside them. We listened to them. We danced with them. Our big finding: Black Leaders have been actively working for years to create a more just America, yet too many are underestimated, underfunded, and underrepresented.

We plan to change that. This is why we are working in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation to launch an effort to support Black Leaders. I am privileged to Co-Chair The Black Justice Fellows DMV alongside two visionary Black Women: Tonia Wellons and Cherrelle Swain, as well as Angela Rye and Linda Wilson who are serving on the selection committee. Their leadership is truly defining the way philanthropy and activism will look in the future.

The Black Justice Fellows is committed to supporting the activists, artists, and organizers that are defining the way Black leaders are respected, protected, and treated with dignity in America. We are investing in innovation for liberation. I believe that it is critical that we provide a generation of Black Leaders the opportunities, access, and platforms they deserve to lead their communities. 

Ten Black Leaders representing the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia will be selected to receive support, training, and the networks necessary to scale their activism. They will also receive a personal grant of $30,000 to support their work and living expenses for one year. Nominations for this cohort are now open. 

We are all impacted, in one way or another, by racism, inequality, and systemic oppression. Philanthropy is not exempt from this effect. The Black Justice Fellows is an opportunity to change what activism and philanthropy look like. I believe to truly make sustainable change we must get from a place of being reactive and go on the offensive for the protection of Black lives. In order to do that we have to empower Black leaders who are on the front lines of community change. 

The Black Justice Fellows DMV will help eliminate the economic hurdles Black Leaders face in today’s uncertain climate. Together, we are working towards community-led, people-focused models that identify and support those on the ground doing the real work towards racial justice.

If you know of an inspiring Black leader in your community, we want to hear from you. Nominations can be submitted directly on the Black Justice Felows (DMV) website.  

Arts Forward Fund Announces More Than $1 Million in Grants to Local Arts Groups Impacted by COVID-19

Arts Forward Fund, a partnership between the Greater Washington Community Foundation, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and 16 other foundations and individual donors, announces grants totaling $1,048,500 to 43 arts and culture organizations in the DC region.

These grants will help organizations make essential shifts needed to sustain their work through the COVID-19 pandemic and to respond to the national movement for racial justice. A majority of the grants will be used to support expanded digital and online programming. More than 60 percent of grants and grant funding will go to organizations that are BIPOC-led and predominantly BIPOC-serving.

In response to a call for applications released in early August 2020, Arts Forward Fund received 227 applications totaling nearly $8 million.

“The volume of applications illustrates the devastating impact of the pandemic on arts and culture organizations in our region,” says Calvin Cafritz, President and CEO of The Cafritz Foundation, which made a lead grant of $500,000 to establish Arts Forward Fund. “The pandemic has exacerbated challenges for groups that have historically had inequitable access to philanthropic capital, and these grants reflect the collective commitment of our funding collaborative to prioritize those organizations.”

“Arts and culture organizations are a critical economic engine for the region and they contribute immeasurably to our sense of community and our well-being,” says Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We are proud to partner on the Arts Forward Fund to bring much needed relief to these organizations that enrich our communities and touch our lives.”

Following is a list of Arts Forward Fund grant recipients, grant amounts, and a brief description of how grant funds will be used.

• 826DC
  $25,000 to support the shift to online and small group programming, including increased training for volunteers

• Anacostia Playhouse
  $25,000 to support the shift to digital content

• Arch Development Corporation
  $30,000 to support transition to online programs

• Art Enables
  $25,000 to implement an enhanced digital marketing plan

• Art Works Now
  $25,000 to support the shift to virtual programming, including an expansion of the Creative Aging program

• ARTSFAIRFAX
  $25,000 to support the WORK-SMART training series for Fairfax County arts organizations

• Arts on the Block
  $25,000 to upgrade IT and HR capacity with a focus on equity and human-centered design

• ArtStream
  $25,000 to hire a virtual programming manager and develop a new evaluation system for online programs

• Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA)
  $25,000 to support the shift to virtual programming

• Critical Exposure
  $20,000 to support the shift to digital curriculum

• Dance Institute of Washington
  $30,000 to support facility renovation and program evaluation with a focus on racial equity

• Dance Place
  $30,000 to support diversity, equity, and inclusion training

• DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative
  $50,000 to support a distance-learning database and virtual projects

• DC Jazz Festival
  $30,000 to support a new digital content initiative

• Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education (FAME)
  $25,000 to support an online learning platform

• Gala Hispanic Theatre
  $30,000 to build fundraising capacity and create online programming

• Greater Reston Arts Center
  $20,000 to support digital content

• Heritage Signature Chorale
  $20,000 to support digital content

• InterAct Story Theatre
  $10,000 to support the shift to virtual and blended programs

• Joe's Movement Emporium
  $30,000 to support the transition to a new online teaching platform

• Kalanidhi Dance

  $10,000 to support website development

• Life Pieces to Masterpieces
  $30,000 to support outdoor programming, PPE and safety precautions

• Live It Learn It
  $25,000 to support equipment and curriculum to adapt to distance learning

• Museum of the Palestinian People
  $20,000 to strengthen the museum’s online presence and create a new online exhibition

• Music for Life
  $10,000 to support the shift to online programs

• One Common Unity
  $20,000 to support software and training for a digital platform

• P0STB1NARY
  $15,000 to support online content platforms and web development

• PEN/Faulkner
  $50,000 to support online accessibility (joint proposal with Split This Rock, The Writer's Center, 826 DC)

• Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center
  $25,000 to support virtual programming

• Project Create
  $17,500 to support rebranding and marketing

• Restoration Stage
  $25,000 to support the transition to digital programs

• Shout Mouse Press
  $20,000 to increase digital and print sales and engage a DEI consultant

• Step Afrika!
  $30,000 to support the shift to virtual programs

• Synetic Theater
  $25,000 to support the shift to online content

• Teatro de la Luna
  $20,000 to support the shift to online content

• The Essential Theatre
  $25,000 to support capacity-building

• Theatre Alliance
  $25,000 to support the shift to online programs

• Urbanarias
  $16,000 to support expanded digital marketing and improved ticketing and production for digital content

• Washington Jazz Arts Institute
  $20,000 to support an online music collaboration project

• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
  $25,000 to support innovative online productions, anti-racism training, marketing

• Words Beats And Life
  $25,000 to support the shift to online programs

• Young Playwrights Theater
  $25,000 to support the shift to online programs

• Zora Neale Hurston Richard Wright Foundation
  $20,000 to support the shift to online programs

About Arts Forward Fund

Launched in July 2020 with lead grants from The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the Harman Family Foundation, and the Weissberg Foundation, Arts Forward Fund is a funder collaborative housed at and administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation. Additional supporters include Linowitz Family Fund, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, S & R Foundation, Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation, Lois and Richard England Family Foundation, Philip L. Graham Fund, Greater Washington Community Foundation, Share Fund, Walter Brownley Trust, Nancy Peery Marriott Foundation, and other individual contributors.

VoicesDMV: Putting Your Ideas On the Table

By Benton Murphy, Associate Vice President for Community Investment

On October 1, hundreds of residents from across the region came together for virtual or face-to-face small-group conversations on a single day to discuss and reimagine the future of our communities, through our VoicesDMV On the Table conversations.

We were so proud to be joined by a diverse group of community members to discuss issues ranging from how we can help support students to succeed in a remote learning environment to unpacking the impacts that hate, racism, and injustice have on our neighbors and communities. 

At The Community Foundation, we believe it is important to actively engage people and communities most impacted as we seek to develop solutions and identify investments to address community needs. In particular, our focus for the VoicesDMV initiative is to engage people who are often left out of these conversations to uplift and amplify the voices of communities who have been systematically unheard and silenced.

Created by The Chicago Community Trust in 2014, to date, the On the Table model has been adopted by more than 30 communities that have collectively engaged more than 300,000 people from coast to coast. Our Community Foundation chose to participate in the On the Table initiative with the knowledge that when we come together to talk with, listen to, and learn from each other, we have the power to improve the quality of life for everyone. 

Individuals, nonprofits, groups of neighbors, and major regional institutions all convened for our inaugural On the Table day of civic engagement and participation. We are so thankful for the partnership of organizations like American University, Leadership Greater Washington, Howard University, and Venture Philanthropy Partners, each hosted multiple tables for robust discussion across a diverse set of topics ranging from supporting educational outcomes in the early childhood space to boosting African American participation in COVID-19 clinical trials. 

On the Table was designed to bring diverse participants together to have a data-driven, action-oriented conversation on how to improve the lives of our neighbors in the DMV. Conversations were grounded in data that The Community Foundation gathered with survey partner Gallup earlier this year. Our Community Insights survey revealed a region characterized by deep inequity but also pride in our communities and deep values around topics like ensuring a quality education for young people. 

Stephanie Berkowitz, President and CEO of Northern Virginia Family Services, participated in a conversation on economic mobility, noted:

“The value of it was the diversity of the participation and the data-driven aspect of the conversation and the opportunity to get people in a room together that don’t naturally have opportunities to get together, especially in the middle of a pandemic.”

Carissma McGee, a student at Howard University, underscored the importance of channeling conversations into action:

“I think today really mobilized people to take action even after the conversation… instead of just looking back and saying oh there’s a problem in my community, its taking a step back and looking holistically at what people are facing and having empathy.”

This WDVM segment highlights how VoicesDMV On the Table conversations brought together residents throughout the DMV area both online and in small, face-to-face groups to talk about ideas for improving their communities.

Community Action Awards

We are excited that On the Table generated so much critical conversation and are looking forward to supporting these community leaders in taking action on the issues and challenges they discussed in their conversations. To ensure these conversations move from ideas to action, The Community Foundation is now offering Community Action Awards—grants of up to $2,000 to individuals and nonprofits working to make our region a more equitable and inclusive place for everyone to live, work, and thrive. 

Through the Community Action Awards, we are interested in supporting and advancing neighborhood-level projects that will engage diverse communities and help grassroots leaders to implement their ideas. We are especially interested in providing resources to enable ideas and activities that were generated through On the Table conversations.

The application process is easy, with just four questions to answer in an online application form. We also invite applicants to share a short video clip describing the change they are hoping to see for their community! 

We encourage anyone in the community who has an idea of how to make our region a better place to live and thrive to apply, and to share this opportunity with people who may also be interested in sparking positive change in their neighborhood.

New Grant Opportunities for Nonprofits Serving Greater Washington

The Greater Washington Community Foundation has opened its Fall 2020 Grant Round and is now accepting applications for Community Action Awards and grants from the Children's Opportunity Fund in Montgomery County and the Equity Fund in Prince George's County. 

VoicesDMV Community Action Awards

VoicesDMV is a three-part initiative that tapped into Community Insights through a regional survey, convened residents for On the Table conversations and Social Just Town Halls to discuss the issues that matter in our communities, and now will provide funding for Community Action Awards to help advance ideas sparked during these conversations.

The application is now open for small awards of up to $2,000 for individuals and nonprofits in Greater Washington working to make our region a more equitable place for everyone to live, work, and thrive. These microgrants are intended to support and advance neighborhood-level projects that will engage diverse communities and help grassroots leaders to implement their ideas. We are especially interested in providing resources to enable ideas and activities that were generated through On the Table conversations, held on or around October 1. The online application closes on Monday, November 2, 2020.

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Children's Opportunity Fund

The Children’s Opportunity Fund is focused on funding innovation opportunities that close the achievement gap in Montgomery County, Maryland. As a member of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading network, the Children’s Opportunity Fund is using a participatory grantmaking process to fund organizations providing direct service, advocating for, or researching literacy skills with children ages birth to 8 and their families. The Children’s Opportunity Fund will provide grants up to $25,000 for organizations with a budget of less than $500,000, that are focusing on early literacy, family supports, and tutoring.

Applicants must submit a proposal via The Community’s Foundation’s online application system no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2020.

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The Equity Fund

The Equity Fund supports nonprofit organizations working to eliminate social and economic disparities and create pathways to economic success for Prince George’s County residents. The focus area for the 2020 Equity Fund grant cycle is workforce equity and economic mobility for low-income people inclusive of people of color and other marginalized or under-represented groups. The Equity Funds seeks to support a diverse range of impactful programs to ensure that people who face social and economic barriers have access to high-quality education and jobs which pay family-sustaining wages.

Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded for program support. Applicants must submit a proposal via The Community’s Foundation’s online application system no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2020.

#MakeADifference Monday: Education and Youth

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic. 

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $7 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $8 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference. 

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring. 

The Young Women’s Project

YWP Youth Leaders advocate for educational change

The Young Women’s Project (YWP) helps build the leadership and power of young people, engaging youth as peer educators, advocates, and employees. YWP’s work engages under-resourced youth of color, ages 14-21; most are women and 20% are LGBTQ, in care, dealing with unstable housing

When the COVID-19 crisis hit, they expanded their educational advocacy work to focus on the immediate mental health needs of their youth. As a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Partner, they utilized 35 youth leaders from all 24 public schools in the District of Columbia to advocate for in-school job programs and school-based mental health programs. And, developed a set of recommendations to strengthen school-based mental health programming.

In total, youth leaders presented 27 testimonies to Committees on Health and Education! Their advocacy efforts helped make a drastic difference for their peers:

•  $4.1 million was awarded to expand school-based mental health services

• $4.1 million was re-investing in students’ social and emotional learning

• Reversed the $9.5 million cut to the Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Program at the Department of Behavioral Health and add $300,000 for community-based mental health responses

Latino student fund

“Since receiving this grant, decisions regarding school closures for Fall 2020 were announced for public schools in the DC metro area. After a summer of planning for hybrid programs, families are now struggling to find support for a year of virtual learning.”

Latino Student Fund students and tutors on a virtual session.

Now more than ever, the Latino Student Fund’s year-round academic programs are essential in our community. This regional nonprofit offers 8 different tutoring and college preparation programs to underserved Pre-K-12th grade students—all of which they were able to continue throughout the pandemic.

As a COVID-19 Response fund partner, Latino Student Fund quickly shifted from in-person to virtual tutoring, serving over 400 students within three months. They have seen an increased attendance rate from 60% to 80% since starting their virtual programs. LSF recruited additional tutors to provide one-on-one support in multiple subjects, helping students adjust to virtual learning in last spring.  

By providing academic support and safe employment, families have had an increased sense of security for their child’s future and students were set on a path to remain in step with their peers when they returned to their virtual classrooms in the fall

free minds book club and writing workshop

Books for Free Minds inmates.

We know that knowledge is power—but can we harness it for the disempowered? Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop has certainly shown us how. Free Minds uses books and creative writing to empower young inmates, offering a remote reading and writing program, virtual workshops, a weekly Letter Writing circle, and their “Write Night” events.

Throughout the pandemic, Free Minds, a COVID-19 Response Fund partner, supported hundreds justice-involved youth housed within DC’s incarceration facilities, and children enrolled in programs with their community partners. For example, their “Write Nights,” a monthly poetry feedback program, connected youth with community members who provided feedback on their writing. Write Nights have seen a 250% increase from their pre-COVID numbers, now serving up to 350 people each virtual session.

“Free Minds did a remarkable job of making the virtual Write Nights [an impactful] experience of youth poetry. The presentations have been focused, direct, and incredibly moving. Watching made clear the extent of the community that Free Minds has forged.” -Write Nights volunteer

Free Minds notes that they will keep striving to fulfill their purpose of “filling the large educational gap created by the act of incarcerating young people.” The longer the pandemic persists, the more determined they are to stay connected. 

the alliance of concerned men

During their grant period, the Alliance of Concerned Men (ACM,) a COVID-19 Response Fund partner, served at-risk youth, many of whom were under court supervision from the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. This DC-based nonprofit offers services for youth crime and violence intervention, including social services, cultural enrichment, and recreational activities.  

In response to the pandemic, they launched the Cyber Transformational Mentoring program, partnering with other local nonprofits including Inner City Collaborative Community Development Corporation, Life Deeds, Sasha Bruce Youthwork Inc, and many others. The program brought youth and community members together virtually on multiple platforms: Zoom, social media, email and phone calls. They also helped build community and facilitate better communication through a large-scale social media campaign to engage their 6-week annual Summer Youth Employment Program

A leader from the program said the following: 

“We gave one youth the opportunity to tell his story. This youth was involved in over 40 robberies before his 14th birthday - and has since transformed his life.” -ACM leader

Back to School Means Facing the Digital Divide

By Erin Sheehy, Partner for External Relations, Education Forward DC

DC students are back to school, but for the vast majority of DC’s students “back to school” means back to learning—from home.

In March, when all of our lives were upended, schools acted quickly, creating work packets to mail home, developing online instructional plans, and giving out limited stocks of laptops and devices. But schools did not have enough devices to give to every student and too many homes in DC lack access to high-speed internet.

So three organizations with deep roots in the community — the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the DC Public Education Fund, and the organization I work for, Education Forward DC, came together to quickly provide DC’s students with needed internet access, devices, and basic needs.

Thus, the DC Education Equity Fund was established.

Credit: DeeperLearning4All

The focus was clear: help those students most in need get the resources and materials essential to continue their education at the onset of this crisis. We believed that schools were the right entity to directly receive this funding because they both know what students need to continue with learning and know what their families and communities are struggling with as we navigate COVID-19. 

Funds were split between DC Public Schools (DCPS), the traditional school district, and DC public charter schools based on student enrollment. We focused specifically on adult students and students who are at-risk of academic failure (students who receive public assistance through TANF or SNAP, are in foster care, experience homelessness — and, for high school students — are at least two years behind academically). 

Nearly 250 donors gave small donations to the Fund, totalling more than $70,000 and 27 major donors contributed more than $2.1 million to the Fund. Schools used nearly half of the funding to provide devices to students and more than 40 percent of funding to provide internet access to households. The remaining support covered basic needs, including groceries, toiletries, and transportation needs. 

Schools supported more than 4,000 students with internet access and more than 3,000 students with personal devices from funding through the DC Education Equity Fund.

At Achievement Preparatory Academy, a public charter school in Ward 8, Founder and CEO Shantelle Wright used the nearly $12,000 grant to buy devices for 125 students, hotspots for 120 students, and covered basic needs for 35 students and families. 

“We distributed wellness packages with basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, and deodorant; and we purchased grocery store gift cards for each family who received a wellness package,” said Wright. “We also used funds to support our Feed Our People program, where we provide hot meals to families in need.”

Moving forward, the DC Education Equity Fund is focused on addressing the digital divide that disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable students, and being nimble and supporting what our most vulnerable students need in an ever-expanding crisis.

We face great uncertainty about the long term health effects of COVID-19, when we will have an effective vaccine, when students can safely return to school, the economic losses to families, economic set-backs for DC, lasting unemployment issues, student and family mental health impacts, significant learning loss for students, widening achievement gaps, and if some students will fail to return to school or not pursue college.

But the focus of educators and schools, leadership of DC’s Mayor and elected officials, the commitment of mission-driven support organizations, and ongoing philanthropic support will mean that many of the challenges we face will be mitigated or even eliminated.

And, with an unrelenting focus on equity, we can rebuild what education and schools look like to better serve the students who were not well-served by the old system.

Learn more about the DC Education Equity Fund and donate to the Fund here. 

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Erin Sheehy joined Education Forward DC as the Partner for External Relations in 2016. Prior to that, Erin was general counsel at a DC public charter school and spent most of her career as a lawyer with the international law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Earlier in her professional life, Erin worked in public broadcasting for The Kojo Nnamdi Show, The Derek McGinty Show, and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Erin taught in a Providence high school as a student teacher in college and worked for an education policy research firm in DC after graduating. Erin earned a BA in History from Brown University, and a JD magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a DC native who lives in Ward 6 with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

#MakeADifference Monday: Feeding Our Neighbors in Need

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic. 

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $7 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $8 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference. 

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring. 

Bread for the City

Since the start of the pandemic, Bread for the City, a DC-based nonprofit that provides food, medical care and legal and social services to low-income residents, has experienced a fourfold increase in demand for their food program.

“[We typically] distribute 5,000 bags of groceries per month. Now, we distribute 5,000 bags of groceries each WEEK.”

As one of our COVID-19 Response partners, Bread for the City was able to deliver 50,000+ grocery bags within four months, distributing packages with nutritious food to thousands of families in the region. As the pandemic continues, they plan to utilize their virtual advocacy program to understand emerging needs – and advocate for their clients. 

“We seek justice through community organizing and public advocacy. We are committed to treating our clients with the dignity and respect that all people deserve.

Capital Area Food Bank 

Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) purchased food and distributed over 70,000 emergency food boxes across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia during their three month COVID-19 Emergency Response grant period. Currently, they are preparing to provide 49 million meals across the region over the next year.

CAFB was also able to disburse partner grants to nonprofits in their network. During the COVID-19 grant period, they awarded over 135 grants of nearly $700,000 to nonprofits throughout the region. 

Ultimately, CAFB is able to continue fulfilling their mission during this critical time: creating access to good, healthy food – in every community. 

Fresh Farm Markets, Inc.

Fresh Farm Markets promotes sustainable agriculture and improves food access and equity in the Mid-Atlantic region. Throughout the pandemic, they’ve delivered 12,725 produce bags to vulnerable populations throughout the DC Metro region – the equivalent to 271,057 servings of fruits and vegetables.

And, in partnering with the Virginia Hospital Center, Freshfarm delivered fresh produce weekly to uninsured pregnant women in Arlington. 

“These women are already struggling to put food on the table, let alone in the midst of a pandemic,” said Dr. Melissa Duncanson, a resident OB/GYN at Virginia Hospital Center who has seen firsthand the impact of this program. (You can read more here.)

Other notable impact milestones include

• Collaborating with various nonprofits and food pantries to produce an additional 2,000-5,000 pounds of bulk produce per week to 23 hunger relief organizations that helped to serve 9,000 families.

• Making 8,150 produce deliveries to families with young children within two months. The produce deliveries equate to over 150,000 servings of fruits and vegetables.    

Kings & Priests Court Int'l Ministries, Inc.

“History was made today at the Kings and Priests’ Court International Ministries in Silver Spring, Maryland. [When I drove by,] I saw a sea of long lines heading towards the church. I thought the church was having a special day - little did I know the church was distributing food” -Usiff. S. 

Kings & Priests Court Int'l Ministries’ mission is to “redeem, raise, and reproduce.” The church works to raise community members within the local church, helping nurture them into effective disciples. 

In response to the pandemic, the church has nurtured the community in a different way: providing food and meals to families in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Within three months, they’ve provided food to over 2,500 individuals and families. We are proud to support their service as one of our COVID-19 Response partners.

They’ve prioritized immigrant communities, many of whom have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, even serving food that is culturally and ethically appropriate. 

Need Inspiration? These Nonprofit Stories Will Move You

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic.

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $7 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $8 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference. 

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring. 

DC Rape Crisis Center

It’s not just a crisis line – it’s a lifeline” - Indira Henard, Executive Director 

The DC Rape Crisis Center is dedicated to creating a world free of sexual violence. It is the oldest Rape Crisis Center in the country—and the only in Washington, DC—providing mental health counseling, a 24-hour crisis hotline, and community education and outreach, among other services. 

Requests for its services have doubled since the start of the pandemic. With Community Foundation support, it was able to expand a 24/7 crisis hotline to serve an additional 80 clients a month. 

“Our advocates bear witness and hold space to the unimaginable. They let survivors know that they are not alone and it is not their fault,” said Henard. She shares more of her story above in her 2-minute #COVIDImpactStories video.

DC Central Kitchen

DC Central Kitchen, whose mission is to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities, has doubled its weekly food production in response to our community’s needs. As a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund partner, DCCK was able to increase the amount served from 36,000 to 92,000 meals each week.

In the process, it was also able to help hospitality workers who lost their jobs and local farmers. DCCK also:

• Employed 10 Culinary Job Training graduates, who were laid off from their hospitality industry jobs. Each were hired full-time with benefits. 

• Partnered with local farmers to produce fresh, healthy ingredients. Since March 31, DCCK has purchased an estimated 286,000 pounds of local produce. Currently, 90% of fruits and vegetables are sourced locally.

• Implemented thorough safety protocols to ensure workers stayed healthy, including securing three commercial kitchens to properly space, and additional PPE. 

Mary’s Center

In Prince George’s County, the surge in demand for low-cost prenatal care has been tremendous. Many women have found themselves suddenly uninsured – one devastating bi-product of the pandemic. 

In response, Mary’s Center’s Adelphi site enhanced their telemedicine services with a COVID-19 Response grant, reaching nearly 570 expecting mothers. Their telemedicine outreach was especially impactful for one postpartum patient:

“If she hadn’t stayed on me and hadn’t kept calling and texting – I could have died with a newborn.”

Mary’s Center also expanded their general healthcare capacity, serving nearly 3,000 patients, in-person and virtually. And, they hosted public COVID-19 testing, with 45% of tests coming back positive.

Community crisis services, inc

Since its inception in 1970, Community Crisis Services, Inc (CCSI) has been a 24/7 resource for anyone facing personal turmoil in our community. CCSI’s mental health hotline provides immediate, compassionate assistance to those in need. Additionally, their emergency shelter services offer a safe place to stay.  

Through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, CCSI expanded their crisis hotline and emergency shelter services in Prince George’s County. So far, CCSI has answered nearly 14,000 COVID-related calls—covering topics from government regulation of COVID, to personal anxiety.  

They also increased their shelter beds from 50 to 250, and moved into a new space that accommodates 2 beds per room, versus dormitory-style.  

COMMUNITY YOUTH ADVANCE

Community Youth Advance, an educational nonprofit offering services for K-12 students, transitioned to virtual tutoring and instruction for 85 middle school students in Prince George’s County. Students received JLA GoVirtual reading and math instruction, personal tutoring and enrichment courses.

“Distance learning has been a fun experience. We learned and got rewarded for being there and participating. If I had a choice, I would probably do this rather than going to school. Thank you for having me!”

On average, participants increased their Math pretest scores from 69% to 81%. In reading, students reported they read 80% more material weekly while participating in the GoVirtual program.  

Your Generosity Made a Difference

A lot has changed over these past five months. The one thing that has not changed is our shared commitment to support and strengthen our community.  

In times of crisis, The Community Foundation serves as our region’s philanthropic first responder. As our region faces a trifecta of crises that threatens our health, economic security, and racial justice, The Community Foundation has galvanized people and resources in response to these challenges and supported high-impact nonprofits serving our communities. With one-third of nonprofits in our region potentially closing or merging before the economy recovers – we knew this partnership was crucial.

On March 12, we launched the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to deploy critical resources to meet the urgent health and economic needs of this region. Our community responded with a strong statement about the power of generosity in the face of hardship and tragedy. 

You and a diverse group of businesses, foundations, individuals, and families stepped up to help us mobilize $8 million - with gifts ranging from $5 to $1 million - for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us during our community’s time of need.

Caring for Our Neighbors in Need

These funds were quickly deployed to care for our neighbors directly impacted by the pandemic, and to provide aid to low-income families and communities of color who have been disproportionately affected due to pre-existing inequities exacerbated by this crisis. 

Our staff led working groups which reviewed more than 1,600 requests for funding totaling more than $60 million - a figure nearly seven times the amount raised to date. We were able to invest $7 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, equip frontline workers and clinics, address the digital divide, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more.

Take Generation Hope for example, a nonprofit helping teen parents earn their college degrees while preparing their children for kindergarten. With support from our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Generation Hope moved its services online, providing student parents with virtual education, career readiness programming, and mental health support. 

“Our families are among the hardest hit by COVID-19," said Nicole Lynn Lewis, Founder and CEO. "With this support, we've been able to really provide [our clients] with the critical services they need to weather this storm.” Hear more from Nicole in her two-minute COVID-19 Impact Story video. 

In It Together

We have witnessed some inspiring examples of our community coming together to meet this unprecedented moment with unprecedented generosity and creativity.

The Community Foundation was proud to team up with our donors and partners to advance educational equity for DC students, increase food security in Montgomery County, support small businesses in Prince George’s County, and help displaced workers earn an income by filling gaps in volunteer shifts at local nonprofits. These are just a few examples of the many ways in which our community has stepped up to meet this challenge. It is proof that we are all in this together!

Our newest initiative, the Arts Forward Fund, aims to help small and mid-sized arts and culture organizations make the shifts needed to successfully navigate this crisis and continue their essential role in our communities and lives. It is a collaborative partnership with The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the Harman Family Foundation, the Weissberg Foundation, and many other individual and institutional contributors. 

Partnering for the Future

As we prepare for what comes next, our goal is not to go back to the way things were before, but to work together to build a more equitable future for our region. Your continued partnership and care for our community inspires hope for what we can accomplish together.  

This is the final message in our COVID-19 response series, and we are using this opportunity to give you an inside look at what your support has made possible. Click here to view our Interim COVID-19 Impact Report with stories from our coordinated regional response efforts. A more detailed impact report is in the works and will be released later this fall. 

Thank you for supporting our efforts to ensure our region comes out of this crisis stronger and more resilient. We are so grateful for your support and partnership.

Sincerely,
Tonia Wellons
President and CEO

Greater Washington Community Foundation and Cafritz Foundation Launch $1 million Arts Forward Fund

Grants Will Address Impact of COVID-19 on the DC Region’s Arts and Culture Sector

Recognizing the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on arts and culture organizations throughout the region, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has joined with The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and eight other grantmakers to launch the Arts Forward Fund, a million-dollar initiative to provide critical support to help arts and culture organizations in the DC region to stabilize, adapt, and thrive despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Arts Forward Fund will award grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to help arts and culture organizations make the urgent changes needed to continue their work through the pandemic and beyond. The Arts Forward Fund also recognizes the need to address systemic inequities in arts and culture organizations and in our communities that have amplified the impact of the pandemic for Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, and will prioritize support for organizations founded and led by people of color and organizations that primarily serve communities of color.

The Arts Forward Fund was launched in July with a lead grant of $500,000 from The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, with additional support from the Harman Family Foundation, Weissberg Foundation, Linowitz Family Fund, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, S & R Foundation, Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation, Lois and Richard England Family Foundation, and Philip L. Graham Fund. The Fund will be housed at and administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has altered the programs and finances of the region’s nonprofit sector in ways that even the most forward-thinking organizations could not have anticipated,” says Cafritz Foundation President and CEO Calvin Cafritz. “In helping to launch the Arts Forward Fund, we want to ensure that arts and culture nonprofits continue to carry out their missions, serve their communities, and pursue new paths during this crisis. We are happy to work with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the Harman Family and Weissberg foundations, and many of our colleagues, to help our local arts institutions continue their work and find opportunity in this moment.”

“The Greater Washington Community Foundation and our donors have a long history of investing across the arts ecosystem – from supporting anchor institutions to small theaters, visual arts programs, arts education, and individual artists. In order for our communities to truly thrive, we must continue to cultivate a broad-based arts sector where creativity can flourish and foster diverse and inclusive spaces for human connection and understanding,” says Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We are proud to partner on the Arts Forward Fund to bring much needed relief to organizations that enrich our communities and touch our lives.”

According to a 2017 Americans for the Arts study (using 2015 data), the Greater Washington region’s arts and culture organizations contribute at least $3.75 billion in economic activity and nearly 60,000 jobs to the region’s economy on an annual basis.

Nationally, a white paper released in May by SMU DataArts estimated that the impact of COVID-19 on arts and culture organizations across the United States will be a net loss of $6.8 billion between February 2020 and March 2021—the equivalent of a 25 percent operating deficit for the average organization, even after significant reductions in expenses.

Interviews with dozens of small and mid-sized arts organizations in the DC region by the Cafritz Foundation in May found groups struggling with the financial and programmatic impact of shuttered facilities and the cancellation of performances and in-person fundraising events. More than a third had already laid off staff, with more layoffs anticipated as federal Payroll Protection Program funds run out.

All the organizations interviewed reported challenges with making the transition to online and digital programming. These challenges included production limitations that impact the artistic quality of online offerings, contractual and intellectual property barriers, and barriers to online participation as a result of inequitable access to the internet and technology -- particularly among youth-serving organizations. Generating revenue from online content is especially challenging.

Arts Forward Fund aims to help organizations address these challenges by providing grants to support short-term capacity-building, training, and innovation. Arts and culture organizations with annual revenue of less than $10 million in their most recently completed fiscal year are eligible to apply, provided they serve the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, and Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax in Virginia. More details and the call for applications are available here.

Funders and individual donors interested in joining Arts Forward Fund should contact Rick Moyers.

Announcing the 2020 Bradt Nonprofit Leadership Awardees

David Bradt is a quietly effective leader for, and champion of, the Greater Washington region.  In addition to serving as a Managing Director of Andersen Tax, he served as Chair and Member of the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Board, Chairman and Board member of Greater DC Cares, member of the Board of Venture Philanthropy Partners, and as a volunteer and fundraising dinner chair for Share Our Strength.

 A few years ago, Alex Orfinger, Market President and Publisher at Washington Business Journal, wanted to find a meaningful way to salute David’s many years of service to our local community. He teamed up with David’s wife, Diane Tipton, and together they invited friends and family to join them in establishing the David Bradt Nonprofit Education Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation. Their vision was to provide an annual award to enable a nonprofit leader in the Greater Washington region to attend an intensive executive training program. 

On July 28, The Community Foundation and the Award Steering Committee announced the third cohort of awardees: Paula Fitzgerald, Shannon Steene, and Tyler Spencer.  Donors, friends, and colleagues tuned in to applaud them during the award reception which featured an interactive discussion.

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Meet our Awardees

Shannon Steene is the Executive Director of Carpenters Shelter which supports Virginia residents struggling with homelessness to achieve independence by providing shelter, guidance, education, and advocacy. In addition to leading the organization through a successful capital campaign, Shannon has been applauded for his creative approach in resolving needs for securing additional housing spaces due to major shelter renovations and COVID-19. 

When asked about how his leadership has changed during the pandemic, Shannon reflected, “If we were on a game show, this would be called the speed round. The leadership required [during COVID-19] has been faster and the rules have been changing much more rapidly. A few things have remained constant for us: the safety of our residents, volunteers, and staff and that shutting down, even temporarily, was not an option. But otherwise, every element of what we know has been shifting.”

Paula Fitzgerald is the Executive Director of Ayuda which provides legal, social, and language services to help vulnerable immigrants in the DMV region navigate immigration and justice systems and access support and justice. Since becoming Executive Director, Paula has provided strategic direction in growing the organization’s budget, collaborating more intentionally with other local nonprofits, and ultimately increasing Ayuda’s capacity to serve the community. 

Paula reflected that adapting Ayuda’s services during the pandemic “has required a lot of flexibility and I’ve been surprised by all we’ve been able to accomplish remotely. I feel really proud of our teams for making that shift and really maintaining the quality of services we provide.”

Tyler Spencer is the Executive Director of The Grassroot Project. Since founding the organization 11 years ago, Tyler has grown The Grassroot Project from a small school-based HIV prevention program into a city-wide comprehensive adolescent health program. He has led his team of staff and volunteers through tremendous growth in recent years, now serving many schools throughout DC.  

In our discussion, he shared his organization’s challenges at the onset of COVID-19: “It is such an uncertain environment and it is so important as a leader to bring some sense of certainty to the situation. I think the thing that has been very certain is our kids need us now more than ever, even though we have not been in this digital space before. We’ve been thinking about the role we can play: Do we just try to shrink and survive this storm or is this our time to really push a culture of health and prevention in a time when it is most needed?”

Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, notes, “We are delighted to house and support the Fund’s mission of making an impact in our region by investing in outstanding nonprofit leaders.  Thank you to David for inspiring the award, and to Diane and Alex for dreaming up a such a wonderful way to honor him.  Finally, congratulations to the 2020 awardees!  We are grateful for all you have done and will continue to do to strengthen our region.” 

Quarterly Community Update

Dear Community Foundation Fundholders,

I hope you and your family are safe and well. The past several months have been exceptionally challenging for our region—but the outpouring of support from our community continues to inspire me. Since the start of this crisis, our community has come together to commit nearly $8 million in support to help our neighbors in need—an incredible effort that would not be possible without the generosity and compassion of so many. Thank you for standing with us to support and strengthen our community.

At The Community Foundation, we remain focused on supporting our community’s evolving health and economic needs through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Last quarter, our work coordinating the region’s philanthropic response to this crisis included:

• Reviewing over 1,300 proposals from nonprofits and small businesses requesting over $60 million in funding, and making investments totaling $6.7 million in local nonprofits working on the frontlines of our region’s COVID-19 response efforts.

• Launching Get Shift Done DMV with Washington Nationals Philanthropies to help displaced hospitality workers earn an income while assisting local nonprofits with preparing meals/packaged food for families in need. So far, over 300 workers have clocked 8,452 cumulative hours to address food insecurity in our region.

• Partnering with Events DC and the Executive Office of the Mayor to administer the $5 million DC Cares Program, providing emergency cash assistance to help DC workers excluded from federal stimulus efforts.

• Partnering with the Montgomery County Council to launch the Montgomery County Food Security Fund to engage the public and private sectors around increasing food access and security for county residents struggling to feed their families.

• Preparing to launch a $1 million small business grants program in Prince George’s County.

The global pandemic has exacerbated many pre-existing inequities and had a disproportionate impact on low-income workers, immigrants, and communities of color. As we prepare for what’s next, we are committed to advancing racial justice and building a more equitable future for our region by using our voice, influence, programs, and initiatives to help end racial disparities. Our goal is not to go back to the way things were before, but to work together to build a new normal and a more equitable future for our region. You can read about our vision in an opinion piece that I co-authored for the Washington Post.

One of the ways we are examining the possibilities is through our VoicesDMV community engagement initiative. In June, we released the findings from our Community Insights survey and launched a series of Social Justice Town Hall conversations that will run throughout the summer. In the fall, we plan to bring neighbors together for virtual community conversations and then fund microgrants to help transform ideas sparked during these conversations into action. You can learn more about VoicesDMV and read the report at VoicesDMV.org.

Finally, the changes and uncertainty brought on by COVID-19 have encouraged us to find more efficient ways to serve our donors and nonprofit partners. We have set up a bank lockbox collection system to ensure faster and more secure processing of your gifts made by check. You can now mail checks directly to PO Box 49010, Baltimore, MD 21297-4910. Our office address has not changed - this PO Box is only for mailing gifts made via check.

Thank you for your continued partnership in serving our community’s needs today, and in building a better tomorrow for the Greater Washington region. 

Sincerely,
Tonia Wellons
President and CEO

A Year of Impact and the Road Ahead

By Jennifer Olney, Community Investment Officer, Partnership to End Homelessness 

On any given night, nearly 1 in every 100 DC residents experience homelessness, living on the streets or in the city's emergency shelters.

The Community Foundation’s recent VoicesDMV Community Insights report found that nearly one in three residents know someone who has experienced homelessness or who is at risk of becoming homeless - and that many residents are struggling to find affordable housing. Lack of stable housing makes it very difficult for people to stay safe, obtain or maintain employment or an education, address health needs, and keep children in school and families together.  

DC has a plan to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring, and that plan is based on proven solutions; and prior to the current crisis, we know that plan was working. But we know that government alone cannot end homelessness or solve our region’s affordable housing crisis. It will take all of us coming together to do our part to ensure every DC resident has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

Last year, the Greater Washington Community joined forces with the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness to launch the Partnership to End Homelessness. The Partnership is the District’s first-of-its-kind public-private initiative focused on ensuring homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring in DC. By joining together, we aim to increase the supply of affordable housing for extremely low-income households and to help our neighbors obtain and maintain stable housing.

In the Partnership’s first year we have celebrated a number of accomplishments.

• We held a corporate symposium focused on corporate social responsibility strategies to address homelessness and affordable housing. Featured speakers included DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Rashema Melson, as well as senior executives from Kaiser Permanente, Zillow Group, Salesforce, and Cisco Systems, Inc. The symposium was highlighted in a Washington Business Journal article which called on the private sector and philanthropy to step up its investments and use its convening power to accelerate our community’s response to ending homelessness.

• We announced the first round of grants for “flex funding” programs to support local nonprofits that provide Permanent Supportive Housing: Miriam’s Kitchen, Open Arms Housing, Pathways to Housing and Friendship Place.

• Jennifer Olney and Silvana Straw co-lead the Partnership to End Homelessness and the Housing and Homelessness Working Group. The Working Group was created as a subcommittee of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund at The Community Foundation to address the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. To date, this fund has granted over $1.25 million to support 36 nonprofit organizations working with and on behalf of people experiencing homelessness and housing instability to help maintain housing and access to shelter, medical care, and other critical services.

• We partnered with Enterprise Community Loan Fund, Inc. to help fund the development and preservation of deeply affordable and supportive housing. The first set of investments supported the development and preservation of 448 affordable units providing housing for formerly homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS and for extremely low-income families in NE DC. Learn more about this initiative.

• We established a Leadership Council made up of private sector leaders and people with lived experience who are committed to ending homelessness. These individuals represent key sectors and will work with us to champion the issue and commit resources to this work.

• We held a Donor Learning Series to bring together our donors with nonprofit leaders and people with lived experience to discuss solutions to address the affordable housing crisis and chronic homelessness.

• With the help of the Daniel and Karen Mayers’ Challenge, we have raised over $2 million for our grantmaking fund to invest in nonprofits working with individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness to fill critical funding gaps, support innovative programs, meet emerging needs, build nonprofit provider and developer capacity, and support advocacy efforts.

• We launched a quarterly newsletter for the Partnership which provides updates and opportunities to get involved. Sign up today!

While we celebrate these accomplishments, we also know that with everything that has happened over the past few months – a pandemic, an economic crisis, and a movement for racial justice – if anything, our work to end homelessness is more important now than ever.

With the advent of COVID-19, and the economic crisis, the number of people experiencing homelessness in communities across the country, many for the first time, could rise by nearly 45%.

We have seen the housing crisis deepen and a growing number of households worried about how they will pay rent next month. As with the pandemic and economic crisis, we know that systemic racism continues to mean our Black and African American neighbors are disproportionately impacted.

As we move forward in our work to ensure everyone in DC has a safe, stable home that they can afford, we commit to continuing this work with a focus on how we can address the disparities in the homeless service system and in the housing systems in DC. We feel the urgency and we know that the time is now to work together and step up to make sure that everyone in DC has a safe, stable place to call home. 

We hope you will join us. 

Stuck Inside: Ending Women’s Homelessness During Coronavirus

Over the last four months, Calvary Women’s Services has focused on just one thing: keeping women safe.

As COVID-19 hit, people experiencing homelessness in DC were immediately at higher risk of contracting the virus because of their living situation—whether that was living unsheltered without access to water to wash their hands, or living in group situations, such as emergency shelters, where the virus could easily spread.

Calvary runs housing programs in the Anacostia neighborhood, providing single women who have found themselves experiencing homelessness with a place to stay and with critical support to help them find a permanent home. These women are often fleeing domestic violence and coping with health problems. Most are employed, working full-time or part-time jobs in restaurants, hotels, and retail. In DC, a quarter of all single adults experiencing homelessness are women.

As COVID-19 kicked in, these women lost their jobs, and with it the money needed to buy food, personal protective equipment, and other essentials. Housing moves were put on a complete hold.

“For so many women trying to move out of homelessness, coronavirus really knocked them off track,” said Calvary CEO Kris Thompson. “One of our residents, Angela, describes it as a tidal wave. She was on a path--she had a job, was saving money and the next step was finding an apartment--but now she’s back to square one.”

Calvary quickly responded by adding to the number of meals it provides residents, increasing from two to three meals daily, and purchasing face masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies to make sure everyone had what they needed to stay safe. It also increased staffing, to help ensure congregate households followed safety practices to stem the spread of COVID-19.

With a commitment to ensuring no disruption to the important services it offers women--from health care to educational and employment programs—Calvary quickly switched to remote, giving tablets to women who don’t own smart phones so they could participate. To enable some therapy sessions and addiction recovery meetings to continue in person, Calvary reduced groups sizes along with instituting physical distancing and face masks.

“The women told us: if we’re going to make it through this, we can’t lose our meetings,” explained Thompson. “We wanted to make sure that the women have a chance to check in with each other every day, while staying safe.”

Throughout the emergency order, the Calvary households stayed locked down, with residents only leaving for essential reasons. Like all of us, the women needed things to do while stuck inside, and so Calvary organized a variety of activities to give the women a different focus – from a walking group that goes out six feet apart along the Anacostia river, to gardening in masks, and socially-distanced games such as bingo.

Calvary was able to respond rapidly thanks in part to support from the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “I really commend local philanthropy and The Community Foundation for acting so quickly and very generously to the needs we have on the ground. The process moved fast, which mattered so much in April and May,” said Thompson. “I’m proud that we have such solid local philanthropy. It kept women safe in our program and kept people safe across the city. It saved lives for sure.”

After what has felt like a long time of sitting tight, women at Calvary are now starting to look forward.

It feels like we’ve all just been holding our breath,” said Thompson.

As the city begins to gradually reopen, Calvary is kicking its employment services back up so women can get back to job searches. Two women have already interviewed. As apartment complexes begin accepting new tenants again, Calvary is also helping women restart their search for a new home and secure rental assistance.

“What we know for sure from the pandemic is that you have to have a place to stay inside. Without a safe place to live, you’re at enormous risk not just for COVID-19 but for a host of health issues. It’s harder to maintain recovery from addiction, and to stay healthy physically and mentally, when you don’t have a home. Women experiencing homelessness are also more vulnerable to violence and sexual abuse,” explained Thompson. “It’s absolutely critical that all the women in our community have a safe place to live. We won’t end homelessness without it.”

Through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, The Community Foundation has leveraged its experience co-leading the Partnership to End Homelessness to support high-impact nonprofits working to protect individuals, families, and youth experiencing homelessness and to prevent community spread. It has also funded organizations like Calvary to both combat homelessness and address the uptick in domestic violence and other forms of abuse.

Investing in Solutions to Address Homelessness

By Rob Bachmann, Senior Director, Impact Investing, Enterprise Community Loan Fund

If there was ever a doubt about the vital importance of a stable home in one’s life – of its profound influence on our health, wealth and basic access to opportunity – the COVID-19 crisis has been painfully clarifying. These days, amidst the pandemic, one’s home is nearly everything: our office, our recreational space, our place of refuge and of worship, and, of course, the place to lay our heads after long and challenging days – which these days have surely been.

We didn’t need a global pandemic to crystallize this truth for us. Nevertheless, it is a reality we can no longer ignore. A quality, healthy and affordable place to live has never been more important.

And yet, thousands of Washingtonians continue to be without a place to call home. This is a crisis that has broad reach and disproportionate effects.

In DC, more than 1 in 5 people experiencing homelessness are employed, reflecting the uniquely severe affordability pressures in the DC market. Meanwhile, African Americans make up less than half of the total population in the district but constitute no less than 87% of people experiencing homelessness, illuminating just some of the systemic racial injustices currently at the forefront of our collective conscience.

Now, compounding these challenges, the economic fallout from COVID-19 means things could get worse. A homelessness crisis is never just about those currently experiencing homelessness. It is also about those who are on the brink of homelessness – those who are one paycheck or health scare away from being evicted or losing their home.

Thousands of DC residents who have lost their job during the shutdown have been – or soon will be – unable to pay their rent. As recently reported in the Washington Post, federal unemployment and stimulus measures have so far kept many of these people afloat, but this is not guaranteed to last beyond July, when many of these relief measures are due to expire. This daunting reality, combined with the District’s diminished ability to step in as a result of lost tax revenue from the crisis, means we are in danger of a heightened homelessness crisis in Washington, DC.

What, then, can we do about it?

In short, this is a moment in which impact investors can rise to the occasion. Impact investing, where investors seek both a financial return on their capital and a “social” (or environmental) return on their investment, can step in where other actors, including government, is now forced to pull back. And affordable housing, it turns out, is one of the more tried-and-true impact investments out there, as it can provide both a return to the investors and a positive impact for communities and residents in need.

Enterprise Community Loan Fund, Inc. (Enterprise) is proud to partner with the Greater Washington Community Foundation in support of the Partnership to End Homelessness through our impact investing option, which you can learn more about here. Thanks in large part to this effort in partnership with The Community Foundation, last year we helped create or preserve almost 450 affordable homes in DC, most of which serve families earning under 50% of the Area Median Income, including individuals previously experiencing homelessness. The profound impact of this on residents’ lives and the greater community cannot be overstated.

We are at a critical moment in time to support Washingtonians who are most vulnerable, in particular those experiencing – or at risk of experiencing – homelessness. The good news is that we already know the best antidote to homelessness: a place to call home.

We hope you join us.