On November 7, 2024, Belong! (a 2024 grantee of the Child and Youth Development Fund) welcomed Sari Raskin and Amanda Bomfim from the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia (CFNOVA) during an after-school session at Cunningham Park Elementary School. Serving Fairfax County, Belong! offers weekly after-school mentoring to 81 immigrant and refugee children from low-income families in grades K-8. The organization received a $15,000 grant to enhance resources (such as math and reading curriculum materials) and support staff capacity. Our team had the opportunity to see those resources at work during the visit, as mentors and mentees worked on puzzles, completed homework, or played Jenga, cards, and Legos.
Health and Safety of Children and Youth in Northern Virginia
January 29, 2025 at 12:00 pmThe Community Foundation’s data and research center, Insight Region®, launched a dynamic series of deep-dive sessions where we uncover the key factors shaping our upcoming 2025 Children & Youth Report. Each session is led by our Senior Director of Insight Region®, Denise Bellows.
Learn more by watching our recording and reading our recap questions.
We Are Northern Virginia: JOIN US to Build a Stronger, More Resilient Community Together
Welcome to the We Are Northern Virginia campaign, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to build a Northern Virginia that works for EVERYONE.
Share Your Vision
We invite you to be a part of something larger than yourself. In this campaign, we invite you to share your dreams for our community — the causes that matter most to you, the changes you wish to see, and the ways in which you envision a brighter future for this vibrant region.
by Regan Lonchena, Director of Advanced Planning and Trust Legal Counsel, United Bank Wealth Management
Now that you’ve emerged from the hectic tax-planning whirlwind that often characterizes the last few weeks of the year, you may be turning your attention to the commentary in the media about how the new administration might impact legislative priorities and tax law changes.
Well before establishing their partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA), Linda Carr and her husband, Clarence James, were committed to supporting the causes they hold dear. Indeed, giving back is a cornerstone of Linda’s life, instilled from an early age by her family. “Even when we didn’t have much, we still gave,” Linda recalls. Thanksgiving dinners were shared with other families, and Christmas gifts were offered to those in need. These moments shaped Linda’s belief that giving back builds character and brings joy. “I enjoy giving because it makes a difference. I think of it as something you’re supposed to do,” she says. Over time, her generosity has helped support organizations like St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Shelter House, Parkview Community Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children, ASPCA, and WETA.
Building a Community that Works for Everyone
The English Empowerment Center is a 2024 grantee of the Education Fund, a component of The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia. To mark the occasion in September, the Community Foundation’s Sari Raskin and Renée Byng Yancey met the Empowerment Center’s Roopal Mehta Saran, Executive Director, and Michael Mahrer, Senior Director of Advancement. Our team was joined by Benton Fisher, a who collaborates with us on the Avalon Charitable Fund, which he and his wife Joan established. Benton also serves on the Board of the Justice High School Scholarship Fund. We were also happy to include our donor, Benton Fisher, in the visit! They discussed the Center’s history and work within the greater community.
A Lifelong Commitment to Lasting Impact
Although he joined the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Board of Directors in November 2024, Paul Gilbert’s dedication to the Community Foundation’s mission began many years ago. Paul, who has served as the Executive Director of NOVA Parks since 2005, has contributed invaluable insights as a member of our Investment Committee since 2017. However, his passion for CFNOVA’s work was first realized during a coffee meeting with former CFNOVA President and CEO Eileen Ellsworth.
Who are NOVA Youth?
December 19, 2024 at 12:00 pmThe Community Foundation’s data and research center, Insight Region®, launched a dynamic series of deep-dive sessions where we uncover the key factors shaping our upcoming 2025 Children & Youth Report. Each session is led by our Senior Director of Insight Region®, Denise Bellows.
Watch our recording, read our recap questions, and learn more in our blog written by Denise Bellows, PhD and Katharyn Loweth, MS, on Who are NOVA Youth?
The Loudoun Impact Fund recently awarded $118,000 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations serving Loudoun County. This year’s grant awards were made possible through the generosity of 64 individuals and businesses that pooled charitable gifts.
by Emily M. Harper, CFP®, Vice President & Partner, Monument Wealth Management
Don’t overlook the power of Qualified Charitable Distributions, or “QCDs” for charitably-inclined clients over 70 ½. A QCD allows IRA money to be donated directly from the IRA to charitable organizations. In 2024, each client can donate up to $105,000 through a QCD (or $210,000 for married couples filing jointly), and that limit will be indexed for inflation going forward.
Questions?
Questions?
