Impact Stories

Growing Philanthropy

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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January 24, 2020

To nurture the mental health and well-being of all members of the Northern Virginia community.

Trilium Center2026 Mental Health Fund Grantee, Trilium Center


In 2019, about eight percent of our population was dealing with active symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. In 2021, that rate is 28 percent, a nearly four-fold increase, and impacts nearly 550,000 adults in the region. An additional 200,000 adults are asymptomatic consumers of mental health services who are receiving (or want to receive) treatment. All told, over 750,000 adults in Northern Virginia (39 percent) have mental health needs. (Finding Our Way Back to Mental Health, 2021)

Health and safety concerns are growing among youth in Northern Virginia, with a significant number of students reporting feeling unsafe in their neighborhoods and at school. Nearly 15% of middle school students feel unsafe in their surroundings, with Hispanic/Latino students reporting higher levels of fear. The rise of electronic bullying, which has grown by 30% from 2013 to 2023, highlights the increasing challenges faced by youth. The impact of bullying is further reflected in the mental health crisis, with youth deaths by suicide increasing by 45% since the last report. (A Portrait of Northern Virginia's Youth, 2025)

To help nurture the emotional health and well-being of all members of the Northern Virginia community, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia makes grants with a focus in Mental Health annually through the Community Investment Funds grant cycle.

The Mental Health Fund, a component fund of The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, is a permanent community endowment at the Community Foundation dedicated to the mental health and well-being of all members of the Northern Virginia community.
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Nonprofits: Learn More & Apply

This fund supports organizations or programs that offer mental health support services to vulnerable populations.

The 2026 Grant Cycle is now closed. Find all available resources and information here

See the list of 2026 Community Investment Fund grantees here. 

Please make sure you're subscribed to our Nonprofit News and Resources list to stay up-to-date on funding opportunities. 

For questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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November 18, 2019
Josiah DayAnd just like that, the end of 2019 is upon us. As a professional advisor, you play a vital role in the lives of your clients and their families. But we understand there are a myriad of challenges that arise with your clients’ financial planning during this time of year -- and executing their charitable giving desires is no exception. It would be our privilege to support your efforts to maximize the philanthropic opportunities for you and your clients in the midst of these challenges.

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August 8, 2019
Brad Frey is the donor advisor for the J. Watkins Fund for Arts and Education. We recently asked him to share some thoughts on how this fund helps honor his husband’s legacy.

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April 3, 2019
Joel BrownJoel Brown, is a donor advisor for the XMS Fund, which supports youth, education, health and community improvement. We asked him to share some thoughts on how this fund helps the Northern Virginia region.

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April 1, 2019
Rod HarrellRod Harrell, is a donor advisor for the Rachel Harrell Memorial Fund. We asked him to share some thoughts on how this fund helps honor his wife's legacy.

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November 13, 2018
Ross Roberts 1993bStephen S. Roberts and Dr. Sue Goetz Ross, pictured in 1993Stephen Roberts, a donor advisor for the Sue Goetz Ross and Stephen S. Roberts Music Fund, recently made a legacy gift to help launch the Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts. We asked him to share some thoughts on how this new fund helps honor his wife's legacy.

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November 1, 2018

A permanent source of funding to celebrate, support and promote the arts in Northern Virginia

ArtsFund Logo FINAL LowResThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia launched The Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts. The mission of the new fund is to celebrate, promote, and support the arts in Northern Virginia. Thanks to a generous donation from Stephen Roberts and his donor advised fund, the Sue Goetz Ross and Stephen S. Roberts Endowment Fund, this new fund is endowed as part of The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, forever able to make grants to support the arts in our region. To kick it off, the Community Foundation convened a volunteer panel to review Letters of Intent submitted by local arts organizations and awarded $10,000 to 1st Stage to support its capacity building and strengthen its development and education initiatives.

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September 20, 2018
Schott Murray C 3x4 FINAL 2We recently sat down with Catherine Schott Murray of Odin, Feldman & Pittleman. Catherine is a Community Foundation Board member, member of the Raise the Region Gala committee, and member of the Business Women's Giving Circle.

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July 16, 2018
Bruce and Jean WymanWe recently sat down with Bruce and Jean Wyman, who and are actively involved with the Community Foundation, as well as having a Donor Advised Fund with the Community Foundation. They are both members of the Giving Circle of HOPE, and focus their grant making locally.

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May 10, 2018

$25,000 Grant Awarded to Fairfax County Public Schools Get2Green Initiative

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia today announced the establishment of The Environment Fund. This fund is made possible by a $500,000 gift to The Community Foundation from an anonymous donor.

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May 2, 2018
Melinda MerkThis interview is with Melinda Merk, Attorney at McCandlish Lillard, new Community Foundation Board Member, Business Women's Giving Circle (BWGC) member, and active philanthropist.

Melinda has a background in providing holistic multi-generational income and wealth transfer tax planning advice and estate and trust services to high net worth individuals, families, and business owners.

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March 7, 2018
Cheryl Janey This interview is with Cheryl Janey, Community Foundation Board member, BWGC member, Gala sponsor, and Community Foundation Diversity Task Force member.

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January 24, 2018
Elledge Brandon 72Brandon H. ElledgeThis interview is with Brandon H. Elledge, Community Foundation Board member, investment committee and Loudoun Impact Fund member, and Permanent Fund donor. He is a partner in Holland & Knight's Northern Virginia office in Tysons Corner.

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November 15, 2017
In 2018 the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia celebrates its 40th Anniversary. We recently sat down with Janet Miller to learn more about the history of the Community Foundation, and her involvement as a former president. Janet currently serves as the Executive Director of the William S. Abell Foundation in Maryland.

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October 31, 2017

Goal is to Grow From Current $4 Million Plus to $7 Million Over the Next Year

The Community Foundation announces the launch of its Permanent Fund campaign, a community endowment which is a forever source to provide critical support for those in need in the Northern Virginia region, to seed innovation, and make a lasting difference in our community.

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September 25, 2017
ChapelsThis is an interview with John and Virginia Chapel with the Chapel Family Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation. This fund provides direct grants to nonprofits and other programs benefiting child and youth development, poverty relief, health and aging, military personnel and their families, and community improvement. The Chapels are the 2017 Raise the Region Gala Challenge Sponsor, and are long-time supporters of the Gala.

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July 12, 2017
This is an interview with Robert W. Lazaro, Jr., Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, recently sat down with us to discuss his involvement with The Community Foundation. Robert recently worked with us to establish the NoVA Natives Plant Fund.

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May 9, 2017
This is an interview with Diana Katz, who recently established the Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund (LEAF) with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. Diana is also a co-founder of the Giving Circle of HOPE.

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April 17, 2017

Anonymous Donor Challenges Community with $50,000 Matching Gift

The Community Foundation launched the Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund (LEAF) to promote and invest in the civic engagement, education, economic success, naturalization, health, leadership development, volunteerism, and advocacy of the Latino community in the Metro DC region. Inspired by a 2016 Aspen Institute Latinos & Society Program report titled “Unlocking Latino Civic Potential: 2016 and Beyond,” two visionary Northern Virginia leaders, Paty Funegra and Diana Katz, formed this committee advised fund at the Community Foundation to create a source of strategic, permanent funding that will strengthen and encourage the Latino community now and for generations to come. Abigail Golden-Vazquez, Executive Director of the Latinos & Society Program at the Aspen Institute and author of the report stated, “I am confident that the Latino community and many more will benefit, because when you have a fully participatory and inclusive society, you have a stronger healthier community and democracy for all.”

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