Gifting Real Estate for a Meaningful Impact

By Angela Baker, JD Realtor
Seniors Real Estate Specialist

As you contemplate the gifts you will make this year, consider the benefits of gifting appreciated real estate.

Whether or not your beneficiary is a charity, gifting real estate outright or in trust can transform lives and communities and create a legacy that extends beyond your lifetime.

The Gift of Real Estate - Things to Consider

While a gift to a non-charitable beneficiary, such as a family member or friend, can provide them with financial security or help support their goals, it’s important to consider the financial and practical implications for you and your beneficiary. You’ll want to ensure that your loved ones are willing and able to take on any responsibilities, such as maintenance, insurance, and taxes, associated with the gifted property and establish a contingency plan in case your beneficiary predeceases you or is unable to assume ownership of the property.

On the other hand, a gift to charity allows you to support causes you are passionate about and see your gift put to impactful use. Be sure to confirm that your charity is willing and able to accept a gift of real estate.

How to Give Real Estate - Outright vs Trust

When you make an outright gift, the ownership and control transfer immediately, allowing your beneficiary to use or sell the property as they wish. The responsibility for the management, maintenance, and associated costs is no longer yours. An outright gift is generally simpler, involves fewer administrative complexities, and can provide immediate tax benefits based on the property’s fair market value at the time of the gift.

Another option is to make a gift in trust. This can be accomplished in multiple ways and provides you with flexibility and control over the property while still benefiting your charitable or non-charitable beneficiaries. A trust can also provide several tax benefits. Trusts are typically more complex to establish and have costs associated with ongoing administration and reporting. Your Trustee’s role is significant. So, ensure they understand their obligations and are willing and able to serve.

For non-charitable purposes, a trust can help ensure that the property is managed and distributed according to your wishes. Whether you establish a revocable or irrevocable trust will depend, in large part, on your circumstances and desired level of control. If privacy and the avoidance of probate are important to you, a trust, unlike a will, will offer both.

A charitable gift in trust, unlike an outright gift, allows you to retain some control during your lifetime or for a specified period. You can specify how the property should be managed and used and when it should be distributed to the charity. A charitable trust can also provide income, gift, capital gain, and estate tax benefits. A charitable remainder trust, for example, can provide an immediate income tax deduction for a percentage of the property’s fair market value at the time of the gift. If and when the trust sells the appreciated property, capital gains taxes are generally avoided since the trust is tax-exempt.

Creating a Legacy Through Real Estate

Gifting real estate outright or in trust to charitable or non-charitable beneficiaries presents a powerful opportunity to maximize the many benefits and create a meaningful legacy for you and your beneficiaries. The decision between an outright donation or establishing a trust will depend on your specific circumstances, goals, and desired level of control over the property. Be sure to consult with an estate planning attorney and other professionals to understand the options, complexities, tax implications, and legal requirements and to ensure your wishes are properly documented and executed.

This post should not be misconstrued as legal, financial, or tax advice but is intended for Educational Purposes Only. Contact your advisor(s) for advice on your specific circumstances.

birdSEED Foundation: Planting Seeds of Hope for Black First-Time Homeowners

birdSEED recipient Tiffany (Coco) Brown, at her new home in Prince George’s County.

For years, Tiffany (Coco) Brown had dreamed of accomplishing something that no one else in her family had ever done before – purchasing a house that she could call home.

“I wanted someplace where my family could gather and be together,” Coco shared. “Someplace safe that we could call ‘ours’.”

Like many Black families in the Greater Washington region, as a child Coco’s parents could only afford to rent their home in Washington, DC. As economic conditions in the housing market turned, Coco remembers moving several times over the course of her childhood, leaving behind friends and childhood memories as the family sought out a new place to live.

“Growing up, I knew I wanted to live in my own house,” Coco shared. “I just wasn’t sure where to start.”

In 2021, Coco decided to pursue her dream of becoming a homeowner. But while navigating the world of real estate can be complicated for just about anybody, studies show that it has been historically – even deliberately – complex for people of color.

According to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors, only 44% of Black Americans are homeowners – compared to 73% of White Americans. The disparity, which is built on a foundation of decades of redlining and discriminatory lending practices, represents the largest racial homeownership gap in the past decade.

“There’s not very many things out there for people who look like me,” she added. “When it comes to buying a house, we don’t have the resources or the information to get the help we need.”

Over the course of her housing search, Coco went through four different realtors, mountains of paperwork, and dozens of house tours. She also enrolled in several programs designed to help first-time homebuyers – which she soon discovered involved even more paperwork and strict eligibility requirements.

“Pack your patience,” she recalled of her experience. “It’s a lot.”

That was when she heard about the Housing Justice & Down Payment Assistance Program at the birdSEED Foundation – a non-profit organization born from a collaboration between Flock DC – which provided the initial funding to seed the program - and the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The program provides grants of $5,000 - $15,000 to Black & Brown first-time homebuyers with no strings attached.

“This is our work to do – helping those who have been historically disadvantaged to purchase homes,” shared lisa wise, CEO of Flock DC and founder of birdSEED.

birdSEED is boldly branded as a ‘housing justice’ initiative – a starting point for reparations from an industry that has played a major role in the creation of the racial wealth gap.

“Homeownership is one of the most effective ways that Americans build intergenerational wealth,” Darius Graham, Managing Director of Community Investment at The Community Foundation stated. “And even though equal access to housing is a civil right enshrined in our nation’s laws, systemic racism within housing institutions have kept communities of color from accessing it for far too long.”­

“[birdSEED] isn’t about philanthropy,” wise added. “It’s about wealth creation; it’s about transferring and building wealth – and creating a model for the rest of the business community that we hope others will follow.”

birdSEED was designed to take away as many barriers for Black and Brown homebuyers to receive support, as possible. The application process is kept intentionally simple and is open year-round, with grants awarded twice a year by a panel of volunteer advisory board members. Once awarded, grant recipients have 120 days to close on a home and release the funds, which are managed by The Community Foundation.

“We are laser focused on making no strings attached down payment grants,” Leslie Case, Executive Director of birdSEED added. “If we can focus more on the giving and less on the accountability, we believe we can give more and have a bigger impact.”

Since its launch in September 2020, birdSEED has awarded 41 provisional grants to help Black and Brown first-time homebuyers – including Coco -- get one step closer to their dream of home ownership.

“birdSEED was a lifesaver,” Coco said. “Without them, I don’t think I would have gone to closing.”

Coco submitted her birdSEED application in September 2022—and within a month was awarded a $10,000 provisional grant. Five months later, Coco closed on her dream home in Hillcrest Heights in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

“The fact that [the homebuying search] is over, is such a stress reliever,” Coco shared, as she approaches her one-year anniversary of homeownership. “To be able to spend holidays, birthdays, and game nights in my own space with the ones I love is a wonderful experience.”

While wise, Case, and The Community Foundation celebrate the success of birdSEED, we also acknowledge how much work remains to be done to close the racial homeownership gap. Of the 41 provisional grants awarded to Black and Brown first-time homebuyers through birdSEED, some of them have still been unable to close on a house – a humbling testament to the many challenges that first-time homebuyers of color must overcome on the road to homeownership.

Despite the challenges, wise and Coco say that birdSEED provides a beacon of hope that they hope will continue to spread to more members of the Greater Washington community.  

“A lot of people ask what they can do – especially when confronted with big issues like the racial wealth gap,” wise said. “You can start with this –a down payment towards building a more equitable community. It may seem like a small step – but it’s a huge step in the right direction.”

One evidence of that hope came from Coco, who when asked what advice she had for fellow aspiring homeowners, simply stated the following:

“If I can do it, you can do it”

The Community Foundation is proud to award the birdSEED Foundation with a $100,000 grant to support homeownership for residents of Prince George’s County and Montgomery County. The investment is part of our Together, We Prosper campaign investment strategy to close the racial wealth gap in the Greater Washington region. For more information, visit our website or contact [email protected]

Health in All Policies – A New Way of Thinking About Advocacy

What do a bus route, a new grocery store, a public housing complex, and a new public school all have in common?

The answer may not seem obvious, but groups across the country argue that this common denominator – considering health in public policy - is critical to the longevity and wellbeing of communities.

Last month, the Health Equity Fund convened its third grant partner learning series event to explore how leading with this concept could help magnify their advocacy efforts.

“It is critical that we consider health first in public policy,” Dr. Keshia Pollack Porter, Bloomberg Centennial Chair at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health explained. “Integrating and articulating health considerations into policymaking across sectors has the potential to improve the health and wellbeing for thousands – particularly for communities of color.”

The idea of leading with Health in All Policies (HiAP) is not a new concept. Over the past decade, the approach has been championed by major health agencies like the CDC, the World Health Organization, and others as a way to build a stronger, more resilient health system.

The idea is that by promoting health, equity, and sustainability considerations while engaging a broader array of stakeholders, policymakers can ultimately build a system that works better for everyone.

As the DC government prepares to release its budget, many nonprofit partners with the Health Equity Fund hope that promoting a Health in All Policies mindset will have an impact that carries over into FY25 and beyond.

Dr. Keshia Pollack Porter, Bloomberg Centennial Chair at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health outlines Health in All Policies for Health Equity Partners.

“Health in All Policies is critical to helping us achieve health equity,” Dr. Pollack Porter shared. “Policymakers and agencies must understand that healthcare (and the gaps that exist in healthcare) aren’t confined within the walls of a hospital. Community Health is so much more than that.”

However, Dr. Pollack Porter explained that for many government agencies – especially those that operate in silos - adopting a mindset of Health in All Policies can take some time to implement.

“Collaboration has to be a physical activity,” Christina Henderson, DC Council Member (At-Large) and Chair of DC’s Council on Health shared. “By naming it [Health in All Policies], we force people to be more intentional and explicit in considering how their actions have broader impact – not only across their agencies or departments, but across our community.”

Council Member Henderson joined Dr. Pollack Porter and Dr. Arnetto Arno, Director of the DC Office of Health Equity, to share how Health in All Policies has been implemented at the DC Government level. She explained that while the DC government has made a lot of progress, there is still a lot of work to do to catch the vision of Health in All Policies.

“There’s so much more that goes into the health of a person than just access to health insurance,” Council Member Henderson explained, pointing out that DC ranks among the top cities in the nation for enrollment in Medicaid – but lags far behind in other critical areas like access to healthcare.

“We have to look outside of the data; outside of our departments, and see what’s really happening,” Dr. Arno shared. “Too often the data and averages that we use to formulate public policy mask the inequities that keep us from moving forward.”

“Health in All Policies is about taking a broader approach to find a better way to advance the policies that can make a difference.”

Dr. Arno added that the most rewarding and fulfilling work of Health in All Policies actually comes – not from the data – but from engaging with the community.

“If we’re hearing from community members, our policies simply aren’t going to get where they need to be.”

Dr. Arno’s assessment was echoed by several national advocates of the Health in All Policies framework – including Rachel Rosekind of Write You Are and Roxanne Carrillo Garza of Health Contra Costa (formerly Healthy Richmond CA) – who joined the event via zoom.

“It can’t be understated how important it is to seek out community engagement and input from those with lived experience,” Garza shared. “Lived experience is just as valuable – if not more so – when it comes to impacting the life of a community, than policy experience.”

“We need to help agencies change how they think about their processes,” Mark Humowiecki of the Camden Coalition added. “We don’t want them medicalizing their services – we just want them to be more mindful of how their processes can positively or negatively impact the health of our community.”

“As we leave this event, may we all be more intentional about incorporating Health in All Policies into our regular vocabulary,” Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shared at the conclusion. “As we seek to lead with Health in All Policies in our advocacy work, we move closer to achieving health equity.” 

For more information about the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund, visit our website!

2024 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year Award Nominations Now Open!

Left to Right: Mary Pat Alcus (2023 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year) and Tonia Wellons (President/CEO) at the Celebration of Giving.

The Community Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year Award!

The Philanthropist of the Year will be recognized at the 2024 Celebration of Giving later this fall. Read on for more information!

Nomination guidelines

Purpose: To honor an individual who has made a positive impact in our community through giving, and whose philanthropic leadership sets an inspiring example for us all. 

Nomination Process

Complete the official nomination form and submit a letter (2 pages max) explaining why your nominee should be selected as the Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year. 

Please note: the cover form must be completed in its entirety.  The 2-page letter must convey that the nominee meets all the eligibility criteria. Nominators are welcome to submit attachments that will help convey the impact of the nominee’s giving and philanthropic leadership.  However, the Awards Committee will not accept nominations which rely solely on resumes, newspaper articles, annual reports, or the like in substitution for concise responses to the criteria outlined above. 

When feasible, nominators are welcome to team up with other organizations to submit a joint nomination that will more fully articulate the nominee’s philanthropic leadership and impact.

Pending review by the Philanthropist of the Year Selection Committee, The Community Foundation staff may contact you for additional information. 

For inspiration, look no further than our past Philanthropist of the Year honorees.

Eligibility Criteria: 

All nominees must:

• Be a resident of Montgomery County

• Have a demonstrated track record of charitable giving to one or more nonprofit organizations based in and working in Montgomery County*

• Have made a positive impact in the lives of county residents through their giving*

• Encourage/motivate others to become philanthropic

Please Note: We encourage nominators to give special emphasis to any extraordinary giving and/or leadership over the past few years which helped your organization adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and/or advance work related to racial equity and inclusion.  Please know, the level of charitable dollars given is secondary to its impact and potential to inspire others to follow suit. Creative approaches to philanthropy are welcome!  Nominees may be of any age.

In exceptional circumstances, the Selection Committee may consider a former resident, a family unit, or a philanthropist who is deceased. 

DEADLINE: THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024

The nomination form, letter, and any additional attachments must be submitted via email with subject line “Philanthropist of the Year 2024 – Name of Nominee” by close of business on Thursday, March 7, 2024 to:

Olivia Hsu

Development Associate, Montgomery County

[email protected]

All nominators will receive confirmation that the nomination has been submitted within 24 hours of receipt. The Community Foundation in Montgomery County will contact the selected awardee(s) and their nominator by June. All other nominations will remain confidential.

Questions: Contact Olivia Hsu at [email protected].

Planned Giving Pointers for 2024

A new year is such a great time to plan and reboot. Cliche as it may be to talk about resolutions this time of year, it’s tough to deny that January represents a clean slate for “to-do” lists, goals, and your overall mindset.

As you think about your 2024 charitable giving goals and priorities – including planned giving, here are a few tips to help break down the concept of planned giving and how The Community Foundation can help you achieve your charitable goals.

It may help to think of “planned giving” in contrast to what’s sometimes called “current” or “annual” giving. For example, when you write a check to a charitable organization such as your fund at The Community Foundation, you’re transferring those funds immediately in a relatively straightforward manner.

By contrast, a “planned gift” can be simple or complex and more forward-looking than current or annual support for your favorite charitable causes. Planned gifts can include bequests, beneficiary designations, gifts of business interests, real estate, tangible personal property, and more. Making strategic current or future transfers through one’s assets, to charity is often referred to as “planned giving” or “gift planning”  because these gifts can allow donors to give more significant gifts in support of their causes than they thought possible, but it requires some planning. Here are examples of common “planned gifts:” 

• A bequest in your will or trust allows you to name a charity, such as your fund at the community foundation, to receive a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or a particular item, such as a residence, after your lifetime, for example. The team at The Community Foundation can work with you and your advisors to include a bequest in your estate plan using the proper bequest language. 

• Beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement plans, or any accounts that pass through a beneficiary form can be practical tools for making gifts. The team at The Community Foundation can work with you and your advisors to complete the paperwork required to properly designate your fund or create a fund at The Community Foundation using a beneficiary designation form.

• Setting up a life-income gift, such as a charitable remainder trust or a charitable gift annuity, is often an effective way for you to ensure that money will flow from your estate to a charity, such as your fund at The Community Foundation, in a way that meets both your philanthropic intentions and your financial goals (including retaining an income stream and triggering an up-front charitable income tax deduction).

Planned giving does not involve just giving after your lifetime but can also be done now, such as if you are planning the sale of a business or if you have a property you may be interested in donating or a life insurance policy that you no longer need, for example, you can use those assets to give during your lifetime.

There are many assets that The Community Foundation may be able to accept when considering a planned gift. If you would like to discuss your charitable goals and how we may be able to assist you, please contact the team at The Community Foundation. We look forward to working with you to help you meet your current and planned charitable goals during 2024 and beyond! 

Out of School Activity Scholarships for DC Students Now Available!

Update: Due to unprecedented response, The Community Foundation has paused accepting new applications for the Learn 24 OST Scholarship program.

If you would like to be notified if the application is reopened, please send an email to [email protected] to be placed on the waitlist.

Looking for fun and meaningful activities for your child this year? Additional funds for youth Scholarships for DC Students are now available through Learn24’s OST Youth Scholarship Program.

Learn24 is a network that supports equitable access to high-quality, Out-of-School-Time (“OST”) programs for the District’s students. Managed by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Learn24’s  OST Youth Scholarship Program provides funding to help students and their families – especially those with specific needs – access the programs they need to strengthen their education, health, and well-being outside of school.

Examples of programs that the scholarship may support include, but are not limited to, programs designed specifically for students with disabilities, advanced learners, and English Language Learners.

Scholarships of up to $10,000 are available for individual students for use in approved OST activities, including both current fall activities and those expected to begin with the start of the new calendar year and summer 2024. The minimum scholarship award is $1,000. Scholarships are awarded based on individual need and availability of funding. Scholarship funds can be used for any OST activities that have a cost association up to the total scholarship amount.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted online, using the link provided. No hard copy, email or faxed proposals will be accepted. Applications are reviewed periodically by The Community Foundation and approved by Learn24. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions within 4 weeks of application submission.

For those seeking additional information, click here to read the full RFP or watch this orientation video if you are interested in applying. The RFP and video are both available in Spanish (see below).

If you have questions, please contact Benton Murphy at [email protected]

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Becas Extraescolar disponibles
para Jovenes de DC

Actualización: Debido al alto cantidad de respuestas, The Community Foundation no esta aceptando nuevas aplicaciones para el Learn 24 OST Scholarship program en este momento. Si te gustaria ser notificada cuando la aplicación reabre, por favor manda un email a [email protected] para ser colocada en una lista de espera.

¿Estás en busca de actividades divertidas y significativas para su hijo este año? Ahora están disponibles fundos adicionales para becas para estudiantes de DC por medio del OST Youth Scholarship Program de Learn24

Learn24 es un rede que ayuda los estudiantes de DC a conseguir acceso equitativo a programación de alta-calidad extraescolares (Out-of-School)(OST). Administrado por the Greater Washington Community Foundation (Fundación Comunitaria de Greater Washington), el OST Youth Scholarship de Learn24 proporciona fundos para ayudar estudiantes y sus familias – especialmente los con necesidades específicas – a conseguir acceso a los programas que necesitan para fortalecer su educación, salud, y bienestar fuera de la escuela.

Ejemplos de los programas que califiquen para la aplicación de esta beca incluyen pero no se limitan a programas designada específicamente para estudiantes con discapacidades, estudiantes avanzadas, y estudiantes aprendiendo inglés.

Becas para estudiantes individuales de hasta $10,000 están disponibles para uso en actividades aprobados de OST – incluyendo actividades de otoño que ya están en curso y los que están programado para empezar en el año nuevo o el verano de 2024. La cantidad mínima de las becas es $1,000. Becas son adjudicados dependiente de la necesidad individual y la disponibilidad de los fundos. Becas pueden ser utilizadas para cualesquiera actividades de OST que tienen una cuesta asociada hasta la cantidad total de la beca.

Las aplicaciones serán aceptas de manera continua y deben ser presentadas online, usando el link providenciado. Propuestas de papel, email, o fax no serán aceptas. Aplicaciones están revisados periódicamente por The Community Foundation y aprobado por Learn24. Aplicantes serán notificado de las decisiones de los fundos entre 4 semanas de presentar la aplicación.

Para los que buscan informaciones adicionales, clique aquí para ler el Request for Proposals (solicitud para propuestas)(RFP) completo o asistir este vídeo de orientación para los que están interesados en aplicar. Ambos el vídeo y RFP están disponibles en español.

Para preguntas adicionales, contacta Yorman Delarosa a [email protected]

Reimagine Work: Aligning Workforce Development within an Economic Justice Framework

In 2007, The Greater Washington Community Foundation and partners launched the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative, to bring philanthropy together to fund support system responses to address high unemployment at a time when our region’s neighbors were being negatively impacted by an economic recession. 

Thirteen years later, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed economic realities in our country and our region that had long been there. Deep structural flaws in the American system of work, the labor market, and entrenched racial and economic inequity.

We heard from workers and organizations across our region that the lack of paid family leave, adequate and affordable childcare, irregular scheduling practices, and too few opportunities for workers to take collective action, to name of a few, contributed to a sense that the American system of work was deeply flawed.

Today, the Collaborative is pleased to share that we have heard you and we are committed to working differently. 

In 2022, we made the risky but necessary decision to pause and engage in a robust listening and learning discovery process to explore:  the collaborative’s position in the community and within the ecosystem, the needs of the community and organizations to advance policy and systems solutions to economic inequity in the region and if a revised direction of the Collaborative was needed.  The same spirit that propelled the creation of the Collaborative propelled it to reevaluate its role and position in the continued fight for economic justice.  

We know that our economy leaves too many people behind and our workforce development systems often fall short in providing true opportunity for many - particularly for Black, Indigenous, immigrant, people of color, ethnic minorities, women, youth, and other people with intersecting identities.

Indeed, recent analysis has illuminated that Black unemployment in DC is nearly 7 times higher than white unemployment and geographically concentrated. In 2022, average Black unemployment was 9.6 percent, compared to only 1.4 percent among DC’s white workers, a ratio of nearly 7 to 1, the worst in the nation.

As we look ahead, the Greater Washington Workforce Collaborative is evolving our name, mission, vision, and frameworks that will guide our investments and decision making toward advancing economic justice, equity, and regenerative philanthropic practices. 

Our new name - Reimagine - reflects our earnest interest and commitment to working alongside stakeholders and the community to advance systemic workforce development solutions rooted in economic justice and with a focus on reimagining, redistributing, and rebalancing work, opportunity, and sustainability. Our efforts are rooted in a human rights orientation that center workers with a commitment to rest and restorative practices.

The inputs that propelled our collaborative to pause and consider our collective understanding that how and to what ends we organize as a group of funders, engage with one another and our partners, right-size power, make our decisions, and choose our strategies brought us to this moment to Reimagine what is possible in our region and the role of philanthropy.

“The Community Foundation is excited to ‘Reimagine’ what is possible in our region and the role of philanthropy through this initiative,” Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community shared. “By adapting our frameworks, models, and orientations to the needs of our community, we are better prepared to not only make a greater philanthropic impact but also to achieve our vision of closing our region’s racial wealth gap.”

We know that this is just the beginning. 

We welcome like-minded investors and funders to join this evolving funder collaborative. We invite community members and organizations to shape and contribute to our vision and strategies.

We aspire to learn together, co-create alongside a broader set of community partners, and to continuously evolve our understanding and operationalization of regenerative philanthropic practices rooted in economic justice and shared prosperity for the region.

If you are interested in learning more about our journey and next steps, please contact Dawnn Leary at [email protected]

Building Community: Remembering the Legacy of Joe Horning, Jr

Joe and Lynne Horning as featured in The Community Foundation’s 2004-2005 Annual Report.

The Community Foundation mourns the passing of Joe Horning Jr, co-founder of Horning Brothers development group.

Over Joe's 60-year career, Horning Brothers built housing in all eight of DC's wards -- with a particular focus on equity and revitalizing neighborhoods across the city. He collaborated with and supported nonprofit community development corporations from Anacostia to North Capitol Street to Columbia Heights. Attuned to affordable housing challenges in Washington, DC, he worked alongside and hired people who shared his commitment to the entire city, with a particular focus on Black residents and their communities.

"Joe was a deeply spiritual man, whose compassion guided a commitment to better the lives of those marginalized and less fortunate than he was," according to the family statement.

Joe Horning, Jr, with son Joe Horning, III (far left) and David Roodberg, Member of The Community Foundation Board of Trustees (immediate left)

In addition to his professional investments, Joe and his family were heavily involved in developing our region through their philanthropy. Together with his wife and four children, Joe established the San Miguel Foundation Fund (now the Horning Family Fund) at The Community Foundation.

The fund which was established in 1990 has distributed millions of dollars to causes across the region from education to the arts and helped transform the work of hundreds of nonprofit organizations.

Joe & Lynne Horning receive the Spirit of Philanthropy Award at The Community Foundation’s 2016 Celebration of Philanthropy.

The Community Foundation was honored to celebrate Joe and Lynne's legacy at the 2016 Celebration of Philanthropy as we presented them with the 2016 Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

"Joe was committed to connecting with community," the Horning family shared in a statement. "In lieu of flowers, show up, get involved, and be generous."

Washington AIDS Partnership Celebrates 35 Years of Philanthropic Impact in DC

Americorps Volunteers with the Washington AIDS Partnership pose with VP Al Gore and his wife at the unveiling of the AIDS Memorial Quilt on the National Mall (1996)

One of the most successful philanthropic partnerships in our region’s history celebrated its final milestone last month, as the Washington AIDS Partnership closed its doors for the last time. Over the past 35 years, the Partnership distributed more than $35 million to 129 different organizations across DC.

“The work to address HIV and AIDS is not over,” the Partnership’s long-time Executive Director Channing Wickham shared. “Yet the Washington AIDS Partnership’s role in the fight to end the local epidemic is coming to a close.”

Channing Wickham, Executive Director of the Washington AIDS Partnership

“We are proud to have helped change how HIV and AIDS treatment and care are delivered in our region.”

“Philanthropy’s job is to identify problems and fund solutions,” Kathy Whelpley, former chair of the Washington AIDS Partnership Steering Committee added. “But best practices is to acknowledge when progress has been achieved and when there is more urgent need for those philanthropic dollars.”

The Washington AIDS Partnership was founded by a group of 20 philanthropic foundations -- including The Community Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Meyer Foundation, and others -- who came together to fund a response to an urgent public health crisis – the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In 1988, the Washington, DC region had the fifth-highest infection rate of HIV/AIDS in the nation. To date, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has claimed more than 700,000 lives nationwide. At the time, there was no real infrastructure to address HIV or AIDS – which had no known treatment or cure and was often fatal to those who contracted the disease.

Incubated by the Meyer Foundation and later housed at the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (now Philanthropy DMV), the Washington AIDS Partnership quickly established itself as the leading regional partner in the fight against the AIDS/HIV pandemic.  They collaborated with DC government agencies and nonprofit organizations to pilot a wide-range of programs including outreach and prevention initiatives like She Comes First – a program for Black women run by Black women.

As a philanthropic collaborative, the Partnership created long-standing relationships between local funders, government officials, and community members – especially those most impacted by the AIDS epidemic. They supported innovative community-driven strategies that have now been adopted as best common practices by AIDS prevention organizations across the country.

“We created a mechanism where community, philanthropy, and people with HIV could get together in the same room to talk through proposals and make the right decisions on where that money should go,” Wickham shared. “In doing so, we created a place where there was expertise that did not exist in individual foundations.”

The 2005 Annual Report Card for the DC Government’s HIV/AIDS Response

The Partnership’s holistic approach to tackling pressing issues helped lay the groundwork for future initiatives in the region, such as The Community Foundation’s Partnership to End Homelessness and others.

The Washington AIDS Partnership also advocated for changes in local and federal policy. The Partnership teamed up with DC Appleseed to release annual ‘report cards’ which included indicators on the DC Government’s response to the epidemic and where further investment and advocacy was needed.

“The Partnership’s ability to read what was coming down the line and be flexible and entrepreneurial – from grantmaking, to direct services, to policy work, to syringe exchange, to harm reduction….is why it thrived for 35 years,” Mardell Moffett, Chair of the Washington AIDS Partnership Steering Committee and Executive Director of the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation shared. “The organization changed as it needed to change over time to where the disease was moving.”

Part of that momentum was driven by the Partnership’s collaboration with the Americorps Program, which since 1996, has brought more than 300 volunteers to work and serve in the DC area.

Americorps Volunteers with the Washington AIDS Partnership in 2000

These Americorps volunteers were instrumental in providing health education services, HIV testing and counseling, and helping thousands gain access to primary and mental health care. Many of these volunteers have gone on to successful careers in the field of public health and continue to advocate for communities impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“The Washington AIDS Partnership truly laid the foundation for future philanthropists to follow,” Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation shared. “They demonstrated not only how to make a difference in public health, but also how to do so in a way that engaged and empowered the community in a just and equitable way.”

Meet Our Spirit of Philanthropy Award Honoree – Alex Orfinger

THE GREATER WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION is PROUD TO HONOR Alex Orfinger WITH THE 2024 SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY AWARD.

The Community Foundation is thrilled to honor Alex Orfinger with the 2024 Spirit of Philanthropy Award. Working at the intersection of business and community, Alex’s work shines a light on vital social issues such as economic recovery and income disparity, and why these issues matter to the business community.  He is actively engaged in the philanthropic community and has made a significant impact on our region through his investment of time and resources to support some of the region’s leading nonprofit organizations.

Alex believes what is good for business is also good for the greater community. Alex is a champion of collaboration and is dedicated to developing relationships that strengthen the connection among business leaders and between the business and philanthropic communities.

For over two decades serving as Publisher of the Washington Business Journal, Alex has worked out front and behind the scenes to develop a strong identity for the region's business sector. The core purpose of the Washington Business Journal is to help local business grow by providing leaders with the information they need to get their work done, including leads, competitive intelligence, and knowledge about who was doing what and with whom.

His Business Journal team continues to report on the diversity of the business community. Through the pages of the Business Journal, they tell the stories of companies, the personalities who run them, and what makes leaders tick.
Beyond reporting, Alex and the Washington Business Journal bring leaders and business people together – including senior executives from across the region and across industry sectors. These are places where deals are consummated, connections are made, and regional problems are solved.

Alex is also actively engaged in the philanthropic community. He is passionate about fostering relationships and believes that the cross-pollination of business and nonprofit contacts results in better business and a stronger community. As the Chair of Jubilee Housing’s Board of Directors, Alex helped the organization raise $5.27 million towards its Housing Justice campaign. In addition, Alex previously served two terms as the Secretary of The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors and founded and launched the David Bradt Nonprofit Education Fund to honor his friend by supporting nonprofit leaders to attend intensive executive training programs. Currently, Alex serves as board chair of Leadership Greater Washington, the region’s largest talent and leadership incubator. 

“Say Their Name, Say Their Name” Advocates Call for Action at Annual Vigil For Those Who Have Died Without Housing

Days before Christmas, friends and advocates for DC’s homeless community gathered around an empty coffin at Luther Place Memorial Church for the 11th Annual Vigil honoring DC residents who died without housing in 2023.

The event is an annual holiday tradition that many say they have become weary -- and wary -- of celebrating, as the number of those who died without housing in DC continues to rise.

“Ninety people died without housing this year,” Rachelle Ellison, Assistant Director at the People for Fairness Coalition shared to an audience of about 60 people gathered at the church.

“Last year it was 77 – more than 17% increase.”
“It’s so sad that the number of deaths just keeps going up.”

A young Vigil attendee and his mother pay their respects to the 90 DC Residents who died without housing in DC.

With local forecasters predicting above average snowfall this winter, advocates fear that unless more action is taken, the trend will likely carry over into the New Year.

“So many of these people - we don’t see their names – but they are humans. They matter,” shared Reginald Black, lead organizer with the People for Fairness Coalition.

“I spent 10 years – 10 long years homeless.”

“Any one of those years, I could have been one of the names; one of the initials; one of the ages on this list.”

“We need to raise our voices that housing is a human right and that those whom this casket represents were denied that right,” Black added.

Black also pointed out the need to incorporate racial equity into policies to end homelessness. Of the 90 DC residents who died without housing this year, 80 percent of them were Black.

“We can and must do better.”

Following the service, the participants filed out onto 14th Street where they followed the empty coffin on a mile-long march towards Freedom Plaza.

For some in the procession, this was their first time at the annual Vigil – which has become something of a somber holiday tradition in the homeless community.

The White House looms in the background as housing advocates gather at Freedom Plaza

For those at the front of the procession; the pallbearers – especially those with ‘lived experience’ of homelessness, the experience marks a milestone of far too many cold sleepless nights and far too many friends needlessly lost.

“I’ve been doing this for three years now,” one pallbearer shared at an open mic gathering held at the end of the march. “It’s sad to keep seeing the same results. But I know it’s important to put our heart on the line and raise our voices.”

“We need to advocate, to be concerned, and to raise awareness– this is an issue that can be solved.”

Perhaps most concerning to housing advocates is the number of deaths that were nearly prevented. Close to 70% of those on the list had received a housing voucher but died before they could be housed – that’s up from more than 60% in 2022.

The list of those who died without housing in 2022 compared with the list from 2023

The harrowing statistic outlines what advocates say is one of the biggest existing gaps in a housing system where people too often fall through the cracks.

“It is disappointing how often this city gives up on people who are unhoused,” Council Member Janeese Lewis (Ward 4) shared at the vigil. “We shouldn’t ever give up on anyone.”

Council Member Lewis and her staff attended the vigil to honor the memory of one of their constituents, David Ashmore, a lifetime Ward 4 resident and close friend of Council Member Lewis. Mr. Ashmore experienced homelessness for 30 years before he passed away in July 2023.

DC Council Member Janeese Lewis (Ward 4) at the annual Vigil for those who died without housing in 2023.

Council Member Lewis shared that, like many people who experience homelessness, Mr. Ashmore had lost faith in the government and the housing system.

“We spent months visiting with him, building a relationship with him, before he trusted us enough to help him with the housing voucher process.”

Council Member Lewis explained that although housing advocates had tried to help Mr. Ashmore with the housing voucher application in the past, few had taken sufficient time to guide him through the paperwork.

“All he asked was to know what he was signing,” Council Member Lewis explained. “It took us three hours to go through the application with him – but three hours is worth the time for someone who’s been on the streets for 30 years.”

Even after receiving his voucher, Mr. Ashmore still faced an uphill battle, as he now needed to find an apartment that would meet his needs and accept his voucher. Council Member Lewis and her team were in the process of helping Mr. Ashmore visit apartments when he passed away in July.

“Mr. Ashmore had so many people behind him – he had a DC Council Member behind him -- yet he died on the streets,” Council Member Lewis shared. “Mr. Ashmore deserved better from our city.”

DC Council Member Robert White (At-Large) at the annual Vigil for those who died without housing in 2023.

Also in attendance was Council Member Robert White (At-Large), who thanked advocates, including the People for Fairness Coalition for their efforts to raise awareness of the need for further investment and systems change in homeless services.

“Because of you all, I know there are folks in this city who care,” Council Member White shared. “Thank you for continuing to remind us of the work that is truly important – the work that needs to be done.”

The Community Foundation’s Partnership to End Homelessness is proud to partner with advocates like the People for Fairness Coalition in our efforts to end homelessness in DC.

The Partnership to End Homelessness is a public-private partnership that convenes government agencies, funders, and advocates to create more supportive and deeply affordable housing and lead strategic and sustainable investment in the homeless services system.

For more information, visit  https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/partnership-to-end-homelessness

A Year in Review: Looking Back at the Top Milestones from 2023

2023 was a year full of milestones for The Community Foundation and our community of changemakers – from celebrating our 50th Anniversary at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, to launching the first guaranteed income program in Prince George’s County, to kick-starting a capital campaign for economic justice. Here are some of our most meaningful milestones from 2023.

Celebrating History, Hope & Healing at our 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

On May 3rd, The Community Foundation hosted the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Philanthropy – celebrating 50 Years of History, Hope, and Healing in the Greater Washington region. Leading up to the celebration, The Community Foundation spotlighted the work of outstanding philanthropic leaders and donors over the course of our organization’s history – past, present, and future – including leaders like Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Vicki & Roger Sant, Bob Linowes, The Honorable Wayne Curry, and others.

Chief among these was our 2023 Spirit of Philanthropy Honoree, Terri Lee Freeman – the longest-serving and first Black female President and CEO of The Community Foundation from 1996-2014. We were delighted to celebrate her legacy during an unforgettable evening at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Convening Faith & Philanthropy to foster belonging and strengthen our region

In February, The Community Foundation expanded our dialogue with faith leaders by partnering with The Jewish Community Foundation and other faith leaders to discuss ways in which our region’s Black and Jewish communities can operate with greater alignment, solidarity, and allyship to address antisemitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, and bigotry more broadly.

In June, The Community Foundation hosted the second annual Faith & Philanthropy Summit, which included a dialogue between Christian & Jewish faith leaders from across the region to help set a baseline understanding of reparative justice through the lens of faith traditions.

Looking to 2024, The Community Foundation remains committed to strengthening ties across our region’s vibrant and diverse faith community to foster belonging and build a stronger and more equitable region.

Together, We Prosper: Making a Stand for Economic Justice

In May 2023, The Community Foundation launched Together, We Prosper, a three-year campaign to jump-start our vision of economic justice and build permanent resources to ensure The Community Foundation’s ability to respond to today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.

In conjunction with the campaign, The Community Foundation hosted a series of webinars titled "In Pursuit of Economic Justice” – designed to bring together experts to explore innovative approaches to closing the racial wealth gap. The series featured national leaders in the guaranteed income movement and advocates for wealth building programs such as Children’s Saving’s Accounts.

Celebrating Tonia Wellons’ leadership in the greater washington region

In October, we were thrilled to celebrate our President & CEO, Tonia Wellons as she was named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2023 list of “Women Who Mean Business” and Washingtonian Magazine’s 2023 “Most Powerful Women in Washington” in recognition of her outstanding leadership and commitment to racial and economic justice. In honor of her achievements, members of our Board of Directors helped create a special tribute video to celebrate.

Health Equity Fund Celebrates One Year of Transformative Grantmaking

In October, The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund celebrated an exciting milestone – awarding more than $21 million in grants to 46 organizations in just 12 months. The fund recently announced a new grant round which aims to award at least twice that amount over the next 3 years – making it one of the most transformative impact funds in The Community Foundation’s history.

Announced in March 2022, The $95 Million Health Equity Fund is dedicated to closing gaps in healthcare as well as addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact health outcomes including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, nutrition, environmental safety, medical care, culture and recreation, and more.

Celebrating Four Years of the Partnership to End Homelessness in DC

This year also marked the fourth anniversary of the Partnership to End Homelessness in DC. Since its launch, the Partnership has leveraged and aligned over $18 million in private sector resources. At the same time, advocacy efforts have resulted in over 4,000 permanent supportive housing vouchers to end homelessness for 3,106 individuals and 1,217 families.

In October, The Partnership hosted friends and supporters at the Festival Center in Northwest DC to discuss the initiative’s progress and hear from advocates and service providers. They also participated in a walking tour of the neighborhood, including several stops at affordable housing projects under development.

championing Philanthropy and economic justice in Prince George’s County

While The Community Foundation celebrated 50 years of impact in the Greater Washington region, it also celebrated the 25th anniversary of its local office in Prince George’s County. Since 1998, The Community Foundation and our fundholders are proud to have invested more than $65 million in Prince George’s County. In October, The Community Foundation gathered with outstanding nonprofit and civic leaders from across the county to celebrate at the 2023 Civic Leadership Awards at MGM National Harbor.

Three weeks later, The Community Foundation gathered again in Largo at the Wayne K. Curry Building to announce the launch of Thrive Prince George’s – the first-ever guaranteed income pilot in Prince George’s County.

The two-year, $4 million initiative will provide monthly payments of $800 to 50 youth (age 18-24) who have aged out of foster care and 125+ seniors (age 60+) for a 24-month period with no strings attached and no requirements tied to employment. Thrive Prince George’s is a public-private partnership that will leverage both public and private philanthropic resources from the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Prince George’s County Executive and Council, and the Meyer Foundation.

Celebrating a Legacy of Philanthropy in Montgomery County

On November 16th, donors and community partners across Montgomery County gathered for the annual Celebration of Giving.  The event included a moving memorial tribute to the Founding Executive Director of The Community Foundation in Montgomery County, Sally Rudney who passed away this year – as well as a report on the more than $9.5 million that The Community Foundation’s network of donors gave to nonprofits this past year.

The event also honored Mary Pat Alcus – the 2023 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year – for her outstanding contributions to philanthropy in Montgomery County.

Continuing Our Learning Journey at the DMV Community Book Group

Our quarterly DMV Community Book Group hosted several riveting discussions this past year that created invaluable space for conversations with community partners and fundholders around economic and social justice.

In March, we dove into the world of cooperative economics with Dr. Jessica Gordon-Nembhard, Professor at City University of New York and author of the book Collective Courage: The History of African American Economic Thought and Practice.

That was followed by a discussion of Rob Hopkins’ From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want.

We closed out the year in December with Jennifer Vanica, author of Courageous Philanthropy: Going Public in a Closely Held World, as together we explored how to promote sustainable, community-driven wealth building.

Building Community, Fostering Belonging & Sharing Prosperity at the 2023 Annual Meeting

In October, The Community Foundation hosted its 2023 Annual Meeting at the National Press Club. The event capped off another exciting year of growth and community impact for The Community Foundation and its donors and partners – which surpassed $1.7 billion in grantmaking.

The event included a panel discussion around fostering belonging and building community –an important topic that ties into The Community Foundation’s strategic vision and Together, We Prosper Campaign. The panel included Cat Goughnour Racial Equity Fellow at Prosperity Now and Bobby Milstein, Director of System Strategy for the Rippel Foundation.

Ceding Power and Seeding Community Wealth Building in DC Ward 7 & 8

This past year, The Community Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, and our nonprofit partners collaborated to invest in community wealth building in DC Ward 7 & 8.

In August, Martha’s Table announced the second round of grants through the Community Impact Fund, which provided $10,000 grants to high-impact organizations based in Ward 8. The Community Foundation and JP Morgan Chase partnered to match these initial grants through the Equitable Development Fund.

In October, The Community Foundation and JP Morgan Chase convened funders and nonprofit partners at the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization in Ward 7 to hear directly from community partners about the best ways to promote community wealth building and equitable development in DC Wards 7 & 8.

Book Group Recap: Courageous Philanthropy with Jennifer Vanica

What does Courageous Philanthropy look like?

For our December gathering of the quarterly DMV Community Book Group, that was the question of the hour, as we were joined by Jennifer Vanica, a 40-year veteran of philanthropy and community change, and author of Courageous Philanthropy: Going Public in a Closely Held World

“It is time to forge new, more courageous relationships between foundations and the communities we seek to serve,” Vanica shared. “When we no longer work to sustain our own points of view and work toward community ownership of change as accountable partners, we will discover that what endures is the fire of inspired action.”

In the late 1990s, Vanica was the CEO and President of the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (JCNI), one of the lead organizers behind Market Creek Plaza Project in San Diego, California. The project has gained national acclaim for being one of the first neighborhood redevelopment projects in the US that was driven and owned by residents. From 1997 to 2005, more than 3,000 residents participated in teams to plan, design, build and lease the project which transformed a 20-acre industrial lot into a thriving commercial and cultural plaza. In her book, Vanica shares what she believes was key to the project’s success – mainly, a bold and intentional focus on listening and developing community ownership.

“Don’t do about me, without me,” Vanica recalled one resident sharing with her at a community meeting. “That was the mantra that drove our work.”

When asked what amenities should be included in the development project, Vanica says her organization supported residents as they went door-to-door, conducting more than 600 surveys with their fellow neighbors in four different languages. Their responses helped lay the blueprint for Market Creek Plaza – similar to the way that research initiatives like VoicesDMV have laid the foundation for The Community Foundation’s Strategic Vision and other initiatives.

Market Creek Plaza in San Diego, California includes one of the first grocery stores in the surrounding community, many minority-owned businesses, a cultural center, an open-air amphitheater, and other social amenities.

But Vanica says, for JCNI, the community involvement didn’t stop there. JCNI moved their offices to the neighborhood to be closer to residents. They met with around 200 local organizations, inviting various leaders to serve on committees for the project. They also went out of their way to include the diverse ethnic groups in the region by providing multiple translators for community meetings.

“Courage is what it takes to stand and speak,” Vanica shared. “But courage is also doing what it takes to create the space and environment to sit and listen.”

“If philanthropy has a job to act in the public interest, doesn’t it have an obligation to engage with and seek out the public interest?” Vanica asked.

“At JCNI, we consistently looked to residents to guide who was needed at the table and what kind of help would need to be provided in any given situation.”

Vanica says that the secret to success is to “protect the process” that prioritizes action and community engagement.

“If you’re going to cede decision-making control to the community, your process really matters,” Vanica shared. “Prioritizing participatory planning that is biased towards action; allowing people across different cultures to be involved and have a voice.”

Vanica explained that while the process of philanthropy ceding control of the planning process to community members seemed daunting, it ultimately led to the creation of a better project – allowing community members and developers access to untapped resources in the form of ideas and greater growth potential for the community.

For example, community members pointed out that – at the time – less than 2% of public works jobs in San Diego were awarded to minority contractors. By the end of the project, 69% of construction contracts were awarded to local minority-owned enterprises.

Community leaders share their experience working on the Market Plaza project in a video shared with the book group.

In addition, Vanica worked with a team of residents and attorneys to develop the nation’s first Community-Development Initial Public Offering – allowing residents to directly invest between $200-$10,000 in the project. As of 2009, 20% of the plaza was owned by local residents.

“As a premise of our democracy, those affected by decisions need a voice in those decisions,” Vanica explained. “And that demands that we let go of the idea that one group with power and privilege should try to stimulate social change without opening the door to the community.”

“In the foundation world, we wonder why things aren’t sustainable,” she added. “But if the assets are still sitting in our bank accounts or are only accessible through narrow parameters, it will never be sustainable. We have to be willing to let go of control.”

“We’re better together. Together, we have more endurance to face obstacles and become the most courageous versions of ourselves.”

The Community Foundation is excited to promote discussions and initiatives around innovative and courageous philanthropy that cedes power and seeds community wealth building. For more information, visit our website to learn about our Strategic Vision for Economic Justice and Together, We Prosper Campaign.

Click here to watch a full recording of the December 2023 DMV Community Book Group! For more information about the DMV Community Book Group, visit our website!

To C3 or Not to C3 – Helping Professional Advisors And Their Clients Maximize Charitable Impact

In early November, The Community Foundation gathered at the National Press Club for its Annual Professional Advisors Luncheon. Organized by The Community Foundation’s Professional Advisor Council, the event brings together professional advisors and financial planners from across the region to network and discuss important topics for them and their clients.

“As Professional Advisors, we play a critical role in helping our clients maximize their philanthropic impact,” Karen Wawrzaszek, Co-Chair of The Community Foundation’s Professional Advisor Council, shared. “The Community Foundation is an invaluable partner and resource to help us achieve the best possible outcome for our clients and community.”

The luncheon featured a panel of professional advisors and experts to discuss the various mediums donors can utilize to enhance their philanthropic impact.

“We have seen increasingly over the past few years that philanthropists want to move beyond just charity,” The Community Foundation’s President & CEO Tonia Wellons, who served as moderator for the discussion, shared. “Philanthropists are increasingly looking to get involved in advocacy and more permanent solutions that can lead to systems change.”

“Philanthropy is no longer an extra,” Scott Jackson, President & CEO of Global Impact, shared. “Philanthropy can lead and drive change – and donors want to be a part of it.”

Established in 1956, Global Impact is a nonprofit that works with international charities based in the United States. Originally organized as a 501 c(3), Jackson says the organization recently expanded, to launch a 501 c(4)  because of this shifting trend in donor engagement regarding system change work.

“If you look at the latest Giving Tuesday Data, 60% of philanthropy is no longer going to traditional nonprofits,” Jackson shared. “It’s going to coalitions, community foundations, and 501 c(4)’s.”

“Donors – especially younger donors – are increasingly looking for change. They want organizations that are movement builders and advocates – something that we didn’t feel we could do effectively under the 501 c(3) status. So we made the transition.”

Global Impact’s move reflects a conversation that many professional advisors say their clients are raising, as many look to move beyond traditional DAFs (donor-advised funds) for new avenues to make a deeper impact, including establishing their own 501 c(3) or c(4) as a channel for their philanthropic impact.

““If your clients want extra help transitioning
from being charitable and making contributions
to being philanthropic and making a difference,
a community foundation is a great place for them.””

— Jeff Hammond

“What we’re seeing from our clients is that if you want to change the world, you have to use all your tools,” Bridgette Weiss, Partner at Arnold & Porter, shared. “We’re seeing folks be much more adventurous than they were in the past.”                                                

While most 501 c(3)’s are set up for specific charitable purposes, 501 c(4)’s have a broader purpose of promoting social welfare – which allows them more freedom and flexibility to do things like lobbying, political campaigning, and education around public policy.

However, Weiss shared, there are plenty of trade-offs. Unlike 501 c(3)’s, contributions to 501 c(4) organizations are not tax deductible. In addition, operating a 501 c(4) requires more infrastructure to ensure that the organization complies with IRS regulations.

“There is no ‘one-size fits all’ solution. It all comes down to your clients’ personal goals,” Weiss added. “What is their comfort with risk tolerance, deductibility, disclosure, and compliance?”

“Don’t be afraid to be creative in finding the best structures for your client,” she added. “There’s a lot of opportunities to have real impact. It’s all about exploring the available tools within each structure to find what feels best for your client’s needs and interests.”

Jeff Hammond, Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates (VSA) – a leading lobbyist and government affairs firm – suggested that partnering with a community foundation is a great place to start. Hammond has over a decade of experience lobbying on behalf of philanthropic organizations and individuals – including The Community Foundation.

“If your client wants to get involved in advocacy, but they can’t do all the administrative work that advocacy requires, The Community Foundation can help,” Hammond shared – pointing out that most wealthy individuals may not have the capacity to run a private foundation or 501 c(4).  “Unlike private foundations, community foundations are public foundations, so they have more flexibility to lobby around issues important to donors and their communities. They also have years of experience and relationships with the communities they serve that can provide donors with a direct conduit to making a significant impact.”

Hammond pointed out that community foundations have become increasingly involved in advocacy nationally. This is partly due to a post-pandemic leadership shift, as Boards for many of the top 60 community foundations in the country have hired more CEOs from the nonprofit sector, as opposed to those from traditional philanthropic backgrounds. The result is that community foundations are becoming more community-focused and mission-driven, with a growing focus on direct advocacy and policy change.

“There’s a trend I’m seeing on Capitol Hill,” Hammond shared. “Staff on the Hill are starting to recognize what Community Foundations are and the power they have to promote change in their communities.”

“If your clients want extra help transitioning from being charitable and making contributions to being philanthropic and making a difference, a community foundation is a great place for them.”

The Community Foundation’s Professional Advisor Councilhelps connect estate planning attorneys, wealth advisors and financial professionals with the resources and information they need to help their clients maximize their philanthropic impact and achieve their goals. For more information, visit our website or read how partnering with The Community Foundation can enhance your client’s philanthropy.

Investing in Community-Driven Solutions in Montgomery County

Members of The Community Foundation’s Montgomery County Advisory Board, staff, and Sharing Montgomery donors recently visited with key community partners in Germantown to learn how our grantmaking is helping them to advance meaningful change.

“Over the past several years, The Community Foundation and our donors have made large and multiyear contributions to support community-driven solutions in Montgomery County,” shared Anna Hargrave, Executive Director for The Community Foundation in Montgomery County. “Today we’re excited to meet with some of our partners to hear about the impact of their work to date, what they have learned in the process, and the top priorities guiding them now. 

The first stop was at Watkins Mill High School, where the group heard from students and administrators about how nonprofit partners are stepping up to address learning delays exacerbated by pandemic and the lingering mental health challenges many continue to face today.

“We have close to 1,600 students here at Watkins Mill,” shared Principal Vilma Najera. “Almost two-thirds of them come from economically disadvantaged households.”

“There’s a lot of care that our students need – and as educators, we are sometimes stuck with trying to find challenging solutions to systemic problems – that’s where our nonprofit partners and philanthropy step in to fill the gaps.”

“We need an environment where we can feel safe to dream bigger,” shared Rosaline, a Senior at Watkins Mill. She and her classmate Sam shared their experiences, as students who entered High School when schools were operating virtually during the COVID era.

“Having a community is a huge part of our success,” Sam added. “We need that foundation of people that we can trust and rely on to inspire us.”

Sam and Rosaline were followed by a panel of nonprofit leaders from The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence and CollegeTracks – two nonprofit organizations that have become an integral advocates for improved access to education and opportunity for students across Montgomery County. (Both organizations are recent recipients of $100,000 multiyear grants through Sharing Montgomery.)

“The situation for Black, Brown, and low-income students in Montgomery County was already extremely challenging,” Diego Uriburu, co-founder of the Black and Brown Coalition and Identity, Inc shared. “The pandemic made things a lot worse.”

Uriburu shared how Black, Brown, and low-income students and their families often lack key resources such as early childhood education and other supports equip kids with the academic foundation needed for success.  Ultimately, barriers to those resources contribute to the ‘achievement gap’ between Black, Brown, and low-income students and their more affluent peers.   One alarming example shared was data from recent state assessments shows that only a third of Black and Brown students in MCPS are proficient in reading and English language by third grade.   Most people do not realize that after third grade, strong reading skills become increasing essential for all classes, including math and science.  Therefore, without strategic interventions, students who are not reading on grade level can find themselves falling further and further behind their peers.

“Our mission is empower more students and their families to advocate for their educational needs,” shared Byron Johns, Co-Founder of the Black and Brown Coalition and Chair of the NAACP Montgomery County Education Committee. One of the Black & Brown Coalition’s top recommendations is for the creation of an early warning system to help parents understand when their students are at-risk of not hitting key educational milestones.

“The only force capable of breaking the achievement gap is for all of us to work together with Black and Brown parents to step up,” Wylea Chase, Director of Operations and Community Engagement at the Black and Brown Coalition added. “There’s a cost to doing the work that we do; but there’s an even larger cost to NOT doing it.”

The Black and Brown Coalition has also advocated to support teachers and administrators to ensure that they get the resources and support they need.

“We need to provide care and support before we can provide instructions and learning,” shared Mecha Inman, President and CEO of CollegeTracks. “If we’re not creating the environment for students to succeed, they won’t.”

“That’s why organizations like CollegeTracks and the Black and Brown Coalition are advocating and implementing much-needed changes in our education system so we can create that climate where all students – especially Black and Brown students – can succeed and thrive.”

Like the Black and Brown Coalition, CollegeTracks has worked hard to create an environment where students can succeed and pursue their dreams. The organization partners with five high schools across Montgomery County (including Watkins Mill) to provide career and higher education coaching to more than 9,000 students – of which, 99% have been admitted to at least one college or technical school.

“Last year we served 22 percent more students than the year before,” Inman shared. “The desire and interest for this program is growing rapidly – but the resources are finite.”

“If college and career readiness is the goal, the system needs to acknowledge the changes that need to happen to make that dream a reality. We need more advocacy and we need more investment.”

After the classroom, donors and partners headed to the Middlebrook Trailer Park – a trailer community of more than 200 families, where they heard from Grace Rivera-Oven, member of the Montgomery County School Board and Founder & CEO of the Upcounty Hub.

Rivera-Oven and the Upcounty Hub’s staff and volunteers have been advocating for the needs of low-income, immigrant communities for years. At the height of the pandemic, they leveraged grants from The Community Foundation’s Food for Montgomery Fund and other partners to provide food for 2,000 families a week. They also partnered with clinics to provide much-needed vaccines and other medical services to residents. Residents credit the sustained community involvement for a wave of positive changes to the community, including a 70% drop in crime.

However, even in a ‘post-pandemic’ world, Rivera-Oven says the need for continued advocacy for this community has never been greater.

“People were suffering before the pandemic because we chose not to see them,” Rivera-Oven shared. “While we’ve made a lot of progress, there’s still many needs that need to be met.”

Many of these needs are being raised by the residents themselves, who have banded together to advocate and push for solutions. Together, they’ve advocated for issues including pedestrian safety for children and fair billing practices from utility companies.

“Sometimes you have to try new things and have faith in your community,” one resident shared. “Thank you for enabling us to come together and strengthen ours.”

Sharing Montgomery and The Community Foundation in Montgomery County are dedicated to investing in community-driven solutions for positive change. For more information on how to get involved, contact Anna Hargrave, Executive Director for Montgomery County, at [email protected]

Prince George’s County Launches its First-Ever Guaranteed Income Program

Today, The Community Foundation is excited to announce the launch of Thrive Prince George’s, a two-year, $4 million guaranteed-income pilot that seeks to provide greater economic stability and mobility for families in the region. The program, which is spearheaded by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Prince George’s County Executive and Council, and the Meyer Foundation, will provide monthly payments of $800 to 50 youth (age 18-24) who have aged out of foster care and 125+ seniors (age 60+) for a 24-month period with no strings attached and no requirements tied to employment.

“Studies have shown that modest guaranteed basic income pilots can decrease poverty by as much as 40%,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We strongly believe that this program will improve the lives of many in Prince George’s County and will reduce the racial wealth gap in a way that makes it viable for the county to consider providing guaranteed basic income for years to come.” 

While several pilots are currently operating around the region – including in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, DC, and Montgomery County – this is the first guaranteed income program to exclusively serve residents of Prince George’s County. The $4 million pilot is funded using both public and private philanthropic resources, with participating partners each contributing $1 million to the program.

"This initiative is an innovative example of how we find solutions through public-private partnerships," said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. "Thanks to this collaborative pilot program, we're weaving a stronger social fabric and empowering people to pursue their aspirations with dignity and resilience."

Guaranteed income programs have proven to be one of the most promising approaches to increasing financial stability. The positive impact of guaranteed income has been studied for decades, with evidence indicating that monthly cash payments can reduce income volatility and support recipients in attaining full-time employment, greater housing stability, improved health outcomes, and more

“I’ve championed the guaranteed basic income program for years because I know it provides an opportunity to tackle poverty and create better quality of life for our residents,” said County Council Member Krystal Oriadha. “My hope is with more jurisdictions moving to implement programs like this, we will see an investment at the state and federal level that will allow these pilots to become permanent. I am excited about partnering with organizations like the Greater Washington Community Foundation to make this dream a reality.”

The Community Foundation will administer the pilot program as part of its Together, We Prosper Campaign for Economic Justice, which is focused on investing in economic strategies that will increase economic mobility to help close the region’s racial wealth gap.

It has also partnered with Court Appointed Special Advocate Prince George’s County (CASA) and United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP), two community-based organizations in Prince George’s County that will lead the recruitment, selection, and onboarding of participants, distribute cash payments, and provide optional benefits counseling to ensure existing safety net services are not compromised by participation in this income-boosting pilot. Other partners include Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, which provides stable environments for at-risk children and adults, Prince George’s ChangeMakers, who has long advocated for the adoption of a guaranteed income program in Prince George’s County, and Capital Area Asset Builders, who works to create opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals in the region.

“The Meyer Foundation has enthusiastically supported a growing number of guaranteed basic income pilots in our region,” said George L. Askew, MD, President and CEO of the Meyer Foundation. “Pilot programs like this one are consistent with our mission to pursue and invest in solutions that build an equitable Greater Washington community. We’re proud to be supporting this work in Prince George’s County – an area that has experienced continued growth, but where support for residents facing the most significant social, economic, and health challenges remains critical. These public-private partnerships help bring economic justice closer to reality.” 

The Community Foundation will measure how the economic status of participants improves over time and plans to design and implement an evaluation program that balances quantitative and qualitative measures that have historically demonstrated client progress and program viability. For more information about Thrive Prince George’s, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/thrive-prince-georges

For those interested in supporting Thrive Prince George’s and other Guaranteed Income Initiatives in our region, click here!

Tackling Hunger and Homelessness in the Greater Washington Region

November 11-18 is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week — a time to raise awareness of those in our community who lack the basic needs of food and shelter heading into the holiday months.

In recognition of those in our community who struggle with chronic homelessness and food insecurity, during the month of November, The Community Foundation is highlighting experiences from some of our partners working to increase access to affordable housing and nutritious food for our community.

• DC Central Kitchen

  1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to help those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region.

  As the nation's first and leading community kitchen, DC Central Kitchen uses food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities. We prepare 11,000 nutritious meals a day for our community while creating living-wage jobs and enduring careers for our neighbors who have experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and incarceration via our acclaimed Culinary Job Training program.

  2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do for those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region? What are you most proud of?

  We bring healthy, dignified food where it is most needed while employing 130 graduates of our Culinary Job Training program to lead and guide this work -- with industry leading benefits and living wages. Our graduates have overcome systemic barriers to employment and now are responsible for serving award-winning healthy school meals, empowering corner stores to become reliable sources of fresh, affordable produce, supporting local farmers, and training the next generation of culinary talent. We are most proud of this "leadership cycle" that takes on the root cause of hunger: poverty.

  3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?

  As a social enterprise, we earn half of our budget by serving scratch-cooked school meals, wholesaling affordable produce to small corner stores, and operating three cafes city-wide, but philanthropy makes our innovative solutions to hunger and poverty possible. Grants through the GWCF have allowed us to increase our trauma-informed, comprehensive social services for culinary students, invest more resources in local farmers, open the nation's most ambitious community kitchen and urban food hub in Southwest DC, and provide millions of emergency meals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  4) What do you wish that more people understood about those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region?

  Food alone will never end hunger. Hunger-fighting organizations cannot measure our progress in fighting food insecurity through the pounds of charitable food we distribute. Answers to hunger must also reflect our success in unleashing the power of food to improve health, create jobs, and build a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food system.

• Sasha Bruce Youthwork

  1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to help those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region.

  For nearly 50 years, Sasha Bruce Youthwork has been providing services to an often-overlooked population experiencing homelessness in the Greater Washington region - young people who are on their own. Our goal is to prevent chronic homelessness by addressing the factors that lead to homelessness before they become entrenched. Our 25 programs provide direct and preventive services for more than 5,000 young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Washington, DC, and Prince George's County.

  2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do for those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region? What are you most proud of?

  The most meaningful aspect of our work in the Greater Washington region is the historic and ongoing impact Sasha Bruce Youthwork has on calling attention to the plight of young people experiencing homelessness. We are incredibly proud of our services tailored to the needs of young people ages 18 to 24. While legally adults, these young people are still very much in transition.

  3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?

  The Community Foundation of Greater Washington has been an invaluable partner throughout history, helping achieve our mission. The Foundation administers giving for some of our top individual donors and foundation funds. Ongoing grants through The Community Foundation’s fundholders provide critical support for our Barracks Row Drop-In Center. Regular visits to a Drop-In Center are frequently the first step for a homeless or unstably housed young person to move toward family reunification or stable and supportive housing. This support ensures that we can fully staff our Center and provide all the resources needed to help vulnerable youth. The Community Foundation’s Fund for Children, Youth, and Families has also been instrumental over the last few years at Promise Place, our emergency youth shelter in Prince George’s County allowing us to hire a case manager, an essential position for helping homeless youth achieve self-sufficiency.

  4) What do you wish that more people understood about those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region?

  We wish for greater awareness of youth experiencing homelessness in our region. Homeless young people often manage to stay below the radar for a long time. They move between friends’ and relatives’ homes and sometimes stay in abandoned buildings. It can be difficult for them to admit they need help and to seek assistance. They are often homeless because the adults in their lives have mistreated them. Greater awareness of these youth and an understanding that they may need a lot of support to even admit they are homeless is critical. The more visibility organizations like Sasha Bruce Youthwork have, the more people will know about the needs of youth experiencing homelessness and the services available to them.

• Miriam's Kitchen

  1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to help those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region.

  Miriam's Kitchen is dedicated to helping DC reach its goal of ending all chronic homelessness. We are thrilled with the impact of collective advocacy we help lead through The Way Home Campaign. Together 110+ agencies and 7,000 individual supporters have helped bring about important systems changes and increased city investment in proven best practices like Housing First/Permanent Supportive Housing.

  Aside from system level work, Miriam's Kitchen operates four programs that together provide a variety of direct services. Every weekday morning and evening our chefs serve a made-from-scratch meal--about 83,000 meals over the last year. Our Street Outreach program covers half of DC's geographic area to connect people living on the street or in shelters to essential services they. Our Permanent Supportive Housing program supports 320 people who used to live without the security of a home, but now have apartments. Our Social Services team staffs a drop-in center open every weekday morning and afternoon to connect clients (we call them guests) to medical care, mental health support, housing assistance and the income help they need to reach their goals.

  At the core of our work is our guests who have a seat at the decision-making table. They are equal partners in our strategic planning, serve in important advisory roles, fill paid positions as an Advocacy Fellow, speak alongside staff members at local, regional and national conferences, and help guide The Way Home Campaign from seats on the Steering Committee.

  2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do for those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region? What are you most proud of?

  We are proud of the high-quality services we provide AND that we were open every weekday during the pandemic except one (Inauguration Day) during which we had to close to protect our guests from threats posted on the Internet.

  3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?

  Funding from the Partnership to End Homelessness has helped us make great strides in advocacy and systems change. Together we have 1) pushed forward unprecedented investments in Permanent Supportive Housing, 2) taken initial steps on changing the narrative around homelessness 3) increased local investment and help expand Medicaid funding which will reduce the cost of Permanent Supportive Housing by about 20%, 4) achieved system improvements to address some of the hurdles in implementing the voucher investments and 5) helped win approval for a much-needed non-congregate shelter in Ward 2 against strong opposition.

  With support from the Community Foundation (and from other important private investors) we have been able to field a four-person Advocacy team (building to five this year) to lead collective advocacy through The Way Home Campaign. We will broaden our work in 2023 to address some of the root causes of homelessness and continue the important narrative change.

  4) What do you wish that more people understood about those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region?

  Homelessness is not caused by addiction, mental illness, or lack of family support. Those are risk factors that make it harder for some people to work their way out of homelessness, but they are not causes. Housing is too expensive and even people working full time jobs often can't afford to live here because of rapidly rising rents and increased cost of living. Structural reasons like systemic inequality and discrimination are some of the root causes of homelessness.

• Hope and a Home

  1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to help those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region.

  Hope and a Home’s mission is to empower low-income families with children in D.C. to create stable homes of their own and to make lasting changes in their lives. Our mandate is to break the cycle of poverty for qualified families through the programs and services we offer.

  Recognizing the extremely negative impact on the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities that result from homelessness, Hope and a Home’s programs implement the best practices of a housing-first model coupled with proven, multi-generational programs to confront the root causes of homelessness. Hope and a Home’s 19 transitional housing units in Washington, DC are rented to homeless and extremely low-income families with children at subsidized rates while families participate in Hope and a Home’s robust, multi-phased program, consisting of Phase I: Transitional Housing, Phase II: Independent Housing, the Grace Dickerson Higher Education Program (GDHE), and the Mary Jo Schumacher Nutrition Security Program.

  2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do for those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region? What are you most proud of?

  The most meaningful part of the work Hope and Home provides is seeing the growth of the parents and families Hope and Home works with. Our two-generation approach focuses on meeting the needs of both children and parents, providing parents access to quality education and financial literacy opportunities while also supporting children's development and educational needs. Families that come to Hope and a Home with little hope, leave the housing program after three years of intensive support thriving mentally, physically, and economically – not only because of the support Hope and Home provides but also through the hard and diligent work that parents and children engage in to build strong foundations for success. They also have the confidence that, when hard times inevitably come, they remain connected to the education, nutrition, and other supportive programming that Hope and a Home provides for as long as necessary. Hope and a Home is proud of its dedicated staff, who remain a constant source of support for each adult and child throughout their academic journey and is proud of the work that these families do to build new pathways to a permanent exit from homelessness.

  3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?

  Hope and a Home is grateful for the funding partners who make possible our work supporting low-income families with children in Washington, DC to create stable homes of their own and to make lasting changes in their lives. Support from Hope and Home’s partners ensures that Hope and Home can remain committed to operating the two-generation model that works to address the systemic causes of poverty and homelessness for families living in Washington DC. Becuase Hope and a Home provides services to families even after they have transitioned out of Hope and Home’s transitional housing, funds from our partners have been critical in ensuring that Hope and a Home can support families if they return for additional supportive services.

  Importantly, support from Hope and a Home’s partners has afforded Hope and a Home the ability to remain responsive to the needs of families experiencing homelessness which continues to be a critical element in Hope and a Home’s ability to support families as they build the foundation to transition from transitional to market-rate housing. In FY2023, Hope and a Home focused efforts on supporting families as they continued to be disproportionately impacted by post-pandemic pressures and increasing inflation. Even as emergency pandemic support has abated, Hope and a Home has been able to increase support for the Mary Jo Schumacher Nutrition Security Program to ensure families continue to receive nutritional, fresh foods.

  Hope and a Home has also been able to continue working to support our students who are recovering academically from the pandemic-mandated school closures and subsequent changes in school routines.

  4) What do you wish that more people understood about those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region?

  We wish more people, organizations, and stakeholders understood the multi-dimensional, multi-layered, and multi-generational challenges that families experiencing homelessness in the greater Washington area are met with. We also wish more people understood the opportunity that we have to strengthen our community, as we invest in the long-term well-being and success of these families.

  Research shows that getting people housed saves tax-payer dollars; improves education outcomes for young people, increases the likelihood that they will not experience homelessness in adulthood to mitigate further costs of homelessness; and reduces the cost and pressures on healthcare systems, among others.

  Investment is more than getting people housed. Investment means supporting individuals and families to develop the skills and foundation necessary to maintain economic stability and improved well-being. By investing in families and individuals experiencing homelessness, we can ensure that all people can experience the stability necessary for overall well-being and contribute to developing stronger communities.

• People for Fairness Coalition

  1) Briefly describe the mission of your organization and the services you provide to help those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region.

  Our Mission is to end housing instability with outreach Peer Mentoring and Advocacy by advocating on behalf of those who haven't found their voice yet. Speaking before Dc Council. Leading a women's initiative of women with lived experience although challenging it has been rewarding

  2) What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do for those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region? What are you most proud of?

  Being their voice and doing what we can to change the stigma around mental health and homelessness so society at large will see the unhoused population as human beings with a back story and helping those who engage with documents and resources to get housing.

  3) As a nonprofit partner, tell us about how funding that you’ve received that has helped you achieve this?

  The Rhonda Whitaker Streets to life DC Women's Initiative was birthed through the Waldons Adams Justice Grant bringing about racial equity and allowing unhoused women to have a seat at the table with real time info to become their own best advocates

  4) What do you wish that more people understood about those struggling with chronic homelessness or food insecurity in the Greater Washington region?

  That people who struggle with chronic homelessness are human and have a back story and just need someone to believe in them and treat them with dignity and respect so.they can see themselves in a different light thanks to the support of consistent people in their lives.

2023 Celebration of Giving - Celebrating Mary Pat Alcus, 2023 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year

On November 16th, donors and community partners across Montgomery County gathered for the annual Celebration of Giving.  This year’s event kicked off with a moving memorial tribute to the Founding Executive Director of The Community Foundation in Montgomery County, Sally Rudney, and reflections on how her incredible legacy continues to inspire our work.  Anna Hargrave, Executive Director, then reported that The Community Foundation’s network of donors gave over $9.5 million to organizations in Montgomery County last year.  She also shared the early progress of The Community Foundation’s Together, We Prosper campaign which seeks to grow opportunity and build a community where everyone has what they need to thrive.

“For inspiration on how to set and achieve big goals, we can look to our 2023 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year, Mary Pat Alcus,” Hargrave said. “Time and time again, her generosity and leadership have been game-changing for vital organizations across the county.”

Friends, family, and community partners joined in saluting Mary Pat as a catalytic leader who combines her financial acumen, strategic thinking, and generous support to help vital organizations achieve major breakthroughs for our community.

Through a fireside chat with President & CEO, Tonia Wellons, Mary Pat shared how her parents instilled the importance of education early on.  She then reflect on how her local philanthropic journey began shortly after she and her husband, Darren, moved to Potomac, MD with their two children, Claire and Colin.  Wanting to get more involved in their new home, the entire family became active leaders in kid-led giving circles through The Community Foundation. Mary Pat joined The Community Foundation’s Montgomery County Advisory Board and its Grants Committee for Sharing Montgomery, the flagship grantmaking initiative which supports high-impact nonprofits working on the frontlines of the county’s most pressing challenges.  Between the giving circles and her leadership with The Community Foundation, Mary Pat quickly learned about the needs across our community and supported visionary organizations helping low-income residents pursue pathways out of poverty.

After reflecting on where the community’s needs matched their deepest passions, Mary Pat and Darren decided to focus on helping children and youth to pursue their dreams.  She was drawn to join the Board of Horizons Greater Washington which provides academic enrichment to empower low-income children to succeed in school and beyond.  She also joined the Montgomery College Foundation Board shortly after she and Darren created scholarships to help promising students pursue higher education.  All the while, she continued to take on more leadership roles with The Community Foundation including joining the Board of Trustees and chairing its Investment Committee. 

Professionally, Mary Pat is an institutional investment advisor and a Chartered Financial Analyst with over 30 years of experience advising foundations, endowments, corporate, and public pensions in the areas of investment strategy, investment policy development, manager selection, and performance monitoring.  She explained how, as a philanthropist, she loves leveraging her professional expertise to help her favorite nonprofits grow so they can make a deeper impact.

“Time, talent treasure—that combination for me, that nexus of all three is what has helped fuel what I do,” Mary Pat explained. 

Inspired by Mary Pat’s philanthropic leadership, Craig & Pat Ruppert and Cliff & Debbie White teamed up to offer a $50,000 challenge match for the Sharing Montgomery Endowment —an initiative that Mary Pat has long championed. Contributions to the Endowment enable The Community to “keep giving” to the community in perpetuity by offering a stream of more stable, game-changing investments to nonprofit organizations. Thanks to the Ruppert and White families, the impact of endowment gifts will be doubled (up to $50,000). (To help us make the match, you can make a gift online today or contact us for other giving options!)

On behalf of the thousands of lives touched by her leadership and generosity, we congratulate Mary Pat on being named the 2023 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year. We know her example will continue to inspire others to discover the powerful difference we each can make when we commit to making our community stronger for all.

Additional information about our 2023 Philanthropist of the Year is available the Bethesda Magazine Article and in our Celebration program booklet linked below.

Partnership to End Homelessness Continues to Invest in Systemic Change for Service Providers

In 2022, DC launched a new Medicaid benefit that can pay for permanent supportive housing (PSH) services for people experiencing homelessness – a major shift that allowed the city to leverage an estimated $20+ million in new, annual federal resources through Medicaid.

Since the launch, the Partnership has been working to help nonprofit providers take advantage of the opportunity and make the transition to billing the new Medicaid Benefit for permanent supportive housing (PSH) services for people experiencing homelessness.

Shortly after the change was announced, the Partnership provided an initial grant to provide technical assistance for twenty-six PSH providers through The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), a national leader in supportive housing. Providers were enrolled in CSH’s Supportive Housing Medicaid Academy, a six-week training series where they learned how to enroll clients, how to supervise, budget, and bill under the Medicaid model and how to comply with Medicaid regulations – filling a critical knowledge gap for many providers.

However, as the Medicaid Academy came to a close, it became clear that some providers needed more human resources, accounting, evaluation, and compliance capacity to meet Medicaid requirements.

The Partnership responded quickly to meet the needs of these providers. The Partnership provided $200,000 in additional Readiness Grants, administered by CSH, to seventeen of the PSH providers. Each readiness grant included a technology stipend of $5,000 for PSH providers who were implementing electronic medical record software to comply with Medicaid requirements. It also included support for increased overhead costs associated with the Medicaid transition, such as staff training, additional back office administrative support, and hiring and retention incentives.

The investments are already paying off. Since the launch of the new Medicaid Benefit in DC, providers have been reimbursed a total of $22 million for delivering housing supportive services to over 4,500 Medicaid beneficiaries.

“Partnership funding helped us get our infrastructure and initial staffing in place so we could hit the ground running and start serving people experiencing homelessness as soon as the city assigned them to our caseload,” Chapman Todd, Principal at Jaydot shared. Jaydot is one of DC’s newest PSH providers, and a Readiness Grant recipient.

“Thanks to their support, we are now serving 70 households.” 

“By reducing some of this financial burden, the Partnership has allowed us to focus on supporting and stabilizing our most vulnerable clients in housing,” added Brendan Haley, Director of Single Adult Programs at Everyone Home DC. “They helped to supplement the difference between our income and expenses while we transitioned our clients into housing – which helped us to grow and take on more clients.”

New PSH providers weren’t the only ones who benefited from the additional support. Long-time PSH providers also shared how the Partnership funding proved transformational to the way they operate.

“This grant has been critical to our ability to ramp up,” shared Corey Mendez, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Housing Up. “In addition to incurring hard costs for things like new billing software, we’ve incurred new costs given the need for increased staff time to manage the complex Medicaid billing process. Funding from the Partnership was essential to helping us make the transition to Medicaid.”

Cornelia Kent, Friendship Place’s Vice President of Administration and CFO, agreed. “The Partnership grant helped offset costs for our new Credible billing software system – a tool that allows us to bill both Medicaid and DC’s Department of Human Services accurately and efficiently, for around 400 participants each month.”

The Partnership is continuing to engage PSH providers and monitor the progress of the Medicaid implementation to identify additional systems investment opportunities. Ultimately, the Partnership hopes that these investments will not only continue to leverage millions of dollars in new federal resources but, most importantly, position providers to provide high-quality services and support to people experiencing homelessness in DC.

To learn more about earlier stages of this project, check out our previous blog posts Investing In the Future of Homeless Services: How Medicaid Is Driving Systemic Change In DC’s Fight to End Homelessness and  Investing in Nonprofit Capacity to Leverage Federal Funds to End Homelessness.

Food Justice DMV: Lifting the Immigrant Community One Delivery at a Time

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

For Food Justice DMV, a growing movement to feed 9,000 families across three jurisdictions, began with a young father from Central America.

Denise Woods met Oscar in 2019, while volunteering with Sanctuary DMV – a mutual aid organization that operates a hotline for migrants who need help getting to ICE court hearings.

For thousands of migrants and asylum seekers across the DMV, these regular check-ins with ICE officials determine whether or not they can continue to live in the United States. In these situations, something as trivial as missing a bus can be life-altering.

On one such occasion, Oscar shared with Woods how he struggled to find transportation to his ICE appointment in Baltimore – more than a two-hour drive from his home in Northern Virginia. Fearing that he would be deported if he missed his check-in, Oscar paid $150 to take a taxi to his appointment. Later that night, when his 8-year daughter asked why they had no food, Oscar explained that he had made a choice between feeding his family and staying in the country.

A year later, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country, Woods recognized the impact this would have on Oscar and dozens of other Sanctuary DMV families who were already living on the edge.

“My fellow volunteers and I realized how devastating this would be for the families we served,” Woods shared. “So overnight, we decided – with no training or background experience in food distribution – to change our accompaniment hotline to a food hotline.”

A young volunteer helps his mother at a distribution in Hyattsville, Maryland

The group called themselves Food Justice DMV and quickly transitioned to provide deliveries of food, diapers, and other essentials for anyone who called the hotline – initially about 200 migrant families.

As the economic impact of the pandemic worsened, word about the hotline spread quickly. Within weeks, Food Justice DMV had tripled its reach to serve more than 600 families.

Three years later, the group currently serves more than 9,000 families with weekly deliveries and distributions in Virginia on Tuesdays, Hyattsville, Maryland on Thursdays, and DC on Saturdays. They are one of the only programs in our region that continues to deliver food to families, despite their massive service area.

When asked why the need has continued to grow, Woods pointed to a number of factors – including the ongoing migrant bus crisis that has brought more than 10,000 asylum seekers to our region over the past year and a half – in addition to those who continue to struggle due to the economic impact of the pandemic.

“For decades, our asylum system has left thousands of families living on the edge,” Woods shared. “It can take up to seven years for an asylum seeker just to get a work permit. During that time frame, those that may qualify for assistance or resources often can’t access the help they need due to economic or language barriers.”

“People who are asylum seekers or migrants without documentation have always had to live in the shadows,” she added. “Doing whatever they can just to get by. Food Justice DMV is one of the few organizations stepping up to fill that gap.”

Recognizing the need to empower and uplift these communities, Food Justice DMV sought to meet people where they are at. They partnered with community leaders to conduct a needs assessment survey to identify what specific needs were. They established a Spanish Facebook page to facilitate information-sharing around community resources including free legal, medical, dental, and vaccination clinics and expanded their distribution services to include formula, diapers, and wipes.

Food Justice DMV also recognized early on, the importance and power of centering community voices in the work.

“Currently, we have 22 Black and Brown – Haitian, Nigerian, and Latino – community leaders who are partnering with us in this work,” Woods shared. “These are phenomenal leaders who are the backbone and the North star for the work that we do.”

“We recognize that our community will only get stronger when we as a society open the doors and let them lead – providing the resources, the support, and the empowerment they need to thrive.”

Food Justice DMV also established partnerships with organizations such as local churches, Capital Area Food Bank, DC Central Kitchen, Ayuda, and others to provide more resources to community leaders and the families they serve.

One of those partnerships was with The Community Foundation, who became the Fiscal Sponsor for Food Justice DMV in 2022. As a component fund at The Community Foundation, Food Justice DMV was able to receive funding from both individual and institutional donors resulting in over $200,000 raised during FY2022. The Community Foundation also provides critical financial and administrative infrastructure that allows Food Justice DMV’s staff and volunteers to devote more time and energy to serving their community.

“We are blown away by the level of support we receive from The Community Foundation,” Woods shared. “The service and expertise they provide is truly a life-saver for our organization.”

The partnership also reflects The Community Foundation’s commitment to invest in community-led organizations that empower Black and Brown communities. Community leaders of color make up half of Food Justice DMV’s leadership circle and play a key role in planning and orchestrating food distributions – ensuring that distributions are both equitable and culturally sensitive to community needs. They also play a key role in facilitating advocacy and activism to empower their fellow community members to push for systems change.

“There are so many incredible people we serve who can’t contribute their talents and full potential because our current system restricts them to focusing on their most basic needs,” Woods shared. “By enabling our communities to advocate for systems-change, we hope to one day achieve true Food Justice here in the DMV.”

The Community Foundation is proud to serve as a Fiscal Sponsor for Food Justice DMV. For more information, visit www.foodjusticedmv.org.