Impact Stories

Leading and Convening the Community

February 12, 2019

TEDx Tysons Talk Released

Eileen TEDx imageHave you ever wondered what motivates individual charitable giving? Why do people behave in such an altruistic or seemingly altruistic manner? Eileen Ellsworth, President and CEO of Community Foundation for Northern Virginia recently took the TEDx stage to deliver a fresh perspective on “Why we give – The need to connect and belong.” In this thought-provoking presentation Ellsworth shares a collection of eye-opening stories that reveal a new insight — that perhaps explains why do people give?

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December 5, 2018
Dear Amazon,

Welcome to Northern Virginia! As the timeframe for your decision on HQ2 drew closer, those of us who already call this region home began to think about how we’d welcome you to our community. Community foundations have a more than 100-year history as community conveners and conversation brokers who work tirelessly to preserve, enhance and protect the quality of life for our neighbors. This role often places us directly in the middle of our community’s most important decisions, most pressing issues, and most promising opportunities. Many in our community believe that your decision to locate HQ2 in Northern Virginia is the most impactful event to happen in each of these categories in a generation.

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November 5, 2018

America’s largest independent charity evaluator

charitynavigatorThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.

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October 23, 2018

An Initiative to help get out the count in Northern Virginia for the 2020 Decennial Census

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has announced its plans to launch “Count the Region,” an initiative that is dedicated to getting out the count for the 2020 Decennial Census in Northern Virginia and to ensuring that everyone living in the region is counted, counted once, and counted in the right place.

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October 10, 2018

Annual Gala Raised $636,000 to Support Critical Needs in the Northern Virginia Region

Ellen and Jim Dyke were recognized by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia for their history of passionate leadership and philanthropy with the 2018 Community Leadership Award at the Raise the Region Gala held on Friday, October 5, 2018 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

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September 17, 2018

Reviving the Dream: Designing Technology for Social Wellbeing

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia recently partnered with the WHEELS Global Foundation to hold an Innovation Breakfast Series event titled, "Reviving the Dream: Designing Technology for Social Wellbeing." More than 100 guests attended the event.

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July 13, 2018

By Joshua D. Stillman, CFP®

Josh Stillman Headshot VerticalWhat are the greatest needs in Northern Virginia and how can we meet them?

This thought-provoking question was recently posed at a dinner hosted by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. The question resonated with me – how can I help? However, it immediately prompted another personal question in need of answering first: Should I?

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June 26, 2018
Recently, former Community Foundation Board members and staff reunited to reminsce about the 40 year history of the Foundation.

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May 14, 2018

Changing the Frame on Green Energy

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission co-hosted an Innovation Breakfast on May 10, 2018 titled, “Changing the Frame on Green Energy.” More than 100 participants attended the event.

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May 14, 2018

Changing the Frame on Green Energy

Sanjiv MahanKeynote Speaker: Sanjiv Mahan, President, WGL EnergyThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission co-hosted an Innovation Breakfast on May 10, 2018 titled, “Changing the Frame on Green Energy.” More than 100 participants attended the event. The keynote speaker was Sanjiv Mahan, President of WGL Energy, and the panelists included Robert Lazaro, Executive Director, Northern Virginia Regional Commission; Ruth Ann Norton, President & CEO, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative; Karen Schaufeld, Founder, Powered by Facts; and Delegate Rip Sullivan, VA State Delegate, 48th District.

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May 1, 2018

Spring Edition Celebrates Corporate Philanthropy

GoodBusiness Spring2018 CoverThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia released its seventh issue of GOOD BUSINESS magazine, a bi-annual publication that features stories of local businesses that play a key role in the community through philanthropy and volunteerism. The Spring 2018 issue of GOOD BUSINESS features stories that focus on corporate philanthropy and inspiration for future generations.

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February 21, 2018

Opportunity Index Unveiled as Panelists Evaluate Workforce Development Challenges and Opportunities, and Region’s Income Inequality

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce co-hosted the Shape of the Region conference on February 15, 2018 at Valo Park in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Nearly 300 registered guests attended the event. Keynote speakers included Michael Cassidy, President & CEO, Commonwealth Institute, and Richard Reeves, Senior Fellow of Economic Studies and Co-Director of the Center on Children and Families at the Brookings Institution.

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February 21, 2018

Opportunity Index Unveiled as Panelists Evaluate Workforce Development Challenges and Opportunities, and Region’s Income Inequality

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce co-hosted the Shape of the Region conference on February 15, 2018 at Valo Park in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Nearly 300 registered guests attended the event. Keynote speakers included Michael Cassidy, President & CEO, Commonwealth Institute, and Richard Reeves, Senior Fellow of Economic Studies and Co-Director of the Center on Children and Families at the Brookings Institution.

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February 12, 2018

Permanent Fund Serves as Permanent Community Endowment

CFNOVA AnnualReport2016 2017 CoverThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia released its 2016 -2017 Annual Report, “A Year of Growing the Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia,” which highlights the growth of the Permanent Fund and its’ impact. Click here to view and download the Annual Report.

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February 5, 2018
Opportunity Index Logo SmallThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia launched the Opportunity Index web site and associated report in February 2018.

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February 5, 2018

Identifies Challenges and Barriers to Economic Success for Many in our Region

Opportunity Index Logo SmallThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announced today the launch of The Opportunity Index for Northern Virginia, an interactive dashboard to serve as a data resource for community knowledge and strategic philanthropic giving, and to help grow philanthropy for our most economically disadvantaged populations. The data and accompanying report were prepared by The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, a nonprofit think-tank that provides credible, independent, and accessible information and analyses of fiscal and economic issues with particular attention to the impacts on low- and moderate-income persons. The Opportunity Index is available to the public for free at www.cfnova.org/opportunityindex.

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November 9, 2017
Eileen Ellsworth, Community Foundation President and CEO, published this Blog for the Council on Foundations (CoF) and it was shared on the CoF web site on November 9, 2017. Eileen has been the President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia since 2005.

Since 1978, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has facilitated philanthropic efforts to respond to critical needs in our region. In more recent years, however— especially since the launch of our Innovation Fund in 2012—the Community Foundation has also worked to seed new, innovative approaches to community economic development.

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October 14, 2017
This interview is with Deborah Krat, Community Foundation Gala volunteer.

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October 10, 2017

Annual Gala Raised Over $530,000 to Support Critical Needs in the Northern Virginia Region

Mark A. and Brenda L. Moore of the Mark and Brenda Moore Family Foundation were recognized by the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia for their history of passionate leadership and philanthropy with the 2017 Community Leadership Award at the Raise the Region Gala held on Friday, October 6, 2017 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

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September 25, 2017

High Skills, High Demand, High Wage – Skills-Based Education Comes of Age

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia held an Innovation Breakfast on September 14, 2017 titled, “High Skills, High Demand, High Wage – Skills-Based Education Comes of Age.” More than 175 participants attended the event.

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