Seeding Innovation

Community Foundation Funds Help Establish New Computer Immersion Schools in Loudoun County

September 12, 2017

Funds from Chin Family Charitable Fund Provide Support

The Loudoun County Public School System recently announced that three schools will serve as computer science immersion schools – Meadowland Elementary, Moorefield Station Elementary and Round Hill Elementary. Each school will each teach 30 minutes of coding activities to students each day.

Grant for George Mason University Center Honey Bee Initiative

June 26, 2017

Grant supports partnership to develop innovative, multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial approaches to honey bee sustainability

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia recently made a grant of $25,000 to the George Mason University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Honey Bee Initiative. The goal of the grant is to accelerate the program and work of leveraging George Mason University innovators, educators, student teams and community partners to address the critical issues facing the honey bee.

Innovation Fund 2017 Grant Recipients

May 1, 2017

2017 Awardees

George Mason University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Honey Bee Initiative - $25,000
Serving all of Northern Virginia
To accelerate the program and its work of leveraging George Mason University innovators, educators, student teams and community partners to develop multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial approaches to honey bee sustainability.

Business Women's Giving Circle Grants $45,000 to Support Girls

December 19, 2016

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

The Business Women's Giving Circle (BWGC), comprised of accomplished women who are community leaders drawn together by a passion to empower girls and young women through collective philanthropy, announced the winners of the third annual grant cycle today.

Community Foundation Launches Cyber Security Program in Fairfax County Middle Schools

April 12, 2016

Challenge grant of $25,000 matched by the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools

The Community Foundation recently made a challenge grant of $25,000 to the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools, the philanthropic arm of the school system, to launch Cyber Patriot – an afterschool cybersecurity program – in FCPS middle schools. Funding will support programs in ten middle schools in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, with the goal of giving students earlier exposure to cybersecurity. FCPS is interested in encouraging more students to make room in their high school schedules for Cyber IT courses in order to gain exposure to these 21st Century Learning skills.

Community Foundation Supports Civic Engagement Program for Middle School Students

December 22, 2015

Makes $23,000 Grant to Prince William County Public Schools

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has just awarded a grant of $23,000 to SPARK, the Education Foundation of Prince William County Public Schools, to support a new Civic Engagement Program for 200 middle school students across the county. The program is designed to teach students how their local, state and federal governments work; to give them an understanding of how to change public policy; and to offer hands-on experience researching and debating current issues in the community.

Business Women's Giving Circle Grants $40,000 to Support STEM Education, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Programs for Girls

December 14, 2015

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

The Business Women’s Giving Circle announced the winners of its second annual grant cycle today. A total of $40,000 has been awarded to three organizations providing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), leadership and entrepreneurship programs to girls in Northern Virginia. Since its launch in 2014, which launched in 2014, the giving circle has already awarded $80,000 to date to programs supporting STEM education for girls and women’s entrepreneurship.

Community Foundation Supports Cyber Security Program

April 28, 2015

Makes $25,000 Grant to Prince William County Public Schools

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia recently made a challenge grant of $25,000 to SPARK, the Education Foundation of Prince William County Public Schools, to support its new Cyber Security Program at Potomac High School. The program is designed to train students and guide them toward a number of industry-recognized certifications.

Entrepreneurship at the Mason Innovation Lab

January 20, 2015

Jade Garrett developed a startup company at the Mason Innovation Lab in George Mason University’s School of Business. The Community Foundation’s Innovation Fund supported the launch of this program with a $25,000 grant in 2013.

Business Women's Giving Circle Awards $40,000 through Inaugural Grant Cycle

December 15, 2014

Supports Three Organizationis with STEM Education and Entrepreneurship Programs for Girls

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia’s Business Women’s Giving Circle announced the winners of its inaugural grant cycle. A total of $40,000 has been awarded to three organizations providing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and Entrepreneurship programs to girls in Northern Virginia. An additional $2,000 in annual contributions will be used to establish an endowment for future giving. Established earlier this year, this giving circle is the first group of its kind in the region, comprised of women who are successful business leaders looking to empower girls and women in Northern Virginia by preparing them for success through philanthropic support.

2014 Innovation Fund Grants Announced!

July 16, 2014

$50,000 Awarded to Seven Schools and Nonprofits Taking Innovative Approaches to STEM Education in Northern Virginia

Children's Science Center's Museum Without Walls ProgramThe Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded a total of $50,000 to seven schools and nonprofit organizations through its Innovation Fund with grants of $5,000 or $10,000 each to support their innovative approaches to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education across Northern Virginia. This is the second grant cycle of the Innovation Fund, created to support programs that nurture inventiveness, creativity and new design, and brings total grants through the fund to $100,000.

Community Foundation a Change Agent in Innovation

March 18, 2014

On Sunday, I attended a real happening – the inaugural Mini Maker Faire in Northern Virginia at both South Lakes High School and Langston Hughes Middle School (because the event was so big). Think of several thousand people at an adult Science Fair and you'd have a pretty good idea of what a Maker Faire is like. I particularly loved the “Blender Bike”

Innovation Fund 2013 Grant Recipients

June 1, 2013

2013 Winners

Children’s Science Center-$5,000 - Museum without Walls - To support museum (MWOW) Mobil Labs and Family Science Night with supplies and equipment for up to two interactive exhibits and ten hands on activates to promote STEM learning.

Impact Stories

Community Foundation Funds Help Establish New Computer Immersion Schools in Loudoun County

Funds from Chin Family Charitable Fund Provide Support

Grant for George Mason University Center Honey Bee Initiative

Grant supports partnership to develop innovative, multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial approaches to honey bee sustainability

Innovation Fund 2017 Grant Recipients

2017 Awardees

Business Women's Giving Circle Grants $45,000 to Support Girls

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

Community Foundation Launches Cyber Security Program in Fairfax County Middle Schools

Challenge grant of $25,000 matched by the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools

Community Foundation Supports Civic Engagement Program for Middle School Students

Makes $23,000 Grant to Prince William County Public Schools

Business Women's Giving Circle Grants $40,000 to Support STEM Education, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Programs for Girls

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

Community Foundation Supports Cyber Security Program

Makes $25,000 Grant to Prince William County Public Schools

Entrepreneurship at the Mason Innovation Lab

Business Women's Giving Circle Awards $40,000 through Inaugural Grant Cycle

Supports Three Organizationis with STEM Education and Entrepreneurship Programs for Girls

2014 Innovation Fund Grants Announced!

$50,000 Awarded to Seven Schools and Nonprofits Taking Innovative Approaches to STEM Education in Northern Virginia

Community Foundation a Change Agent in Innovation

Innovation Fund 2013 Grant Recipients

2013 Winners

General Inquiries

Impact Stories