Community Foundation Welcomes Racial Equity Expert to Board, Bids Farewell to Longest Standing Member

Dr. Rashawn Ray, Brookings Institution Fellow, Professor & Executive Director at the University of Maryland

Dr. Rashawn Ray, a David M. Rubenstein Fellow in Governance Studies at The Brookings Institution, is Professor of Sociology and Executive Director of the Lab for Applied Social Science Research (LASSR) at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also one of the co-editors of Contexts Magazine: Sociology for the Public. Formerly, Ray was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Ray’s research addresses the mechanisms that manufacture and maintain racial and social inequality with a particular focus on police-civilian relations and men’s treatment of women. His work also speaks to ways that inequality may be attenuated through racial uplift activism and social policy.

He has written for the New York Times, Newsweek, Huffington Post, and NBC News – and, has published over 50 books, articles, book chapters, and nearly 20 op-eds. Selected as 40 Under 40 Prince George's County and awarded the 2016 UMD Research Communicator Award, Ray has appeared on C-SPAN, MSNBC, HLN, Al Jazeera, NPR, and Fox News.

Recently, we were excited to feature Dr. Ray in our inaugural VoicesDMV Social Justice Town Hall, presented by Wells Fargo: From Grief to Action, a conversation about racial justice and the concrete ways we can take action to support the black community. 

 “Hate groups in particular have increased in the United States by up to 100%. What we have to realize is there is a continuum of racial hate – and that is embedded in our social institutions. I am committed to moving us towards the needle of racial equity,” said Dr. Ray.

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 Dan Mayers

This fall, we bid a bittersweet farewell to Dan Mayers, the longest standing member of our Board of Trustees. Dan previously served as Chair of the Board of Trustees and of the Governance Board of The Community Foundation’s September 11 Survivors’ Fund. He also served as board chair of the Harvard Law School Visiting Committee, Legal Action Center, National Child Research Center, National Symphony Orchestra, Sidwell Friends School, and WETA.

Dan and his wife Karen credit The Community Foundation with informing their philanthropy and introducing them to the region’s most effective nonprofits going back many years.

More and more, they have focused their philanthropy on groups serving low-income individuals and families. Dan helped to guide The Community Foundation’s Neighbors in Need Fund, established during the recession to strengthen the region’s safety-net providers and services, and the couple were major donors to the fund.

Together we can end homelessness

In 2018, in an incredibly gracious act, Dan donated $100,000 to begin the Dan and Karen Mayers’ Challenge. The Challenge aimed to raise $1 million for the Partnership to End Homelessness. We are thrilled to announce that we met the $1 million challenge during the first year of the Partnership. 

“In the past, homelessness was seen as an intractable problem,” says Dan. “Today, we have the leadership, tools, plan, and political will to end homelessness. The only thing missing is critical resources.”

“This is what community foundations do—they respond to community need,” adds Dan. “Time and again, I’ve witnessed The Community Foundation galvanize the generosity of concerned residents. I’ve seen compassionate people rally around urgent community needs, from natural disasters to 9/11 to the recession.”

We are so grateful to have worked with Dan, and for his years of service. Thank you for your investment in bettering our community.

New Grant Opportunities for Nonprofits Serving Greater Washington

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

VoicesDMV Community Action Awards

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

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

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Children's Opportunity Fund

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

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

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The Equity Fund

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

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

Educational Equity in our Response to COVID-19, and Beyond

By Kimberly Rusnak, Project Director of The Children’s Opportunity Fund

“We do run the risk that the learning loss students experience now will be the enduring legacy of this pandemic.” - Ralph Smith, director of The Campaign for Grade Level Reading, a national advocacy group

During a typical school year, children only spend 15% of their time in school.  For the 2020-2021 academic year, we know that “school” is very different.  Throughout the DMV, all school districts are starting 100% online.  Unfortunately, there are many students who are not fully participating in online learning for a variety of reasons:

• Insufficient technical support or access to the internet; 

• Not having a supportive adult on hand for support; 

• Distractions from pets, siblings, tv, etc.; 

• Digital eye strain after 3-6 hours of Zoom each day; 

• Isolation, depression, and mental health challenges; 

• For older children, they may need to supervise younger siblings; and 

• Decreasing motivation from not having clarity about academic progress in the virtual setting.  

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated and laid bare many long-standing inequities.  Unfortunately, without significant intervention specifically focused on the needs of children, the challenges will get much worse.  

Our Regional Response to COVID-19 for education

Several years ago, the Montgomery Public School System (MCPS) and Montgomery County Government partnered with the Greater Washington Community Foundation to create the Children’s Opportunity Fund. It works to plan, launch, and expand strategic investments to close the achievement gap by addressing racial inequities and expanding opportunities for marginalized children and families. 

The Fund’s leadership decided to focus on helping kids build a strong foundation for life-long success after discovering only about 50% of third-graders in Montgomery County were able to read at or above grade level.  Research shows third-grade literacy has been tied to dropout rates, higher rates of anxiety and depression and increased behavioral problems. Therefore, ensuring our kids have a strong start is key to the community’s economic viability.   

In response to the pandemic, the Children’s Opportunity Fund is focusing on important programs for elementary school age children, including tutoring, family supports and early literacy interventions. Moving into the 2020-2021 school year, we’ll focus on building out effective, evidence informed programs to expand tutoring for Elementary School age children in reading and math, providing families with supports such as Equity Learning Hubs and access to affordable childcare options for families who cannot afford it otherwise.  We are also partnering with Waterford Upstart, a national evidence-informed program, to provide a virtual kindergarten readiness program for a cohort of four year-olds in Montgomery County. 

Join Us to Make a Difference

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, we’ve disbursed more than $7 million to local nonprofits—more than $1 million of which supported organizations helping to expand educational opportunities for children and youth, and advocacy around childcare system improvements.

We are proud to help advance educational equity in our region – and hope you will join us in helping to make a difference. 

Provide Critical Support to Advance These Efforts

• Donate to the Children’s Opportunity Fund.

• Learn more about and donate to DC Education Equity Fund.

•  Donate a digital device (or backpacks, activities, and school supplies) to the “Back to School Bash”

Learn More 

• “Equal Opportunity for Remote Learning.” VoicesDMV Social Justice Town Hall 

•  “DC had a Summer to Connect with Students and Close the Digital Divide. Did it?” Washington Post

• “A ‘Covid Slide Could Widen the Digital Divide for Students.” Wired Magazine

• “Education In a Pandemic: Remote Learning and The Digital Divide.” WAMU

• “As Distance Learning Pushes Parents into Pods, Some Look for Ways to Make the Model More Inclusive.” The 74

•  “‘A Whole System Failure’: Test Scores Indicate Half of MCPS Third-Graders Can’t Read At Grade Level.” Bethesda Magazine

#MakeADifference Monday: Education and Youth

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

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

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

The Young Women’s Project

YWP Youth Leaders advocate for educational change

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

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

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

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

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

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

Latino student fund

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

Latino Student Fund students and tutors on a virtual session.

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

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

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

free minds book club and writing workshop

Books for Free Minds inmates.

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

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

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

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

the alliance of concerned men

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

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

A leader from the program said the following: 

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

Back to School Means Facing the Digital Divide

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

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

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

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

Thus, the DC Education Equity Fund was established.

Credit: DeeperLearning4All

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greater Washington Community Foundation Invites Area Residents to Put the Future of the Region “On the Table”

Residents to Gather Through Virtual or Face-to-Face Small-Group Conversations on Thursday, October 1

WASHINGTON, DC – Residents from across the Greater Washington region will gather for virtual or face-to-face small-group conversations on a single day – Thursday, October 1, 2020 – to discuss and reimagine the future of our communities as part of VoicesDMV On the Table, presented by the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing calls for racial justice in health, policing, and economy highlight how far we have to go to address the deep economic inequities and social challenges experienced by so many residents of the DMV region,” said Tonia Wellons, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “As a community foundation, it is central to our mission to have a finger on the pulse of our community in order to effectively respond to the most critical issues affecting our region. On the Table is an opportunity for our community to talk with, listen to and learn from each other as we work to build a more resilient community where racial justice is prioritized and everyone has equal opportunity to thrive.” 

Hosts can plan their conversations to take place any time on Thursday, October 1. Virtual discussions can be convened through The Community Foundation’s free interactive online platform, which includes easy-to-use, built-in discussion guides, or through another preferred video conference tool. Face-to-face conversations can be convened using proper social distancing at homes, offices, parks, community centers and other locations.

The topics, issues and ideas discussed during each of the On the Table conversations will be driven by the unique perspectives of participants, and the opportunities and challenges that are most important to them. The Community Foundation will provide discussion guides on important issues, such as racial equity, education, housing and homelessness, economic security, employment and workforce, and more, that were identified through a regional survey conducted this spring by the public opinion research firm, Gallup, to better understand the diverse experiences of the people who live and work in the Greater Washington region. Thousands of residents shared their feedback about the most important issues facing the Greater Washington region. The full report, along with summaries of survey responses by geographic region and a customizable data dashboard that helps participants to explore the report, are available at www.VoicesDMV.org.

“We are grateful to the thousands of residents who shared their insights through the survey,” said Wellons. “And we hope thousands more will join us to discuss what we can do to make our communities stronger through On the Table conversations. Together, we have the power to improve the quality of life for everyone in the Greater Washington region.”

On the Table is part of The Community Foundation’s VoicesDMV initiative, which launched in 2017 as a way to explore the region’s challenges and opportunities related to housing, transportation, safety, economic security, race relations, and community well-being. This year, VoicesDMV returns as a three-part initiative that, in addition to the regional survey and On the Table conversations, will help to fund ideas sparked during those discussions through Community Action Awards of up to $2,000 to move ideas from the discussions into action.

Created by The Chicago Community Trust in 2014, to date, the On the Table model has been adopted by more than 30 communities that have collectively engaged more than 300,000 people from coast to coast.

American University will serve as The Community Foundation’s lead outreach partner in encouraging Greater Washington area residents and organizations to host and/or participate in these On the Table conversations.

For more information or to sign up to host an On The Table conversation on October 1, visit www.VoicesDMV.org.

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ABOUT THE GREATER WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Since 1973, the Greater Washington Community Foundation has been a champion of thriving communities and a catalyst for change through local philanthropic engagement, effective community investment, and civic leadership. We work with donors and partners to enhance the quality of life in the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s County by aligning resources and leveraging shared interests to amplify impact. As the region’s largest local funder, The Community Foundation has invested more than $1.3 billion to build more equitable, just, and enriching communities where all residents can live, work, and thrive.

Celebrating Community Foundation Servant-Leaders

The Power of Philanthropic Impact

“I believe that the measure of our lives is how we impacted others.” -John Terry Beaty

John Terry Beaty, former Community Foundation Trustee and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee, understands the power of philanthropy. He grew up watching his mother work at the New York City Community Trust, which is where he says he learned to “help other people.”

Terry is an investment advisor with Brown Advisory, and has worked in the investment field for 40+ years. Prior to joining Brown, he co-founded Beaty Haynes & Associates, Inc., where he counseled clients and sought out new, strategic investment opportunities.  

Earlier this year, he left The Community Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee, completing a total of 11 years of service. We were sad to see Terry go—but are so very grateful for his commitment, counsel and friendship over the years. Thank you, Terry!

“The dollars we raised meant that we had more money to give to our community. I got a lot of satisfaction of helping create that added value,” said Terry. 

Terry’s legacy at The Community Foundation will live on, though. He recently established a bequest at The Community Foundation with his wife Anne Mehringer. The bequest is completely unrestricted, meaning funds can be used by organizations for core operating expenses. Beaty plans to continue giving to The Community Foundation, and staying engaged as an active part of the community. 

“I believe that the measure of our lives is how we have impacted others,” says Beaty. “I want to have a positive influence on our community, our families.”

A Legacy of Service

David Bradt, a longtime trustee and friend of The Community Foundation, recently concluded his final term on our Finance and Investment Committee. Prior to his Committee service, he served on The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, even serving as Board Chair. 

Bradt, who recently retired as Managing Director of Andersen Tax, has extensive experience in investment consulting, tax planning, and financial planning with individuals and companies throughout Greater Washington. He has also served in various volunteer leadership roles, including Chairman and Board member of Greater D.C. Cares, member of the Board of Venture Philanthropy Partners, and a volunteer and fundraising dinner chair for Share Our Strength.

Virtual 2020 Bradt Nonprofit Award Celebration

 In 2019, as a meaningful salute to his service, David’s friends and family surprised him by establishing the David Bradt Nonprofit Education Fund at The Community Foundation. The fund’s purpose is to provide an annual award that will enable a nonprofit leader in the Greater Washington region to attend an intensive executive training program. 

We are proud to have worked so closely with David, and are grateful for his years of service. Thank you for your thoughtful investment in bettering our community.

“Both David and Terry generously shared their expertise and experience benefitting The Community Foundation’s fund holders for many years. We are deeply grateful for his time and service,” said Rebecca Rothey, Vice President of Development and Senior Philanthropic Advisor.

Celebrating new chapters

Goodbyes can be bittersweet—and staff departures are no exception. This spring, we bid farewell to Shannon Scott, former Chief Financial Officer (CFO), as she took on a new role as CFO at the New Venture Fund. After 4+ years with us, we were certainly sad to see her go – but very excited for her new chapter with New Venture. 

“The Community Foundation sees people, and engages its partners to see them, too. What greater purpose could there be? How great for me to have been part of that unveiling and truth-telling where others opened their eyes to the need and to the solutions,” said Scott.  

Following Shannon’s departure, we were excited to welcome Juliana Mitrojorgji as Managing Director of Finance. Juliana has worked at The Community Foundation since 2011, when she joined as Senior Director of Finance. 

As our new Managing Director of Finance, she manages the organization’s quarterly and annual financial reporting process, oversees all investments’ related activities, audits financial data for accuracy and compliance, and communicates accurate financial information to individual donors, organizations, and other interested parties.

“I am passionate about supporting an organization with such a strong community emphasis. Being promoted to this senior leadership position enables me to have a greater contribution to the mission that the Community Foundation supports,” said Mitrojorgji. “My goal is to make The Community Foundation more efficient in its accounting practices, which will help empower The Community Foundation to continue to achieve its mission.”

Transformative Approaches to Justice: DC Fund for Just and Peaceful Neighborhoods

By Alise Marshall, Director of Strategy and New Ventures, Public Welfare Foundation

Alise Marshall, Public Welfare Foundation

The best ideas bubble up from communities. It’s a philosophy that Public Welfare Foundation feels so strongly about that we recently shifted our grantmaking strategy to get closer to the communities where transformative approaches to justice are happening. This on-the-ground approach allows us to partner with proximate, community-rooted organizations that are working on promising solutions to systemic problems.

We began this work in our hometown of Washington, DC. The District has many governance and structural traits that make it unique nationally, but it is these same traits that make it particularly challenging when it comes to the administration of justice. Yet the city is ripe for reform, offering leaders and policymakers with a willingness to test new solutions and practices. Some of our early insights were captured in this analysis we published last year on DC's justice systems.

As we met with, and learned from, DC’s community leaders, it became clear that community-rooted work at the intersection of race, criminal justice, and violence required greater investment. Part of our grantmaking strategy was the creation of the DC Fund for Just & Peaceful Neighborhoods with the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

Launched in the Summer of 2019, the Fund provides targeted, immediate support to neighborhood-based groups responding to the interconnected challenges of violence and incarceration. The DC Fund for Just and Peaceful Neighborhoods is fueled by the urgency to shift how our community and its systems respond to justice-involved youth and young adults, principally young people of color who bear the brunt of the nation’s gun violence and incarceration crisis.  

DC has long been a city divided, but that divide has grown more pronounced over the past two decades. DC is one of the heaviest policed cities in the country, with police interactions disproportionately taking place “East of the River” in Wards 7 and 8; racial disparities permeate every point of the system; and there is a growing need to address the intersection of violence and incarceration among DC’s young adult population.

There have been over 100 homicides in DC so far this year, an 18 percent increase from this same time in 2019. To change course and transform lives, we must reimagine what is possible for youth and young adults who experience violence or come in contact with the criminal justice system by investing in community-centered models of support that reflect the needs of young people; and building capacity among proximate organizations in the most affected neighborhoods.  

The DC Fund provides supports for select frontline organizations working to respond to violence through:

• Violence prevention, intervention, and building community cohesion

• Development and implementation of alternatives to incarceration and restorative justice practices

• Building voice and power across the justice-impacted youth and young adult community

• Concentrated efforts to repair the harm perpetuated by cycles of violence and incarceration in impacted communities

In January 2020, the DC Fund made awards to eight nonprofit organizations which are working to engage and mobilize individuals who have been impacted by violence and the criminal justice system through programs including job training and reentry supports, access to trauma informed services, policy education sessions, and the creation of safe spaces for youth and young adults.

The DC Fund for Just and Peaceful Neighborhoods is directing support to organizations working to interrupt violence in some of the most impacted parts of the city. Groups like the National Association for the Advancement of Returning Citizens and The TraRon Center – two DC Fund recipients founded by native DC residents who have answered the call of service in their communities and are helping those affected by gun violence address harm through the principles of conflict management, healing, and restorative justice.

Public Welfare Foundation is committed to advancing more transformative approaches to justice that are community-led, restorative, and racially just. And above all else, we believe in going where the need is greatest and where investment in bold responses to fractures in the local justice and safety context are lacking. We know, and research demonstrates, that true healing and restoration of those most impacted by incarceration and violence must take place in community-based settings-not in the punitive, restrictive settings that continue to define the American justice and public safety systems.  

Your Generosity Made a Difference

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

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

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

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

Caring for Our Neighbors in Need

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

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

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

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

In It Together

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

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

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

Partnering for the Future

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

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

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

Sincerely,
Tonia Wellons
President and CEO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Partnership to End Homelessness Welcomes New Leadership Council Members

The Partnership to End Homelessness is proud to announce the members of its Leadership Council, including leaders in business, health care, philanthropy, and academia; national experts; developers; and advocates for affordable housing and ending homelessness—all committed to ending homelessness in Washington, DC.

The Partnership, launched by the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness, is the District’s first-of-its-kind initiative to bring together the public and private sectors to expand DC’s supply of deeply affordable housing and to help people experiencing homelessness obtain and maintain stable housing.

“Homelessness is too big a problem for government alone to solve,” said Leadership Council Chair David Roodberg, CEO and President of Horning Brothers. “As a real estate developer, I’m committed to expanding housing opportunities for people who’ve experienced homelessness, but everyone in the business community has a role to play. This is an issue that affects all of us in one way or another and it is our responsibility together as a community to ensure everyone has a safe, stable home.”

On any given night, nearly 1 in every 100 DC residents experience homelessness, living on the streets or in the city's emergency shelters. Lack of stable housing makes it difficult for people to obtain or maintain employment, address health needs, and keep families together. 

Homelessness and the lack of affordable housing is a systemic challenge, and the Partnership approaches this challenge by aligning public and private sector resources to create systems level changes that allow people to be housed more quickly and to maintain housing stability. 

Homelessness is also an issue of racial justice—86 percent of people experiencing homelessness in DC are Black, compared to 46 percent of DC residents as a whole. We are committed to approaching this work with a focus on how we can address these disparities and make sure that everyone can access safe, stable housing. 

“Homelessness is projected to increase as much as 45% this year due to COVID-19. In DC, we urgently need to increase affordable housing in every ward of the city,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Community Washington Foundation. “The members of our new Leadership Council bring diversity, wisdom, experience, and commitment to ending homelessness in DC. With their support and dedication, the Partnership will work to advance proven solutions to ensure all DC residents have a safe and stable place to call home.”

 The Partnership’s Leadership Council will meet quarterly to advance the Partnership’s work to engage the private sector more deeply in combating homelessness.

The Partnership’s Leadership Council members include:

• Waldon Adams, Consumer Representative

• Neil Albert, DowntownDC BID

• Amanda Andere, Funders Together to End Homelessness

• Natalie Avery, DC BID Council

• Robert Burns, Citi

• David Daniels, Bainum Family Foundation

• Madi Ford, MidCity Developers

• George Leventhal, Kaiser Permanente

• Debbi Jarvis, Howard University 

• Bruce Jones, Howard University

• Nan Roman, National Alliance to End Homelessness

• David Roodberg, Horning Brothers

• Mike Schwartz, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

Partners include:

• David Bowers, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.

• Kristy Greenwalt, DC Interagency Council on Homelessness

To date, the Partnership has raised and committed nearly $10 million from partners including the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, Bainum Family Foundation, Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, and MidCity Developers, along with gifts from individual donors. This includes more than $2 million in support for the Grantmaking Fund to support nonprofits working with individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Learn more about our grantee partners through our grants announcement and on endhomelessnessdc.org

The Partnership has also secured $7.9 million in investments for increasing affordable housing in our region through the Enterprise Community Impact Note offered by Enterprise Community Loan Fund, Inc. The Greater Washington Community Foundation is proud to have committed $5 million from its own combined investment fund to this program-related investment.

A Year of Impact and the Road Ahead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We hope you will join us. 

Stuck Inside: Ending Women’s Homelessness During Coronavirus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Investing in Solutions to Address Homelessness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What, then, can we do about it?

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

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

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

We hope you join us.

Community Foundation Invests $6.7 Million in Local Relief and Recovery Efforts

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, a coordinated fund established by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, has issued new investments of $2.8 million as part of phase two of rapid response grantmaking. To date, the Fund has made total investments of $6.7 million in 192 nonprofits helping local residents adversely affected by the coronavirus public health and economic crisis.

These general operating grants — ranging in size from $10,000 to $50,000 — are intended to help vital nonprofits across the region to fulfill their missions and expand critical services during a time of unprecedented need. Flexible support is crucial for stability as our nonprofit partners work to shift operations online, purchase essential supplies and equipment, cover staff salaries and hazard pay, and pursue ways to offset lost revenue and volunteer resources.

Since launching the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund on March 13, The Community Foundation has mobilized more than $8 million from 700+ contributors, including corporate partners, foundations, and individual donors (with individual contributions ranging in size from $10 - $100,000).

In times of crisis, The Community Foundation is the region’s philanthropic first responder, bringing people and resources together to address community needs. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, The Community Foundation is convening weekly meetings with local philanthropic leaders, donors, and government advisors to raise funds, discuss needs and priorities, and guide strategic investments.

The Fund has received more than 1,340 requests from nonprofits seeking approximately $60 million in funding, which is more than seven times the amount of dollars raised. For phase 2 of grantmaking, priority was given to nonprofits with deep roots in the community and a demonstrated ability to address urgent needs and reach historically underserved populations. Phase 2 also included funding for advocacy and community organizing projects focused on improving systems for food security, violence prevention, medical care access, affordable housing, childcare, and more.

Phase 2 investments include:

Workforce and Small Business

To support individuals through direct cash assistance, including hourly and gig economy workers, contractors, and immigrant workers excluded from federal stimulus; and to support advocacy and community organizing efforts focused on policies affecting workers impacted by COVID-19, such as entry level workers and excluded workers in retail, food service, and hospitality.

• Academy of Hope

• Center for Nonprofit Advancement

• Congregation Action Network

• DC Bar Pro Bono Center

• DC Jobs with Justice

• District Bridges

• Future Harvest

• Nonprofit Village Center

• People for Change Coalition

• Per Scholas

• Samaritan Ministry

• Sunflower Bakery

• The Training Source

• Unite Here

• Upwardly Global

• Urban Ed

Education and Youth

To bridge the digital divide and expand resources for youth disconnected from school or work and students transitioning from middle to high school.

• Advocates for Children and Youth

• The Alliance of Concerned Men

• Best Kids

• City Gate

• Covenant House

• Community Bridges, Inc.

• Community Support Services, Inc.

• Crittenton Services of Greater Washington

• The District of Columbia Association for the Education of Young Children

• DC Fiscal Policy Institute & DC Action for Children

• Family Services, Inc.Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop

• Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection

• KID Museum

• Latino Student Fund

• Nonprofit Montgomery (MMF)

• Reach Education Inc

• Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (MD Women's Business Center)

• Total Family Care Coalition

• The Young Women's Project

Medical Care and Access

To support the purchase of PPE and other equipment for frontline workers, expand medical care for marginalized communities, increase access to mental health support services, and pursue advocacy addressing local health issues.

• Abraham and Laura Lisner Home for Aged Women

• Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Inc.

• Breast Care for Washington

• Care for Your Health, Inc.

• Community of Hope

• Cornerstone Montgomery, Inc.

• HIPS

• Joseph's House

• La Clinica del Pueblo

• SOME, Inc.

• Volunteers of America Chesapeake Inc

• Wendt Center for Loss and Healing

Housing and Homelessness

To support advocacy and community organizing around universal testing in shelters, rent relief and assistance, housing for returning citizens, and increased funding for homeless services; as well as direct services to protect individuals, families, and youth experiencing homelessness and to prevent community spread.

• Bethesda Cares

• Central American Resource Center

• Central Union Mission

• The Church of the Epiphany

• Community Development Network of Maryland

• Empower DC

• FAIR Girls, Inc.

• Hearts and Homes for Youth

• Mary House

• Mi Casa Inc

• Miriam's Kitchen

• National Coalition for the Homeless

• The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens

• ONE DC - Organizing Neighborhood Equity

• The Platform of Hope

• Rainbow Place Shelter for Homeless Women

• St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families

• University Legal Services

• Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

Food Security, Legal Services, and Domestic and Community Violence

To provide critical infrastructure and coordination support and emergency food assistance; to address the uptick in domestic and other forms of violence; and support the civil legal aid needs of individuals and families.

• Bread for the City

• Capital Area Food Bank

• Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition

• Community Family Life Services

• Community Support Systems, Inc.

• Community United Methodist Church

• DC Affordable Law Firm

• DC Volunteer Lawyers Project

• District of Columbia Center for Law and Justice

• District of Columbia Forensic Nurse Examiners

• Dreaming Out Loud

• Fair Budget Coalition

• FRESHFARM Markets, Inc.

• Germantown Cultural Arts Center/ BlackRock Center for the Arts

• Greater Mount Nebo A.M.E Church

• Greater Riverdale Cares/Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization Community Development Corporation

• Homeless Persons Representation Project

• JCADA

• Jews United for Justice

• Kings & Priests Court International Ministries

• Life After Release

• Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations

• Maryland Center on Economic Policy

• Montgomery County Food Council

• Mutual Aid Movement

• Rising for Justice, Inc.

• Shepherd's Table

• St Camillus Church Food Pantry

• The Safe Sisters Circle

• Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs

A generous contribution from PepsiCo, Inc. and its philanthropic arm, The PepsiCo Foundation, allowed for additional investments to aid Black and Latino communities by providing food, cash assistance, medical care and support for small female-led businesses. Recipients include:

• African Communities Together to provide emergency cash support for the African immigrant diaspora in the Greater Washington region.

• Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative to provide emergency support for children and families in Wards 7 and 8.

• Identity, Inc. to provide emergency cash assistance to low-income families in Montgomery County.

• Impact Silver Spring to provide emergency cash assistance for undocumented workers.

• Jubilee Jobs to provide an emergency cash assistance program for returning citizens.

• La Cocina Virginia to provide support for low-income, immigrant, mostly food-focused female-led small businesses.

• THRIVE East of the River Partnership to support 500 families in Wards 7 and 8 with emergency assistance.

• Voices for a Second Chance to provide support for incarcerated individuals and their families.

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A full list of the organizations receiving assistance through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is here

Anyone interested in contributing to this collective effort can make a tax-deductible gift here.

Rebuilding a Brighter Future

By Benton Murphy, Associate Vice President, Community Investment

Benton Murphy, AVP, Community Investment

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, much of our region was struggling. Nearly one in five of our neighbors reported that they could only make it by for less than one month if they lost their current sources of household income. Even more worrisome, nearly one-third of residents reported being very or slightly worried about being able to pay their rent or mortgage on a good day. Three months ago, these were answers to hypothetical questions. Now as we face the ongoing COVID-19 public health and economic crisis, these statistics are a stark reality for so many.

These report findings, collected by Gallup for the Greater Washington Community Foundation, were intended to serve as a point in time snapshot of our region for our VoicesDMV initiative. The Community Foundation leads this community engagement initiative every few years with a focus on listening to our community in a deep and authentic way. As a community foundation, we want to ensure our community investment and community leadership strategies are informed by the needs of real people in the community—especially those whose voices are left out of important conversations about community needs and priorities.

In 2017, our first VoicesDMV survey revealed a region in which residents may be separated by income, education or geographic boundaries, but share similar hopes and dreams. We all want a better overall quality of life for ourselves and our families, including the opportunity to live in a safe and welcoming environment, obtain a quality education, earn a living wage, and build assets for a secure future.

And yet, as prosperous as our region is, our survey found that deep disparities in income and opportunity persist and that these gaps continue to widen. Due to historical discrimination, this prevents many of our neighbors, particularly people of color, from accessing the region’s economic growth and prosperity. We are so thankful and grateful to the community for their participation in VoicesDMV in 2017. Your perspective gifted The Community Foundation with insight to shape our Building Thriving Communities framework with updated priorities for our grantmaking, which focus on preparing for the future of work, disrupting poverty, and deepening human connections.

The 2020 report offers unique insight into how the region looked and felt in the months immediately preceding the COVID-19 pandemic and massive civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd. The report reveals a Greater Washington community with a lot to celebrate. Across our region, the survey identified bright prospects across many issue areas, including education and the state of the economy.

The report also revealed striking findings that again illuminated a deeply inequitable region, which we see this in COVID-19’s devastating effect on our region’s low-income households and communities of color. These individuals are much more vulnerable to the economic and health shocks exacerbated by this crisis because of these pre-existing inequities.

While the sentiments expressed in the survey have certainly shifted since it was fielded, the data provides us insights into how we looked pre-COVID. This hopefully offers direction on what we can do differently as we look beyond emergency recovery and relief toward rebuilding a more equitable and resilient region.

What’s Next?

Another critical component of our VoicesDMV initiative is convening and conversation. In 2017, we held community conversations and focus groups discussing a range of issues and challenges, including quality education for our children, fear of the police, and perceptions of race and racism. As we worked to prepare our VoicesDMV initiative for 2020, we wanted to incorporate new elements to deepen the extent to which we engaged communities, reached “unusual suspects,” and enabled authentic dialogue.

This fall, we hope to host a series of virtual On the Table community conversations – a nationally-known community engagement initiative first piloted by the Chicago Community Trust – to challenge our region to think about how we can rebuild after the pandemic toward a more equitable future. On the Table brings together friends, colleagues, neighbors, and strangers to discuss what matters to them in their community over a meal.

Our focus for these conversations will be on equity and how it intersects with a range of issues that are important to our community, including education, workforce development, housing and homelessness, the arts, the environment, and many more issue areas. From these conversations, we plan to make community micro-grants from the VoicesDMV Community Action Awards grant program to support grassroots and neighborhood-level projects and initiatives that will help us to re-envision our region in a more equitable light.

As we begin to look beyond responding to the immediate crisis at hand, our region’s recovery cannot be a return to the status quo as previously captured by our survey. We all have a role to play in shaping a “new normal” and rebuilding as a community that offers equal opportunity for all residents to thrive. I am convinced we will overcome this crisis and period of uncertainty by standing together—neighbors helping neighbors—to build a more equitable region for the future.

A Small Sigh of Relief: Returning Citizens Receive Cash Assistance from Local Nonprofit

By Paul Newport, Jubliee Jobs Job Counselor

Men and women who are currently being released from jail and seeking to re-enter the workforce are facing a particularly grim societal scenario. The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the economy and swept away millions of jobs. Most of these men and women are among the region’s lowest income earners (less than $24,000 annually).

They are hoping to find work in a highly competitive job market and are often labeled as “ex-offenders.” It is a wonder these previously incarcerated individuals, whom we refer to as “returning citizens,” can advance at all.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation’s 2020 VoicesDMV Community Insights survey found that the most significant barrier for workers and unemployed people seeking jobs is their level of education and training. This is certainly a reality within the population we work with at Jubilee Jobs, a long-standing nonprofit in Adams Morgan, that provides job placement and retention services for eager work applicants, many of whom have not graduated from high school.

The majority of our applicants are unemployed when they come to us. In addition, many have been previously incarcerated, and the VoicesDMV report found that 4% of respondents (1 in 25) noted that their criminal record was a barrier to employment. We should remember that most of these individuals are trying not only to find work, but also live under the restrictions of a halfway house, which may prevent them from attending important job training workshops and, in some cases, a job interview. Coupled with other common predicaments our applicants face, including something as simple as lack of bus fare, these challenges cause hardship and frustration.

To address some of the problems faced by returning citizens, Christine Gossens, Executive Director of Jubilee Jobs, initiated the Returning Citizens COVID-19 Relief Fund. This cash assistance program, funded in part by The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, helps provide immediate financial assistance to Jubilee Jobs placed clients who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are immensely grateful for this contribution and for the assistance it enabled us to provide to those in need. The quick impact of this relief fund was immediately absorbed.

On two consecutive Fridays in May, our returning citizens applicants who had lost jobs due to COVID-19 made their way to our Northwest office and entered one by one in their masks to collect their envelope containing $450. Our applicant Hayden hoisted himself up in the air and knocked his boots together to express his joy. Another applicant, Crystal, had tears in her eyes as she explained to us how she was sitting looking out her bedroom window wondering what on earth she was going to do having just lost her job, when she received our phone call about the cash assistance program. These are just two of many other redeeming stories.

The data presented in the VoicesDMV report maps a challenging road ahead for all our job applicants, especially for returning citizens. But, our training and workshops will continue to focus on what they have always done: presenting the most reliable, efficient, and professional ways of preparing for a job search and successfully completing an interview.

Many of our applicants have limited access to computers, so we have now implemented further training in technology and have tested a pilot class on computer basics. Post-COVID-19 (whatever that might look like) we will harness our broad understanding of the community we work with to develop options for entry level work that is reliable and sustainable. Doing so will hopefully continue to relieve some of the burden from these vulnerable citizens.

DC Cares Program $5M Undocumented Workers Relief Package

Events DC, Washington DC's official convention and sports authority, finalized its programs for the $5M undocumented workers relief fund through the DC Cares Program.

The DC Cares Program will provide financial assistance to workers in the District of Columbia who have been excluded from federal stimulus efforts and are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This critical program is in partnership with the Executive Office of the Mayor and the Greater Washington Community Foundation. Both the DC Cares Program and the grant awardees were approved by Events DC's Board of Directors and represent an important component of the organization's commitment to building an ever-stronger city. 

"While we are known for our work in conventions and meetings, sports and entertainment, Events DC is deeply committed to the community and its residents, many of whom form the backbone of our restaurant and hospitality industry.  Supporting our undocumented community is personal —my grandfather came to this country when he was 13 with nothing. He was as an immigrant and couldn't get a job because of his last name and how he looked. He was hired in a hotel restaurant and began his journey in America. We owe it to our friends in the undocumented community to share in the success we have as a city. The success of our work and projects depend on the vibrancy of our city, thriving non-profits and cultural institutions.  The undocumented workers relief fund and the Cultural Institutions Grant Program will help serve our neighbors and make our diverse city stronger and more resilient," stated Max Brown, Chairman, Board of Directors, Events DC. "The relief fund distribution is a critical step forward in helping our city get back on track following the devastation of the pandemic. We also extend our congratulations to the organizations that have been awarded cultural institution grants, each of them is eminently deserving and a terrific example of what we can achieve together to enhance our world-class city." 

The DC Cares Program
The distribution for the $5 million undocumented workers relief funds will be managed through the Greater Washington Community Foundation with the purchase of pre-paid debit cards in the amount of $1,000 per card.  The Community Foundation will then disseminate the pre-paid debit cards to designated community-based organizations in collaboration with the Executive Office of the Mayor. The identified community-based organizations will issue the pre-paid debit cards to eligible undocumented workers determined by criteria set forth by the Mayor's Office. 

The Community Foundation is a tax-exempt public charity that manages hundreds of charitable giving funds on behalf of generous individuals, families, and businesses in the Washington, DC metro area. The community-based organization currently designated by the Mayor's Office to receive the pre-paid debit cards include the following:

• Bread for the City

• The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)

• CentroNía

• Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)

• Mary's Center

Events DC will continue to work with the Community Foundation to implement ongoing efforts surrounding the DC Cares program to provide future financial assistance to DC workers who by reason of their status do not have access to other COVID-19-related public relief programs.  The DC CARES program will be administered by the Community Foundation through its Greater Washington Workforce Collaborative, an initiative with the mission of enabling people to increase their skills, credentials, employment and wages with an emphasis on systems change that eliminates income gaps based on race, ethnicity and gender.

"A core part of Events DC's mission is to serve and give back to our communities which will help to continue to propel our city forward. The critical cultural grants program will help strengthen these important cultural institutions and empower new programming for generations to come while the undocumented workers relief fund will provide a vital lifeline to our neighbors in need," said Gregory A. O'Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC.  "Through the relief funds and the grant program, we are humbled by the opportunity to assist District residents and the extraordinary organizations performing vital work to educate and enhance the lives of Washingtonians and visitors. Together, we look forward to continuing to enrich our community."

“We are proud to partner with Events DC, the Executive Office of the Mayor, and our nonprofit partners to bring critical relief to workers who have been excluded from other forms of relief intended to help our most vulnerable neighbors during this difficult time. Immigrant communities are some of the hardest hit in this region by the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. Our goal is to support disproportionately impacted communities, especially low-income and black and brown communities, by providing emergency cash assistance to cover basic needs for food, housing/shelter, medical care, and other services.”

Community Foundation Announces $500,000 Gift from Lockheed Martin to COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

Contribution will Boost Local Relief and Recovery Efforts

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is pleased to announce a new $500,000 contribution from Lockheed Martin to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which will help support both coordinated local response to urgent needs and longer-term recovery efforts focused on building a stronger and more resilient region.

This coordinated rapid response fund was established to quickly raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits helping residents adversely affected by the coronavirus public health and economic crisis. In 10 weeks, the Fund has garnered $7.5 million in community support from 700+ contributors, including corporate partners, local foundations, and individual donors (with individual contributions ranging in size from $10 - $100,000).

A list of donors and regional partners is available here.

“We are so thankful for partners like Lockheed Martin and others who have stepped up to help us respond quickly to the evolving needs of our communities and to plan for what comes next,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “These contributions help bolster our ability to empower our nonprofit partners working tirelessly to help our neighbors facing hardship during this crisis.”

“We’re proud to address the local needs in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the Greater Washington region at this critical time,” said Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin. “We are committed to our local communities and the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will be instrumental in assisting frontline workers, small business, nonprofits, and individuals in the hour of need."

“We are in great need of additional resources in the Greater Washington region, particularly food, for our growing rolls of vulnerable families," said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. "We are grateful that our corporate citizens are recognizing their role as partners and contributing to help those in need.”

“We are Prince George’s Proud of community partners like Lockheed Martin and the Greater Washington Community Foundation who have stepped up to support Prince Georgians in need during this pandemic,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “While we are still trying to weather this storm, I can promise you that COVID-19 will not have the final say. Through partnerships like these, we will get through this crisis together and we will be able to build an even stronger Prince George’s.”

In times of crisis, The Community Foundation is the region’s philanthropic first responder, bringing people and resources together to address urgent community needs. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, The Community Foundation is convening weekly meetings with local philanthropic leaders, donors, and government advisors to discuss needs, review requests, and guide the Fund’s strategic investments and priorities.

To date, the Fund has made investments of $4 million in 97 nonprofits, with additional funding expected to be issued over the coming weeks. Priority is given to nonprofits with deep roots in the community and a demonstrated ability to address both urgent needs and reach historically underserved populations. The Fund has received more than 1,300 requests from nonprofits seeking a total of $55 million in funding, which far exceeds available dollars.

A full list of the organizations receiving assistance through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is here.

Investments have been made across five issue areas:

• To provide relief to small businesses and displaced workers (hourly, gig economy, contractors), especially those who do not qualify for unemployment or stimulus funds.

• To expand parental supports and resources for youth disconnected from school or work and students distinguished by disabilities.

• To support frontline workers and providers and to expand medical care for low-income communities, older adults, and people who are immunocompromised, undocumented, or uninsured.

• To support and protect individuals, families, and youth experiencing homelessness and to help prevent people from losing stable housing.

• To bolster our region’s food security, address the uptick in domestic and other forms of violence, and support the civil legal aid needs of individuals.

Our Commitment to Racial Justice

By Tonia Wellons, President & CEO

On Mother’s Day weekend, I received a call from the parents of 2nd Lt. Richard Collins III, the Bowie State University student who was killed at the hands of University of Maryland senior, Sean Urbanski. This devastating hate-linked, race-based crime happened in 2017 around Mother’s Day weekend. I have been humbled by the opportunity to get to know the Collins family and work with them to honor their son’s legacy by confronting the challenges represented by hate and bias violence. Yet the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and now George Floyd immediately triggered the Collins family and reignited their quest to address domestic terror, police brutality, and other forms of anti-black racism.

These senseless and intolerable tragedies remind us that structural racism continues to deny our Black brothers and sisters the opportunity to live their lives completely free and without fear of the institutions intended to serve and protect them. It reminds us that racism is built into many US systems and carried by individual actors in overt and covert methods.

Even in our Nation’s Capital in 2020, pre-existing inequities in education, housing, healthcare, and employment opportunities continue to create deep disparities and divides that threaten the vibrancy and health of our communities. Take for example the drastic way in which COVID-19 has hit African American communities the hardest – while roughly half of Washingtonians are African American, they make up more than three-quarters of the deaths from COVID-19.

At the Greater Washington Community Foundation, we see it as our responsibility to uplift and amplify the voices of communities that have been systematically unheard and silenced. Through VoicesDMV, we have engaged our entire community to understand racial tensions in our region along with other needs, attitudes, and perceptions of our neighbors often left out of conversations about community development. What we have learned from these conversations has shaped our approach to Building Thriving Communities that are more equitable, healthy, and vibrant. We continue to focus on racial equity in our grantmaking and have committed at least half of our funding for COVID-19 response efforts to organizations led by people of color that are supporting historically underserved communities.

We believe now is the time for more than just words, our communities deserve action that will lead to real tangible change in inequitable systems. The Community Foundation will continue to support ending racial disparities through our voice, influence, programs and grantmaking initiatives.

We stand in solidarity with peaceful protestors who have the courage to speak up and share their anguish, frustration, fear, heartbreak, and anger to push for action. We hear you, we see you, and we stand with you in raising our fists and shouting Black Lives Matter. History has to be our teacher. These issues will not casually go away – not without effort or a deliberate attempt to be anti-racists.

"These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative. A riot is the language of the unheard." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

We encourage our community to stand with us, our partners, and advocates in calling for an end to police brutality and anti-black racism.

If you’d like to learn more, and hear from the parents of Lt. Richard Collins III, we invite you to watch our Social Justice Town Hall: From Grief To Action. This special discussion, held on June 19, 2020, examined racial justice and the concrete ways we can take action to support the Black community.