Impact Stories

Leading and Convening the Community

April 13, 2020
Eileen EllsworthEileen Ellsworth, President/CEO Community Foundation for Northern VirginiaDear donors, volunteers, grantees, and friends:

“Social distance” strikes me as such a mild, innocuous little phrase that doesn’t even hint at the 1 million small and large choices we are making to stay home, stay safe, and keep others safe as well. Turns out that successful social distancing is a puzzle that needs re-solving every day. And for those with school aged children or elderly parents who are also home and in need of care and attention, solving the daily puzzle is nothing short of heroic. This is the extraordinary role that we ordinary citizens have been asked to play in the COVID-19 pandemic.

But for just a moment, imagine this. On top of social distancing and the threat of the virus, you are laid off with little or no savings and your job is the only source of income that enables you to eat and pay rent. Imagine that you or a family member gets sick – with the virus or otherwise – and you don’t have heath insurance. Imagine you are elderly, homebound, and dependent upon the delivery of meals when the volunteer pool of delivery drivers disappears. Imagine having to shelter in place with an abusive spouse.

We all have a lot on our plate, but thousands of our neighbors have far more to bear in this moment.

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April 3, 2020
Today, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announces the grantees from Round 2 of the COVID-19 Response Fund for Northern Virginia.

Mindful that the coronavirus will have a disproportionate impact on people with the least ability to meet it, the Community Foundation directed Round 2 funding to local organizations meeting basic needs and offering emergency financial assistance to our most vulnerable neighbors. A total of $360,000 has been awarded to the following 28 organizations who continue to man the front lines of the crisis.

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March 31, 2020
In an effort to support the fast-emerging public health needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, VeriSign Inc. of Reston, Virginia announced that it is donating $500,000 to the COVID-19 Response Fund for Northern Virginia as part of a broader effort to support those in the region who are experiencing hardship due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

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March 25, 2020
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Community Investment Fund Grant Cycle. More than $422,160 has been awarded to 32 local organizations providing critical services and basic needs assistance to residents throughout Northern Virginia. Available funds for the cycle come from the Community Foundation’s Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, which has been in development for more than 10 years, and additional donations from some of the Community Foundation’s donor advised fund donors who give generously every year to help us help our community.

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March 25, 2020

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Awards $422,160 in grants to 32 organizations through its 2020 Community Investment Funds Grant Cycle

March 25, 2020 (Oakton, VA) –The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded a record $422,160 in grants to 32 local organizations through its 2020 Community Investment Funds Grant program. The funds will help support the work of organizations that are providing critical services to residents throughout Northern Virginia, including programs that help with poverty relief, job training, education, emergency housing, and more.
READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

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March 18, 2020
Eileen EllsworthEileen Ellsworth, President/CEO Community Foundation for Northern VirginiaDear donors, volunteers, grantees, and friends:

Here is some very good news: All sectors of our beloved community in Northern Virginia have come together to respond to COVID-19.

We are particularly blessed in our region with strong anchor institutions led by extremely well trained and responsive leaders. Of even greater significance, to my mind, is that existing relationships between and among our region’s leaders are also strong. Intra-sector and cross sector communications are active and ongoing. There is no doubt that the level and quality of these community-based conversations will drive better outcomes for our region.

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March 18, 2020

The donation will kick-start COVID-19 response funds  to four local community foundations

CFNOVA DoctorsAmazon 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.

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March 12, 2020

Online Conference shared One Region Report and ideas to promote a more welcoming community in Northern Virginia

The Community Foundation's 2020 Shape of the region conference was held as an online conference on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Nearly 300 guests attended virtually to kick-start a big conversation around the large and growing impact of recent immigrants in Northern Virginia.

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March 11, 2020

Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Community Foundation and New American Economy Release first One Region Report on Economic Impact of Immigrants on Northern Virginia

One Region report cover imageImmigrants are major contributors to Northern Virginia's economy. A new report from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, in partnership with the New American Economy, finds that immigrants in Northern Virginia contributed $57.7 billion to the local economy in 2017 or 25.7 percent of the region’s $224.9 billion GDP.

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October 14, 2019

Annual Gala Raises $570,000 to Support Critical Needs in the Northern Virginia Region

(Oakton, VA) – Major General Carl H. McNair, Jr. (RET) of Springfield, Virginia has been awarded the 2019 Community Leadership Award presented by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. General McNair was recognized for his lifetime of community leadership, public service, and philanthropy during 2019 Raise the Region Gala held on Friday, October 4, 2019, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

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October 14, 2019
Dear Community Foundation Friends and Supporters,

It was pure joy celebrating home and place with you at the Community Foundation’s 2019 Raise the Region Gala on Friday, October 4th. Thank you for coming, for supporting our work, and for helping us honor Major General Carl McNair (RET) with the 2019 Community Leadership Award.

The event raised $570,000, which beat our expectations. It was a terrific outcome made possible by the dedication and hard work of the Community Foundation’s Board, staff, our amazing event honoree Carl, an army of caring volunteers and auction donors, a tireless Gala Committee, Gala Chair Ki Ho Kang, and the generosity of our many wonderful sponsors and supporters listed here.

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September 30, 2019
(Oakton, VA) - Public Art serves as a powerful tool that welcomes people to visit, engage, and enjoy space in a unique way. Leaders across the country recognize the power of public art to break down cultural barriers and advance their missions in housing, workforce, transportation, health, and the environment.

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September 3, 2019
Cities across America are recognizing the power of public art to break down cultural barriers and advance their missions in housing, workforce, transportation, health, and the environment. The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia will explore the impact of this movement when it presents “Public Art and Placemaking” in its next Innovation Breakfast Series event.

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June 27, 2019
Bernard MustafaBernard Mustafa, SVP & General Manager of PVBS an Xtivia Company, is Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s new chairman of the board of directors effective July 1, 2019 He is a highly respected executive in government contractor circles. A frequent participant on numerous industry panels, Bernard has regularly been tapped by Microsoft to provide insight and ideas on how to grow Microsoft Dynamics as the premier ERP solution for government contractors and other professional services industries. He leads corporate strategy efforts at PVBS and is a champion for the company globally.

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April 30, 2019

2019 Community Investment Grants Will Help Respond to Critical Community Needs in Northern Virginia Region

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announced 41 winners of its annual Community Investment Funds grant cycle for 2019. The $404,792 in grants is a record amount ever awarded by Community Foundation and will help local organizations provide critical services to residents throughout Northern Virginia, including programs that help to improve the health, education, and general wellbeing of residents, communities, and the entire region.

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April 1, 2019

Count the Region Initiative Launched to Get Out the Count

CountTheRegionLogo BlueToday, April 1, 2019, marks one year out from Census Day 2020, and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is launching its’ Count the Region Initiative to help ensure a complete and fair 2020 census count in the Northern Virginia region.

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April 1, 2019

With one year to go, Community Foundation works to ensure accurate census count for Northern Virginia

Today, April 1, 2019, marks one year out from Census Day 2020, and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is launching its’ Count the Region Initiative to help ensure a complete and fair 2020 census count in the Northern Virginia region.

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March 15, 2019
Oakton, VA - For all its growth and wealth Northern Virginia is home to many people who find it nearly impossible to climb the economic ladder from poverty or near-poverty to improve their individual or family’s socioeconomic status.

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February 21, 2019

2017-2018 Annual Report

CFNOVA AnnualReport2017 2018 CoverThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia released its 2017-2018 Annual Report, “Celebrating 40 Years” of making a difference in the region. The report highlights major milestones, including the launch of the campaign to grow The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, and a community endowment that will be a forever source of critical support for our most vulnerable neighbors.

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February 21, 2019
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia released its 2017-2018 Annual Report, “Celebrating 40 Years” of making a difference in the region. The report highlights major milestones, including the launch of the campaign to grow The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, and a community endowment that will be a forever source of critical support for our most vulnerable neighbors. The Annual Report is available here.

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