Impact Stories

“We believed the best way to honor our beloved son, Will, and allow the light of his beautiful spirit to shine on was to start a scholarship in his name. With the wonderful guidance and support from CFNOVA, we were able to accomplish this most meaningful tribute. Providing the opportunity for other deserving young people, who had overcome significant adversity, to pursue a better and brighter future through higher education seemed a most fitting legacy.  From the awarding of the very first scholarship nineteen years ago to 67 scholarships later, we continue to passionately embrace the sentiment expressed by Marian Wright Edelman: “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” – Louise Foreman.

Christie Dondero Bettwy, Executive Director of Rock Recovery, recently joined the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia to share powerful insights into the evolving mental health landscape in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded $17,750 to ten schools in Northern Virginia through the 2025 Healthy Kids Grants. This year’s Healthy Kids Grant recipients include returning grantees who expressed a need for continued support. While not all of last year’s grantees requested renewed funding, each submission was carefully reviewed by a dedicated committee. The selected organizations reflect thoughtful consideration and alignment with the program’s goals.

In a recent conversation with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, Marla Lahat, Executive Director of Home Care Partners, opened up about the organization’s journey—highlighting both the triumphs and challenges of serving aging adults and their families. As a 2025 Aging Fund grantee, Home Care Partners has expanded its services to include new language classes, helping bridge communication gaps and better serve a diverse community.

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

Fairfax, VA (April 17, 2025) – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded $855,000 in grants to 51 nonprofit organizations across the region through the region through the Community Investment Funds (CIF), Environment Fund, and Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts distributions. Individual grants range from $5,000 to $30,000. These grants are more than just funding—they represent the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s commitment to building a more resilient and inclusive region.

Fairfax, VA (February 18, 2025) – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Fund (IDD), a component of the Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, has reached the $1 million endowment milestone. The IDD Fund is the second issue-focused fund to reach the $1 million milestone, following closely behind the Environment Fund, which achieved this goal in August 2024. This achievement is made possible by the Delman Family, donor advisors of the Delman Family Charitable Fund, held at the Community Foundation.

In 2024, Clean Fairfax leaped forward in reducing plastic waste at local farmers' markets by developing the Plastic-Free Farmers Market Toolkit. Funded by a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation’s Environment Fund, this resource equips market managers and vendors with practical strategies to transition away from plastic bags. Featuring success stories, actionable solutions, and a bilingual cheat sheet, the toolkit helps reduce plastic usage and fosters policy changes for long-term environmental impact.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is helping build a region that works for everyone. This story highlights the profound impact of collaboration between donors to the Environment Fund, Clean Fairfax, and the Community Foundation team. By working together, we explore innovative solutions in our shared pursuit of a more resilient Northern Virginia.

On November 7, 2024, Belong! (a 2024 grantee of the Child and Youth Development Fund) welcomed Sari Raskin and Amanda Bomfim from the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia (CFNOVA) during an after-school session at Cunningham Park Elementary School. Serving Fairfax County, Belong! offers weekly after-school mentoring to 81 immigrant and refugee children from low-income families in grades K-8. The organization received a $15,000 grant to enhance resources (such as math and reading curriculum materials) and support staff capacity. Our team had the opportunity to see those resources at work during the visit, as mentors and mentees worked on puzzles, completed homework, or played Jenga, cards, and Legos.

Fairfax, VA (January 15, 2025) – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is starting the new year with exciting news for nonprofits and students throughout the region. As of January 8th, applications are now open for the Foundation’s 2025 grants and scholarship cycles. Nonprofits are encouraged to apply for funding to support their community-focused initiatives, while students can apply for scholarships to advance their educational goals.

January 9, 2025 (Fairfax, VA)- The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women’s Giving Circle announced five grants to organizations serving the region’s young women and girls in STEM, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Mentorship Programs. To date, BWGC has awarded more than $595,000 in grants that have impacted the lives of over 3,600 young people.

The content on this page was copied from the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties' website.

The Loudoun Impact Fund recently awarded $118,000 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations serving Loudoun County. This year’s grant awards were made possible through the generosity of 64 individuals and businesses that pooled charitable gifts.

A retired IT professional turned philanthropist, Meera Pillai is an influential figure in Northern Virginia nonprofit circles who has become prominent through board membership and outreach. She left a lucrative IT career to pursue philanthropy, which she felt was her life's purpose. Since then, Meera has served as Board Chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of DC, a member of the Board of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and a member of the Board of Educate Fairfax.

As a second-generation Indian-American, Meera appreciates the value of paying it forward, as such opportunities enabled her family’s pursuit and achievement of the American Dream. Indeed, Meera was pivotal in the recent launch of The Scholarship Fund for Northern Virginia, which supports local students pursuing higher education at a Virginia public college.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded $506,600 in scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year to 114 students pursuing higher education. This substantial financial support encapsulates our 35 Community Foundation scholarship funds launched by individual donors over the years wishing to make a difference for students in Northern Virginia and beyond. Together, these efforts reflect the Foundation’s commitment to fostering educational opportunities and supportive legacies throughout the region.