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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Kalanidhi Dance

  $10,000 to support website development

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Arts Forward Fund

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

Community Foundation Welcomes New Advisory Board Members in Prince George’s County

The Greater Washington Community Foundation welcomes Joy Russell, Trey Proctor, David Iannucci, and Paul Monterio to its Prince George’s County Advisory Board. These individuals join a diverse group of passionate and dedicated advisory board members. They, along with their colleagues, are responsible for advising The Community Foundation on the challenges and opportunities specific to Prince George’s County, and sharing their knowledge on issues of community leadership for greater impact.

“These individuals share our deep commitment to improving the quality of life for Prince George’s County residents, and their work very much aligns with our goals to increase philanthropy and ensure equity and economic mobility,” said Amina Anderson, senior director for Prince George’s County at The Community Foundation. “We are honored they have chosen to serve the county by working with The Community Foundation, and we look forward to partnering with them so that each and every Prince Georgian has an opportunity to achieve their full potential.”

Meet our Newest Advisory Board Members

David Iannuci, President and CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation

David Iannuci was appointed as president and CEO of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation in December 2018, under County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. David oversees the County’s $50 million Economic Development Incentive Fund, which has leveraged over $1.1 Billion in private sector investments. He has played a prominent role with the County’s key initiatives such as the pursuit of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters, the new University of Maryland Medical Center, the Purple Line, and multiple Transit Oriented Development projects. David has served in many positions within state and local government. His previous positions include assistant deputy chief administrative officer for economic development, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, executive director of the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development, and under former Maryland Governor William Donald Schaefer, Chief Legislative Officer. David is a graduate of the University of Maryland School Of Law, a member of the Maryland Bar, and a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park. A long-time resident of Prince George's County, he resides in Bowie with his wife and daughter.

Joy Russell, Chief of Staff, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks

Joy Russell is a senior level executive with over 20 years of local government affairs, stakeholder engagement and management experience, directing major government, corporate, and nonprofit strategies and initiatives. Prior to her current role with Prince George’s County, Joy founded Jonathan Arnold Consulting in 2014 to work with clients with strategic advisory and stakeholder management needs. Joy also served as the SVP for community impact at the United Way of the National Capital Area where she led an annual social investment strategy of approximately $2.5 million dollars. Prior to joining United Way, Joy was vice president for external relations at the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC), where she played a key role in re-positioning the economic development organization with both government and business audiences. Joy began her political career in Washington DC's Mayor Anthony Williams' Administration. She was the Mayor's deputy chief of staff for community affairs, where she was responsible for the management of stakeholder and constituency relationships in the promotion of the Mayor's strategic goals and priorities. Joy holds a law degree from the University of Maryland and undergraduate degrees in political science and public administration from James Madison University.  

Paul Monteiro, Chief of Staff and Assistant Vice President of External Affairs, Howard University

Paul Monteiro is a proud graduate of Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) having attended Adelphi Elementary, Buck Lodge Middle, and High Point High. He now serves as an At-Large member of the PGCPS Board of Education and Vice Chair of its Academic Affairs Committee. Paul worked at the United States Supreme Court and later served in the Capitol Hill office of Senator Barack Obama before transitioning to his presidential campaign headquarters. In 2009, Paul joined the White House staff as an associate director of the Office of Public Engagement and coordinator of the My Brother’s Keeper mentorship program for young men attending local high schools. President Obama later appointed him as the national director of AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). In 2015, Attorney General Loretta Lynch designated him as head of the Community Relations Service at the U.S. Department of Justice. He is an incoming member of Leadership Greater Washington and on the Board of Governors of Wesley Theological Seminary. He is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland and Howard University School of Law.

Gregory “Trey” Proctor, III, Vice President of G.S. Proctor & Associates, Inc.

Trey Proctor, III, has been with G.S. Proctor since June 2014. In those five years, he has emerged as a real asset in local, state and federal lobbying areas; particularly as it relates to areas of Energy, Utilities, Transportation and Infrastructure, Healthcare, Zoning and Permitting, and the many other client interests of G.S. Proctor. Trey graduated from Elon University with a BS in business administration with a marketing concentration and dual minors in economics and international studies. He immediately began his career as a Credit Analyst at Old Line Bank. Before being promoted to an Assistant Vice President position, Trey assisted the credit department in analyzing potential clients and loans and assisting with the real property valuations process. Trey has a strong commitment to community involvement and—in addition to contributing countless hours to community service efforts with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Heart of America, and the Alice Ferguson Foundation—serves on the Board of Directors for the College of Southern Maryland Foundation, Historic Sotterley and Leadership Prince George’s. He lives in Accokeek with his wife, Charlita, and their two daughters, Zauriel and Simile.

Tonia Wellons named one of Washingtonian's "Heroes of the Crisis"

Tonia Wellons, President and CEO, of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, was recognized for our efforts to help struggling arts groups as part of the Washingtonian‘s feature on “Heroes of the Crisis.” The feature shines the spotlight on “some of the people who have helped get us through these most challenging of times” from medical professionals to social-justice activists to culinary stars.

VoicesDMV: Putting Your Ideas On the Table

By Benton Murphy, Associate Vice President for Community Investment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Community Action Awards

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

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

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

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

New Grant Opportunities for Nonprofits Serving Greater Washington

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

VoicesDMV Community Action Awards

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

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

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Children's Opportunity Fund

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

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

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The Equity Fund

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

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

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.

Community Foundation Announces $1 million Fund to Support Small Businesses in Prince George’s County

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a $1 million Legacy Fund for Small Business Development (Legacy Fund). Eligible small businesses may now apply for grants up to $10,000 between August 4-28, 2020.

The Legacy Fund, seeded with a $1 million gift directed by Sam Brin and a $10,000 gift from Meridiam, provides critically needed access to capital for small businesses in Prince George’s County. The fund is part of The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County’s equity and economic mobility initiative. The overall goal of the initiative is to eliminate social and economic disparities and help individuals, families, and collective groups improve their social and economic status.

The Legacy Fund will be administered by FSC First (FSC), the county’s Community Development Financial Institution, which serves more than two thousand businesses each year. The Legacy Fund will provide relief from the impact of COVID-19 to help minimize business vulnerability to closure and bridge the gap to viability. Funds can be used to support operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, and other business critical costs.

Additionally, companies approved for funding will be eligible to apply for FSC’s technical assistance program to help them better navigate new business and economic realities and ensure their long-term development.

“Ninety-five percent of all businesses in the county are small businesses and they contribute nearly half of all jobs in the county. These companies are a critical part of our economic engine and a key driver of economic mobility for county residents,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Through the Legacy Fund we hope to preserve the small business infrastructure, ensure job retention, drive economic development, and enable the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next, leaving a lasting legacy for families and Prince George’s County.”

“We want to thank the Greater Washington Community Foundation and Sam Brin for helping provide another critical resource for our small business community during these unprecedented times,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “Prince George’s County is the economic engine of our State, and the Legacy Fund will be another way we can ensure County businesses recover from this pandemic stronger than they’ve ever been before.”

“We are excited to work in collaboration with the Greater Washington Community Foundation to administer this critically needed fund. We have successfully served the small business community in Prince George’s County for more than 40 years providing grants, technical assistance and other financial services to ensure the growth of the county’s small business sector,” say Shelly Gross Wade, President and CEO, FSC First.

“This grant is one of several initiatives to provide relief to a community I called home. Small business is a major driver of the local economy, and I stand behind small business owners and workers of Prince George’s County,” said Sam Brin.

Meridiam, a development and engineering firm, was keen to support Prince George’s County’s COVID-19 response efforts by investing in the small business community. Meridiam, together with its partners, delivers sustainable infrastructure that improves the quality of people’s lives.

For more information on the Legacy Fund eligibility and application, visit fscfirst.com/legacy-fund. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the pre-qualification checklist prior to submitting an application.

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About the Greater Washington Community Foundation

The Greater Washington Community Foundation exists to Build Thriving Communities by guiding strategic philanthropy, providing leadership on critical issues, promoting civic engagement, and inspiring local giving. Founded in 1973, The Community Foundation is a public charity made up of hundreds of charitable giving funds established by generous individuals, families, and businesses. 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. As the region’s largest local funder, we manage $350 million in assets and have invested nearly $1.3 billion to build more equitable, just, and enriching communities where all residents can thrive.

The Community Foundation’s efforts in Prince George’s County have led to $50 million invested in education, workforce development, health, and safety net services that helped improve lives and build thriving communities. Our new Initiative for Equity and Economic Mobility in the county seeks to partner with Prince George’s County residents and others to increase philanthropy, convene key stakeholders, provide grants to innovative nonprofits and small businesses, and engage new audiences to help ensure that each and every Prince Georgian is afforded the chance to reach their full potential unencumbered by race or ethnicity. For more information, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/princegeorges.

About FSC First

FSC First was founded in 1978 in Prince George’s County to serve small businesses through the implementation of a specialized financial program. FSC currently offers more than 12 unique programs to an array of businesses, industries and professions seeking to develop within the county and locations with Maryland. These services include portfolio management, loan servicing expertise, wealth management, financial education, a diverse range of financing programs and revolving loan funds. FSC’s commitment to excellence has generated over $100 million dollars in direct loans to small and minority-owned businesses in Prince George’s County and spurred more than 400 jobs in our local community. We are proud to contribute to the ongoing successes of our economy and encourage new strategic partnerships.

Quarterly Community Update

Dear Community Foundation Fundholders,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely,
Tonia Wellons
President and CEO

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.

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.

Leading Our Community's Response

Our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund has now been in operation for one month. Over that time, we have provided more than $3.8 million in grant funds to local nonprofits providing critical relief supports across our region and across five issue areas—education and youth, employment and small business, medical care and access, housing and homelessness, and general operating support.

Our RFP is currently on pause as we absorb the information from 750 applications on the evolving needs of our community and learn more about communities and populations that are being impacted disproportionately. We plan to reopen our RFP later this month reflecting an updated set of giving priorities.

Over the last few weeks, we have formed working groups for each of our five issue areas to review proposals and make grant recommendations. Below, read about what we are doing and learning in each area - and how our community is organizing to fight the COVID pandemic.

Employment and Small Business

We have made a set of investments in local service providers working to provide emergency cash assistance to our region’s low-income workers that do not have the resources to wait for Federal or State unemployment benefits to kick in, or communities (like undocumented workers) that do not qualify for this type of support.

Education and Youth

We have been singularly focused on supporting the most vulnerable children and families who are struggling as a result of this crisis. Many organizations are stretching themselves to support the youth and families they already have built strong connections with to address basic needs.  Parents are a child’s first teacher and now that schools are closed education is not solely in the classroom.  Despite what schools, local government and philanthropy are doing there are still many families that are not able to connect to services and education opportunities for the children in their homes. 

Medical Care and Access

We are providing support services for health care and frontline workers while also addressing the health access needs of the more vulnerable populations in Greater Washington area. Their focus has been to support efforts to source PPE for frontline workers, increase COVID-19 testing for vulnerable and marginalized communities, and support clinics and health centers providing support and care in response to COVID-19.

As the pandemic response continues to grow on a statewide and national level, we know that our response will have to adapt as well. This working group is continuously monitoring changes, sharing resources, and adjusting its priorities directly in response to needs.

Homelessness and Housing

We have been working to support local providers whose doors are open and who are actively providing direct services to the most vulnerable and disproportionately impacted populations during the COVID crisis - specifically people living in shelters or on the street. Priority populations include: women and children facing increased instances of domestic violence and abuse, families, youth including foster care and LGBTQ youth, older/chronically ill individuals, and undocumented people and immigrants.

As we continue to see increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness testing positive for COVID and deaths amongst this vulnerable population, our investments will help organizations provide essential services and resources to protect these individuals, families, and youth and to prevent community spread.

General Operating Support

Investments also included grants to nonprofits addressing the dramatic uptick in intimate partner violence and other types of abuse, grants to organizations supporting at-risk communities including those living with disabilities, and grants to support the ability of legal services providers to continue to provide critically needed services to local residents as courts continue to convene.

What’s Next?

We anticipate re-opening the RFP by the end of April. In the meantime, for more information on our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, please visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19 for a list of our grantee partners and funding priorities.

$5.2 Million Raised for COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and $1 Million Granted to Local Nonprofit Partners

The Greater Washington Community Foundation has mobilized more than $5.2 million in community support for its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and made new grants totaling $1 million to 14 nonprofits serving residents of Washington, DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. Through this Fund, which launched on March 13 in collaboration with regional partners, The Community Foundation is working to rapidly raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities in the region.

“During this time of crisis and uncertainty, we are inspired by how our generous donors and community partners are stepping up to help us meet the evolving needs and challenges associated with the impacts of coronavirus on this region,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation is committed to working with our partners to address both the immediate needs of our neighbors and to plan for the longer term needs of our communities.”

New Grants Announced

Since opening an online request for proposals last week, The Community Foundation has received more than 500 requests for funding across five issue areas: Education and Youth, Employment and Small Business, Medical Care and Access, Housing and Homelessness, and General Operating Support.

The following nonprofit organizations were selected this week to receive a total of $1 million in funding based on their alignment with the Fund’s strategic priorities and their ability to both address urgent needs and reach historically underserved populations.

General Operating Support:

• Network for Victim Recovery to provide staff with living wages, support clients through the Survivor Support Fund, and provide frontline staff at hospitals with hazard pay.  

• Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc. to help stabilize and recover from a sharp drop in revenue due to the COVID crisis, ensuring it continues to provide health care services in Prince George’s County.

• Greater DC Diaper Bank to provide low-income families with a reliable source of diapers, formula, feminine products, and baby gear.

Education and Youth:

• CollegeTracks to provide virtual supports and additional assistance for first-generation-to-college students from low-income, minority, and immigrant families.

• Generation Hope to serve teen parents and their children who may experience or have experienced homelessness, foster care, abuse, and food insecurity.   

• New Futures to serve under-resourced young people pursuing postsecondary degrees while struggling with loss of income, lack of childcare, or adjusting to distance learning and remote work.

Employment and Small Business:

• Community Services Agency of the Metro Washington AFL-CIO to provide financial assistance directly to workers demonstrating need. 

• Martha’s Table to provide a weekly cash stipend to Ward 8 families facing lack of childcare and temporary loss of income for parents and caregivers.

Housing and Homelessness:

• House of Ruth to serve women and survivors of domestic violence and help mitigate the risk of increased homelessness for these populations.

• Miriam's Kitchen to continue providing services and essential frontline support to people experiencing homelessness.

• Calvary Women’s Services to serve women experiencing homelessness in Ward 8.

• Pathways to Housing DC to continue providing outreach and to maintain access to medical and psychiatric care for people living on the streets.

Medical Care and Access:

• CCI Health & Wellness Services to purchase PPE kits, COVID-19 Test Kits, and software to provide critical services to minority, immigrant, low-income, and uninsured or underinsured populations.

• Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC to implement care through a telehealth system, replenish PPE to protect providers and patients, and to create virtual workshops.

To date, the Fund has made nearly $1.8 million in grants. A full list of all nonprofits supported by this Fund is available at www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19-grant-recipients.

“Our funding is targeted toward our nonprofit partners serving the most vulnerable communities in our region, including low wage workers, hourly and gig economy workers, health care providers, people of color, and people experiencing homelessness,” said Tonia Wellons. “These flexible grants will help stabilize our nonprofit partners and allow them to begin addressing the economic shocks brought on by this crisis so they can meet the increase in demand for their services. More importantly, this funding will enable them to expand critical medical care, shelter/housing, financial or other supports and services to provide relief for individuals and families facing hardship across this region.”

Mobilizing Community Support

In addition to The Community Foundation’s initial commitment of $150,000 to launch the Fund, support for this effort has come from The Community Foundation’s donors, local foundations, corporate partners, and online contributions. A full list of donors and partners is available at www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19-our-partners.

Donors include:

Amazon

Aviv Foundation

Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation

Booz Allen Hamilton

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation

Comcast

The Crimsonbridge Foundation

The Lois and Richard England Family Foundation

Philip L. Graham Fund

Harman Family Foundation

Horizon Therapeutics

International Monetary Fund Giving Together

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation

Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation

Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda Gates company

PNC

Prince Charitable Trusts

Target

United Solutions

Washington AIDS Partnership

Washington Gas

Weissberg Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

The World Bank Group Community Connections Fund

200+ individual online donations from community members with gifts ranging in size from $10 - $5,000

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As the global pandemic continues, we will continue to make grants from our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. We anticipate doing so on a weekly basis.

If you’d like to contribute to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, you can read more and donate below.

Tonia Wellons Named CEO of Greater Washington Community Foundation

The Board of Trustees of the Greater Washington Community Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Tonia Wellons as President and CEO. This selection is the result of a rigorous search process conducted by executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates, in partnership with a committee of six Community Foundation Trustees.

While serving as Interim CEO since early October, Tonia has guided The Community Foundation through this leadership transition by ensuring the organization maintained its donor services, continued its programs, and advanced fundraising efforts in order to deepen community impact work. Over the past month, Tonia has led The Community Foundation as it quickly shifted to respond to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak in Greater Washington, helping raise nearly $4.5 million for local relief and recovery efforts.

“As our community continues to face the crisis and uncertainty brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic, Tonia’s steadfast vision and leadership of The Community Foundation offers us hope and much needed continuity for the critical work of addressing this community’s immediate and long-term needs,” said Katharine Weymouth, chair of the Board of Trustees, Greater Washington Community Foundation. “This is a crucial time of both need and opportunity for The Community Foundation as an anchor institution that is uniquely positioned to help our community weather this crisis and come out stronger and more resilient on the other side. Tonia’s expertise in community development, both globally and locally, and her leadership skills combined with her personal connection to this region, make her ideally suited to accelerate our impact in the community.”

Previously, as our VP of Community Investment, Tonia spearheaded multiple initiatives that have had tremendous impact in the region. She led the launch of VoicesDMV, a community engagement initiative designed to understand the quality of life in the region by surveying residents and hosting community conversations. Based on what we learned from VoicesDMV, Tonia led a refresh of our Community Investment framework to focus on Building Thriving Communities by disrupting poverty, deepening culture and human connection, and preparing for the future of work.

Under this new framework, Tonia has been instrumental to the launch of several community impact initiatives, including the Partnership to End Homelessness, a public-private initiative focused on DC, and re-centering the Children’s Opportunity Fund to address the achievement gap for low-income students in Montgomery County. She also co-led the strategic refresh of our Prince George’s County agenda to include more philanthropic and strategic partners and focus investments on education and workforce development.

Prior to joining The Community Foundation in 2016, Tonia was a political appointee for the Obama Administration as head of global partnerships at the Peace Corps. She previously served as fund manager of a multi-donor initiative focused on financial access and inclusion at the World Bank Group. She also spent a significant part of her career working on USAID-funded capacity development initiatives during the immediate post-apartheid era in South Africa and the broader sub-Sahara region. In 2010, Tonia founded the Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund (PGCSIF) and its flagship initiative Forty Under 40 Prince George’s, designed to increase social capital in the county where Tonia has lived for nearly 24 years.

“It is an honor to become President and CEO of the region’s largest public foundation, and to lead our team of talented and passionate employees, dedicated to serving this community,” said Tonia Wellons. “I’ve been proud to support The Community Foundation’s mission to Build Thriving Communities and now look forward to working even more closely with Katharine and our board to build on a strong foundation and nearly 50-year history of positively impacting our community.”

Please join us in congratulating Tonia by sharing this announcement on social media or by commenting, liking, or sharing The Community Foundation’s announcement on our Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn channels.

Community Foundation Announces Grants for Prince George’s County Nonprofits Responding to COVID-19

The Greater Washington Community Foundation, working in partnership with County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks’ Administration and Prince George’s County Public Schools, has announced $650,000 in grants to support local nonprofits responding to the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on Prince George’s County residents. The grants will be administered by The Community Foundation, as part of its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, with funding provided by a personal contribution from Sam Brin, a former Prince George’s County resident.

The first $550,000 in funds will assist 15 local nonprofit organizations providing direct services and support to address the immediate health and economic needs of individuals, youth, families, and disproportionately impacted communities in Prince George’s County. The funds will help to:

• Reduce food and housing insecurity

• Mitigate the impact of reduced wages and lost work for low-wage workers, especially for people of color who are disproportionately affected

• Expand medical care access to seniors, marginalized communities, and the uninsured

• Enhance educational access and services for out of school children and youth from low-income families

• Address the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness

An additional $100,000 in funds will support Prince George’s County Public Schools to help defray the cost of internet connectivity and ensure every senior in need has internet access to participate in distance learning for the remainder of the school year.

“We are grateful to our generous donors and strategic partners for stepping up to help us meet the evolving needs and challenges associated with the impacts of coronavirus on Prince George’s County residents,” said Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation is committed to working with our partners to address both the immediate needs of our neighbors and to plan for the longer term needs of our communities. During this time of crisis and uncertainty, we are inspired by how members of our community, and beyond, have come together to care for one another.”

“Even in the absence of a pandemic, our nonprofits do invaluable work for Prince George’s County families facing difficult times,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “We are thankful for our partners like The Community Foundation who are truly showing the strength and power of our community while ensuring our residents can make it through these unprecedented times.”

"The ability to work with partners such as the Greater Washington Community Foundation allows us to ensure that all contributions dedicated to Prince George’s County are being monitored and administered directly to the organizations that need it most,” said Diana Léon Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships in the Office of the Prince George’s County Executive.

"We are grateful for the generous $100,000 donation from former PGCPS student, Sam Brin," said Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Monica Goldson. "His donation, in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, will help PGCPS defray the cost of internet connectivity and ensure every senior in need has internet access for the remainder of the school year. We look forward to continuing to work with our community partners as we strive to meet the needs of our students."

"Prince George's County welcomed my Soviet refugee family with open arms, and was a nice place to call home,” said Sam Brin. “I consider it my responsibility to help residents meet their basic needs and hope other prospective donors will join me."

Sam Brin was raised in Prince George’s County, attended Prince George’s County Public Schools, and studied Computer Science and Physics at the University of Maryland. Although Mr. Brin no longer resides in the county, he made this personal contribution to give back to the community where he was raised and his family called home.

The nonprofit organizations receiving grants this round include:

Community Crisis Services, Inc.
Community Outreach & Development CDC
Employ Prince George’s
Food & Friends
Hyattsville Aging in Place
Jobs Have Priority
La Clinica del Pueblo
Latin American Youth Center
Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services
Mary’s Center
Mission of Love Charities
Prince George’s Child Resource Center
SHABACH! Ministries
The Arc
United Communities Against Poverty

“During economic hardships, the most vulnerable populations are always those who have less prior to the recession. Most of these residents, and households, are living paycheck to paycheck, always wondering how they will pay the next bill or provide the next meal,” said Walter L. Simmons, President & CEO, Employ Prince George's. “The Greater Washington Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is allowing Prince George’s County community partners to provide immediate resources to these people. Employ Prince George’s will be able to provide payments to pay a bill and put food on the table!”

For the latest information and resources on the county’s COVID-19 response, go to https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3397/Coronavirus.

For more information and to make a contribution for Prince George’s County through The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org

About the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
The Greater Washington Community Foundation, in collaboration with regional partners, established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to rapidly deploy critical resources to nonprofits responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities. Through this fund, we are focused on addressing lost wages for hourly and gig economy workers, supporting out of school children and youth, expanding access to medical services, and meeting the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness. To date, The Community Foundation has raised more than $4.3 million for relief and recovery efforts that will support our most vulnerable neighbors.

Community Foundation Announces Unprecedented Community Support for Emergency COVID-19 Response Fund

Editor’s note: This post was updated on April 6 to reflect additional contributions to the fund.

Region’s Largest Community Foundation has raised and committed $4.7 million to support disproportionately impacted communities

Across the region, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is rising and the situation is rapidly evolving. The health, social, and economic implications of this pandemic are already being felt and could continue to be staggering to our region.

Last week, The Community Foundation launched the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support emergency preparedness and response efforts to help mitigate the impact on disproportionately affected communities in our region. Through this fund, we are focused on addressing lost wages, relief for small businesses and gig economy workers, expanding access to medical services, and meeting the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness, among other issues.

Since launching the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, The Community Foundation has raised and committed more than $4.7 million in contributions from both individual donors and institutional funders.

You can join this effort to ensure our region is prepared to meet the evolving needs and challenges associated with this public health emergency and economic crisis. Your contribution will help support and assist our nonprofit partners working on the frontlines to provide supplies and direct services to affected communities, especially low-income communities, hourly wage and gig economy workers, people of color, and people experiencing homelessness who may be disproportionately impacted.

“We know that missing one shift or even one paycheck can mean members of our community, especially the region’s low-wage workers, struggle to pay rent, afford groceries, and otherwise provide for their families,” said Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The outpouring of support from our community has been nothing short of incredible! We are truly inspired by our community coming together to help each other out during a difficult time. Your support helps us deploy critical resources to our nonprofit partners responding to the urgent health and economic needs of our communities.”

In addition to The Community Foundation’s initial commitment of $150,000 to seed the fund, support for this effort has come from several individual, philanthropic, and corporate partners. Initial partners and contributions to this fund include:

• The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation has approved a $1 million grant, $750,000 outright and $250,000 as a 1:1 match

• Thanks to a generous matching challenge grant from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, starting today all additional contributions to this fund will be matched up to $500,000

• More than $750,000 in individual contributions from The Community Foundation’s donors and donations from community members ranging in size from $10 - $5,000

• $350,000 from Amazon as part of a $1 million total contribution to four local community foundations serving residents of the Greater Washington region

• $250,000 from Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation and Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation

• $200,000 from Public Welfare Foundation

• $150,000 from Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda Gates company, and Wells Fargo Foundation

• $100,000 from Philip L. Graham Fund, Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, and Target

• $75,000 from Horizon Therapeutics and PNC

• $60,000 from International Monetary Fund Giving Together

• $50,000 from the Lois and Richard England Family Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, Washington AIDS Partnership, Weissberg Foundation, and the World Bank Group Community Connections Fund

• $25,000 from Booz Allen Hamilton and Comcast

• $10,000 from The Crimsonbridge Foundation and United Solutions

“During these challenging times, the Foundation is pleased to support the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund,” said Calvin Cafritz, President and CEO, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. “We want to ensure that nonprofits, and the communities they serve, are able to survive this crisis and thrive in the future. We are happy to work with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and others, to help local organizations in both the short- and long-term.”

"In keeping with Mr. Clark's commitment to the Washington, DC region, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation believes that this is a time to come together as a community to provide resources to our neighbors,” said Joe Del Guercio, President and CEO of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. “The Greater Washington Community Foundation is uniquely positioned to respond to this evolving crisis and address the immediate and long-term needs of the region. We are proud to partner with them on this effort.”

“Right now, our nonprofit partners need flexible resources in order to fill critical gaps and meet increased demand for their services, while they also grapple with their own fundraising and volunteer shortfalls,” said Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation is committed to addressing both the immediate needs of people in our region and we’re planning for the longer term needs of communities to ensure our region remains strong and resilient.”

“The Wells Fargo Foundation is appreciative of the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s leadership as our region – and the world – faces unprecedented challenge,” said Anna Bard, Senior Vice President and Community Affairs Manager for DMV at Wells Fargo. “We have chosen to provide a $150,000 investment because we trust The Community Foundation to exercise their convening power and work collaboratively to identify the best means of supporting vulnerable members of our community.”

“Thousands of World Bank Group staff and retirees call the Washington, DC region home and they are eager to help their local communities’ response to the COVID-19 virus,” said Lindsey Buss, Senior Officer, Community Outreach at The World Bank. “Through this emergency grant, from staff/retiree donations and World Bank Group matching funds, to The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, we are happy to be a part of an ongoing and flexible support system for our community and neighbors.”

The Community Foundation will administer grants in cooperation with our local government advisors and philanthropic partners. In order to move resources quickly, funds will be released on a rolling basis throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of this crisis, making it possible to adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding rounds.

With a mission to Build Thriving Communities, The Community Foundation brings together people and resources to tackle critical community issues and leads community impact initiatives to ensure our region is healthy and thriving. The Community Foundation is best known for establishing and managing the Survivor’s Fund, which from 2001-2008 raised and deployed $25 million in support for emergency services to families and victims of the 9/11 Pentagon attack. In 2008, The Community Foundation also created the Neighbors in Need fund and raised more than $5 million to support local residents hit hardest by the economic crisis. More recently, The Community Foundation’s Resilience Fund helped workers displaced by the partial Federal Government shutdown in January 2019 by funding nonprofits providing emergency cash and food assistance to our neighbors.

More information is available at www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19.

Amazon Donates $1 Million to Washington, DC Region Community Foundations to Kick-Start Emergency COVID-19 Response Funds

Donation will support the four largest local community foundations serving residents of the Greater Washington region: ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and the Greater Washington Community Foundation – this five-part partnership is strategically positioned to support nonprofits at the frontlines of the region’s Coronavirus response 

Local businesses, community groups, and individuals are encouraged to get involved

Arlington, VA—March 18, 2020 — Amazon has donated $1 million total to kick-start collaborative emergency COVID-19 response funds that will immediately benefit four local community foundations across the Greater Washington region who are working to support vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted amid the coronavirus outbreak. ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and the Greater Washington Community Foundation will each use these funds for grants to nonprofits addressing food insecurity, housing/shelter, and providing emergency financial assistance. This gift will allow each foundation to lean into their unique strengths and community connections to rapidly disperse resources to nonprofits with deep roots in our community and strong experience serving our most vulnerable neighbors.

The donation from Amazon to the four community foundations is coming at a critical time to bolster frontline services and safety net needs across the District, Maryland, and Virginia. The community foundations recognize that the fast-moving crisis will require both immediate action and long-range planning to best serve those most impacted. Amazon’s donation will be distributed to provide imperative flexible resources to organizations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak including hourly workers, people experiencing homelessness, and the elderly.

“So many families in our community were already on the financial edge. The need for food, household items and emergency financial assistance is significant,” said Heather Peeler, president and CEO of ACT for Alexandria. “This support enables us to collectively help those who are hardest hit.”

“Our four organizations are working closely together to respond in a nimble way to address the most critical needs facing our neighbors,” said Jennifer Owens, president and CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation. “We know that we are stronger together and hope this gift will inspire others to jump in and do what they can to improve outcomes for our neighbors in need.”

“Amazon’s support allows us to deploy critical resources in response to the urgent health and economic needs of our communities,” said Tonia Wellons, interim president and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We are specifically targeting resources to low-income communities, hourly wage and gig economy workers, and people of color who will be disproportionately impacted. We also know that people experiencing homelessness and direct service providers face unique health risks that must be addressed.”

“As COVID-19 is a public health issue, our community foundations will seek input from public health officials to understand how philanthropy optimally folds into the greater community response,” said Eileen Ellsworth, president and CEO of Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. “This is also an economic issue, and to the greatest extent possible, we will use this gift to respond to the economic impacts of the virus in our service areas.”

“The Washington, D.C. area is our new home, and we must rally together to support our neighbors during this difficult time for our region and around the world,” said Jay Carney, Amazon SVP, Global Corporate Affairs. “In addition to making sure our Amazon customers can get the essentials they need, we will support our community partners who are doing life-saving work. Amazon’s $1 million donation to these four community groups will provide fast, flexible support to those who need it most and encourage a wave of additional community donations during this unprecedented time.”

“We are just coming to grips with the full scope of the impact of COVID-19 on our community,” said Justin Wilson, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia. “The human service needs, economic impact and strains on our critical services will be with us long into the future. We have a resilient community and this contribution will help bring our City and our resident back stronger than ever.”

“Arlington welcomes Amazon’s donation to the Arlington Community Foundation,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said. “We hope this is the first of many donations by Amazon and our other corporate citizens who recognize the need to partner with County government, and Arlington nonprofits during this public health crisis.”

The funds will be deployed in the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland through the Greater Washington Community Foundation; Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William counties and the cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park through the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia; the City of Alexandria through ACT for Alexandria; and Arlington County through the Arlington Community Foundation.

Other businesses, community groups, and individuals interested in the COVID-19 response funds can visit: www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19-our-partners/#nova.

As a global company, Amazon is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19. In addition to those who are affected by the illness, many more are indirectly dealing with changes in their work, school, and community environments. You can read more about how Amazon is supporting customers, their employees, and communities here.

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Learn more:

• ACT for Alexandria: www.actforalexandria.org

• Arlington Community Foundation: www.arlcf.org

• Community Foundation for Northern Virginia: www.cfnova.org

• Greater Washington Community Foundation: www.thecommunityfoundation.org

About the Greater Washington Community Foundation

The Greater Washington Community Foundation exists to Build Thriving Communities by guiding strategic philanthropy, providing leadership on critical issues, promoting civic engagement, and inspiring local giving. Founded in 1973, The Community Foundation is a public charity made up of hundreds of charitable giving funds established by generous individuals, families, and businesses. 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. As the region’s largest local funder, we manage $350 million in assets and have invested nearly $1.3 billion to build more equitable, just, and enriching communities where all residents can thrive.

Community Foundation Announces COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

The Community Foundation is coordinating with our peers in philanthropy to rapidly raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits on the frontlines of responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities in Greater Washington.

Cancelled Event Helps Families in Need

Earlier this week, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Celebration of Philanthropy. Despite the event cancellation, we took proactive measures to turn a disappointing situation into something that positively benefits our community. The food and florals for the event were donated to United Communities Against Poverty to provide 500 meals to individuals and families in Prince George's County whose quality of life has been negatively impacted by poverty, unemployment, or homelessness. Our story was featured yesterday as part of WJLA’s (the local ABC7 affiliate) coverage of local coronavirus response efforts.

Celebrating Philanthropy and Civic Spirit

“Every day I’m inspired by [those] who chose to give,” Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of The Community Foundation.

While we regret that the Celebration of Philanthropy was cancelled out of concern for the safety and health of our guests, we still want to celebrate our 2020 Civic Spirit Award honoree, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, and the many contributions of our community to help make this region a more vibrant, equitable, and inclusive place to live.

We want to give a special thanks to our sponsors, especially our lead sponsors from Brown Advisory, Morgan Stanley, and the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. We are very fortunate to have the support of so many caring individuals and organizations—too many of them for me to name, but you can see the full list on our website. We would also like to recognize the generosity and leadership of our host committee, especially our co-chairs Debbi Jarvis and Neal Simon. Thank you!

“Every day, I’m inspired by the individuals and families in this region who choose to give some of what they have to help those who have less,” said Tonia Wellons, our Interim President and CEO.

One such example of the incredible power of neighbors helping neighbors comes from our 2020 Civic Spirit Award honoree, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Clark believed in quietly and generously giving back to local organizations serving the community where they lived, worked, and achieved their success.

Now under the leadership of their daughter, Board Chair Courtney Clark Pastrick, and President and CEO Joe Del Guercio, the Foundation continues this philanthropic legacy by investing in building connections between effort and opportunity to help people achieve their greatest ambitions.

Presenting the 2020 Civic Spirit Award to the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation

In prepared introductory remarks, Patty Stonesifer, retired CEO of Martha’s Table, said: “It is not just what the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is investing in, but [their] values: hard work, integrity, accountability, and humility.”

Watch the video below to learn more about those values, and how they have influenced the Clark Foundation’s investments.

A Thank You from Courtney Clark Pastrick

Courtney Clark Pastrick

“It is with sincere thanks that we accept the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s 2020 Civic Spirit Award. Although we are not celebrating together in person, my gratitude is not dampened. This award is an incredible honor for me, my family, and the entire team at the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation."

“My parents, Alice and Jim always believed in investing in others and connecting effort with opportunity. For 30 years, I was fortunate to work with my father to help to direct his philanthropic investments in the Washington, DC region as well as for engineering scholarships and veterans support programs across the country. Today we continue this work in his honor. Our investments in the Washington, DC region focus on three areas: maternal and child health and early education, strong schools and community anchors, and college persistence for DC students. We are inspired by the work of our grantee partners and are grateful to the Greater Washington Community Foundation for this honor.”

Supporting Our Community

In addition to honoring the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation with the 2020 Civic Spirit Award, the Celebration raised more than $620,000 to support The Community Foundation’s work to foster more vibrant and healthy communities. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will now be dedicated to supporting local emergency response efforts.

We have already started coordinating with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, United Way, and our peers in philanthropy to prepare for our community's response to a potential public health and economic crisis. The Community Foundation has opened and provided seed funding for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to collect donations that can help with supplies and emergency preparedness activities, and to provide emergency cash or other assistance to nonprofits and community members who may be negatively impacted by major event cancellations, lost wages, decrease in demand for small business services, lack of access to health care, and more. If you would like to make an additional contribution to this effort, please click here.

Delivering food to United Communities Against Poverty

Despite the event cancellation, we have taken proactive measures to turn a disappointing situation into something that positively benefits our community. The food and florals for the event have been donated to United Communities Against Poverty to provide 500 meals to individuals and families in Prince George's County whose quality of life has been negatively impacted by poverty, unemployment, or homelessness. We also compensated all workers, volunteers, and nonprofit performers who were relying on this event as a source of income to ensure that our cancellation did not create negative financial impacts for them. 

With a mission to Build Thriving Communities, The Community Foundation continues to bring together people and resources to tackle critical community issues and leads community impact initiatives to ensure the Greater Washington region is a place where all residents can live, work, and thrive.

As the largest funder of nonprofits in the region, The Community Foundation and our donors have invested nearly $1.3 billion to strengthen our community since 1973. Last year alone, we collectively granted more than $64 million to thousands of nonprofit partners, with 73% directly serving the Greater Washington region. This is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community of givers who chose to focus their giving locally.

How to Get Involved

To all of our sponsors, Host Committee members, and guests, although we do not get to celebrate with you tonight, your continued support and partnership are crucial to building the kind of community that we are all proud to call our home. And that is something worth celebrating!

If you are not already part of our remarkable community of givers, partners, and doers, we invite you to join with us today. You can visit our website or contact Angela Willingham, AVP of Development.