Impact Stories

Advancing Equity in Northern Virginia

Learn about our impact on the local community and beyond. Since its inception in 1978, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $100 million in cumulative grants and scholarships. Here’s how we are putting philanthropy to work.

If you would like to contribute to an impact story please contact Amanda Bomfim, Manager of Marketing, Communications and Events.
June 23, 2025
Retirement, the Great Wealth Transfer, and Your Clients’ Charitable Plans
by Laura Nash, CFP®, Relationship Manager and Vice President of West Financial Services

Standing at the forefront of one of the most significant financial transitions in history, we are helping our clients navigate the unprecedented wealth transfer of an estimated $84 trillion from baby boomers and the silent generation to their descendants over the next two decades. This historic shift presents a unique opportunity to discuss charitable giving as part of our clients’ long-term plans. As our clients retire and shape their legacies, we encourage them to pay close attention to IRAs and other retirement assets as key components of philanthropy.    

June 18, 2025
We're Good 2025

In a powerful episode of the We’re Good podcast, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA) takes center stage as a philanthropic changemaker driving meaningful impacts across the region. Host Lee Ann Necessary Brownlee sits down with CFNOVA President & CEO, Renée Byng Yancey and fund partner, Benton Fisher to explore how the Foundation responds to both urgent crises and long-term community needs.

June 17, 2025
scholarships 2025

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to more than 100 students for the 2025-2026 school year!

June 12, 2025
Drew Kolber

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia welcomes Drew Kolber as our 2025 Summer Intern! She is diving into a dynamic, hands-on experience across marketing, grants, fundraising, and research. From interviewing changemakers and crafting compelling stories to analyzing community data and supporting donor engagement, she will be at the heart of our mission to build a Northern Virginia that works for everyone.

May 30, 2025

On April 8, 2025, Senior Director of Insight Region®, Denise Bellows, PhD, attended a meeting of the Virginia House of Delegates for the Emergency Committee, established by the Virginia General Assembly, as a response to stay aware of the recent Federal changes. This meeting specifically focused on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions.

May 28, 2025
Empowering clients to create meaningful & lasting impact through Philanthropy

by Steve Wittenberg, JD,  LL.M, MBA, Director of Legacy Planning, SEI Private Wealth Management

As “goals based” wealth advisors, we have learned over the years that wealth creators possess unique goals and challenges. Most believe that philanthropy is part of their legacy. Passing down values to future generations is important. However, some worry the “good” may conflict with a “selfishly social benefit.” This is the perception that one is giving back for personal attention and accolades. Some believe giving large sums may lead to reduced privacy. Others avoid getting started out of fear of being inefficient or because they struggle with how to measure impact.

May 26, 2025

Happy Memorial Day from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia! We honor those who have served our country by reflecting on the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting military personnel and their families. Over 200,000 residents of Northern Virginia are current or former military, including 24,000 on active duty, 18,000 in training for reserves or national guard, and 168,000 veterans. The needs of this population are diverse, as described in our 2014 report on veterans in Northern Virginia. The Community Foundation supports our region’s military and their families through the Military Personnel & Their Families Fund, made possible by generous donors to the Permanent Fund, a perpetual source of community support.

May 16, 2025

Pictures from Mary Ellen Henderson’s ‘Stress Less Week’
Co-written with Colleen Hoover, School Social Worker at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School 

2024 Healthy Kids Grantee Makes an Impact

In August 2024, the Community Foundation awarded a grant to the Falls Church Education Foundation to support a new club called Henderson Minds Matter at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. Henderson Minds Matter, is a part of a nationwide student-led movement called Our Minds Matter that is designed to change school culture around mental health.

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May 5, 2025

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia was proud to join philanthropic partners from across the Commonwealth at the 2025 Virginia Funders Network Conference to explore innovative solutions and strategies that support thriving communities.

April 22, 2025
Engaging Clients at All Levels of Charitable Giving

by Catherine F. Schott Murray, Esq.Odin Feldman Pittleman

Many attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors will share that one of the reasons their clients love working with a community foundation is because the foundation is truly part of the community.  Whether a client has established a multi-million dollar field-of-interest fund, an endowed fund or a donor-advised fund to organize thousands of dollars of annual charitable gifts, a client gains full access to a community foundation’s charitable giving expertise and deep knowledge of the needs in the region in which they live or the specific mission and vision they want to support.