The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia: Matching philanthropists with community needs

See Original Article for INSIDENOVA


2018 Community Investment Fund Grant Recipients

As featured in The Business Voice, June 2018.

What would you say if I told you there’s a nonprofit organization in your community that wants to give funds and make your life better? That’s not typically what you think when you hear about nonprofits, but then again the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia isn’t your typical organization.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, which covers the region that includes Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington counties and the cities of Manassas, Manassas Park, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax, is primarily concerned with matching philanthropists with community needs for the betterment of Northern Virginia residents.

“Our role in the community,” explained the organization’s Vice President of Marketing and Events, Tara Nadel, “is to become experts at place-based philanthropy; at truly understanding the pulse of the community in which we exist and to improve the quality of life for the people within that community.”


In the center (front row, second from right), President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia, Eileen Ellsworth, surrounded by the Board of Directors.


Proudly, in 2018, the organization is celebrating its 40th year of doing just that and is thrilled to be able to report that the level of philanthropic giving in the region is picking up pace. Last year alone, the group set an organizational record of awarding $4.7 million in grants and scholarships and raising $13 million in new gifts.

“People are starting to realize how easy it is to open a fund and how our organization serves as charitable advisory staff to help them realize their philanthropic goals,” said Nadel.

To make it even easier, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia worked over the past year and a half to develop and publish its Opportunity Index. The index, which can be found on the organization’s web site, is an aggregation of population, demographic and community needs data that is accessible to the general public. The purpose of the index is to show potential funders the greatest challenges of the community and where, geographically, they are being most widely experienced.

Community Foundation of Northern Virginia 2017 Gala

Not only will this index help potential funders see where their dollars can do the most good, it’s helping the Community Foundation shape its future goals and projects. The organization is currently working in partnership with Democracy Collaborative to design projects to best address the needs and anticipated needs of the community. Most immediately they are developing a program focused on removing disconnected youth from poverty along the Route 1 Corridor through sustainable employment.

While that project will take time to implement, what’s already set in motion for the Community Foundation?

“The Community Foundation is building The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, a permanent community endowment that helps the Community Foundation respond to critical need and seed innovation in the region,” noted the organization’s President and CEO, Eileen Ellsworth. 

“Our current goal of raising $4 million for The Permanent Fund campaign has already been exceeded. Our campaign ends on June 30, 2019, and we are confident that the final results will exceed our most optimistic expectations.”

Upcoming events for the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia include the Innovation Breakfast on September 13 at Valo Park in Tyson’s Corner.

“This one is called ‘Reviving the Dream: Designing Technology for Social Well-Being’ and is in partnership with WHEELS Global Foundation,” explained Jennifer Cochran, the organization’s Manager of Communication and Events.

On the heels of that event will be their annual Raise the Region Gala (October 5, 2018), which will celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary and honor the philanthropic generosity of Jim and Ellen Dyke, this year’s recipients of the Community Leadership Award.

For more information about the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, please visit www.CFNOVA.org.

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