Impact Stories

Seeding Innovation

June 26, 2023
There is a need in Northern Virginia for more professionals entering the Life Sciences field. One major barrier to fulfilling this need is the limited workplace experience for graduate students preparing to enter the Life Sciences field. Another challenge contributing to this lack of Life Science professionals is the availability of trained instructors who are familiar with advanced life science concepts and techniques who have mastered college-level life-sciences material that is specially formatted for students in secondary school. The Future Kings have developed an innovative approach that is designed to help solve these challenges. The innovation combines college-level course material specially designed for secondary students with an internship for the graduate students that includes both teaching adolescents and working in a professional lab.

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July 26, 2022
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Innovation Fund awarded a grant of $25,390 to Smart City Works to create a Mental Health Track for its 2022 Smart City Challenge- an innovative competition that convenes diverse, wide-ranging organizations and projects virtually in the sectors of housing, transportation, health, water, and others.

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December 21, 2021
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded a grant of $52,076.23 from its Innovation Fund to Reston-based NOVA Labs. The Innovation Fund uses a venture philanthropy model of grant-making in which donors to the Innovation Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation find investment opportunities in Northern Virginia.

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September 27, 2021
Public Interest Technology is an emerging field that uses technological expertise in service of the common good, often with a focus on under-resourced communities. Today, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia hosted Public Interest Technology, the latest event in our Innovation Breakfast Series.

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August 20, 2021
In our ongoing mission to recognize and support innovation in our region, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is pleased to announce its 2021 Innovation Fund has awarded a $40,000 grant to the George Mason University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Food Depot.

This Innovation Fund grant to the Food Depot will provide the opportunity to further develop a community of innovators and entrepreneurs in Mason’s CIE. Specifically, Mason's students and faculty will create, develop, and staff the Food Depot.

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October 27, 2020
Food insecurity impacts millions of people in the United States, and yet over 40% of fresh produce in our country goes to waste. The USDA defines food insecurity as the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of a lack of money and other resources. In Prince William County, Virginia over 6% of adults and 12% of children are food insecure. Local nonprofit Action in Community Through Service of Prince William (ACTS), is on the frontline of providing much-needed food to those in desperate need.

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October 7, 2020
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia hosted its first virtual Raise the Region Gala on Friday, October 2, 2020. Business, philanthropic, and community leaders joined us from their own homes across the region and the nation to take part in this live-streamed event.

Hosted by NBC4’s Leon Harris, 2020 Raise the Region gala is an annual mission-critical fundraiser that enables the Community Foundation to respond to need, seed innovation, and lead and convene the community. The theme for this year’s event was Building a Community that Works for Everyone.

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June 5, 2020

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announced that it has awarded $85,500 in total grants to four local nonprofits who have been chosen as the recipients of the 2020 Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund (LEAF), which provides grants to organizations supporting the Latino population’s path to civic integration in American society.

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April 6, 2020

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, the leader in philanthropy in the region today announced its Innovation Fund has awarded $75,000 in grants ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 to three local foundations.

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December 16, 2019

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Giving Circle Supports Local Women’s Philanthropy

(Oakton, VA) –The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC) announced the winners of its sixth annual grant cycle today. A total of $69,148 has been awarded to five local nonprofit organizations that provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs to girls and young women in Northern Virginia. To date, the BWGC has awarded and established grant funds totaling over $300,000.

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December 12, 2019

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Giving Circle Supports Local Women’s Philanthropy

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC) announced the winners of its sixth annual grant cycle today.

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December 1, 2019
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC) announced the winners of its sixth annual grant cycle today. A total of $69,148 has been awarded to five local nonprofit organizations that provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs to girls and young women in Northern Virginia. To date, the BWGC has awarded and established grant funds totaling over $300,000.

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June 7, 2019
In 2017, The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA) launched our Environment Fund, with a mission “to protect, restore and improve the natural environment of Northern Virginia, thereby enhancing the health and quality of life of its citizens and the economy of the region.” The fund’s goals include supporting collaboration, public awareness, and public engagement to improve and protect the natural environment.

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April 15, 2019

Urban Vertical Farming Program is 2019 Innovation Fund Grant Recipient

Oakton, VA – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia awards a $25,000 grant to the PHILLIPS Programs for Children and Families, a Fairfax-based nonprofit that serves the needs of individuals ages 6-22 with behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities and their families through education, family support services, community education and advocacy.

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December 20, 2018

Collective Philanthropy for Local Women

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women’s Giving Circle (BWGC) announced the winners of its fifth annual grant cycle today. A total of $52,500 has been awarded to four local nonprofit organizations and schools that provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs to girls and young women in Northern Virginia. To date, the BWGC has awarded $230,500 in grants.

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June 4, 2018
Ali Culhane, Get2Green Program Specialist and Donna Volkmann, Get2Green Resource Teacher, talk about the Get2Green Program

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May 1, 2018

2018 Awardees

Northern Virginia Community College - $25,000

Serving all of Northern Virginia
To support the Adult Career Pathways Program and its ability to defray the costs associated with certification testing for students in its program.

*Nova Maker Faire - $5,000

Serving all of Northern Virginia
To promote and spur innovation and creativity for the 3000+ attendees at the annual NoVa Mini Maker Faire held In Reston each March.

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April 4, 2018
Abigail Golden VazquezAbigail Golden-Vazquez, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Latinos and Society ProgramLatinos comprise one in four students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade and, as such, they will have a direct and lasting impact on the nation’s democracy and prosperity. This is why it’s absolutely necessary to foster a culture of civic participation among Latino students inside and outside of school. Research shows that exposure to civic engagement at an early age can create lasting habits of civic participation throughout a person’s life. Edu-Futuro is an organization that seeks to engage Latino youth in civic activity for a better American future, a vision that aligns with the goals of its newest grantor, the Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund (LEAF).

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March 19, 2018

Grant to Support Adult Career Pathway Program

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announced today a $25,000 grant from the Innovation Fund endowment for the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Adult Career Pathway Program (ACP). Northern Virginia Community College will use the grant to help defray the costs associated with certification testing for students in the ACP program.

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December 17, 2017

Five Organizations Awarded Grants for STEM Education, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Programs

wesley housing2017 Grantee: Wesley Housing STEM Program ParticipantsThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women's Giving Circle (BWGC) announced the winners of its fourth annual grant cycle today.  A total of $53,000 has been awarded to five nonprofit organizations and schools that provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Leadership and Entrepreneurship programs to girls and young women in Northern Virginia. To-date the BWGC has awarded $178,000 in grants.   

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