Growing Philanthropy

An Interview with Rod Harrell

April 1, 2019

Rod 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.

An Interview with Stephen Roberts

November 13, 2018

Stephen 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.

Announcing The Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts

November 1, 2018

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

The 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.

Catherine Schott Murray

September 20, 2018

We 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.

Bruce and Jean Wyman, Active Philanthropists

July 16, 2018

We 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.

Environment Fund Established

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.

Melinda Merk, Philanthropist

May 2, 2018

This 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 estaate and trust services to high net worth individuals, families, and business owners.

Cheryl Janey, Philanthropist

March 7, 2018

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

Brandon Elledge, Board Member, Philanthropist

January 24, 2018

Brandon 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.

Janet Miller: Former President of the Community Foundation

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.

Permanent Fund Campaign Launch

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.

John and Virginia Chapel Support Philanthropic Efforts

September 25, 2017

This 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.

Plant NOVA Natives and The Northern Virginia Regional Commission

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.

Diana Katz, Co-Founder of LEAF and Giving Circle of HOPE

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.

Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund Launches

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.”

Our Children Fund Opens to Help Foster Children

March 17, 2017

Deborah G. MatthewsThis is an interview with Deborah Matthews, a local trust and estate attorney devoted to supporting foster children in our region, who recently established the Our Children Fund with the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.

What is the Our Children Fund?

This fund is focused on the needs of foster children, which are immediate and present every single day. It will help provide foster care children access to “normalizing” items and experiences and to address their otherwise unmet medical, social, emotional, and educational needs. These children in the Fairfax County foster system are between the ages of birth and 17 years, and young adults between the ages of 18 and 21, if permanency (return to home, relative placement, or adoption) is not achieved. Some examples of what might be supported include fees for before or afterschool activities, tutors, field trips, camps, elective activities, sports-related fees, and dental and health services.

Regional Nonprofit Opens Funds to Support Regional Parks

January 17, 2017

Did you know that funds at the Community Foundation are not just for individual donors? Paul Gilbert is the Executive Director of NOVA Parks, a regional nonprofit organization that recently opened two funds to support its work: the NOVA Parks Fund and the Outdoor Kids Fund. Read our interview with him to see how how we partner with local nonprofit organizations through dedicated funds at the Community Foundation.

Giving the Gift of Freedom

July 15, 2016

Jill Hottel serves as Executive Director of Diving With Heroes and as the advisor of the Diving With Heroes Designated Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.

Diving with Heroes, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in June 2014 with the purpose of unlocking the treasures contained in the underwater world and sharing them with those who have fought so valiantly to secure and defend our freedom. The men and women of the U.S. armed forces have dedicated themselves to protecting our freedoms; in return, we want to gift them with the freedom that diving provides. Our aim is to enable our hero divers to participate in dive trips and scuba experiences allowing them to live the diving lifestyle.

Northern Virginia Community Rallies for Innovation

June 13, 2016

Exceeds $30,000 Goal to Jumpstart Innovation Fund Endowment

The Northern Virginia community is well on its way to having a committed pool of funds investing in innovative programs that will help diversify the local economy, give local students a leg up as they navigate their education and future careers, and support complex social issues in new, creative ways.

Local Giving to Support Children and Innovation

May 23, 2016

Tanya La Force is a member of the Business Women's Giving Circle and a recent donor to the Innovation Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. We asked her a few questions her personal philanthropy and how she strives to make an impact in our region.

Impact Stories

An Interview with Rod Harrell

An Interview with Stephen Roberts

Announcing The Ross-Roberts Fund for the Arts

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

Catherine Schott Murray

Bruce and Jean Wyman, Active Philanthropists

Environment Fund Established

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

Melinda Merk, Philanthropist

Cheryl Janey, Philanthropist

Brandon Elledge, Board Member, Philanthropist

Janet Miller: Former President of the Community Foundation

Permanent Fund Campaign Launch

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

John and Virginia Chapel Support Philanthropic Efforts

Plant NOVA Natives and The Northern Virginia Regional Commission

Diana Katz, Co-Founder of LEAF and Giving Circle of HOPE

Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund Launches

Anonymous Donor Challenges Community with $50,000 Matching Gift

Our Children Fund Opens to Help Foster Children

What is the Our Children Fund?

Regional Nonprofit Opens Funds to Support Regional Parks

Giving the Gift of Freedom

Northern Virginia Community Rallies for Innovation

Exceeds $30,000 Goal to Jumpstart Innovation Fund Endowment

Local Giving to Support Children and Innovation

Topics

General Inquiries

Impact Stories