Impact Stories

When Renée Byng Yancey, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA), joined host Dennis Glasgow on the Community DC podcast, she brought an important message to listeners across the region: Northern Virginia is a place of tremendous opportunity, but building a community that works for everyone requires all of us.

The conversation offers listeners a deeper look into the role CFNOVA plays as the region's trusted philanthropic partner and the ways philanthropy can help address some of Northern Virginia's most pressing challenges. From economic mobility and housing affordability to nonprofit sustainability and long-term community investment, Renée shared how CFNOVA connects generosity with community needs to create lasting impact.

For many high capacity individuals and families, real estate represents one of their most significant and appreciated assets. Yet when charitable planning conversations occur, clients often focus on cash gifts, stock transfers, or bequests, overlooking the philanthropic potential of real estate. Professional advisors are uniquely positioned to help clients explore how donating real estate to the Community Foundation can achieve both charitable and financial objectives while creating a lasting local impact.

For estate planning attorneys and advisors who spend a lot of time encouraging clients to establish revocable living trusts to avoid probate, it may seem counterintuitive to leverage what’s known as “Make-A-Will Month.” Widely recognized in August, "Make-A-Will Month" encourages people to review—or, in some cases, finally get around to completing—their estate plans.

For Gil and Liz Blankespoor, community has always been more than a place to live—it is a responsibility to invest in the people and possibilities that make Northern Virginia thrive.

As longtime Reston residents, the Blankespoors have spent decades championing the vision that inspired Reston's founding: a community where people of diverse backgrounds could succeed. Their commitment to that vision led them to establish the Reston Scholarship Fund (RSF), which helps qualified South Lakes High School graduates pursue higher education and career training opportunities.

At a time when nonprofits across the country are navigating unprecedented financial uncertainty, our President and CEO, Renée Byng Yancey alongside a robust panel helped lead a critical conversation about what it will take to build a more sustainable nonprofit sector.

You’re likely well aware that regularly talking with your clients about charitable giving can strengthen your relationships. That’s not surprising, considering that the topic of philanthropy itself helps uncover values, build trust, and position you as not just an advisor but as a holistic partner. Indeed, recent research shows that 99% of advisors believe these conversations are important and 96% see them as their responsibility, highlighting both the expectation and the opportunity for advisors to engage more deeply.

At the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, we work with business leaders and owners to structure charitable giving plans that support both corporate goals and community impact. Whether your corporate clients give directly to local nonprofits or organize philanthropy through a fund at the Community Foundation, thoughtful planning has always mattered. In 2026, it matters even more.

By Kathleen Lowenthal, Development Officer, CFNOVA

Charitable giving doesn’t have to be tied to a deadline or a particular season. In fact, some of the most meaningful and effective philanthropic decisions happen when donors take a step back to look at the bigger picture: your values, your assets, and the impact you want to make over time. This is especially true in light of recent tax law changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill, which updated several rules related to charitable giving and philanthropy. 

Fairfax, VA (March 18, 2026) – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is making more possible for our region by awarding $745,000 in grants to 45 local nonprofit organizations. These grants are funded through the Foundation’s Community Investment Funds (CIF) distributions.