Impact Stories

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.

Fairfax, VA (September 3, 2024) – Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Environment Fund reached a $1 million endowment milestone last month. This is the first issue area focused fund at the Community Foundation to reach this mark.

Each year, thousands of individual donors passionately support causes close to their hearts through the Community Foundation. Although we may never meet some of those individuals, we know how much of an impact they can make. For instance, we recently received an anonymous gift that pushed our Environment Fund past the $1 million endowment mark. This is the first issue area focused fund to reach this milestone! Given that such funding enables critical opportunities for our region, we are ecstatic over this milestone and the generosity required to reach it.

Mary-Carson Stiff, Executive Director of Wetlands Watch, presented “The Escalating Climate Change Impacts Throughout Virginia: How the Philanthropic Sector is Responding, and What You Can Do To Help” on the afternoon of August 21. Participants gathered over Zoom to learn about the growing climate concerns Virginians face in the years ahead.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is awarding $805,940 in grants to 49 local organizations through its 2024 Community Investment Funds (CIF), Environment Fund, and Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts competitive cycles. These grants, supported by charitable endowments and managed by the Community Foundation, will address current and emerging needs in the region.
Support this Community Resource

Sustainability Matters and the Community Foundation have not known each other for very long- a couple of years ago, the Shenandoah-based organization attended a First Tuesdays conversation, an informal half an hour chat that nonprofits can have with members of the Community Foundation staff about development goals, communications, or just for networking with a public sector partner.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, a trusted leader in philanthropy in the region announced today it has awarded $548,450 in grants through its Community Investment Funds (CIF),  Environment Fund, and the Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts to 39 local nonprofit organizations. The Community Foundation conducts several discretionary grant cycles each year that help meet critical needs and seed innovative solutions to complex social problems across the region.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, a trusted leader in philanthropy in the region announced today the opening of the 2021 grant cycles for its Community Investment Funds (CIF), The Environment Fund, and The Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts. The Community Foundation conducts several discretionary grant cycles each year that help meet critical needs and seed innovative solutions to complex social problems across the region.

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