November 14, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, DC

Greater Washington Community Foundation Celebrates $26 Million Investment in Innovative DC Health Equity Partnerships

November 14, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, DC

The Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced $25.8 million in multiyear investments in five transformative projects focused on collaborative approaches to increasing economic mobility and wealth building.

The investments will support twelve nonprofit organizations working collaboratively over a multi-year period to advance health equity and create better outcomes for DC residents.

“Investing in bold, disruptive nonprofit innovations is a critical component of the Health Equity Fund,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Our hope is that these strategic investments will provide a blueprint for sustainable systems change across our region as we work with our partners to scale evidence-based strategies that build wealth for people and communities with the greatest economic and health disparities.”

“At CareFirst, we understand that health is shaped by factors outside of clinical settings. That's why we are dedicated to supporting local organizations that are working to reduce health disparities and promote equity," said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst. "The Health Equity Fund, in collaboration with the District, exemplifies our commitment to addressing the social drivers of health impacting individuals and communities in Washington, DC. With this latest round of grants, we aim to empower these organizations to continue their essential work, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of their socioeconomic status."

Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Health Equity Fund adopts an economic mobility frame to address the root causes of health disparities in the District. Its strategy is designed to achieve health equity for all DC residents by addressing the social and structural determinants of health that impact health outcomes including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, nutrition, environmental safety, medical care, culture and recreation, and more.

The $95 million Health Equity Fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents. Since 2022, the Fund has distributed more than $58.9 million with a focus on programs that increase economic mobility and wealth building, advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives, and support community-based strategies to prevent gun violence and increase public safety.

"This Health Equity Fund award represents an innovative advancement in our mission to foster economic mobility and wealth building. By channeling resources into projects that prioritize these goals, we are directly supporting Mayor Bowser's vision to empower District residents and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed,” said Karima Woods, Commissioner for the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

The projects were reviewed and selected by Community Foundation staff, external reviewers with subject matter expertise, and members of the Health Equity Committee. Two of the projects – Sustainable DC and the NorthStar Institute – received funding starting in July. The selected projects include:

The Pathway to Economic Mobility, Prosperity & FAmily Wellness

DC Action, Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN), and CityFirst Bank are partnering to implement a two-generation cash transfer program that will invest in the well-being and economic development of both parents and children in participating families.

The program will provide 100 low-to-moderate income families facing housing insecurity with unconditional monthly cash payments of $1,000 over two years. Each participating parent will also receive $1,000 towards an IRA, an emergency savings account, financial empowerment coaching and savings incentives to help them navigate the financial system and achieve their wealth-building goals.

In addition, each participating child will receive $1,000 towards a DC 529 College Savings Account and an additional $1,000 towards a ROTH IRA. Each family will also receive a $25,000 Children’s Trust Account that can be used to support their children’s future professional, educational, and personal goals.

Lift as we climb

City Year DC and LIFT DC have partnered to provide a robust set of services and supports to create an opportunity pathway for local parents and caregivers participating in AmeriCorps. The project will demonstrate how additional resources in the form of coaching, monetary assistance, and wraparound supports can better retain caregivers in AmeriCorps and support their successful transition out of AmeriCorps into living-wage careers. It will also provide valuable insights that LIFT and City Year will share with AmeriCorps, to make the case for additional investment in parents and caregivers, on a national scale.

Elevating Black Fatherhood: Brighter Futures for Children, Families, & Communities

United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA) and the Greater Washington Urban League have partnered on a 2-year demonstration project that will provide new comprehensive services for 150 DC fathers with child support arrears through the United Way NCA’s Financial Empowerment Center. Program participants will receive ongoing support and resources to regain their financial footing, catch up on child support arrears, build stronger familial bonds, and strengthen social and emotional wellbeing for themselves and their families. The project will also provide data to combat false narratives about the role of Black fathers and provide a blueprint for systemic support structures that can better serve Black men and their families.

Sustainable DC

Washington Area Community Investment Fund and the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development have partnered on a 3-year strategy to help BIPOC and women-owned small businesses grow and build resilience while combating climate change, by participating in the region’s burgeoning green economy. The project will help small businesses implement sustainable practices by offering 1,000 entrepreneurs with access to flexible capital through a mix of grants and loans, capacity building and technical assistance, and one-on-one business advising and group training. Entrepreneurs will participate in new accelerator programs tailored for green economy businesses and designed to connect businesses with sustainability-focused procurement opportunities with DC area anchor institutions.

NorthStar Institute

NorthStar Institute, Academy of Hope, and the LAYC Career Academy have partnered on a 3-year integrated program for 2,500 students who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and also employed (A.L.I.C.E.) to set them on a path to financial independence. The program will offer high-quality education and job training for adult learners to pursue industry credentials and career advancement, combined with courses on Financial Well-Being and Money Management. Participants will receive dedicated access to a wealth advisor and financial planner for expert advice and guidance on homeownership, entrepreneurship, savings, investments, and legacy planning. The program will provide additional cash assistance to ensure participants can achieve their goals of savings, homeownership, business startup or investment capital.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/health-equity-fund.

October 17, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom

Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces $10 Million in Grants to Foster Economic Mobility in DC

October 17, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom

The Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced $10 million in multiyear funding to support important projects that foster economic mobility in Washington, DC. The grants will support 40 DC-serving nonprofit organizations – the largest funding cohort supported by the fund since its launch in 2022.

Since 2022, the Fund has distributed more than $51.3 million with a focus on programs that increase economic mobility and wealth building, advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives, and support community-based strategies to prevent gun violence and increase public safety.

“We believe that achieving health equity requires more than improving individual health outcomes and expanding access to services,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We must disrupt the societal factors shaped by centuries of laws, public policies, and practices that have worked together to produce the disparate outcomes we see today.”

“Building an equitable and prosperous Washington, DC means tackling health inequities at their core and creating strong pathways to opportunity so that everyone has a fair shot at leading their healthiest lives,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Our city grows stronger when we partner with organizations that address both immediate needs and long-term growth, and together, we’re ensuring more of our residents have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive for generations to come.”

“The Health Equity Fund's investment in economic mobility and wealth-building initiatives reflects a strategic approach to advance not only health outcomes but also financial stability and opportunity for our residents. This work aligns with DISB’s mission to protect and empower our most vulnerable communities, ensuring they have access to the resources needed for long-term success,” said Karima Woods, Commissioner of the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB).

A committee composed of Community Foundation staff, community members, and representatives of local foundations and think tanks reviewed proposals from eligible applicants. The 40 selected grant recipients include diverse organizations and projects, including:

DC Public Education Fund - DCPS and DCPEF are proposing an “Earn While You Learn Model” at DCPS’s Opportunity Academies. This program will support DCPS students who choose to transition to a career after graduation by providing a combination of coaching, skill-building and certification, and direct-to-student cash payments.

birdSEED – birdSEED will give no-strings attached grants to first time BIPOC homebuyers in Washington, DC.

My Sister’s Place – Continued funding to provide 30 families with $500/month of guaranteed cash assistance through the RISE Trust program. The program also provides voluntary financial education and workforce development. Clients in the program are individuals and families recovering from domestic violence from underserved communities in DC.

SpeakOut, Inc - SpeakOut’s Project Amplify is a community-driven workforce development training program that meets the unmet needs of Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals in the workplace.

WomenPalante - Women Palante empowers 25 Latina mothers per cohort, aiming to launch at least 10 new local businesses per year.

“Our work at CareFirst has shown that forging intentional pathways to economic mobility is a key driver of improving the social drivers of health, and this fund intends to do just that, creating a thriving and more inclusive economy in the District,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. “We are committed to doing this important work in partnership with the community organizations that meet individuals where they are so we can connect them to the resources and care they deserve.”

This latest funding cohort included several returning partners from the inaugural grant round in 2022. Returning partners were asked to share impact from the previous round as part of their application process. A complete list of grant recipients is listed below.

About the Health Equity Fund

The Health Equity Fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. The fund is governed by a seven-member Health Equity Committee in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The seven-member committee includes Nnemdi Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Wendell L. Johns; Lori Kaplan; Juan M. Jara; Kimberly Harris; and Courtney R. Snowden.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

October 17, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

Meet Our Health Equity Nonprofit Partners

October 17, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

In October 2024, The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund announced $10 million in multiyear funding to support 40 important projects that foster economic mobility in Washington, DC.

The investment included organizations who are receiving funding from the Health Equity Fund for the first time, as well as a number of returning organizations who received funding through the inaugural Health Equity Fund grant round in September 2022. Returning partners were asked to share what they have learned and how our ongoing partnership supports the work they are doing in the community.

The Community Foundation is excited to support the work and mission of our nonprofit partners, as together we seek to build a more equitable and inclusive region.

New Nonprofit Partners

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Ward 7
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
To renew and inspire collective consciousness in community development through intentional engagement that builds sustainable power in Black communities
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Receiving funding from the Health Equity Fund is exciting because it will enable us to implement initiatives that directly address economic disparities in our communities. With this funding, we aim to develop targeted programs that promote cooperative businesses, improve cooperative business education, and foster community engagement, ultimately leading to better economic outcomes for underserved populations. We are committed to creating a sustainable impact that empowers individuals and enhances overall community economic well-being.
What excites you about the future for your community?
I am excited about the future of our community because of the strong sense of collaboration and resilience that is emerging among residents. As more people come together to advocate for positive change and address local challenges, we are seeing innovative solutions and programs take shape. With increased access to resources, education, and opportunities for engagement, I believe we can build a healthier, more equitable community where everyone has the chance to thrive and contribute to collective growth.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Columbia Heights, Adams-Morgan, Ward 1
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Our mission is to enhance the ability of families of color to define and pursue success while building community by connecting them with coaching, services and one another. Together, we amplify the experiences of DC area families and address systemic barriers to success.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
With this funding we hope to see 50% of our program families reach their self-defined financial and housing goals. We hope to see families who are striving to improve gain access to education opportunities that enable career advancement, home ownership, and overall economic mobility. We want to see families increase their social capital and be empowered to understand the systemic barriers impacting day to day success.
What excites you about the future for your community?
I am excited about the agency and autonomy of our community. As they go through our coaching, workshops, and family centered events their voices are the key component driving the organization forward to reach new goals.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation, Inc. provides transitional housing and critical services to families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in Washington, DC.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Our mission is to enable families to move from homelessness to independence by providing safe and affordable housing, comprehensive social services and financial support.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
With support from the Health Equity Fund, we are excited to strengthen our focus on economic mobility by expanding our efforts in supporting families experiencing homelessness in accessing deeply affordable housing. We will also eradicate financial predation within our community through clinical financial navigation and increasing access to legal representation.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited to create space to openly discuss and address financial need without judgement, we look to a future that is free from the cycle of economic immobility and increasing wealth becomes a norm.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
SJP serves clients throughout DC. The majority of our clients reside in Ward 8 (30%), followed by Ward 7 (16%), and clients experiencing homelessness (13%). We also currently represent or have represented clients living in Wards 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
SJP uses special education law to ensure that older, court-involved students with disabilities can access a quality education. SJP's special education attorneys work with their clients to protect and enforce special education rights. Through our individual representation and systemic advocacy programs, we aim to spark a system-wide overhaul, changing the educational landscape for older, court-involved students with special education needs who are involved in DC's juvenile and criminal legal systems.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
SJP is thrilled to receive this funding from the Health Equity Fund! We will use this funding to support hiring SJP’s first social worker, which will enable SJP to provide more holistic services. The social worker will work closely with our clients in the community to access stable health and mental healthcare to allow our clients to work on their overall wellbeing.
What excites you about the future for your community?
SJP’s target population, all of whom are students of color with disabilities, experience the compounded health and economic effects of lack of access to education and incarceration. As a result, this population of young people is grossly adversely affected by economic and health disparities. But increasing education and reducing incarceration, the goals of our work, both have positive effects on economic mobility and health outcomes. We are excited to see how adding a social worker to our team will further these goals and lead to better outcomes for the young people in our client community.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Ward 8
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Building Futures' mission is to empower individuals to embrace their authentic selves through inclusive and supportive yoga practices. It focuses on promoting physical and emotional well-being while fostering personal growth and resilience. The goal is to inspire a lifestyle rooted in self-care, mindfulness, and positive connections within the community.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We're excited about the funding for the youth printing coop as it will equip young people with vital skills in design and entrepreneurship. Participants will receive stipends for their hard work, empowering them and fostering a sense of ownership. This initiative will create a supportive community where they can collaborate, learn, and grow together, positively impacting their futures and our community as a whole.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited about the future of our community as we embrace the principles of the solidarity economy, which prioritizes collaboration and support over competition. By involving our kids in this movement and incorporating healing practices, we’re empowering them to create a work environment that values community welfare instead of capitalist ideals, fostering creativity and innovation. This holistic approach not only cultivates a sense of belonging and emotional wellness but also enables future generations to pursue meaningful work that contributes positively to society, free from the constraints of traditional capitalism.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
We serve folks at the intersection of multiply oppressed identities including but not limited to: Black, Queer, Trans, Gender Non Conforming, Femme, Single /Primary parent, Immigrant or of immigrant dissent, Indigenous, Disabled, Neurodivergent.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
RUMA Collective promotes the health and financial wellbeing of undeserved creatives through access to healthcare, financial tools, operations support and leadership development. We serve those that exist at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We are excited to algin with a funder who understands the complexity of health equity! We hope to use this funding to pioneer innovative programming for creatives and entrepreneurs of all kinds, that gets to the core of what it means to build a fully sustainable life.
What excites you about the future for your community?
RUMA see's a future where access to resources for diverse communities includes psychological and culturally competent care.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Ayuda serves low-income immigrants in the DC Metropolitan area.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Ayuda provides legal, social, and language services to help low-income immigrants in our neighborhoods access justice and transform their lives. For over 50 years, we have served more than 150,000 low-income immigrants throughout Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. Ayuda’s expert and dedicated professionals help immigrants from anywhere in the world navigate the immigration and justice systems and access the social safety net. This comprehensive and welcoming approach breaks down barriers, helps those in need, and makes our communities stronger!
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
With the Health Equity Fund, Ayuda will work with professional associations to award scholarships to interpreters who are low income, BIPOC and Deaf, and live in DC, covering costs associated with interpreter trainings, certification exams, and professional membership fees, attend conferences, and purchase equipment and software (laptop computers and accessories) needed for remote interpreting. Ayuda believes that increased access to professional training, certifications, and resources will catalyze economic mobility and improve health outcomes for low-income BIPOC and Deaf individuals. By reducing the financial barriers to entering the interpreting profession, Ayuda aims to create pathways out of poverty and precarity and toward economic self-sufficiency.
What excites you about the future for your community?
As this population achieves greater economic mobility, the ripple effect disrupts the cycle of poverty in their communities, ultimately promoting racial and health equity. Scholarship recipients who graduate from trainings or receive a passing score on their certification exams will gain skills, become ideal candidates for Ayuda’s specialized trainings and trainings from other organizations, receive offers to accept paid assignments from Ayuda’s interpreter banks as independent contractors, and be open to work for other interpreter agencies via the connections they make through the associations they join.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
DC KinCare Alliance supports DC-area relative caregivers (predominantly Black women) who step up to raise children in their extended families when the children’s parents cannot. Approximately 22,000 Black and Brown DC children live in kinship care arrangements, about 20% of all DC children of color. The majority live at or near the poverty level. Our work is guided by the needs of our kinship family constituents who live in all DC wards, but primarily Wards 5, 7, and 8.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
DC KinCare Alliance supports relative caregivers who raise DC’s most vulnerable and at-risk children in times of crisis when their parents are unable to care for them for reasons including death, incarceration, substance use or mental health disorders, child abuse, or deportation. We empower relatives to care for these children by providing legal representation, education, support groups, and advocacy.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
DC KinCare Alliance is excited to launch an innovative Community Organizing program that will elevate and amplify the voices of the historically marginalized community of DC’s kinship caregivers. Through this project, we will work alongside these constituents to reshape policy, social services, and programs that disproportionately limit their opportunities for economic mobility, health resources, and wealth-building.
What excites you about the future for your community?
By shifting advocacy and community organizing control so that our work is being led by those most affected by health and wealth disparities, we are excited to engage in truly antiracist work. This style of disruptive and innovative work is most effective for building horizontal communities, engaging multiple spheres of influence, and harnessing existing formal and informal networks. We look forward to empowering our community to have their voices heard and have a continuous say in the policies that affect them.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
At Social Justice School, we proudly serve scholar-activists from 5th to 8th grade across all eight wards of Washington, D.C. As an open-enrollment school, we welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds, reflecting diversity in race, socioeconomic status, and home languages. Our mission is to create an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all of our scholar-activists, wherever they call home in the city.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Our mission is to catalyze an integrated community of middle-school learners to be scholar-activists who are designers of a more just world. In order to design a more just world, our students require an education that embraces and lives out a set of core beliefs about what it means to be human. At Social Justice School, we believe that love, learning, and liberation are at the heart of this mission. Our Guaranteed Together pilot embodies these values by seeking to disrupt intergenerational poverty through direct cash payments, providing families with the financial stability they need to thrive. This program goes hand in hand with our educational approach, which is rooted in love—recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual, learning—fostering intellectual growth and critical thinking, and liberation—equipping our scholar-activists to challenge systemic inequities and create lasting change. Together, we are building a future where education and economic justice intersect to create a more equitable society for all.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We are excited to use this funding to create a transformative education model that integrates academic growth, student and family empowerment, and economic mobility. By embedding social justice principles and providing direct cash assistance, we aim to demonstrate that this approach not only boosts academic achievement but also promotes long-term economic mobility for our families.
What excites you about the future for your community?
What excites me most about the future for our community is the transformative potential of the Guaranteed, Together pilot at Social Justice School. This project allows us to fundamentally shift the educational model by acknowledging poverty as the root cause of the opportunity gap that has long plagued our system. I’m excited to build a model that links economic mobility with a liberatory education, empowering our families to not only survive but thrive. Most importantly, I’m inspired by the vision of families and children having the financial security to meet their basic needs, giving them the freedom to dream and design a more just world. This is the kind of systemic change that can uplift entire generations.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
birdSEED gives no-strings attached downpayment assistance grants to BIPOC first time homebuyers from the Washington DC area.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
birdSEED helps close the racial wealth gap by supporting historically disadvantaged communities achieve home ownership. We do this by giving down payment assistance grants.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
With funding from the Health Equity Fund we will give no-strings attached grants to BIPOC residents of Washington DC who purchase a home in Washington DC. This funding will reduce displacement of DC residents to the surrounding areas and allow recipients to establish a home of their own in the District.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
DC Public Education Fund supports DC Public Schools in its implementation of its boldest and most innovative ideas. DCPEF's work supports students in every ward of DC, and is excited to pilot its Earn & Learn program at DCPS's Opportunity Academies with the support of the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
In service of DC Public Schools (DCPS), DC Public Education Fund (DCPEF) fills a critical need in the community providing access to private funding to incubate innovative solutions to long-standing district needs. Since 2007, it has partnered with over 61 organizations to raise over $185 million to provide funding for key DCPS initiatives and catalyze positive change for over 50,000 students in DC, driving development in a number of areas, including: whole-child/anti-racist educational practices, a district-wide Reading Clinic, and a first-of-its-kind college persistence program for DCPS graduates. Ultimately, these initiatives are in service of ensuring DC’s young people are succeeding academically, feel loved, challenged, and prepared at school, and are set up for a lifetime of success.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We’re thrilled to receive this funding as it will fuel the launch of our Earn & Learn program at DCPS's Opportunity Academies. This support allows us to provide traditionally underserved students with direct financial resources while they work toward their high school diploma and career certifications. The funding is pivotal in helping students overcome barriers to education and employment, and it will set them on a path toward greater economic security and health equity.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We’re excited for the ripple effect this program will have on the community. By equipping students with industry-recognized credentials and supporting them with direct-to-student payments, we expect to see increased economic mobility and stability for these students and their families. This is about more than just jobs—it's about transforming lives, improving health outcomes, and empowering the next generation to thrive in high-quality careers, which will strengthen our entire city.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
DC Appleseed serves everyone who lives or works in the District of Columbia.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
For thirty years and through litigation, teamwork, and advocacy, DC Appleseed has made the District of Columbia a better place to live and work. Independent and non-partisan, DC Appleseed works to expand democracy, promote economic mobility, and advance racial equity. Our collaboration with pro bono attorneys, volunteer professionals, and engaged community members is the backbone of our work, allowing us to leverage a small staff to tackle complex and diverse projects that improve the District.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
DC Appleseed and its partners in the Long Term Care Coalition hope to address a growing crisis: the number of direct care workers in DC is decreasing and, at the same time, the need for services is rising. We aim to improve the quality of jobs in this sector by raising wages, improving benefits, and increasing training opportunities, which will, in turn, increase access to quality care for all consumers.
What excites you about the future for your community?
Discussions around healthcare increasingly focus on equity and eliminating disparities. Naming the problem is a strong first step to bringing the right stakeholders to the tables and addressing these inequities to ensure all members of our community thrive.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Speakout primarily serves the LGBTQIA+ community in Washington, DC, and Prince George's County, offering a range of services aimed at fostering inclusivity, visibility, and support. Our organization focuses on creating safe spaces for the community through a variety of initiatives. We host community events like the annual I AM Awards, which celebrates contributions from LGBTQIA+ individuals, along with workshops, and social gatherings that bring people together. Our cultural competency training helps local businesses and organizations better understand LGBTQ+ issues, ensuring their environments are inclusive and welcoming. In collaboration with local healthcare providers, Speakout offers health and wellness initiatives, including access to gender-affirming care, mental health support, and health screenings. We’re committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, especially for trans and non-binary individuals, ensuring they receive the resources and recognition they deserve. Speakout also emphasizes youth engagement, partnering with schools and community centers to create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth. These programs focus on education, empowerment, and personal development, giving young people the support they need to thrive. By serving both Washington, DC, and Prince George's County, Speakout bridges communities, ensuring that LGBTQIA+ individuals have the resources, support, and recognition they deserve, all while advocating for a more inclusive future.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Speakout's mission is to support and empower the LGBTQIA+ community in Washington, DC, and Prince George's County through advocacy, education, and inclusive community-building. We focus on creating safe spaces, improving access to healthcare and mental health services, and providing visibility and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals, with a special emphasis on youth and marginalized identities.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Receiving funding from the Health Equity Fund excites us because it will allow us to expand access to critical health services and financial empowerment resources for the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly in underserved areas. With this support, we hope to provide comprehensive gender-affirming care, mental health resources, health screenings, and financial literacy programs, ensuring both health and economic well-being for all. This funding will help us advocate for the holistic well-being and visibility of marginalized groups.
What excites you about the future for your community?
I am excited about the future for our community as we see increasing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals, which paves the way for meaningful change. Growing support from allies, improved policies, and expanded access to resources create a more inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. I believe that with continued advocacy and collaboration, we can empower our community to achieve greater health, economic stability, and overall well-being.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Mi Casa serves 1,600 residents in the District of Columbia annually. Of the residents we serve, 40% are at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), 35% are between 31-50% AMI, and 25% are between 51-80% AMI. Approximately 45% identify as Latino and other recent immigrants (including immigrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa) and 50% identify as Black. Despite many of these homes being multi-person, a majority of them are housing-burdened or extremely housing-burdened, meaning they spend more than one-third or one-half of their income on housing.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
For thirty years, Mi Casa has been dedicated to providing quality affordable housing to low- and moderate-income households in the Washington, D.C. area. Mi Casa is a Latino-led affordable housing nonprofit supporting D.C. residents primarily at extremely low-income levels, the majority of whom identify as immigrants, Latino, or Black. Propelled by the belief that housing is a basic human right, Mi Casa works to increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing, to remove the barriers to obtaining affordable housing, and to increase the economic security of households with low incomes.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Mi Casa works to foster economic mobility among historically marginalized communities and reduce barriers to affordable, supportive housing in the District of Columbia. To achieve these goals, we partner with residents to stave off the rapid gentrification taking place in historically Black, Latino, and immigrant-occupied neighborhoods. Through the support of the Health Equity Fund, Mi Casa will partner with residents to pilot Wealth Creation Funds through Limited Equity Cooperatives (LECs) as a tool for economic mobility and wealth creation.
What excites you about the future for your community?
Mi Casa envisions a world where all individuals and families have access to affordable and sustainable housing. Strong District neighborhoods occur when people are empowered to make decisions about their environment, community, and neighborhood. We believe that in facing the current challenges for affordable housing we will be able to steward a more just and equitable future for the diverse residents of DC’s vibrant neighborhoods.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Our work concentrates on Wards 1 in Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C. We have targeted zip codes 2009 and 20010, where our partner schools are.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
To empower Latina women, particularly mothers, by providing holistic, science-based trainings that enhance their emotional, physical, mental and financial health through business education, brain-based wellbeing, mindfulness, yoga, and community connection.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We are thrilled about this funding as it will allow us to scale our flagship program, Mompreneurs, which empowers Latina women, especially mothers, through comprehensive, science-based training that enhances their emotional, physical, mental, and financial well-being. With this support, we plan to expand our team, enhance our program offerings, and reach more women in need. Currently, we have 64 women on our waiting list, and while we registered 68 participants in our last cohort, we could only support 26. Our goal is to graduate 50 women within the grant term, demonstrating the significant demand for our program.
In summary, the success of this grant will be marked by expanded programming and strengthened operational capacity, leading to measurable improvements in the health and well-being of women and families. By focusing on economic mobility, wealth building, and health equity through a community-centered approach, Women Palante is dedicated to creating lasting change in the lives of Latina women in the Greater Washington, DC area. Our nonprofit serves as a beacon for female entrepreneurs with a unique holistic approach to business acumen and well-being. With the Greater Washington Community Foundation Health Equity Fund's support, we are committed to closing the gap in access to our Mompreneurs program, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and community wealth building.
What excites you about the future for your community?
The future for our community is incredibly promising as we focus on building strong, supportive networks. Entrepreneurship can often feel isolating, which can negatively impact mental health. Our approach not only provides essential resources to address these challenges but also fosters community support that boosts confidence and encourages shared opportunities. Feedback from participants highlights the power of this collective support, where they feel empowered to persevere and thrive together.
We recognize that loneliness and depression often stem from personal challenges, trauma, and financial stress, leaving many Latina women feeling isolated. By creating a safe and nurturing environment, we allow participants to share their experiences and provide mutual support, helping them overcome challenges and grow together.
Through our programs, women form meaningful relationships and a sense of sisterhood, knowing they are not alone. We provide access to resources like low-cost psychotherapy, lending services, and cultural events, helping women fully engage with the community and explore new opportunities. With this grant, we plan to host more community-led events, ensuring we remain connected and can continue to offer resources and support for their businesses and well-being. Together, this robust network empowers women to overcome challenges and thrive.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Our clients typically range from 16-25 years old and are (or were formerly) committed to the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). “Commitment” to DYRS means that a young person is a ward of the city, oftentimes until age 21, and that their placement in a facility, level of care, and supportive services may change throughout this time without court oversight. There are extreme racial disparities in the youth delinquency system nationwide, with Black and Latino/a children being committed and incarcerated at 4.7 times the rate compared to their white peers. It is even more extreme in the District of Columbia, where 100% of all committed children are children of color, and 93% are Black, while Black youth comprise only 51% of the DC youth population.
The majority of OCA’s clients hail from Wards 7 and 8, where residents experience DC’s highest rates of child poverty, school dropout, unemployment, and gun violence. Our other clients come from neighborhoods in Wards 1, 4, 5, and 6 that are experiencing similar crises. OCA’s clients have had extensive contact with the delinquency system and are often disconnected from school and other community supports; most have also been in DC’s child welfare system, and all are at high risk for entering the DC Jail or being harmed or killed by street violence. In our 19-year history, we have lost six of our young people to gun violence and one to a drug overdose. OCA works tirelessly to help our youth envision and actualize a healthy adulthood instead of accepting death or incarceration by age 25.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Open City Advocates provides youth-centered legal defense and holistic advocacy for young people after sentencing in the DC juvenile justice system and works for systemic improvements to the juvenile justice system, both locally and nationally, to better the lives of marginalized children and youth. OCA’s unique combination of long-term mentoring and comprehensive advocacy tackles our clients’ challenges head on and gives youth the tools they need to succeed.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Using COVID relief funds over the past three years, we have provided attendance-based scholarship stipends to our clients enrolled in school or workforce development programs, and we are thrilled that Health Equity Fund’s support will enable us to continue providing these scholarship stipends.
These scholarship stipends have been extremely effective in helping our clients exit the revolving door of poverty and the criminal justice system. Contrasted with the high re-arrest rate of 93% for children committed to DYRS, ours is a highly effective program: for our clients who have received a scholarship stipend for more than six months, only 15% have been re-arrested so far, and none have been re-convicted.
What excites you about the future for your community?
Our vision is a legal system that is equitable, fair, and compassionate towards children and youth. Through this project, by providing scholarship stipends and basic needs assistance to young people who are returning from incarceration, OCA will provide the connectivity to services and supports that our clients need to thrive throughout the reentry process. By providing a scholarship stipend if our clients enroll in school or a workforce development program, we are thereby creating a crucial bridge to education and job training. The logic here is simple: providing stipends for education and internship opportunities enables clients who face poverty and racial injustice to make decisions under less severe constraints. All of these critical supports directly assist our clients with reintegration, break the cycle of unemployment, help to avoid homelessness, reduce recidivism and tackle the extreme racial and economic disparities facing our clients and their families.

Returning Nonprofit Partners

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Our Culinary Job Training program primarily serves residents East of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8, but we have citywide reach with growing demand for our services in Wards 1, 4, 5, and 6.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Founded in 1989 as the nation's first “community kitchen,” DC Central Kitchen uses food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities. Our holistic model provides culinary training and employment opportunities to hundreds of people annually while serving thousands of healthy, locally sourced meals each day, addressing the immediate effects and root causes of hunger in our community.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
DC Central Kitchen is excited to link our proven workforce development model with holistic investments and partnerships that enhance our students’ health, wellbeing, and long-term outlook. Workforce development isn’t just training and credentials—it’s comprehensively identifying talents, reducing barriers, building confidence, and shifting power, and these resources will help us do just that.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
DC Central Kitchen has learned how to better address the depth and complexity of employment barriers that face our neighbors who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, racial inequities, and the criminal justice system. Through innovative and strategic partnerships as well as investments in building and engaging relatable mentors, we are fostering economic mobility along with robust community leadership.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited because the District of Columbia has everything it needs to succeed. Shifting how our community identifies, engages, celebrates, and aligns those remarkable assets will determine our ability to create a more inclusive economy where every Washingtonian has the assets, access, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Yachad works primarily in Wards 4, 5, 7 and 8.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Yachad is a nonprofit housing organization that brings together local communities to make affordable housing safe and healthy, creating equity and wealth for families while preserving and revitalizing neighborhoods. Yachad is a Hebrew word that means "together."
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
This funding is an opportunity to provide support to lower income families seeking to purchase their first home or are new homeowners. In the past, our work has supported homeowners who have lived in their homes for several years or even decades. With this funding, Yachad can ensure that homes are inspected well before purchase, provide home remediation assistance if needed, earlier, and see that families have sufficient home maintenance information to be knowledgeable homeowners.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Yachad's mantra continues to be "Where you live matters." We have seen this even more so over the past several years as an HEF grantee. Having sufficient resources to be able to efficiently and competently provide critical home repairs to our homeowners has been a game changer in terms of providing strong foundations for a family's continuing success at home and in the community. So many families have shared stories with us about not worrying about their roofs leaking or waking up with an asthma attack because repairs have been made. A family can go about their daily business because their homes are not making them sick. These same families have a chance to build wealth through the home equity that they are achieving by new investments in neighborhoods and in their own homes. Families can remain in their homes building wealth and achieving better health.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited because the importance of stable home ownership is being understood by more people at the city and federal levels. Investing in wealth building through home ownership is a central theme in our upcoming Presidential election. The more resources targeted at supporting successful home ownership for lower income families, the more racial and economic equity can be achieved in the near future.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
ONE DC serves communities of color, the working poor, immigrants, and other oppressed people in all 8 Wards of DC.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
At ONE DC, our mission is to exercise political strength to create and preserve racial and economic equity in Shaw and the District. We seek to create a community in DC that is equitable for all.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
ONE DC is excited because the funding provides much needed support, creates opportunities for long term DC residents and focuses on the population the Health Equity Fund is designed to support and sustains. It is a big relief and encouragement to have such solid funding. This is very exciting and makes the Health Workers Collective viable.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
ONE DC learned that worker cooperatives need a lot of training support and economic support. We impacted over 200 DC residents through workshops, community events, and cooperative education training. Skills development training in leading, managing, and incorporating worker cooperatives is key to the sustainability of these community ventures.
What excites you about the future for your community?
ONE DC continues to recruit more volunteers and members to join our work. We've worked to provide a space within our community where people can strengthen their education on topics that affect them and work alongside one another to enact change. This is something that we've done since our inception and something we will do for as long as ONE DC is operating. ONE DC is excited to continue our work and community outreach in hopes of creating real, impactful change in Washington, DC.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
CCE’s work ultimately impacts all D.C. residents whether they are involved in the criminal justice system, called for jury service, or need access to justice through probate, rent assistance, or many other justice system services and mechanisms. However, we know that throughout D.C.’s legal system, Black people are disproportionately impacted, especially residents of Wards 5, 7 and 8. While Black people make up 41.4% of D.C.’s population, they make up 86% of the people arrested, 87% of the people jailed, and 90% of the people in prison. People incarcerated at the D.C. Jail are overwhelmingly from just a few neighborhoods in Wards 5, 7, and 8, and those neighborhoods have the greatest number of residents who have previously been incarcerated. One in seven adults in the District has a publicly available criminal record and it is estimated that only 30 to 50% of these individuals are able to find and maintain employment.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
The Council for Court Excellence (CCE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that envisions a justice system in the District that equitably serves its people. CCE identifies and proposes solutions by collaborating with diverse stakeholders to conduct research, advance policy, educate the public, and increase civic engagement.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We’re excited to receive HEF funding because it will allow CCE’s Second Chance Hiring Alliance to expand upon our efforts to reduce barriers to employment for returning citizens and those with criminal records (collectively, “justice impacted”) in our area. Our overarching goals are to: educate D.C. employers on the importance and benefits of second chance hiring, encourage them to hire justice impacted people, and facilitate effective collaboration between our coalition of D.C.-area employers, government agencies, community-based organizations, workforce development programs, and job readiness programs. With this HEF funding, we will recruit new business members to join the Alliance and commit to second chance hiring; create and disseminate educational resources for employers on the benefits, incentives, and legal protections offered in the District for second chance employers; and create more awareness and “positive peer pressure” on businesses to encourage them to increase their second chance hiring efforts.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Over the last two years, we’ve seen significant changes in how the District’s leaders and residents think and talk about community safety, prosecutions, and incarceration. Without a doubt, it is important to respect peoples’ concerns about crime and how it has impacted communities. At the same time, we’ve learned that it is important to lead with accurate information and data when addressing policies surrounding the criminal legal system and avoid demonizing people whose involvement in crime is often a product of health and economic inequities and gaps. Numerically, we have, unfortunately, seen an increase in the reliance on incarceration during the past two years in the District, and have not seen a measurable rise in returning citizen employment yet – with only 54% of the “employable” individuals on supervised release having a job in 2023. We have learned, therefore, that there is much work to do and that it is critical to bring together unlikely partnerships, actively myth-bust stereotypes about returning citizens, and to stay the course, even when there are short-term blips in public sentiment around the criminal justice system and justice-involved people. On a program implementation level, we learned that “cold” outreach to businesses was less effective than making contact through/via Alliance members and partners. In developing this proposal, we have reflected that by emphasizing outreach through and with partner organizations like the Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce and the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited to support a future where individuals with criminal records in D.C. can have ample opportunities to find a stable, rewarding job and improve their economic well-being. As we begin to see growing employer, policymaker, and public support for “second chances,” we are excited about a future that is more inclusive and where more partners work together to see returning citizens and others with criminal records thrive.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
all 8 wards in DC, the City of Alexandria, VA
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria (RTDCA) has been a vital force in community service for nearly 40 years. Our foundation lies in the belief that every individual deserves a safe and healthy home environment. Our focus extends to serving vulnerable populations, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and families with children, by providing them with free safety- and health-related home repairs and upgrades. Recognizing that poor housing conditions disproportionately affect these groups, our mission is grounded in the understanding that addressing housing challenges can have a profound impact on one’s health, well-being, and economic stability.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Our research and experience support the strong connection between health and safety hazards in the home and the health, safety, and well-being of the home’s residents, especially related to asthma and other breathing issues, falls in the home, mental health and stress, and financial stress. Health Equity funds will allow us to improve living conditions, free of charge, for our low-income clients, allowing them to stay in their homes, and spend their limited incomes on food, transportation, medical and wellness needs.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Based upon interviews with clients during a recent Client Impact Study, short-term post-intervention outcomes showed that 99% of homeowners were satisfied with living in their homes, 92% saved on costs that would have created financial burdens, and 68% had decreased energy bills -- all improving their financial stability and economic mobility. Also, our recent Social Return on Investment study of our services showed that for every $1 invested in home repairs and modifications by RTDCA, there is a projected social return of $4.38. This value is being realized through increased economic security and independence, increased physical health and safety, improved mental health, and increased community connection of the clients we serve
What excites you about the future for your community?
What is most exciting is that these funds will enable us to help long-term residents remain in their homes, preserving their place in the communities they've been part of for decades!

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
We provide training, leadership development, and technical assistance (legal, bookkeeping) for worker-owned cooperatives and offer non-extractive lending through the DC Solidarity Economy Loan Fund. We have an explicitly multiracial organizing approach that includes both Black and brown migrant communities alongside Native Black Washingtonians, and we are active in Wards 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Beloved Community Incubator (BCI) is a solidarity economy movement organization, incubator, lender, and worker self-directed non-profit in Washington, DC. BCI focuses on building a regional solidarity economy that centers people, especially poor and working-class workers and people of color, over profit. We help create family sustaining jobs through worker-ownership and create market access for local BIPOC-owned businesses to close the racial wealth gap.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
This funding will help us to intentionally develop and grow the DC-area regional solidarity economy and the power of poor and working class workers of color throughout the region. We will focus on Black and migrant led cooperatives, creating an outreach pipeline and capacity building program and support strategic industries – such as home health care. We will continue to provide technical assistance and financing to preserve dozens of jobs in Washington, DC by facilitating the sale of businesses to current employees, and we will extend the scope of our regional listening to include focus groups with constituents in Wards 1, 5, 7, and 8 as well as EOR residents pushed into PG County. This regional listening will shape a 3-5 year agenda for expanding worker-ownership in the region.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
A main barrier communities of color face in starting and expanding businesses is a lack of access to capital. BCI built a curriculum that accompanies workers to build out their business model, create decision making structures, and understand financial models. We have learned over and over that a significant level of accompaniment and support is needed for groups of workers, especially those with employment, literacy, and tech barriers, to move from idea to operation. Currently in our loan pipeline through the DC Solidarity Economy Loan Fund, we have five groups with potential loans totaling $250,000-$500,000. Every major development leap that BCI has made as an organization began with listening. To shape our work over the next 3-5 years, we decided to begin a participatory action research campaign this summer to 500 conversations to learn what workers dream for their workplaces, as well as identify strategic opportunities. We are continuing this listening campaign with a second phase in the Spring. Already we are hearing paid sick days, workers compensation, and health savings funds are pressing issues for our members. We will continue to explore the direction of a collective economic project for BCI Network members to build together and we will continue to listen for strategic opportunities to catalyze growth and connection within the DC-area regional solidarity economy.
What excites you about the future for your community?
Building a regional network coop by coop and weaving together those inherently “disruptive” businesses is an innovative and creative strategy to provide poor and working class BIPOC community members a powerful alternative to minimum wage labor and unreliable hours under the system of racialized capitalism. Business as usual means extraction from workers and our communities, where worker-ownership builds community wealth, better jobs, and higher wages. Currently we are working with a group of Ethiopian and Eritrean parents with special needs children who want to start an autism homecare business; 51st News the first worker-led newsroom in DC; a Black-owned yoga cooperative; and Rise Up Fitness, a Black-owned cooperative gym. Each of these businesses would be the first cooperative of its kind in our region – a future not possible without the deep accompaniment and training our organization provides.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Wards 7 and Ward 8
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
CYEP promotes equity for underserved people through social skill development and economic mobility. The outcomes of FIT are two-fold, the results of the program include engaged, responsible fathers that can help financially support their families and children, in addition to guidance and support for economic mobility through skill building and corporate connection.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
The funding supports the organizational infrastructure critical to CYEP’s growth and sustainability. The funds will support the CFO position to ensure fiscal accountability, maintain a budgeting process, and oversee the audit process. In addition, the funds will support the Senior Staff Director which will provide supervision, support training for management staff. Investments in our executive team will pay dividends both now and in the future.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Over the past two years CYEP has learned that collaboration with community networks are key to programmatic success. The community and corporate networks have created a more comprehensive and complete services for the families we serve. In addition, the partnerships are yielding more programmatic funding as partners observe the positive outcomes of services.
What excites you about the future for your community?
The health equity fund is allowing for organizations to be innovative in how they serve the community. Our clients and community members are receiving both social skill development and barriers to economic mobility are being eliminated.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
AsylumWorks serves newcomers regardless of origin, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, and/or English ability in all DC neighborhoods/zip codes. With other grant funding, we also serve clients in Northern Virginia as well as Montgomery County and Prince George's County, Maryland. AsylumWorks serves people fleeing persecution who generally fall into the following categories: 1) Asylum seekers: Individuals seeking protection due to persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group; 2) Refugees and Asylees: Individuals who have been granted permanent legal protection offering a pathway to U.S. citizenship; and 3) Humanitarian Parolees: Individuals who have been granted temporary legal protection. This includes Afghan Allies and Ukrainian nationals.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Our mission is to empower asylum seekers and other people seeking safety in the U.S. AsylumWorks provides critical services to underserved newcomers to reduce health disparities and increase access to justice.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
AsylumWorks sees the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and particularly the Health Equity Fund, as a thought leader and community leader for those serving the District’s most vulnerable populations. During the last year, we have strengthened our understanding of how health equity and justice are dependent on one another and improved how we frame and approach our work as a result. As we narrow our scope on the coming grant to bolster our E&E program specifically, we hope to increase our integration into the community network as we work towards shared objectives for increasing opportunities for economic mobility. We are invigorated to contribute to AIR, HEF, and other grantee outcomes on how to effectively serve our unique and deserving population.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
AsylumWorks has learned a great deal in the last two years, but two lessons stand out. First, AsylumWorks should strengthen relationships with other grantees. Given that our service population is very specific in the BIPOC community, it can be challenging to prioritize building relationships with other organizations when they don’t have an immediately evident service overlap. However, our work with the HEF Evaluator revealed multiple ways to engage with organizations that do not specifically target our clientele but still serve them. Moving forward, we see opportunities to build a stronger network with these organizations to enhance community support for our clients. Thus, community networking is key to one of our objectives in our Round 5 program.
Second is that our service model can and should evolve as the needs of our clients do. Our program structure has changed in several ways since our initial award in 2022. We updated our approach to better serve our clients based on direct feedback. For example, we overhauled our E&E program in 2023 as a result of direct client feedback and thus reported lower service numbers during that time. In order to promote economic mobility, and not just economic stability, E&E staff developed original content specifically tailored to newcomers and English or computer-skill-limited clients, and developed several different service tracks that address the varied needs of newcomers in different stages of the immigration legal process. Now that our new program structure is in place, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from clients that they are more able to access opportunities they want and that pay well, rather than just simply securing any job opportunity they can get. We are ready to expand these services, as seen by the new initiatives proposed that will, in part, be funded by this grant.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We feel we’re starting to see a shift in the immigrant-serving community away from just resettlement and more towards community integration, which is very exciting. AsylumWorks has always employed a model of care that recognizes that one kind of service alone is never enough; legal services alone or a survival job alone are not enough to truly empower newcomers to build lives with dignity where they can meet all their needs. To fully understand the needs of our clients, we employ newcomers themselves and involve them in all stages of program development and implementation. In 2023, our fellowship program was recognized by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement as a national best practice, and a similar activity is now a core competency in ORR’s newest national grant.
Since these milestones, we are thrilled to have been tapped to provide trainings to help other organizations adopt the program model. The hope for the fellowship program and our other community-led initiatives is that they would only temporarily be unique to us; our vision is a world where all newcomer-serving organizations, and even those who aren’t specific to newcomers, will move towards program models that are led by the communities they serve. We are so excited to contribute leadership to this shift and continue innovating new ideas that help immigrants and other BIPOC not just survive, but thrive.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Women experiencing homelessness in Wards 7 and 8
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Calvary Women’s Services (Calvary) empowers women experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC, to transform their lives through housing, health, education, and employment programs. Each year, of the women who complete our programs, an average of 70% of women end their homelessness or maintain permanent housing.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Calvary is excited to receive funding that will support our continued expansion, focused on economic empowerment for women. This will include tripling the size of our rental assistance program and piloting a guaranteed income program for women who are experiencing homelessness as a result of domestic violence.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
With the support of the Health Equity Fund, Calvary prioritized the expansion of our health services that work alongside economic resources like employment access and education support. We were able to serve more than 350 over the past two years, and 75% of women who completed our programs had secured income and/or employment.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited about the way that tools like guaranteed income can support generational changes and empower women to build wealth despite the systemic barriers they are facing.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
MSP serves approximately 500 survivors of domestic violence annually, roughly 40% women and 60% children. MSP primarily serves women and children of color experiencing low-income, with about 85% of our clients identifying as African American and 12% as Latinx. Our clients include many immigrants; we serve clients regardless of immigration status. Approximately 80% of clients live below the poverty line, earning less than $25,000 annually. Most adult clients are women in their early to mid-20s. Safe housing, financial security, and pathways to economic stability are cited as their most pressing needs. We accept clients from all zip codes of DC, though the majority come from Ward 7 (25%) , Ward 8 (36%), and Ward 5 (24%).
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
My Sister’s Place (MSP) shelters, supports and empowers survivors of domestic violence and their children, while providing leadership and education to build a supportive community. As one of DC’s oldest domestic violence shelters, MSP was founded in 1979 and has been serving survivors of domestic violence in DC for 45 years. MSP is unique in offering a full continuum of care to empower survivors in gaining long-term self-sufficiency, serving families from the first days of deciding to flee their abusive homes, to long after they have established their own homes. Our programs include emergency shelter, transitional housing, workforce development, cash assistance, children's programming, and aftercare.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We are excited to be able to continue a deeply impactful program that directly addresses financial abuse while building economic security for survivors of domestic violence. Lack of affordable safe housing and financial instability are the main reasons survivors of domestic violence return to their abusers, with 98% of domestic violence survivors citing financial abuse, according to the WHO. RISE Trust directly addresses both by supporting our clients in transitional housing with $500/month for two years. We outline impact numbers below, but are most excited to see the direct positive impact on survivors, as reflected in our client’s own words below:

“The RISE Trust program has made me feel the safest and most comfortable I have felt in about 8 years. My experience with this program has helped me or should I say gave me the support I need to be able to take care of myself and my son! With the support I receive I am able to make healthier decisions for a more positive and successful life.

Over a two-year period, MSP hopes to accomplish:
- 30 families reporting improved health and wellbeing as represented by reporting increased access to healthcare, childcare, employment, and an overall reduction in stress.
- 30 families gaining proficiency in personal finances including developing and implementing monthly budgets, improved credit scores, and building savings.
- 30 families improving their economic stability as represented by increased income, increased employment or career readiness, and a path to permanent stable housing.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
In the one-year survey compared to the initial survey of our RISE Trust program, the percentage of clients who reported that they could not access or afford healthcare dropped from 31% to 6%. Similarly, the percentage of clients who said they could not access or afford childcare dropped by 25%. Clients were also twice as likely to report that they had a trusted person to ask for advice on their finances. The majority of funds were used on basic needs (19%), utilities and bills (24%), and transportation (13%).
Qualitative impact has also been measured in case management meetings and notes. Some clients made investments in their transportation in the form of car repairs, paying for tickets, insurance, and even making advance payments and paying off their vehicles. Other clients have been able to make payments towards their credit card debt, or debt with the IRS. Still others have been able to provide extra-curricular activities or thoroughly celebrate momentous occasions for their children, impacting family engagement, moral and mental health. RISE Trust payments have also been beneficial to clients who are students but not currently employed. Lastly, some have saved a portion of their funds in preparation for transitioning out of RISE, when they will have to make their own rental payments. Overall, participants reported an overall sense of relief and reduction in stress.
One of the biggest lessons we learned through the first 18 months of the project was the value of financial education for clients who opted to participate, and the need to make those services as accessible as possible. MSP added a partnership with CFLS to help us expand Financial Literacy education options for clients, in addition to our partnership with CAAB. Moreover, we began to build out an in-house program, and recently hired our own Financial Education Specialist so that we can provide financial literacy in-house and to more clients. The position will partner closely with our current Workforce Development Manager, who launched our Workforce Development program in November 2023. We have seen a drastic increase in client participation around career readiness, employment training, and education goals through having a staff member in-house to follow-up with clients, provide 1:1 case management, and have continuity of care around workforce development. We are optimistic for a similar increase in engagement with an in-house Financial Education Specialist.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited to see Guaranteed Income pilots becoming more common, and for the precedent HEF is setting by continuing to fund programs like RISE Trust. Continued support sends a signal to other funders and the public that these programs are worth investing in. For domestic violence survivors in particular, economic security is essential to escaping abuse, and we are hopeful that with the example set by RISE Trust and other programs, cash assistance programs will become more common as wrap-around services to support survivors.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
BIPOC communities engaged in street economies, trans/NB folks, PWUD, and sex workers in all wards of Washington DC
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
HIPS promotes the health, rights, and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by sexual exchange and/or drug use due to choice, coercion, or circumstance. HIPS provides compassionate harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement that is respectful, non-judgmental, and affirms and honors individual power and agency.
We believe that those engaged in sex work, sex trade, and drug use should be able to live healthy, self-determined, and self-sufficient lives free from stigma, violence, criminalization or oppression. We will achieve this through engaging sex workers, drug users and our communities in challenging structural barriers to health, safety, and prosperity.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Through support from the Health Equity Fund, HIPS will implement and evaluate radical human resources and community practices that support leadership development and equitable employment practices for LGBTQ+ BIPOC individuals with lived experience in street economies. Through our leadership learning collaborative, we will engage with other like minded organizations to build the capacity for a community of practice implementing and evaluating these models. Through this work, we will add support to our own staff (87% BIPOC individuals with lived street economy experience), and with our partner organization staff and other community members for equitable and anti-racist workforce development experiences which support the economic and career mobility of those most impacted by health and racial disparities.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Our work prior to this project centered around Building Internal and External Equity for People in Street Economies. Part of this work was exploring ideas and concepts we have not had the capacity to bring to fruition. Our main lesson learned is that this work takes time, and we need to be ok with that. The concept of rushing and aiming for perfection is based in white supremacy, the very thing our project wanted to disrupt. This challenge drastically changed our project's timeline, however, it allowed us to be very thoughtful and thorough in getting in depth input and feedback from the target population, BIPOC transgender women. We used that input and feedback alongside our organizational data and staff experiences and developed a community led Trans Wellness Incubator project creating paths for economic mobility for 35 trans women of color and others in street economies.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are excited for the opportunities for economic mobility, true leadership development, and truly supporting and preparing the next BIPOC generation of leaders. This funding gives HIPS and our community partners the opportunity to carve out space to focus on creating radical models of workforce development, equitable compensation, and anti-racists HR practices that finally disrupt the status quo models that are continuity creating barriers for individual and organizational growth.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
Free Minds serves more than 1,500 people who were charged and incarcerated as adults while they were under the age of 18. Our members are from and live in all DC zip codes. Free Minds members have endured systemic racism, over-policed and disinvested DC neighborhoods with inequitable health and education systems, a shortage of affordable and quality housing, and food insecurity.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop uses the transformative power of the literary arts to build community among those directly impacted by the criminal legal system and elevate their stories to spark system change. We foster personal development for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults through the literary arts, workforce development, trauma healing, peacebuilding, and member-led advocacy.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We are most excited to use funding from the Health Equity Fund to build power and accelerate our work closing the enormous racial wealth gap for those that have been formerly incarcerated. This funding expands our services that include job placements, professional training, health care, credit building, peer support, and referrals for housing, legal support, and career opportunities that increase economic advancement. By supporting our programming that strengthens the leadership and increases the economic mobility of formerly incarcerated individuals, this funding furthers our goal of achieving transformative justice.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Engaging with community partners in the Health Equity Fund’s network over the past two years, we have seen that the most powerful use of collaboration and community power is coming together to dismantle the systems that deny health equity and economic mobility to BIPOC communities. Hearing how other Health Equity Fund grantees provide direct services simultaneously with advocacy and community organizing has enhanced our work in both areas. By building strong community partnerships, we have been able to connect our members with a broad network of opportunities that have led to strong outcomes: In 2023, 97% of formerly incarcerated Free Minds members were employed or enrolled in an educational program, and 98% did not return to the criminal legal system. Meanwhile, 140 members lead systems change by participating in coalitions and campaigns across DC.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We are most excited to widen our strong network of formerly incarcerated leaders informing and leading advocacy campaigns to disrupt the system of mass incarceration and work towards a society where all can thrive. Free Minds members are the community stakeholders that will achieve our organization’s vision of a DC where BIPOC communities have abundant access to resources for economic advancement, healing, growth, creative expression, love, and connection. Through the advocacy of Free Minds leaders, we are excited to reach a future where mass incarceration no longer exists.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
DC Affordable Law Firm serves clients living across all eight of our city's Wards. Across our practice areas, we have the highest volume of clients residing in 20019, 20020, 20001, and 20011, in descending order, with our most significant client impacts in Wards 1, 5, 7, and 8.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
DC Affordable Law Firm delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation. Our innovative programming expands access to justice by empowering community members with unmet legal needs while also launching the careers of public interest lawyers committed to accessible justice. Through our dignified no-cost and low-cost representation options, DCALF bridges the gap in legal services, changes DC’s legal landscape, and makes accessible justice a reality.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
This significant funding from the Health Equity Fund is transformative for DC Affordable Law Firm and is an investment -- not just in DCALF's unique mission and model -- but in DC's hardworking ALICE households who have long comprised the "forgotten middle" in legal services. With the support of the Health Equity Fund and the free legal services we now render, families can keep and grow resources to help meet other life demands, like child care and student loans, while also pursuing individual objectives in a way that promotes longevity and overall well-being, and achieve legal outcomes that help families build sustainable wealth. Over the next two years, DCALF plans to continue the work of our first two years partnership with the Health Equity Fund, engage in even more authentic community engagement and partnership establishment, and expand and deepen our one-of-a-kind probate and estate administration program to reach more vulnerable DC residents and reduce the legal barriers and burdens they face in trying to retain and sustain their hard-earned assets.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Over the past two years, we have learned much about the incredible power of partnerships to expand our impact, the immense value of adding more tenured attorneys and staff to our team thanks to the Health Equity Fund, and the incredible freedom and empowerment that comes from serving our modest- and lower-income clients for free. We have come to holistically appreciate the ways in which the free legal services we deliver and the impacts we can achieve not only positively affect our individual clients, but can change the economic stratus and financial trajectory of subsequent generations and, some instances, shape the composition of communities and determine who can afford to remain as residents and homeowners within DC. In recent years, we have experienced growth in all of our areas of practice, ranging from 236% to 770% in terms of clients served and cases handled, a prime marker of our expanded community impact made possible thanks to this partnership with the Health Equity Fund and the financial support of others who followed suit thanks to the GWCF's pioneering approach and significant investment in DCALF and our deserving clients.
Partnership with the Health Equity Fund has enabled us to think big and given us the bandwidth to launch new, transformative programs to fill critical access to justice gaps in our community, thus fostering broader economic justice, dismantling more barriers, and using the legal services to fortify long-term economic resilience and justice for the Black, Latino, and immigrant District residents we primarily serve. Though we have experienced tremendous growth across all practice areas, the most seismic and pronounced impact has been through DCALF's leadership in the city's heirs' property, probate, and estate planning offerings for modest- and lower-income residents, and our efforts to think outside the box and bring services further upstream to combat the loss of intergenerational homes and wealth. In Fall 2023, we started tracking the value of intergenerational homes saved through our heirs’ property legal representation; the value of these homes has exceeded $15,000,000 in the first seven months we have been tracking this data, which is a testament to the economic security and prosperity we are helping families to safeguard and secure. As we look to the future, we are thrilled to spend the next two years continuing our expanded impact and finding new ways to measure the value and broader economic impact our services bring to our clients, their families, and subsequent generations.
What excites you about the future for your community?
The future is bright, and there is limitless potential to keep breaking down barriers so individuals and families can live their fullest lives. The challenges families experience on a daily basis are real, yet the louder we can beat the drum and bring a central focus to the opportunities that exist to do things differently and better, the better off we will all be. Within the very small ecosystem of DC Affordable Law Firm, we have keenly experienced how much can be gained by being unafraid to reinvent systems and try new things -- and we know this spirit of innovation that fuels the approach of our peer Health Equity Fund grantee organizations can make a huge community impact and collective difference as we lean into new possibilities within our spheres of influence.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
DC residents within 400% of federal poverty guidelines
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Drawing from the Jewish teachings of “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue,” Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes dealing with the often devastating consequences of abusive debt collection practices and other consumer related issues.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
We are excited to advance economic mobility for DC’s young adults. We will provide financial empowerment training and practice opportunities—including 16 hours of class sessions, $100 in seed capital, and investment account costs for all participants for four years—to strengthen participants’ financial futures. Simultaneously, the project addresses underlying systemic and legal issues that contribute to DC's racial wealth gap by impeding economic mobility in the first place.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
We have learned that 80% of determinants of health are non-clinical. Therefore, by promoting economic health, our work also directly advances the Fund’s ultimate purpose of health equity. One particular highlight is that, thanks to our advocacy efforts, the DC government invested public dollars to fund the cancellation of about $42 million of medical debt for more than 62,000 District of Columbia residents. This investment has made DC the first state-level government to invest in the large-scale purchase and cancellation of medical debt. Over 80 percent of residents benefiting from the cancellation live in zip codes that are majority Black or community members of color.
What excites you about the future for your community?
We look forward to helping residents to live as full economic citizens by keeping money in the household or earning more income—leading, in turn, to better health outcomes as a result of economic stability.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
We serve teen parents pursuing college degrees and their families across the DC region, including all eight wards of DC as well as Northern Virginia and Maryland.
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
To ensure all student parents have the opportunities to succeed, experience economic mobility, and build wealth, Generation Hope engages education and policy partners to drive systemic change and provides direct support to teen parents in college as well as their children through holistic, two-generation programming.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Funding from the Health Equity Fund ensures that we can support 175 Scholars, the largest class of teen parents we have served in our history, wrapping supports including mentorship and mental health support around them and their families as they walk the path to the graduation stage. Through this support, young student parents who experience significant barriers to economic mobility will have the opportunity to achieve their college degrees and obtain family-sustaining careers.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
The last few years have taught us that families on the fringes are the hardest hit in a global crisis and an economic downturn. At the same time, we learned that coming together in big and bold ways that challenge the status quo and shed light on injustices helps parents and their children not just survive but thrive.
Over the last two years, Generation Hope supported 313 teen parents and their families across the DC region. Overall, 84% of Scholars are persisting in their studies and moving forward toward graduation and we celebrated 55 degrees earned over the last two years. Across fourteen years of service, 91% of Generation Hope Scholar Alumni living in the DC region report being employed full time and/or enrolled in a graduate studies program within 6 months of graduating and 92% of Alumni report an income above the federal poverty line 6 months after graduation.
What excites you about the future for your community?
Fewer than 2% of teen mothers earn a college degree before age 30, and more than half of all parenting college students leave school without a degree. Generation Hope is committed to changing these statistics one family and one system at a time. Our Scholars are graduating at a rate on par with all college students regardless of parenting status and going on to obtain family-sustaining careers, build wealth, and make powerful impacts in their fields as well as using their voices and stories to drive policies that accelerate the economic and social mobility of parenting college students and their families nationwide.

Which Communities/Neighborhoods do you serve?
District Wide
In 2-3 sentences, please briefly describe the mission of your organization.
Rising for Justice (RFJ) leverages the collective forces of students and experienced advocates to achieve justice for all. RFJ believes that everyone deserves justice – today, tomorrow, and always – while also recognizing that the justice system is overburdened, underfunded, and inaccessible to many.
We believe that together, we can do better.
To prevent injustices today, we represent individuals who are in grave legal jeopardy.
To build a better tomorrow, we teach law students to be life-long advocates for justice.
To ensure justice always, we innovate sustainable solutions to problems of justice and equity.
Since its founding, RFJ has protected the rights of more than 250,000 District of Columbia residents and trained almost 4,000 social justice advocates.
What excites you about receiving this funding from the Health Equity Fund? In 2-3 short sentences, please share what you hope to accomplish with this funding?
Rising for Justice is excited about the Health Equity Fund allowing us to continue to work with D.C. residents to clear their criminal and arrest records. RFJ attorneys and social workers will work side by side to provide holistic support, addressing the legal and social barriers our clients face. By helping residents clear their records, we aim to remove the stigma of a criminal past, opening doors to opportunities that promote financial stability, personal dignity, and healthier lives. This funding will enable us to extend these life-changing services to more individuals, fostering a more just and equitable community.
For Returning Partners - What have you learned over the past two years? Please include any brief insights or impact numbers you may have -- especially those related to economic mobility in the communities you serve.
Over the past two years, we have filed motions to seal over 1,000 arrest and conviction records for D.C. residents. We’ve learned that there remains a tremendous amount of work ahead. Due to D.C.'s restrictive record-sealing laws, any individual over 18 who has been arrested has a publicly accessible record until they take action to file a motion to seal it. Rising for Justice has realized that the most effective way to create lasting impact is by partnering with other organizations, amplifying our collective efforts to increase economic mobility and improve opportunities for D.C. residents. Together, we can achieve greater reach and provide more robust support to those in need.
What excites you about the future for your community?
What excites me about the future for our community is the growing momentum toward equity and justice. I see more collaboration among organizations and a shared commitment to breaking down systemic barriers that have long held our residents back. The increasing focus on providing holistic support—combining legal assistance with social services—offers real hope for empowering individuals to achieve economic stability, better health outcomes, and a brighter future. I’m inspired by the resilience and determination of the people we serve, and I’m optimistic that, together, we can build a more just and equitable community for all.

July 24, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, Nonprofits, Health Equity

Sustainable DC Project: Unleashing the Power of the Green Economy for Communities of Color

July 24, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, Nonprofits, Health Equity

DC’s flag may be red and white. However, if you talk to the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) or the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing & Economic Development (CNHED), they’ll tell you that the future of DC is green –specifically green economy.

“The green economy presents an incredible opportunity for our community – not just to help our planet; but also to help the people who live in our communities,” explained Shannan Herbert, CEO of WACIF. “We want to make the planet greener, but we also want to help put more green [dollars] in the hands of communities of color who need and deserve this investment.”

Riding the Green Wave –The Economic Windfall of Net-Zero Energy

Over the past decade, as conversations around environmental and climate concerns have grown increasingly urgent, local governments across the country have made investing in green infrastructure an increasing priority – one that comes with a significant economic impact.

In DC alone, a former Director of the Department of Energy and Environment, predicted that the green economy could grow to become a $8-10 billion industry – as contractors and developers work to not only construct, but also update and retrofit the city’s existing infrastructure to meet its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.

Implementing those plans is expected to create thousands of new jobs in green energy, construction, building maintenance, and other industries — including innumerable opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-employment.

Overcoming the Racial Energy Investment Gap

However, studies show that historically, very few of these opportunities have gone to women or people of color. According to a recent study by the Brookings Institution, less than 20% of workers in clean energy production are women and less than 10% of them are Black.

The study cited a number of barriers including a lack of awareness of the green energy field, but also limited access to the training and resources —such as certification courses, workforce development opportunities, and seed investment—that these groups need to succeed.

“Green energy represents a tremendous economic opportunity,” Steve Glaude, CEO of CNHED shared. “But it requires a lot of money, a lot of resources, and a lot of specialized knowledge to get things started, which is something that many small businesses – especially those owned by women and communities of color – simply don’t have access to.”

“In the push towards net zero emissions, sustainability, and climate resilience, BIPOC-owned and women-owned small businesses are at a competitive disadvantage.”

The Birth of the Sustainable DC Project

From an early stage, CNHED recognized the importance of harnessing the economic impact of the city’s Net-Zero Energy agenda for women and communities of color. A coalition of 180+ nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, CNHED has been actively engaged in community-informed budget and policy advocacy for more than two decades.

“[After DC announced the Net-Zero Energy initiative], my team kept coming to me for the better part of a year – asking for us to get involved in the green economy,” Glaude shared. “But we kept waiting because we wanted to ensure our efforts would have maximum impact.”

The opportunity finally arose when The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund put out a call for “innovative and disruptive ideas to increase the economic mobility and community wealth of DC’s most marginalized communities.”

“We purposely wanted to keep the application open-ended,” Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shared. “We are not trying to tell our partners what they should do; we are trying to tap into their creativity and innovation to build new partnerships to transform our communities.”

Within a few weeks, WACIF – a leading community development financial institution in the region – reached out to Glaude to brainstorm ways that they could join forces to impact their community. Over the next few months, WACIF and CNHED began to lay out the framework for a new partnering initiative called the Sustainable DC Project.”

“Sustainable DC is designed to help BIPOC and women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs harness the power of our region’s green economy,” Herbert explained.

The multimillion-dollar project follows a three-pronged approach:

Access to Capital – Sustainable DC will provide up to $300K in grants and $2 million in flexible, non-predatory loans to help entrepreneurs obtain the certifications, equipment, and supply chain adjustments to meet rising demands. Sustainable DC will also ensure entrepreneurs can access catalytic ‘green’ investments, including the EPA’s $27B Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other local and federal resources.
Addressing the Readiness Gap – Sustainable DC will provide advisory services to help small businesses navigate the everchanging landscape of regulations, resources, and buyer expectations surrounding the Net-Zero Energy Initiative and the green economy. This information will allow them to quickly adapt their business model and stay at the forefront of economic growth and opportunity.
Small businesses can also participate in a cohort-based accelerator – giving them access to thousands of hours of business advisory services and technical assistance, as well as a network of their peers.
Connecting Businesses to New Opportunities – Sustainable DC will connect small businesses to new local and federal investment opportunities, as well as green supply chains and other major customers that can take their business operations to the next level.

“It’s not enough to invest in the green energy,” Herbert continued. “We need to make sure that small businesses – especially those owned by women and communities of color – are set up for success, by providing them the resources, the knowledge, and the opportunities they need to thrive.”

In addition to investing in small businesses in the green energy and infrastructure space, Sustainable DC will also serve small businesses looking to promote and implement more sustainable business practices, such as the use of sustainable packaging and eco-friendly cleaning products – opening the door for small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the spectrum to participate in this innovative program.

Herbert and Glaude hope that Sustainable DC will become an economic model that can be implemented in cities across the country.

“We want this project to be catalyst for economic growth,” Herbert shared. “The dream is that through Sustainable DC, these small businesses will hire more women; more people of color, and we’ll be able to see a ripple effect of economic growth that will transform our communities.”

“Ten years from now, people will do studies about the impact of Green Energy,” Glaude shared. “I hope that – as a result of what we’re doing here - they can cite Sustainable DC as a model – not just for strategic execution, but for inclusivity and economic justice.”

The Community Foundation is proud to support Sustainable DC and its work through the Health Equity Fund.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

July 24, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, Health Equity

The NorthStar Institute – Opening the Window of Opportunity for DC’s ALICE Population

July 24, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, Health Equity

For teachers at Academy of Hope and the LAYC Career Academy (Career Academy) – two of the best-known adult charter schools in DC – helping their students succeed in life is about more than just helping them learn; it’s about helping them thrive.

“Ultimately what we want to see is that our students can progress in life,” Lecester Johnson, CEO of Academy of Hope shared. “From getting the degree, to getting the job, to getting stability for their families and – ultimately – getting them into the middle class.”

Unlike some schools, most students enrolled at Academy of Hope and the Career Academy are over the age of 18 – entering the classroom with a wealth of experience and knowledge from their communities. Both schools provide career training and certifications to help students secure jobs in healthcare, IT, and other fields of work.

However, Nicole Hanrahan, co-Founder and Executive Director of the Career Academy says that even with a degree, most of her students are still living on the edge and doing whatever they can to get by.

“It takes more than an entry-level job and an education to get ahead in this city,” Hanrahan explained. “Our communities need access to financial resources and financial advice and guidance to do things like pay off debt, buy a house, or save for retirement, someday.”

Without the resources and knowledge to accrue additional wealth, Hanrahan and Johnson shared that many of their students have been stuck on the proverbial edge – doing just well enough to get by, but not quite well enough to truly get ahead.

The ALICE Barrier

Reports say that the Career Academy and Academy of Hope students aren’t the only ones stuck in this situation. An annual report by the United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) found that nearly 20% of DC’s Residents are considered part of the ALICE population – an acronym for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.”

Those within the ALICE population live above the Federal Poverty Line, but below the basic cost of living for their neighborhoods. This often means that they are ineligible for federal assistance programs and are forced to live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet.

The ALICE population includes 20% of DC’s registered nurses and nearly 40% of the city’s office clerks – and a large percentage of the Career Academy and Academy of Hope’s graduating class. Many of these students may also be struggling with credit card debt and low credit scores – which can impact their ability to access credit with favorable conditions and achieve financial milestones like buying a house.

The ALICE population also includes a sizeable portion of the region’s immigrant population – including many who came to this country from successful careers in medicine, law, and business – but have been unable to obtain the proper certifications or education to continue work in their field.

“The sad thing is that, right now, a lot of our students are stuck in survival mode,” Johnson explained. “They’re not necessarily looking for a career or a dream job – they’re looking for stability – something that will keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables.”

“What we want to do is empower them to dream bigger – to not only provide for their families but also to provide for their future.”

The Power of Financial Well-being

For Jua Williams, a financial services expert with more than 20 years of experience in Corporate Financial Services, the scenario is one he’s seen time and time again. As the co-Founder of NorthStar Institute, Jua works to empower DC residents through expert advice and guidance to build wealth by attaining assets.

“There is power in being able to say ‘I know the system of money and understand how it works’,” Williams shared. “With the right resources and proper planning, you can take a good income and turn it into intergenerational stability.”

“The problem is that most ALICE families don’t have access to the knowledge or the capital to make that happen.”

An opportunity finally arose when The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund put out a call for “innovative and disruptive ideas to increase the economic mobility and community wealth of DC’s most marginalized communities.”

“We quickly recognized that this was an opportunity to build new partnerships that could transform our community,” Williams explained.

Within a few weeks, NorthStar Institute reached out to the Career Academy and Academy of Hope to brainstorm how they could increase access to financial resources for the students they serve. Over the next few months, the three organizations laid the framework for a new financial well-being partnership aimed at closing the racial wealth gap by helping members of the ALICE population turn income into assets.

The multimillion-dollar project follows a multi-faceted approach, which includes:

Access to Professional Advisers – Through the partnership will operate onsite at the Career Academy and Academy of Hope to provide financial education programs and access to wealth advisers directly within the academies. This will allow students to ask questions of certified professionals, while learning essential tips for financial planning.
Access to Legacy Planning Resources – Whether due to its complexity or a lack of resources, Legacy Planning is often overlooked by ALICE residents – especially those of color. The partnership will allow students access to qualified professionals who will help them navigate the process and retain an asset and build generational wealth.
Education Credit and Training Recovery Services – The partnership will provide access to domestic and international studies to help students obtain credits at an institution of higher learning. This will allow students with international degrees to obtain credits towards a new degree or certification.
Direct Financial Investment – The partnership will provide direct financial investment to help students achieve their goals. The amount and type of investment will vary depending on the goal of the individual and can include credit card payments, a down payment on a home, or other form of investment. In addition, all students will receive a stipend to provide them with some financial stability while they finish their studies.

One unique aspect of this project, Hanrahan says, is that it will not only serve past and current students at both the Career Academy and Academy of Hope, but also staff members – many of whom are also living in the ALICE population.

“Financial wealth building is something that should be accessible to everyone,” she added. “That includes many members of our staff, as well.”

She pointed out how some of her staff are immigrants with professional certifications in different countries but due to systemic barriers, they are unable to practice in the US.

“This program will provide us an opportunity to right that wrong and help them progress in their respective careers.”

Building a Legacy

“Having this kind of service come from us – two trusted organizations working in this community – will go such a long way towards helping our students, who may not have had the opportunity to learn these valuable lessons at home,” Lecester Johnson added, speaking from personal experience.

Born into a family of Southern farmers, Johnson shared how, growing up, her father harbored a deep distrust of financial and banking institutions – a protective reaction to decades of racial discrimination and discriminatory banking practices that were common during the Jim Crow era. As a result, Johnson was forced to learn the ropes of financial investing on her own – relying on trusted friends and mentors to help her plan financially for her future.

“Trust is one of the biggest barriers to helping people take that next financial step,” Williams shared. “You have to really connect with the individual – hear their goals, their dreams, their aspirations – and then take these financial principles and explain them in a way that is relatable and culturally competent but also see where it all fits in the bigger picture.”

Part of that bigger picture includes legacy planning – a major area for improvement amongst the ALICE population – especially communities of color. According to a recent survey, less than 30% of Black Americans in the US have a current will. Countless others may be named as beneficiaries and inherit but feel overwhelmed by the legal complexities and tax requirements to take full advantage.

“When you inherit, it can sometimes be seen as more of a burden than a blessing,” Williams added. “This partnership will provide students with access to professional legacy planners who can help them navigate the experience and set themselves up for success.”

However, partners say the factor they expect will have the biggest impact is the direct financial investment.

“Money really does matter,” Johnson shared. “We’re excited to offer investment at a level where it will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Over the next three years, we look forward to tracking the outcomes and seeing how far people are able to progress.”

“I believe this partnership will have a significant impact on DC residents and shifting the ALICE population into the middle class – not just in DC,” Williams added. “One day, we’ll hopefully be able to see this initiative become a blueprint that can be modeled in cities across the country.”

The Community Foundation is proud to support The NorthStar Institute and its work through the Health Equity Fund.

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

July 24, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, Press Releases

Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces $8.7 Million in Grants to Transform Health Equity in DC

July 24, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, Press Releases

The Health Equity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced $8.7 million in multiyear investments in two transformative projects focused on collaborative approaches to increasing economic mobility and wealth building. These investments will support innovative community-based projects working to advance health equity and create better outcomes for more DC residents.

Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Fund adopted an economic mobility strategy to address the root causes that are causing health challenges in the first place. Its strategy is designed to achieve health equity for all DC residents by addressing the social and structural determinants of health that impact health outcomes including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, nutrition, environmental safety, medical care, culture and recreation, and more.

“Mindful that health and wealth are inextricably linked, we believe that achieving health equity requires more than improving individual health outcomes and expanding access to services,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Our intent is to disrupt the societal factors shaped by centuries of laws, public policies, and practices that have worked together to produce the disparate outcomes we see today. With this announcement, the Health Equity Fund is taking a bold step toward reshaping how philanthropy can help address long-standing health inequities.”

The $95 million Health Equity Fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents. Since 2022, the Fund has awarded nearly $22 million in grants to 52 nonprofit organizations with a focus on programs that increase economic mobility and wealth building, advance health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives, and support community-based strategies to prevent gun violence and increase public safety.

"This $8.7 million Health Equity Fund award represents an innovative advancement in our mission to foster economic mobility and wealth building. By channeling resources into projects that prioritize these goals, we are directly supporting Mayor Bowser's vision to empower District residents and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed,” said Karima Woods, Commissioner for the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

The Fund’s latest investments will support five nonprofit organizations working collaboratively over a three-year period to implement innovative and disruptive demonstration projects. The intent is to strategically invest in bold new methods or types of services to demonstrate feasibility and determine the potential for scaling evidencebased strategies to build wealth for people and communities with the greatest economic and health disparities.

The projects were reviewed and selected by Community Foundation staff, external reviewers with subject matter expertise, and members of the Health Equity Committee. Additional funding for several other transformative demonstration projects will be announced in the fall.

Selected projects include:

WASHINGTON AREA COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND AND THE COALITION FOR NONPROFIT HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Wacif and CNHED have partnered on a 3-year strategy to help BIPOC and women-owned small businesses grow and build resilience while combating climate change, by participating in the region’s burgeoning green economy. The project will help small businesses implement sustainable practices by offering 1,000 entrepreneurs with access to flexible capital through a mix of grants and loans, capacity building and technical assistance, and one-on-one business advising and group training. Entrepreneurs will participate in new accelerator programs tailored for green economy businesses and designed to connect businesses with sustainability-focused procurement opportunities with DC area anchor institutions.

Learn more

NORTHSTAR INSTITUTE, LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH CENTER CAREER ACADEMY AND ACADEMY OF HOPE ADULT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

NorthStar, AoH, and LAYCCA have partnered on a 3-year integrated program for 2,500 students who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and also employed (A.L.I.C.E.) to set them on a path to financial independence. The program will offer high-quality education and job training for adult learners to pursue industry credentials and career advancement, combined with courses on Financial Well-Being and Money Management. Participants will receive dedicated access to a wealth advisor and financial planner for expert advice and guidance on homeownership, entrepreneurship, savings, investments, and legacy planning. The program will provide additional cash assistance to ensure participants can achieve their goals of savings, homeownership, business startup or investment capital.

Learn more

About the Health Equity Fund

For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, please visit our website!

June 27, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Community Leadership, DC, General News, Health Equity, Impact Stories, VoicesDMV

Building an Ecosystem for Community Safety in the District of Columbia

June 27, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Community Leadership, DC, General News, Health Equity, Impact Stories, VoicesDMV

How we’re combining grants, strategic planning, and the power of collaboration to address gun violence

By Melen Hagos & Tonia Wellons

Earlier this week, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a declaration that many in the Greater Washington region have known and recognized for decades – gun violence is a national public health crisis.

“It is up to us to take on this generational challenge with the urgency and clarity the moment demands,” the Surgeon General wrote in the 40-page report. “The safety and well-being of our children and future generations are at stake.”

FROM THE NATIONAL NEWS TO THE LOCAL STREETS

In our region, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has long been committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our local residents – particularly those most at risk – and has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent and respond to gun violence.

We acknowledge that while the issue of gun violence and public safety impacts everyone, there are those in our region who unjustly bear its impact more profoundly than others. Our most recent VoicesDMV report revealed that while everyone in our region deserves to feel safe and welcome in their communities, not everyone does.

Our work to achieve community safety and harm reduction – both across our region and in those areas most impacted – is one of the many ways we honor our commitment and work to create a just, equitable, and thriving community. With strong partnerships and expert guidance from national organizations like the Public Welfare Foundation, we have made a substantial impact over the years. Here are some key examples of our accomplishments:

In partnership with the District government, in 2013, we established a relief fund to aid victims and families affected by the Navy Yard shooting and to address long-term gun violence and mental health issues.

From 2013-2018, the Greater Washington Community Foundation partnered with the District Government and served as administrator of The City Fund, investing $15 million over five years as part of the District’s overall public safety and violence prevention agenda. This effort successfully spanned two political administrations—initially under Mayor Vincent Gray’s One City Action Plan and later repositioned under Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Safer Stronger Initiative.

In 2018, The Community Foundation mobilized local funders to support the implementation of Cure the Streets – a pilot program based on the Cure Violence methodology that worked to better understand the causes of gun violence in specific DC neighborhoods and empower local community organizations to be part of the solution.

More recently, we partnered with the Federal City Council and Peace for DC to host Stopping the Cycle of Violence, a community forum that explored proven solutions from across the country and the roles business and philanthropy leaders play in public safety.

LEADING WITH INTENTIONALITY & COLLABORATION

At The Community Foundation, we acknowledge it’s not enough to merely respond to community violence. Rather, it requires intentional coordination and strategic collaboration with community, local government, and philanthropic partners to proactively address the root causes and build stronger, safer communities.

As a result, we have made strategic decisions to support the development and funding of a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing harm reduction efforts in DC. Including:

HIRING A SENIOR FELLOW, COMMUNITY SAFETY & HARM REDUCTION

In partnership with the Public Welfare Foundation, we have hired a Senior Fellow for Community Safety and Harm Reduction. This full-time role is designed to provide leadership for the strategy and coordination of a cohesive and coordinated approach to community safety and harm reduction in the District of Columbia. We look forward to introducing the Fellow to you next month.

PARTICIPATING IN CF LEADS GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK

The Community Foundation was selected from community foundations nationwide to participate in the CF Leads Gun Violence Prevention Network. Through this year-long initiative, we will get to learn from leading experts and other foundations to help us catalyze and expand local gun violence prevention efforts by learning and adapting best practices from across the country. We are excited to collaborate with Peace for DC and the DC Office of the Attorney General as we take the opportunity to listen to and learn from each other and all the organizations involved in this important work.

MAKING INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH AND SAFETY

Months before the Surgeon General’s announcement, our Health Equity Fund recognized the connection between the increase in crime and violence in the District and the Fund’s objective to address the social and structural determinants of health.

In March 2024, the Fund committed to making $1 million in matching grants in partnership with the DC Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Neighborhood Engagement and Safety to address youth violence prevention through trauma-informed services, conflict and dispute resolution, mental health and wellbeing, and by assisting families dealing with the grief and trauma caused by these occurrences of violence.

BUILDING NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

In the coming months, we look forward to sharing more about a new strategic partnership that will seek to establish a coordinated body which spans political administrations to develop a long-term strategy for community safety, create a plan for implementation with accountability measures throughout, and establish best practices to align investments across philanthropy, government, and business for maximum impact.

Stay tuned for more details!

We are convinced that philanthropy, especially through community foundations, is ideally positioned to lead a unified response initiative, collaborating with local government, philanthropic entities, and community leaders.

We would love you to join us in this work to promote the overall safety and well-being of residents of the District of Columbia. Please contact us to learn more or get involved in this work.

May 8, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, Racial Justice, General News

With Equity & Economic Justice for All: The Community Foundation Hosts the 2024 Health Equity Summit

May 8, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, Racial Justice, General News

On April 30, The Community Foundation hosted the 2024 Health Equity Summit at the beautiful Riverside Baptist Church in Southeast DC. The event brought together more than 200 changemakers from across the area for a day of music, speakers, and deep conversations around the pursuit of health equity, economic justice, and liberation in the Greater Washington region.

“We are here today to imagine a world where everyone can experience physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing,” The Community Foundation’s President & CEO Tonia Wellons shared in her introduction to the Summit. “A world where everyone can thrive in a non-extractive economy and a world where harm has been repaired and everyone can be made whole.”

“It’s easy to step into a space and merely provide healthcare,” added Dr. Tollie Elliott, CEO of Mary’s Center and member of the Health Equity Fund governance Committee. “However, if we want to create a truly impactful, innovative system, we need to start doing things differently -- departing from the traditional route and enacting truly transformational work to make lives better in the District of Columbia.”

The Summit was organized by The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund – a $95 million fund designated to improving health outcomes and health equity for DC residents. Since September 2022, the fund has disbursed more than $22.8 million in funding to promote economic justice and health equity in the District.

“Our vision for the health equity fund – and for this summit -- is to advocate for change to address the root causes of the deep health inequities and disparities that exist in DC,” Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shared.

The event – which was open to the public – attracted a diverse audience of participants from across the spectrum – including policymakers, government and philanthropic partners, and nonprofit and community leaders. Click here to view the program booklet from the event

“Health & Healthcare are not the same thing,” Dr. Anthony Iton, Senior Vice President for Healthy Communities at The California Endowment shared. “Only 20% of health outcomes are shaped by the health delivery system. That means that most of health has nothing to do with what we do, as doctors.”

Dr. Anthony Iton and Dr. Damon Francis discuss their recent essay *Envisioning a New Health System Rooted in Equity* and the importance of investing in an equitable, people-centric approach to healthcare.

Dr. Iton and Dr. Damon Francis, Director of Homeless Health Center in Oakland, California, are co-authors of Envisioning a New Health System Rooted in Equity - an essay published by the Urban Institute last December. In it, they explore the shortfalls of the American health system – including its history of racial discrimination and why it’s critical to invest in an equitable, people-centric approach to healthcare moving forward.

“Our healthcare system today is a predatory, extractive system,” Dr. Iton shared. “It is the single largest source of bankruptcies in this country. Most are built around a corporate model – selling services to paying customers – which has little to do with the needs of the population. And the worst part is it’s getting more expensive, for everyone.”

“The poorest Europeans have better health status than the wealthiest White Americans,” Dr. Francis added, pointing to international data comparing health outcomes from around the world.

In their essay, Dr. Francis and Dr. Iton explain how the devastation caused by World War II in Europe lead many countries to adopt Universal benefits such as childcare and health benefits, which led to better overall health outcomes for their populations. Meanwhile, in the US, healthcare was built increasingly on a corporate model that disadvantaged everyone, especially Blacks and communities of color who suffered discrimination and underinvestment.

“When we talk about the need for universal healthcare, we so often overlook the universal component,” Dr. Iton explained. “It’s a signal of solidarity. It requires that we work to really see each other’s needs and gaps that exist between us.”

“Until we acknowledge that and enshrine it in policy, we will continue to see these disparities.”

“We need to build collective power,” Dr. Francis added. “You cannot explain behaviors based on access to healthcare alone; you can explain it based on political power.”

“Health is political – and it requires political action; people coming together to hold systems accountable for delivering equitable outcomes.”

Dr. Iton concluded the panel by outlining his ABC model for building health equity – promoting Agency (or collective power), strengthening Belonging, and rebuilding our social Contract.

From left to right: Temi F. Bennett, Sohrab Kohli, Jennifer Bryant, and Professor Anthony Cook discuss community wealth-building and cooperative ownership.

The next panel focused on economic justice and creating prosperity for all. The conversation was moderated by Temi F. Bennett, co-CEO of if, a Foundation for Radical Possibility and featured thought leaders in the space of individual community wealth-building and cooperative ownership.

“Creating economic mobility means building opportunities,” Sohrab Kohli, Senior Manager of the Aspen Institute’s Financial Security Program explained. “It also means looking at our systems in a reparative lens and finding ways to ‘balance the scales’ (referring to the theme of the Summit) so that everyone wins.”

“Shared or cooperative ownership is a critical part of building economic mobility,” Jennifer Bryant, Program Manager of the Black Employer Ownership Initiative at Project Equity shared. “We’re building economic democracy -- allowing Black and Brown people to benefit from and have a say in the direction of the organizations they work for.”

In her role at Project Equity, Bryant explained how she works with Black business owners to help convert their businesses to employee ownership – allowing their employees and communities to benefit from their legacy in perpetuity.

“If all the businesses that employ Black workers were employee owned, the median wealth of Black workers would increase from $20,000 to over $100,000,” shared Professor Anthony Cook, Professor at Georgetown Law School.

Professor Cook is the founder of Gatebridge Community – an organization working to transform cooperative low-wealth communities by fostering a culture of cooperative ownership. The organization recently announced plans to launch Rosie’s Grocery – a resident and worker owned grocery initiative that will provide access to fresh produce to low-income, low-access (LILA) neighborhoods in the DC metro area.

“We are prototyping that with community support and industry and sector expertise, we can do what other people have refused to do – and that is stepping up and engaging the community, as part of the solution – giving them ownership of the processes that will impact their lives for the better.”

From left to right: Reverend William H. Lamar IV, Dr. Stacey Patton, Dr. Raymond Winbush and Dr. LesLeigh D. Ford discussed the pursuit of liberation and the case for reparations.

The final panel of the day was moderated by Reverend William H. Lamar IV and featured a panel of experts who discussed the pursuit of liberation and the case for reparations.

“It is estimated that more than $380 Billion in Black Wealth has been lost, as a result of slavery,” Dr. Stacey Patton, Research Associate Professor at the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University shared. “Our bodies still hold those memories; the psychological trauma and impact of slavery.”

Dr. Patton and Dr. Raymond Winbush, Director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University, shared their insights from studying African American communities over time. They explained how reparations represent not only an important economic milestone, but also a social and cultural turning point to true equity for Black communities.

“It’s not enough to converge the racial wealth gap,” Dr. LesLeigh D. Ford, Associate Director of Race and Equity Research at the Urban Institute shared. “We have to reimagine and reconstitute the system that created it. Without reparations, that level of systemic change simply isn’t possible.”

The program included live Q&A sessions with each of the panels, as well as live and video presentations from community and nonprofit partners with the Health Equity Fund, who spoke about the work they are doing to advance health equity and economic mobility in DC.

In addition to the presentations, participants were treated to powerful performances from local creative artists, including Camilo Montoya, a talented spoken word performer and Pianist Virtuoso Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan – which added an electric atmosphere to the day’s program.

“We thank you all for being a part of this event and this movement to bring health equity and economic mobility to all residents within the District of Columbia,” Dr. Marla Dean shared at the close of the event. “We look forward to partnering with all of you, as we continue to invest and work towards a more equitable and prosperous future for all.”

Click here for more photos from the 2024 Health Equity Summit! For more information about the Health Equity Fund and available funding opportunities, visit our website.

April 12, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, DC, Health Equity

Economic Justice for All

April 12, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Newsletter, Newsroom, DC, Health Equity

On Tuesday, April 30, The Community Foundation is hosting the 2024 Health Equity Summit - With Equity & Economic Justice For All at Riverside Church. Click here to Register!

Editor’s Note: In this guest post, Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shares her point of view on what health equity for all means to her and why it’s important for funders and community partners to come together on this issue.

I purchased a home in Ward 7 in the Southeast quadrant of the city. When my husband and I decided it was time to buy this home, we wanted a neighborhood that reminded us of the places where we were born and nurtured. I grew up in Detroit, the home of the automobile, unions, Motown, Aretha Franklin, and Kem. My husband grew up in Roosevelt, NY., the home of Dr. J, Eddie Murphy, Howard Stern and Public Enemy. We grew up in communities rich with culture, the arts, and radical political thought. We were excited about our predominately African American, East of the River neighborhood. Our neighborhood boasts beautiful, single-family brick homes, many with attached garages, large front and back yards, and sprawling hills. Except for the hills, it is just like the places we grew up.

When we moved to our community, I had no idea that we were not only moving east of the Anacostia River but we were moving to what so many deemed “the other side of the tracks.” This experience was not new to us because my husband came from a small section of Long Island in the ultra-wealthy New York City suburbs that most people avoid. And Detroit has always been a place thought of as persistently dangerous and abysmally poor.

While I love my neighborhood, over time I came to understand the history of structural racism in DC and how it impacts our daily lives. A history of redlining, school segregation and lack of home rule has resulted in vast inequities between the eight wards. Some impacts are trivial. When my son, Aaron, now a graduate of Morehouse College, was in high school wanting to date a young lady from another part of town, her father told me he was very concerned about his daughter dating someone from Southeast DC. Others have more far-reaching implications, like the impact of concentrated poverty on a community’s safety, hopes and dreams, the experience of food deserts, or the fact that so many of our school-age children leave their communities daily, heading north and west in search of a “quality” education.

Can you imagine the effects of having to spend years leaving your own community because you are consistently told that your own community cannot educate you well, or the loss of social connectedness to family, friends, and neighbors because you are spending hours in a day traveling to and from school? As one person said in a recent community listening session, “As a Black woman . . . I see that our network is not as strong as it used to be in the city. I was here for Chocolate City. But I just don't know what is happening and what has happened to us as a people in DC, my Black people.” These are the social impacts but there are economic impacts too.

By now, many of us have heard the statistic that the Greater Washington DC Region has a racial wealth gap of 81:1 white to Black. But did you know that this racial wealth gap increases exponentially as one’s level of educational attainment increases? (Long, 2020)

Can you imagine a world where the higher the education level you reach, the wider that wealth gap becomes between you and your white peers? This is because my community experiences lower assessed home values, greater student loan and other debt, and significantly lower wages. Can you imagine being a child watching all of this at play and coming to the realization that education is not the great equalizer. As another community member said in one of our listening sessions, “I think one of the things that's really contributing to the crime is gentrification. Because we're seeing all these extravagant buildings that nobody can afford.” Imagine looking around you and seeing great wealth but also knowing you will never experience its benefits. So, our pursuit for economic justice for all can only be realized when we all experience real equity and true liberation.

For more information about the Black-White Economic divide, please read

Heather Long’s article, “The Black-White Economic Divide Is as Wide as It Was in 1968.” Washington Post, 4 June 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/04/economic-divide-black-households/.

April 12, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Newsletter, Newsroom, Health Equity, General News

Liberation for All

April 12, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Newsletter, Newsroom, Health Equity, General News

On Tuesday, April 30, The Community Foundation is hosting the 2024 Health Equity Summit - With Equity & Economic Justice For All at Riverside Church. Click here to Register!

Editor’s Note: In this guest post, Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shares her point of view on what health equity for all means to her and why it’s important for funders and community partners to come together on this issue.

As a Detroit native, I am proud that my late Congressman John Conyers (D-Detroit) introduced a reparations bill into Congress every year since 1989. He did this for nearly 30 years until he retired from Congress. Many towns, and even a state or two, have reparation taskforces. A very few have distributed some form of reparations to the descendants of those who were enslaved, faced Jim Crow, and suffered under de facto segregation. The point is the call for reparations ain’t new.

I have always had a marginal relationship with the call for reparations. I have never spoken against them, but I have also thought they would never happen in my lifetime. Completely understanding that reparations are the only true remedy to make my people whole, I thought of reparations like my 98-year-old grandmother thought of a Black president: it could never happen in her lifetime. But it did.

So, I kept my eye on reparations, while preferring to work on issues that seemed closer in proximity and had a greater probability of being solved like poverty, racism, and sexism. And as I watched from my side eye, the movement gained momentum. I even had the audacity to attend a symposium co-hosted by Harvard Public Health Magazine and Harvard’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights titled, Can Reparations Close the Racial Health Gap? There I learned that if African Americans had the same health outcomes as our white peers there would literally be 8 million more African Americans alive today in these United States of America. This is when and where I decided that reparations were a matter of life and death, and I would no longer have a marginal relationship with the call for them.

Then, I learned that white DC slaveowners were the only class of people to receive reparations from the federal government for slavery through The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862. President Lincoln signed the bill into law on April 16, freeing enslaved people in the District and compensating owners up to $300 for each freed person. This act maintained the wealth of the slaveholders and left all the formerly enslaved barren except for a few.

One such man was Gabriel Coakley. Coakley, a former slave, was able to purchase his family from their white slaveholders. And because he technically owned them at the time of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, he was one of the rare Black people who received reparations. From his “windfall of riches,” he was able to set his family on a path to intergenerational wealth that holds until today.

Imagine if all the formerly enslaved had the same opportunity that Coakley did. What would be our collective lot today? Would there be an 81:1 racial wealth gap? Would there be 8 million more African American souls walking around this country? Would our health outcomes mirror those of our white peers? Would we all be free from the shackles of oppression? The opportunities and possibilities are endless.

That is why it’s all the more important for us to accelerate the push for reparations. Because our pursuit for liberation for all can only be realized when we all are free, and reparations have been made and paid.

For more on the story of Gabriel Coakley, listen to MSNBC’s Trymaine Lee’s Podcast: “Uncounted Millions: The Power of Reparations.” 22 February 2024, MSNBC.com. https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-podcast/uncounted-millions-take-s-owed-rcna139059

April 12, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

Health Equity For All

April 12, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

On Tuesday, April 30, The Community Foundation is hosting the 2024 Health Equity Summit - With Equity & Economic Justice For All at Riverside Church. Click here to Register!

Editor’s Note: In this guest post, Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shares her point of view on what health equity for all means to her and why it’s important for funders and community partners to come together on this issue.

I remember that one day in September of 1978 as clearly as I remember summers in my hometown of Detroit. Detroit summers are something to behold. It is a musical city, and more diverse than most imagine. Each weekend, a vibrant ethnic festival takes place downtown at Hart Plaza. Each festival honors an ethnic group’s culture, and they all are pregnant with the promises of equity, justice, and liberation.

My memories of the 17th of September, three short days after my ninth birthday, shine above even those captivating celebrations. On that day, tears streamed down my face as I witnessed the signing of the Camp David Peace Accords on television, and I thought Middle East Peace was imminent between the Jews and Arabs who form two major communities in my hometown.

On that day, I first understood something about my life’s purpose: I was put on this Earth to advocate for all people’s liberation, but specifically for my own people, descendants of unknown African lands. I carried this level of intensity through every stage of my life - high school, college, work, community, and marriage - until a day I can’t remember well where I nearly lost my memories and my purpose.

The details escape me, but in 2016 I suffered a stroke at work. I did not know what was wrong, but I did know something was not right. Riding in an Uber to the hospital here in DC, I could not quite figure it out. “What is happening to me?” I wondered. My husband rushed to the hospital to be by my side. Eventually, I was discharged without a diagnosis. Both of us have college educations, yet we were unable to receive the care and information everyone deserves in a city as wealthy as DC. Immediately, I found a neurologist who diagnosed and cared for me, but I was never given an exact cause for my stroke, except for stress. After this experience, I understood medical inequity is stressful, and it can even kill (Szabo).

I carry the stress of a community which knows it is not valued. I carry the stress of an African American woman who is trying to hold herself and her community together. I carry the stress of people who are yearning to be free.

I once had a supervisor say to me, “Marla, you have no time or tolerance for frivolity.” When she said that, I thought, “how can anyone relax with so much work to be done?” That same year I had my stroke.

Now, almost 8-years into a journey of healing, I am trying to understand the concept of self-care. As one of my former employees once told me, “Dr. Dean, rest is revolutionary.”

So now as I work to advance health equity for all, I am reminded to be gentle to myself. These inequities are social and structural, and they manifest themselves in our health. Only 20% of health outcomes are due to medical care or access. 80% are due to other factors. So, our pursuit for health equity for all can only be realized when we all experience real justice and true liberation.

For more information about medical errors and minority women, please read Liz Szabo’s article, “Medical Errors Kill Scores Each Year in the U.S., Especially Women and Minorities.” NBC News, 15 Jan. 2024, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/medical-mistakes-are-likely-women-minorities-rcna133726

For more information about health equity, please view Dr. Francis’, Dr. Iton’s, and Dr. Smedley’s report, “Envisioning a New Health System Rooted in Equity” Urban Institute, 27 Dec. 2023. https://www.urban.org/research/publication/envisioning-new-health-system-rooted-equity

To learn more, be sure to register to join the 2024 Health Equity Summit on Tuesday, April 30th! To learn about the Health Equity Fund, visit our website.

January 30, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

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

January 30, 2024

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

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!

October 26, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Health Equity, Newsroom, Newsletter, DC

Health Equity Fund Celebrates One Year of Transformative Grantmaking

October 26, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Health Equity, Newsroom, Newsletter, DC

In October, The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund celebrated an exciting milestone. In just 12 months, the record-breaking fund has awarded more than $21 million in grants to 46 organizations. The fund also 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.

“Health and wealth are inextricably linked,” shared Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of The Community Foundation. “We are confident and excited that the investments that we have made – and will continue to make -- through the Health Equity Fund will be instrumental in improving health outcomes for DC residents.

Announced in March 2022, The $95 Million Health Equity Fund is the largest fund in The Community Foundation’s 50-year history and 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.

The Health Equity Fund and nonprofit partners celebrate the 2nd cohort in June 2023.

The inaugural grant round in September 2022 awarded $9.2 million to 32 DC nonprofit organizations with a focus on economic mobility and wealth building in DC’s historically underinvested communities including cash transfer initiatives, housing rehabilitation projects, wealth creation programs, and other innovative projects. Click here to learn more about the inaugural grant round.

The second grant round announced in June 2023 awarded $12.5 million – the largest single grant round in The Community Foundation’s history - to 14 DC based nonprofits working on health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives. Click here to learn more about the second grant round.

Convening A Community of Changemakers

However, the impact of the Health Equity Fund goes far beyond the funding provided.

“The more we take time to listen to each other - as partners in this work – the better we can understand from each one what success looks like and how we, as a philanthropic partner, can provide support that goes beyond the dollar figures,” shared Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund.

HEF Nonprofit Partners share experiences at the first Idea Summit in March 2023.

This principal has been established from Day 1, thanks in part to The Community Foundation’s partnership with the American Institutes for Research (AIR), who serves as the evaluation partner for the Health Equity Fund. AIR and The Community Foundation have hosted several Idea Summits, where nonprofit partners had the chance to network and work together collaboratively to identify the outcomes and actions they hoped to see over the next few years. These factors provide a more equitable framework for future evaluation and reporting.

“What we do is co-designing success,” Dr. Brandy Farrar, a Managing Director for American Institutes for Research (AIR) explained. “Instead of establishing an arbitrary checklist of universal benchmarks, we want to work with each of you to identify what success looks like and how can we measure it.”

From the outset, nonprofit partners have expressed excitement about being part of a “cohort” for change in the District of Columbia. Even though many nonprofit partners often compete for the same limited resources, bringing them together in this space has created opportunities for collaboration and discussion that many say is invaluable to the work that they do.

“The fact that we can come together and collaborate as one is so inspiring,” one nonprofit partner shared. “It helps build power and confidence in the knowledge that we are not alone in this work to enact change.”

Driven by this enthusiasm, The Community Foundation helped organized a Partner Learning Series to convene nonprofit partners around the issues that are most impactful to the work and mission of the Health Equity Fund. Events have been organized based on partner interest and have covered topics ranging from Guaranteed Income pilots to navigating the DC Budget process.

“It’s so important to leverage the power in this room,” Misty Thomas, Executive Director of the Center for Court Excellence shared at one event. “Even though we may advocate on different issues, we need to work together to make the budget more effective, more equitable, and more participatory.”

Investing in Disruptive Partnerships - The Health Equity Fund’s Largest Grant Round Yet

In that spirit of collaboration and partnership, The Community Foundation recently announced its third and largest ongoing grant round to date to invest in innovative partnerships that promote economic mobility and build community wealth in DC. The grant round is open through March of 2026 to proposals with two or more partner organizations.

“We recognize that the most innovative work occurs through partnerships between organizations,” shared Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund.

“We hope that this grant round will provide a catalyst for transformative partnerships that will reshape some of the most pressing obstacles to health and wealth for DC residents.”

Additional information on the latest HEF grant round can be found on our website. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through March 2026 or until funds have been exhausted.

August 25, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsroom, Newsletter, General News

Connecting Budget to Advocacy

August 25, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, Newsroom, Newsletter, General News

Earlier this week, the Greater Washington Community Foundation convened DC-based nonprofits for an in-depth conversation about how to leverage the DC Budget process.

Hosted by The Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund, the event was the second in the Partner Learning Series designed to host convenings around the issues that are most impactful to the work and mission of the Fund.

Following the Fund’s historic $12.5 million investment in health advocacy, policy, and systems change, partners were interested in meeting with a major stakeholder in their advocacy work – the DC Government – to ask questions about how they can more effectively advocate for more equitable outcomes in the budget process.

In recent months, the DC Budget process has garnered national media attention– leaving many grassroots advocates wondering what they can do to strengthen their case for support with local leaders.

“It’s so important to leverage the power that’s in this room,” shared Misty Thomas, the Executive Director of Center for Court Excellence who proposed the event. “Even though we may advocate on different issues, we need to work together to make the budget more effective, more equitable, and more participatory.”

The event featured a panel discussion with DC Budget Director Jennifer Budoff, Budget Counsel and Chief of Staff Anne Phelps, and was moderated by Kim Perry, Executive Director of DC Action. The panel explored a wide range of topics from the timing of the budget process to how to structure a budget request.

“The DC Budget is a document that should represent the priorities of those that live in this city,” DC Budget Director, Jennifer Budoff shared. “That includes all of you, and the incredible advocacy work that you’re doing.”

Budoff and Phelps explained that, in accordance with the DC Home Rule Act, each year (usually around the end of March) the DC Mayor submits a budget proposal to the City Council. Over the next few months, the DC Council works with the DC Budget Office to review and make changes to the budget that reflect the community’s priorities as well as adjustments based on projected revenue streams.

What’s the best thing organizers can do to ensure their issues get funding? “Advocate early and often,” Phelps said.

“The earlier you reach out to the Mayor and DC Council, the more familiar they will be with the issues you’re advocating for and the more likely they are to champion you when it comes time to finalize the budget.”

Phelps and Budoff encouraged partners to begin their outreach in the fall and early winter – long before the public Budget Forums that the Mayor hosts in early February.

“Sitting down and talking to us about the work that you do is truly invaluable,” Budoff said. “We need to know these details – it is so helpful as we navigate the nuances of balancing a budget.”

Budoff and Phelps encouraged partners to find their champions within DC Council who could help advocate for their issues – even if that member doesn’t sit on the right committee.

“It’s important to understand who has an interest in your cause,” Budoff explained. “Even if they chair a different committee, Council Members will sometimes set aside surplus money from their committee and direct it to a different one if it means they can fund the issues they care about.”

“Obviously, you should start with the Committee that oversees your area of advocacy,” Budoff continued. “But it’s never bad to share your priorities with every Council Member you meet. You never know who could make the difference for you.”

On the subject of difference-makers, Phelps explained that when making a funding request, it helps to be as specific as possible – breaking down the costs into line items. This provides valuable context for Council staff during the budget reconciliation process. She also encouraged partners to print off their asks as a one-pager that can be left with Council Members and easily shared with budget staff during the reconciliation process.

Similarly, Budoff said that it also helps if you can list your budget asks in order of importance so Council staff can consider funding the most essential asks first. She explained that in some cases, some initiatives can be earmarked to be funded with ‘contingent revenue’ – meaning the funding is conditional on the outcome of the City’s Quarterly Revenue Estimates.

“Incrementalism is key, when it comes to budgeting,” Budoff added. “It’s about taking things bite by bite.”

Above all, Budoff and Phelps encouraged partners to be active in reaching out and engaging with City officials – especially when it comes to the budget process.

“Oversight, oversight, oversight,” Budoff insisted. “That’s the secret to success. Set up a time to meet with Council staff and help keep us in the loop.”

“Because of the work you do every day, you know what’s working and not working,” Phelps added. “Use that to build relationships with DC Council and their staff. Help inform us so we can do our jobs and get you to your end goals and budget.”

For more information on the DC Council Budget Process, visit www.dccouncilbudget.com.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund is excited to convene its nonprofit partners around the issues that matter to them. For more information about the Health Equity Fund, visit our website!

June 14, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, Nonprofits

The Faces of Health Equity: Meet Our Nonprofit Partners

June 14, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, Nonprofits

On June 13, The Community Foundation announced $12. 5 million in Health Equity Fund grants to 14 DC-based nonprofits working on health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives that address the social and structural determinants of health.

We invited our partners to highlight their experiences working to address the social and structural determinants of health in the Greater Washington region.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
We represent the criminal legal community in regards to incarcerated individuals and returning citizens coming back into our community. The issues that we advocate for are eliminating barriers to reentry, record sealing, expungement, and relief from fines/fees/restitution. We seek to change hiring practices that exclude returning citizens.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
The thing we find most meaningful about the work we do is evening the playing field, educating the public, and changing the criminal legal system. We are more proud of our longevity and being a one-stop-shop in terms of resources for returning citizens. We are proud to be a source of evidence of the success possible for returning citizens, and demonstrate the outcomes possible for people in the criminal legal system who are given an opportunity to thrive.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
We will be using funding to support our personnel and expand our programming. We will be hiring a community organizer and program manager, and will also utilize funding to cover training costs, event planning, meeting costs, program supplies, outreach and campaign materials, and to conduct evaluation of our work.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
We want people to understand that we have to stop throwing people away, as if they were human waste. We want them to understand that we need to take a closer look at the impact of the criminal legal system and its collateral consequences. If we do that, we will see that it is necessary to move in a different direction and to invest in supporting communities, families, and returning citizens.
80% or more of people incarcerated are there for a non-violent crime. We can't incarcerate our way out of this. We have to address trauma, mental health, and underserved communities. Taking time to understand and acquire this knowledge will allow us to come up with effective alternatives and solutions.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
DCFPI serves as central resource to advocates and community members, providing research, analysis, and strategy to inform just policy solutions and reform inequitable systems. We take aim at the compounding effects of structural racism, which have led to vast racial and ethnic inequities in education, housing, employment, income, wealth, and health, privileging white residents while leaving Black and non-Black residents of color more likely to struggle to get by and care for their children. We strive to root out anti-Blackness, promote economic mobility, and repair racist harms that set the conditions for consistently poorer economic and health outcomes for Black and brown communities.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
DCFPI leverages its analytic, programmatic, and legislative expertise for collaborative campaigns, helping to design both policy and strategy. DCFPI utilizes the power of progressive policy to support the economic liberation of Black and brown people in the District. We are most proud of our 22-year track record that has lifted up and protected economically struggling DC families.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
DCFPI, in collaboration with partners rooted in impacted communities, will pursue two critical areas of policy change: Establishing Guarantees for A Liberation Economy and Building Black Wealth. We will develop a pilot jobs guarantee for young workers, pursue a child tax credit and expansion of guaranteed basic income pilots, and spearhead a campaign for a more racially just tax code that pays for targeted investments that reduce Black debt, increase access to Black homeownership, and provide capital to support Black entrepreneurship.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
The District is home to incredible prosperity that is not equitably shared. Despite high incomes and high-paying jobs, too many residents—disproportionately Black and Latinx people—struggle to pay for basics or access good jobs. More than 100,000 DC residents live in poverty, the lion’s share being women and people of color. Centuries-long oppression of Black people through enslavement, segregation, and Jim Crow legislation has led to vast racial and ethnic inequities in education, housing, employment, income, and wealth creation. The legacy of these inequities and long-standing divestment from communities of color carries racial and economic exclusion forward today. However, before us stands a great opportunity to foster change that creates healthy, thriving communities where everyone has the nurture, sustenance, and safety every person inherently deserves.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
The power of tax justice as racial and economic justice. As a tool for liberation, tax policy should take aim at the anti-Blackness embedded within our tax systems by raising taxes on the predominantly white, wealthy households that have been economically privileged through the historic and ongoing oppression of Black and brown people. The revenue raised would be dedicated to public investments that predominantly aid Black households that are struggling to get by and are systematically denied, over generations, the fruits of their labor.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
MON supports the inclusion and empowerment of Black mothers in the struggle for family preservation and advocates for the transformation of government income and child welfare laws, policies and practices from punitive to empowering. Our primary initiatives seek to empower Black families by working to enact publicly funded guaranteed income programs for low-income mothers, advocating for existing social safety net programs such as the 2021 Child Tax Credit, and transforming the $200 million DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) family regulation and foster system budget.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
Some of the most meaningful work that we do at MON involves working directly with Black mothers through programs such as our Legal Tax Clinic and our guaranteed income pilot program, Mother Up. This program is a cash transfer initiative for no- and low- income Black mothers in Washington, D.C. who are involved with the child welfare system. We plan to explore whether extra cash can cut family involvement with the child welfare system and to achieve narrative change that can transform policy in this field. We seek to ultimately enroll 100 mothers or more, in total in this: for 3 years, 50 mothers receiving $500 a month and an additional 50 mothers survey incentive stipends.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
We will utilize funding to support our guaranteed income program. These funds will provide for the following: mothers in our program receiving $500 a month; mothers in the control group receiving $40 a month; benefits counseling for the mothers; and hold harmless payments for the mothers to offset any benefit reductions.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
Black families in Washington, DC suffer over-involvement in the intersecting paradigms of racialized poverty and its poverty-driven government family regulation. Our goal is to transform the family regulation system to prioritize Black family economic security, racial equity, and family preservation.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
Our work confronts the child welfare system's role in failing to address Black family poverty and the system's policies that traumatize and rip apart Black families. Studies have demonstrated that alleviating poverty reduces reports of abuse and neglect, or child maltreatment. Our goal with the Mother Up program is to explore whether extra cash can cut family involvement with the child welfare system and to achieve narrative change that can transform policy in this field.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
The Council for Court Excellence (CCE) brings together an interdisciplinary group of D.C. residents, advocates, and members of the legal and business communities to collaborate and advance equity-focused changes to D.C. criminal and civil laws, regulations, court practices, and agency policies. Our work seeks to help D.C. residents who interact with the legal system, especially justice involved and impacted individuals.
Throughout D.C.’s legal system, people of color are disproportionately impacted. While Black people make up 47% of D.C.’s population, they make up 86% of the people arrested, 90% of the people jailed, and 95% of the people in prison.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
CCE’s work has resulted in fewer D.C. children being funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline, fewer people in our community facing incarceration, and a decrease in the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction in the District. We are proud to increase awareness and thoughtfulness around justice system issues and spur a spirit of change to engage more people in the community who care about these issues, broadening the pool of those who are aware, engaged, and fighting for equity.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
CCE will utilize our model of interdisciplinary alliance to develop and implement strategic advocacy campaigns. We will convene partners and impacted people, conduct research, and collect data and feedback to ensure our priorities are community guided. CCE will develop policy reform campaigns from start to finish, and conduct activities to cultivate community and grassroots advocacy. Finally, we will educate the public on our campaigns, put public pressure on policymakers to enact reforms, and sustain community mobilization.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
One in seven adults in the District has a publicly available criminal record. The impacts of D.C.’s criminal legal system are not felt by all D.C. residents equally. Roughly 90% of people incarcerated at the D.C. Department of Corrections were Black, despite Black people making up a little less than half of D.C.’s population. Racial disparities persist in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), with Black people accounting for 95% of people incarcerated in the BOP for a D.C. Code offense.
Legal system or court involvement – whether as a person who has faced a criminal charge or incarceration, as a victim of crime, or even as a litigant in a civil matter – can have dramatic impacts on a person’s well-being. Decisions made by judges, police, caseworkers, and others with power in the legal system can change a person’s life in positive and negative ways – which means it is vital that D.C.’s laws and policies are equitable, healing-focused, and anti-racist.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
It is important for people to know that the lack of statehood significantly affects D.C.’s criminal legal system and presents challenges in the pursuit of community-led justice.
In D.C., the federal government plays several important roles in the local administration of justice but has no accountability to District residents. Presently, people convicted of D.C. offenses are sent to federal prisons, local Courts are funded by the federal government, and adults are prosecuted by federal prosecutors, among other powers.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
DC Justice Lab is a team of law and policy experts researching, organizing, and advocating for large-scale changes to the District of Columbia’s criminal legal system. We develop smarter safety solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, and racially just. We aim to fully transform the District’s approach to public safety and make it a national leader in justice reform.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
The most meaningful aspect of our work is the ability to change the way people think about who we punish, how we punish, and why we punish. Helping Black people thrive is why we’re here – and reforming the criminal legal system is how we do it. We’re most proud of how we do the work. We lead with integrity and justice, engaging with and understanding the needs of the community where we live and work; forging strong connections; and prioritizing community-centered approaches to reform.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
As a proud Black- and woman-led organization, we plan to utilize funding to not only grow our impact, but the impact of other pro-Black organizations who are working to effect policy change, training the next generation of local advocates on the District's lawmaking process. Leveraging and lifting each other requires an intensive effort – including multi-day workshops that provide support, resources, and strategies that work to make the collective more effective in less time.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
Almost 90% of arrests in the District disproportionately target Black residents, and over 90% of those who are sentenced are also Black. Year after year, research has consistently shown that marginalized communities facing poverty, substance abuse issues, and high crime rates are disproportionately impacted by the consequences of the criminal legal system.
Despite this evidence, our country and local leaders continue to prioritize tough-on-crime laws and policies that have fueled mass incarceration and worsened the conditions of our Black and brown communities. This is why we advocate for lawmakers to implement solutions that address the root causes of crime and violence, while reducing our nation's excessive reliance on police, prosecutors, and prisons in order to promote safety and freedom for all.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
We wish more people understood that mass criminalization actually causes more crime, making us all less safe. Not only does it perpetuate poverty, but it breaks apart (and breaks down) families who create thriving communities with generational wealth.

1. Briefly describe (in 2-3 sentences) the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
La Clínica del Pueblo represents the low-income, Limited English Proficient, immigrant, Latinx communities in Washington, DC, facing health inequities and healthcare access barriers. We advocate for policy changes and system transformation to address these issues, including eliminating exclusionary policies, guaranteeing Medicaid-level coverage, and ensuring linguistically and culturally appropriate service provision.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
Through our advocacy efforts, such as involvement in passing the DC Language Access Act, we have played a pivotal role in ensuring equal access and participation in public services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Our contributions to establishing the DC Healthcare Alliance Program and, more recently, simplifying its recertification process have also been sources of pride. This program, available to all residents regardless of immigration status, has reduced disparities and expanded access to healthcare for marginalized groups.
La Clínica's ability to effect positive change through advocacy efforts demonstrates our dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system, making a meaningful impact on the lives of low-income immigrant communities in the region.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
We plan to utilize the funding to expanding our advocacy campaigns to raise community awareness and engage policymakers, enhancing our community mapping efforts to better understand the needs of low-income immigrant communities, and strengthening our partnerships and coalitions to drive systemic change. The funding will enable us to allocate resources for capacity building, staff training, communication strategies, and community engagement initiatives to advance our mission of improving healthcare access and addressing health inequities.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
One thing we wish more people understood about the community we represent, with a specific focus on health access as a human right, is that healthcare is essential for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic background, immigration status, or language proficiency. Access to healthcare is not just a privilege but a fundamental human right. Low-income immigrant communities, who often face additional barriers to accessing healthcare, deserve equitable and dignified care.
Recognizing health access as a human right means understanding that everyone deserves equal opportunities to lead healthy lives, and it requires addressing systemic inequalities and ensuring that healthcare services are accessible, culturally competent, and affordable for all.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
We wish more people understood the intersectionality and complexity of the barriers faced by low-income immigrant communities in accessing healthcare. It is crucial to recognize that these barriers extend beyond immigration status and language proficiency. Systemic racism, social determinants of health, limited financial resources, and cultural differences contribute to health disparities.
By understanding the multifaceted nature of these challenges, we can develop comprehensive solutions that address the underlying structural and systemic issues. It is essential to move beyond simplistic narratives and stereotypes and instead embrace a holistic perspective considering the interconnected factors impacting healthcare access for marginalized communities.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all people are seen for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal opportunity to health and wellbeing. The Whitman-Walker Institute combines clinical and public health research, public policy advocacy, and professional and community education, with the goal of expanding the body of knowledge and science needed to advance health and wellness, particularly for sexual and gender diverse communities.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
For almost fifty years, Whitman-Walker has been woven into the fabric of DC’s diverse community as a first responder and trusted resource for those living with and affected by HIV; a leader in LGBTQ care and advocacy; a research center working to discover breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention science; a fierce advocate for health equity and inclusion; and one of DC’s dependable healthcare partners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
As a nonprofit, grant funding is pivotal to expanding our capacity to advocate, research, and educate about the health needs of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Funding supports our research into the bio-psycho-social drivers of ill health and the interventions to address these causes. Grant funding supports the many services we provide that are not covered by insurance.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
As a community health center embedded in Washington, DC, I wish more people understood that DC is more than just nation’s capital, but it is home to a vibrant and thriving community. Far too often our community is used as a political tool, and this is disrespectful to the families that live and work in the District.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
WWI leverages the expertise across Whitman-Walker’s family of affiliates to advocate for structural interventions in local, regional, and federal law and policy. Much of our advocacy works to address the social determinants of health for our patient population.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
Black Women Thriving East of the River (BWTEotR) collaborates with Black women who live and lead organizational change in Wards 7&8. Together, we advocate for health and economic justice for Black women and their families and the collective wellbeing of Black people living east of the river. The systems we seek to disrupt and improve are the workforce development and healthcare systems in order to improve key social determinants of health for Black women in our community.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
We are most proud of working in authentic partnership with the community. BWTEotR works directly with community residents and leaders of Wards 7 & 8 who coalesced in pursuit of innovative solutions to the health and economic crises prevalent within the community. We continue to embrace an inclusive approach for engaging the community and reflecting its voice, that intentionally avoids employing tokenism and instead implements ongoing engagement to mitigate intractable issues.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
Black Women Thriving East of the River will use data, training, and advocacy to disrupt and create change in workforce development systems impacting Black women living East of the River. Our initiative will develop employer assessment tools and implement Employer Best Practices Thought Leader Forums, workgroups, and conferences. We will disseminate best practice employer tools and strategies for driving equity, inclusion, and sustainability in hiring and retention practices — better positioning Black women East of the River to acquire and maintain employment in health-related careers.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
There are many well-known challenges in our community. The way to solve them is by listening to those who are experiencing them daily. Our community is full of caring, insightful and brilliant experts. Let’s look to them first and often to inform strategies, programs and policies for lasting change.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
We wish that more people understood the magnitude of health disparities that Black women face, and that these disparities are a direct result of structural racism embedded in our healthcare, workforce, and other systems.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
Many Languages One Voice (MLOV) is a Washington, DC-based movement organization, empowering immigrant and refugee communities of color with the tools to promote their own liberation. Our mission is to foster leadership and greater civic participation of immigrants and refugees who do not speak English as a primary language.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
We believe an actively engaged community that challenges existing inequities by dominant power is key to achieving systemic change. We are most proud of the leadership our community members display everyday for themselves and their communities.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
Through this project, we aim to contribute to greater health equity for all DC residents. With support from this grant, our BIPOC-immigrant-led community leadership development, power building, and advocacy will strengthen and advance language justice in DC, and consequently will promote improved health outcomes.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
As an immigrant and refugee organization, MLOV sees the day-to-day realities of health inequity and how various social factors contribute to creating and compounding barriers to health. Despite the 2004 Language Access Act being on the books, our DC immigrant neighbors continue to face language barriers in accessing services from DC government agencies, which negatively impacts numerous social determinants of health. Data collected by MLOV and our partners demonstrate that immigrants who do not speak English as a primary language are more likely to face barriers to healthcare, affordable and safe housing, and job security.

1.Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
Tzedek DC’s systemic Advocacy Reform program attacks at scale the structural economic underpinnings of health equity. We seek to reform debt-related laws in DC that in effect criminalize poverty, impose disproportionate burdens on Black and Latino residents and, by perpetuating DC’s vast racial wealth gaps, pose formidable roadblocks to health equity.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
The magic happens in the moments when our work both impacts the present and future of a community member's life and makes them feel heard, respected, and valued.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
Tzedek DC will use funds from this partnership to hire staff and consultants to build organizational capacity to mount winning advocacy campaigns that will increase wealth and health equity. We will expand our Policy, Organizing, and Communications capacity in this way.

4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
Poverty is not a crime. DC residents are hard-working, passionate people of many wonderfully diverse backgrounds and all deserve full economic citizenship.

5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
Systemic racism has produced a legacy that includes massive racial wealth gaps and a system of private debt collection and public fines and fees debt collection that has a disparate impact on Brown and Black residents. Our choices about allocating resources and changing the rules need to account for these realities. This approach can lift up the entire community.

1. Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
ECC works with community organizations, government, the private sector, and directly with small, minority and women-owned firms to ensure that BIPOC and other underrepresented businesses/contractors benefit from major investments in clean energy. In addition to planning and technical assistance to improve public procurement systems, ECC offers training, coaching and support services so that these firms are committed to ECC’s high-road mission to strengthen the environment, economy and equity, especially within low-income communities of color.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
ECC has a 13-year track record helping city officials develop and implement economic inclusion policies, including community workforce and community benefit agreements in a range of green energy and infrastructure projects. This system-level work includes developing implementation tools to ensure public investments benefit communities most in need, such as establishing hiring/contracting targets by demographic groups, contractors’ selection criteria and requirements for solicitations/bid documents, and monitoring and evaluation tracking and reportings.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
The “BEPS BIPOC Contractor Incubator” will engage contractors to work on projects to improve building energy performance of affordable housing, public housing and community buildings in disadvantaged communities in Washington DC. Contractors will be recruited from across Washington, DC with particular focus on Wards 5, 7, and 8. Contractors will receive training on business opportunities and follow up support for their businesses.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
ECC’s focus on community contractors addresses both wealth and income inequality. Our labor market study revealed that neither minority businesses nor workers are well-represented in the emerging green economy in DC or elsewhere. A focused attention on increasing access for small, minority businesses, however, is foundational to inter-generational wealth generation. Moreover, research shows that minority businesses offer the most accessible and effective pipeline to job opportunities for minority workers.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
America’s economy was specifically designed for inequality. Low-income and communities of color are burdened by a legacy of discrimination with respect to access to home and home improvement loans, business loans and investments, job opportunities in high wage and unionized jobs, as well as business and hiring networks. The negative impacts are clear: poor health, poor housing conditions, rent burdens, utility burdens, income and wealth disparities, to name a few. America’s transition to a new ‘green economy’ to green our communities and our buildings provide a new opportunity to get it right.

1) Briefly describe the community your organization represents (and/or the issue(s) you advocate for), and/or the policy and systems you seek to change.
The DC Reentry Housing Alliance is a collective of local reentry and housing leaders who are dedicated to addressing the ongoing housing challenges experienced by individuals returning from incarceration in the District of Columbia. They represent and advocate for the needs and rights of returning citizens, aiming to improve their access to safe, affordable, and supportive housing options. The alliance seeks to bring about policy and system changes that will result in a significant increase of at least 500 new housing units dedicated to DC returning citizens by 2025. By prioritizing the voices of those directly affected and collaborating with housing providers, service providers, and advocates, the alliance aims to enhance housing options, support services, and opportunities for successful reentry and community integration.
2. What do you find most meaningful about the work that you do? What are you most proud of?
At the DC Reentry Housing Alliance, we are most proud of centering the expertise of reentry leaders with lived experiences. By engaging the public, influencing advocacy, and prioritizing the needs of men and women returning from incarceration in Washington, DC, we strive to propose innovative solutions for improved opportunity, access, and equity. Our Advisory Council guides our strategy and approach, ensuring that we amplify the voices of those closest to the challenges and foster meaningful change for individuals transitioning back into the community.
3. As a nonprofit partner, briefly describe how you plan to utilize funding to support your work?
As a collective impact initiative, we utilize funding to drive community empowerment and foster collaboration. Together, we will catalyze the creation of 500+ new supportive housing units by 2025, establish a stakeholder community dedicated to our mission, build sustainable infrastructure, and launch a compelling public campaign. Through data-driven efforts, community summits, a returning citizen advisory group, and advocacy activities, we will create transformative change and ensure the housing and economic mobility of returning citizens. Your support is instrumental in our collective journey towards a more inclusive and thriving society.
4. What do you wish that more people understood about the community you represent?
It is essential for people to understand the challenges and needs of individuals returning from incarceration. Incarceration forces individuals to make drastic adjustments for survival, and upon release, the struggle to reintegrate becomes apparent. The lack of support and government assistance, particularly in areas such as housing and employment, creates significant barriers for successful transition. There is an urgent need to address the disregard and stigma faced by justice involved individuals, and by providing proper safety nets and assistance, we can witness the transformative potential and achievements of these individuals in our society.
5. What do you wish that more people understood about the issue(s) you seek to change?
- Engaging relevant stakeholders is crucial: Advocacy led by individuals with lived experience, along with collaboration with state and government officials, is necessary to secure funding, policy changes, and insights for effective reentry programs.
- Sustained support is crucial during the reintegration process: Reintegrating into society takes time and assistance, and simply releasing individuals without support can lead to setbacks and challenges.
- Wrap-around services are vital: Comprehensive support services, including housing, employment assistance, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, education, and counseling, are essential for successful reentry.
- Programs should prioritize asking individuals about their needs: Instead of assuming what people need, actively listening and empowering individuals with lived experience to lead ensures that support aligns with their actual needs.
- Rehabilitation benefits individuals and society: By investing in rehabilitation programs, formerly incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to positively contribute to the economy, support their families, and participate actively in their communities.

The mission of the Fair Budget Coalition (FBC) is to advocate for budget and public policy initiatives that address systemic social, racial, and economic inequality in the District of Columbia.
More Information Coming Soon!
The mission of Empower DC is to build the power of DC residents through resident-led community organizing to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.
More Information Coming Soon!

June 14, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Health Equity, Newsroom, Newsletter, General News, DC, Press Releases

Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces $12.5M in Health Advocacy, Policy, and Systems Change Support

June 14, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Health Equity, Newsroom, Newsletter, General News, DC, Press Releases

The Greater Washington Community Foundation celebrated $12.5 million in Health Equity Fund grants to 14 DC-based nonprofits working on health advocacy, policy, and systems change initiatives. This marks the largest single grant round in The Community Foundation’s 50-year history.

The historic investment comes from the $95 million Health Equity Fund (HEF) -- designed to address the social and structural determinants of health and to help achieve health equity for DC residents. It is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents.

“We know that 80% of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, structural, and economic factors, with clinical care accounting for only 20%,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Health and wealth are inextricably linked – which is why we are confident that activating resources to change systems and policies as well as to increase economic mobility will be instrumental in improving health outcomes for District of Columbia residents.”

“In this round, we are investing in organizations who seek to change structural determinants of health over the long-term,” said Dr. Nnemdi Elias, Chair of the Health Equity Committee. “We recognize this mandate requires deep investment and collaboration, which is why our partners will also work together to share best practices and leverage their collective strengths as we build a healthier future for DC’s residents.”

Some of these investments include

Black Women Thriving East of the River will support data, training, advocacy, and education to better position Black women living east of the Anacostia River to acquire and maintain employment in health-related careers.

Emerald Cities Collaborative Inc. will develop a Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) economic inclusion initiative to create local-level business opportunities aligned with city-wide diversity and inclusion goals, and will strengthen the capacity of DC’s BIPOC contractors to execute and bid on BEPS project opportunities.

La Clinica del Pueblo will support efforts to challenge citizenship as a determinant of social and legal belonging through advocacy work that addresses the health coverage exclusion of noncitizens and supports equal access to high-quality care, regardless of status.

The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens will lead four years of advocacy to enact change through the Black-led #SafeAndFreeDC legislative policy agenda, which addresses health, economic, and racial equity through transformation of the criminal legal system.

Whitman-Walker Institute will work with community organizations and District residents to develop a partnership framework that increases cross-sectoral collaboration in policy and advocacy efforts, which will then be used to develop a Queer and Trans Agenda for Racial and Economic Justice.

Additional grantees include: Council for Court Excellence; DC Fiscal Policy Institute; DC Justice Lab; DC Reentry Housing Alliance; Empower DC; Fair Budget Coalition; Many Languages One Voice; Mothers Outreach Network; and Tzedek DC.

Meet our Health Equity Nonprofit Partners!

Wellons and representatives from the DC Health Equity Committee, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield celebrated with the nonprofit organizations at a special welcome breakfast.

“Today represents the single most important philanthropic investment – not only in the history of The Community Foundation, but also in the history of Washington DC,” Commissioner Karima Woods with the DC Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking. “With this investment in policy, advocacy, and systems change, we champion the HOPE (hope, opportunity, prosperity, and equity) you will bring to the District.”

“The Health Equity Fund is an unprecedented, community-focused philanthropic endeavor, and this grant round mirrors the extraordinary nature of the fund with specific focus on programs that will create lasting structural and policy changes for our DC community,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst). “We applaud the tireless efforts of the organizations selected as we work together to find ways to reduce the effects that social and structural determinants have on health outcomes. We are confident these organizations will help to change the economic, social and policy systems that often create and reinforce persistent health inequities in the District.”

With this exciting investment also came a call to action.

“We’re asking you to work together, as a cohort,” Juan Jara, a member of the Health Equity Committee explained. ““Your work – and the issues that your organizations address – are all interconnected. The more we can collaborate and work together, the better off we’re going to be as a community.”

The Community Foundation and its partners didn’t waste any time – launching straight into their second IDEA Summit immediately following the welcome breakfast. The event allowed partners to not only network, but also to ‘co-design success’ – working together to identify the outcomes, actions, and impact that they hope to see over the next few years. The summit was facilitated by a team from the American Institutes for Research (AIR), which serves as the evaluation partner for the Health Equity Fund.

“This is a quality group,” shared one leader. “Everyone in this room has a drive and a passion to make a huge difference for this community.”

March 23, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom

Grantmaking for Success: Approaching the Evaluation Process with Equity in Mind

March 23, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

DC, Health Equity, General News, Newsletter, Newsroom

On March 20, the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund hosted its first IDEA Summit for nonprofit partners from its inaugural $9.2 million grant round. The event brought together nonprofit leaders from across DC at the historic True Reformer Building to discuss what is often the most dreaded part of the grantmaking process – reporting and evaluation.

“Our goal here is to figure out how we can scale up those things that are working,” Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of The Community Foundation shared. “To come together as partners and be laser-focused on what we’re measuring and how we show impact.”

“What we’re doing here is co-designing success,” Dr. Brandy Farrar, a Managing Director for American Institutes for Research (AIR) explained. AIR serves as the evaluation partner for the Health Equity Fund. “Instead of establishing an arbitrary checklist of universal benchmarks, we want to work with each of you to identify what success looks like and how can we measure it.”

Partners were organized into tables based on their focus area and geographic location. Each table was given a set of discussion questions and was encouraged to set aside time to network and share ideas with their tablemates. This networking proved invaluable for many partners, as they were able to make connections with fellow changemakers within their respective spaces.

“Y’all are so inspiring,” one leader shared. “It’s so amazing to be here and see all the connections between the work that we do.”

“We represent such a diverse array of folks here,” another added. “And yet there’s this common thread in coming together in the continuum of care for our community.”

“I’m excited to feel a lot of love in this room – you gotta love on people, because once you start loving on people, you start seeing how the world can change.”

Responses from Group members when asked about organizations that they partner with.

Each group was then asked to ‘co-design success’ by identifying what success looks like – including the actions, beneficiaries, and impact behind each. Groups were encouraged to brainstorm beyond the scope of their individual organizations – allowing them to think creatively and on a macro scale about the impact of their work. The result was a list of solutions that stretched from increasing food bank access for seniors to reforming eligibility for government assistance programs.

The groups also had opportunities to answer questions about an array of topics such as promoting staff wellness, supporting diverse perspectives in the workplace, sharing resources with local government, and common evaluation challenges. All responses were collected by the AIR Evaluation team and will be used to help establish the evaluation benchmarks.

“This event is as much for our partners as it is for us,” Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shared. “Our goal is to use IDEA summits to better inform and orient future funding opportunities.”

“But it’s also about equity,” she continued. “The more we take time to listen to our partners – the ones who are on the ground, doing the work – the better we can understand from each one what success looks like and how we, as a philanthropic partner, can provide support that goes beyond the dollar figures.”

March 14, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Newsroom, Newsletter, Health Equity, General News, Impact Stories, DC, Guaranteed Income

Bridging the Health and Wealth Gap Through Guaranteed Income

March 14, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Newsroom, Newsletter, Health Equity, General News, Impact Stories, DC, Guaranteed Income

In September 2022, The Community Foundation announced the inaugural grant round for the Health Equity Fund — a $95 million fund designed to improve health outcomes for DC residents through an economic mobility framework.

A number of those inaugural grantees are currently (or will soon become) part of the growing Guaranteed Income or Cash Transfer movement — a group of initiatives and pilot programs across the country that are using cash payments to provide direct assistance to community members.

As part of our journey to understand the impact that these programs can have in our community, we reached out to some of our partners to understand how providing direct cash assistance helps the communities they serve.

My Sister’s Place

My Sister’s Place (MSP) emergency cash transfer program, RISE Trust, serves 45 families who have experienced domestic violence. Financial abuse goes hand-in-hand with domestic abuse, and is one of the main reasons survivors stay in, and return to, abusive relationships.

MSP is providing $500/month for 24 months to our participants. Equally as important, financial literacy and programs with our partner, Capital Area Asset Builders, will allow our participants to gain financial education, the combination leading to financially empowered and hopeful families.

Just 3 months into the program participants are getting their credit scores for the first time, creating financial goals, and learning about how trauma affects finances. Participants reported being able to drop a part-time job and having more time with their children, paying off credit card bills, feeling a new sense of hope and a reduction in stress. We are excited to see the impact after 24 months.

Mother’s Outreach Network

Mother’s Outreach Network (MON) deploys policy advocacy, legal programs, and community building to address and strengthen the social determinants of health for Black mothers. MON is specifically focused on Black family preservation -- building the economic security of Black mothers involved with Washington, DC’s Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). These women are some of the city’s most economically marginalized mothers.

In 2019, 4 out of every 5 D.C. cases in foster care stemmed from neglect-based allegations alone. These were cases where parents were charged with harming the “health or welfare” of a child under 18 years of age by failing to accord them “adequate food, clothing, shelter, education or medical care.”

To combat this, in 2021, MON conceived of a guaranteed income pilot research program to provide monthly unconditional cash payments for three years to DC residents that identify as Black mothers and have current or recent involvement in the child welfare system. Set to launch in three phases starting in early April 2023, MON's program seeks to inform policy around how poverty reduction affects involvement of parents in the child welfare system.

Capital Area Asset Builders

Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) started to be involved in the guaranteed income and cash transfer movement in the Fall of 2017. At CAAB we strongly believe that in order to achieve poverty alleviation, financial stability and long-term prosperity community members need access to information, education, empowerment, and money. No one community member can ever be directly serviced out of poverty. Without access to money one’s dreams and aspirations cannot be converted into goals and actions. With access to money, they can be.

Since early 2018, CAAB has been managing DC Flex, the nation’s first eviction- and homelessness-prevention cash transfer program. DC Flex is funded by the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) for the benefit of low-income TANF-receiving families to be able to pay rent on time and thus avoid eviction and homelessness. Since the creation of DC Flex, we have seen the significant impact the program has in enabling a family to stay housed, avoid financial hardships, and be put on a pathway to financial security. DC Flex goes beyond providing cash assistance. Program participants also receive financial wellness services provided by CAAB: bank accounts, budget management, financial wellness workshops, one-on-one confidential financial coaching sessions, information on the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, as well as access to free tax preparation services.

DC Flex was supposed to be a 4-year long pilot program for 125 low-income families in Washington, DC with total annual cash transfers of $900,000. Because of its deep impact, DC Flex has now grown to benefit 669 low-income families and 125 low-income individuals with total annual cash transfers of over $6.5 million. In addition to DC Flex, over the past 4 years CAAB has also partnered with several private sector and non-profit sector partners to manage 7 other guaranteed income and cash transfer initiatives. We celebrate and applaud all entities offering guaranteed income and cash transfer programs.

March 13, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Ending Homelessness, Health Equity, DC, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

Housing: A Social Determinant of Health

March 13, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

Ending Homelessness, Health Equity, DC, Newsletter, Newsroom, General News

Neighborhood & Built Environment (Housing) is one of the five social determinants of health, as identified by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

In DC, 80 percent of residents’ health outcomes are driven by socioeconomic factors, compared to just 20 percent driven by clinical care. Access to safe, quality, affordable housing – and to the supports necessary to maintain that housing -- constitute one of the most basic and powerful social determinants of health.

Research demonstrates that housing and health are inextricably linked:

Poor health is a major cause of homelessness. Chronic physical and behavioral health conditions can lead to loss of income and contribute to the loss of stable housing and episodes of homelessness.
Lack of stable housing makes people sick. People experiencing homelessness are at higher risk for infectious diseases, injuries due to accident or violence, the exacerbation of chronic physical conditions like diabetes, mental illness, or addiction, and death due to exposure. Homelessness has been found to “age” people up to 20 years beyond their chronological age.
Homelessness makes it harder to heal. Homelessness complicates efforts for health professionals to successfully treat chronic conditions, illnesses, and injuries. Discharging a patient from a hospital to a safe and stable environment is critical for proper wound care, compliance with recommended treatments and medication regimes, and access to healthy foods and a place to rest and recuperate.

The Partnership to End Homelessness knows that housing is healthcare and that housing increases economic mobility. Access to quality, affordable, supportive housing can prevent illnesses and help successfully treat health conditions

The Partnership works to increase health equity and improve health outcomes for DC residents through its investments in the development and preservation of housing that is affordable to households with extremely low incomes, including Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). PSH is an evidence-based practice that combines permanent affordable housing with comprehensive support services for people who have experienced chronic homelessness.

Through its direct grantmaking and impact investing programs, the Partnership supports the creation of housing for extremely low-income households.

One example of this work is a recent project from Jubilee Housing. The EucKal apartments will create a combined 50 units of housing that will be affordable to very low-income individuals and residents of permanent supportive housing. This project was made possible through a $500,000 recoverable grant from The Community Foundation to support Jubilee Housing’s development of PSH and other housing investments. In addition to the EucKal project, this funding was also leveraged to purchase four buildings in Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights to create 120 new units of housing for residents with low incomes. Jubilee plans to further expand its reach by creating housing to serve families, returning citizens, and individuals exiting homelessness. The organization hopes ultimately to provide housing to approximately 317 individuals annually, across 102 permanent units and 18 single room occupancy units.

Learn more about The Community Foundation’s Impact Investing Programs

Enterprise Community Loan Fund Impact Note

In partnership with Enterprise Community Loan Fund, the Partnership offers an Impact Note - an impact investing option for donors seeking to make a difference in the housing space. To date $14.8 million has been invested through this initiative, which has been leveraged to create and preserve 482 homes affordable to low-income households making less than 50% of the area median income. Projects have also included 96 units with supportive services and 192 units serving senior residents. Check out our 2022 Enterprise Community Loan Fund Impact Report to learn more about our investments and impact.

To learn more about how the Partnership’s investments in ending homelessness improves health outcomes for DC residents, contact Jennifer Olney at [email protected] or Silvana Straw [email protected].

February 7, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, Community Leadership, Racial Justice, DC

Helping Nonprofits Navigate the Guaranteed Income Movement

February 7, 2023

Greater Washington Community Foundation

General News, Health Equity, Newsletter, Newsroom, Community Leadership, Racial Justice, DC

Last month, the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Health Equity Fund hosted its first Lunch & Learn Event with nonprofit partners from its inaugural $9.2 million grant round, and other organizations interested in launching and sustaining guaranteed income pilots. The event was hosted at the offices of Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) and featured a virtual panel of national experts who shared insights about executing successful and sustainable pilots.

“The Health Equity Fund team believes in the inextricable link between health and wealth,” Dr. Marla M. Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund explained. “That is why we are using an economic mobility frame to address the social determinants of health – in alignment with The Community Foundation’s broader vision to closing the racial health and wealth gap.”

“We believe that guaranteed income pilots are one of the best ways to achieve that.”

Launched in 2017, the Guaranteed Income Movement was designed to provide unrestricted cash transfers to help individuals and families improve their economic stability. Deemed a “quiet revolution in social policymaking”, the Guaranteed Income Movement has quickly taken center-stage in the economic mobility arena. As of September 2022, there were 100 such pilots announced across the United States – including several in the Greater Washington region.

That figure has increased since October, when several Health Equity Fund partners from the inaugural grant round announced they were using their funding to launch their own Guaranteed Income Pilots (also known as Cash Transfer Programs).

“We are delighted to watch the incredible work you all are doing in DC,” Natalie Foster, President and Co-Founder of the Economic Security Project shared with the group. “You all are pioneers in how we think about the social contract in America – one that centers dignity and humanity and freedom and agency for people.”

As part of the event, nonprofit partners had a chance to share their questions with the virtual panel – which included some of the founding funders and organizers of the movement. Questions ranged from how to build the right narrative to how to ensure the financial sustainability of the work.

“We believe that our families know better than anybody else what they need,” Sarah Stripp, Managing Director of Springboard to Opportunities shared in response to a question about program design. Sarah Stripp was the manager behind The Magnolia Mother’s Trust – one of the first Guaranteed Income Pilots founded in Mississippi in 2018.

“We’ve found that the most successful ideas come from an intentional design process where we’re creating something with individuals, instead of just for them; a process where, we’re proactive in engaging those we serve to figure out what works.”

“How we frame our initiatives – the narrative we use – is really key to helping them become sustainable,” shared Halah Ahmad, a Vice President at Jain Family Institute (JFI) shared. In addition to funding some of the Guaranteed Income Pilots, JFI has also conducted research about public perceptions of cash transfer programs.

“We’ve seen a direct correlation between the way a cash transfer program is framed and the amount of support they receive. Is it framed as a poverty-fighting program? Is it framed as a community empowerment mechanism? The language you use to frame your initiative really matters.”

Nick Salazar of the Fund for Guaranteed Income and Katherine Cagat of Mayors for Guaranteed Income added that it’s important to engage and empower the individuals they serve in creating the narrative, rather than building a narrative around them.

“When you have people speak about their own experiences, rather than being presented, you allow them to tell their story in their own way,” Katherine explained. “This is critical to preserving their dignity and humanity, while at the same time giving them a platform to tear down negative stigmas that our society has about people in their situation.”

Panelists also talked about the importance of being purposeful in identifying and connecting with their target audience.

“Beliefs about poverty and those living in poverty run deep in this country,” Nick added. “We can’t fully wait for everybody to change their mind before we begin.”

“We need be bold and intentional in this work, staying focused and being true to the communities we’ve committed to serve; the people we’re striving to serve.”

“As long as you’re doing that, I don’t think you can go wrong.”

The Community Foundation is committed to promoting economic justice throughout the Greater Washington region through strategies like Guaranteed Income Pilots, Children’s Trust Accounts, and Community Wealth Building. For more information, visit https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/strategic-plan

The Pathway to Economic Mobility, Prosperity & FAmily Wellness

Lift as we climb

Elevating Black Fatherhood: Brighter Futures for Children, Families, & Communities

Sustainable DC

NorthStar Institute

2024 Health Equity Fund Partners (* = Returning Partner)

New Nonprofit Partners

Network for Developing Conscious Communities

The Platform of Hope

Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation, Inc

School Justice Project

Building Futures

RUMA Collective

Ayuda

DC KinCare Alliance

Social Justice Public Charter School

birdseed, inc

DC Public Education Fund

DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice

Speakout, Inc

Mi Casa, Inc

Women Palante

Open City Advocates

Returning Nonprofit Partners

DC Central Kitchen

Yachad

ONE DC

Council for Court Excellence

Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria

Beloved Community Incubator

Fathers in Tech/Capital Youth Empowerment Program

AsylumWorks

Calvary Women's Services

My Sister's Place

HIPS

Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

DC Affordable Law Firm

Tzedek DC

Generation Hope

Rising For Justice

Riding the Green Wave –The Economic Windfall of Net-Zero Energy

Overcoming the Racial Energy Investment Gap

The Birth of the Sustainable DC Project

The ALICE Barrier

The Power of Financial Well-being

Building a Legacy

WASHINGTON AREA COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND AND THE COALITION FOR NONPROFIT HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NORTHSTAR INSTITUTE, LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH CENTER CAREER ACADEMY AND ACADEMY OF HOPE ADULT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

About the Health Equity Fund

How we’re combining grants, strategic planning, and the power of collaboration to address gun violence

By Melen Hagos & Tonia Wellons

FROM THE NATIONAL NEWS TO THE LOCAL STREETS

LEADING WITH INTENTIONALITY & COLLABORATION

HIRING A SENIOR FELLOW, COMMUNITY SAFETY & HARM REDUCTION

PARTICIPATING IN CF LEADS GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK

MAKING INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH AND SAFETY

BUILDING NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Editor’s Note: In this guest post, Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shares her point of view on what health equity for all means to her and why it’s important for funders and community partners to come together on this issue.

Editor’s Note: In this guest post, Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shares her point of view on what health equity for all means to her and why it’s important for funders and community partners to come together on this issue.

Editor’s Note: In this guest post, Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director of the Health Equity Fund shares her point of view on what health equity for all means to her and why it’s important for funders and community partners to come together on this issue.

THE NATIONAL REENTRY NETWORK FOR RETURNING CITIZENS

DC FISCAL POLICY INSTITUTE

MOTHERS OUTREACH NETWORK

COUNCIL FOR COURT EXCELLENCE

DC JUSTICE LAB

LA CLINICA DEL PUEBLO

WHITMAN-WALKER INSTITUTE

BLACK WOMEN THRIVING EAST OF THE RIVER

MANY LANGUAGES ONE VOICE

Tzedek DC

Emerald Cities Collaborative

DC Reentry Housing Alliance

Fair Budget Coalition

Empower DC

My Sister’s Place

Mother’s Outreach Network

Capital Area Asset Builders