Greater Washington Community Foundation

09/01/2026

"AI can help create more equity among organizations with different levels of resources—but only if funders invest in the conditions for using it well, not just the tools themselves." - Marcus Braxton, COO of The Community Foundation

A new The Bridgespan Group Report found that just 4% of nonprofit leaders say AI is meaningfully embedded in how they work -- while the vast majority of the sector is still looking for opportunities to embrace this new tool.

The report outlines three areas of opportunity for nonprofits including augmenting internal operations, advancing their mission and programs, and advocating for responsible AI development to hold the sector accountable to the communities it serves.

This framework helps social-sector leaders move beyond broad AI debates by identifying where AI can strengthen capacity, advance mission, and inform advocacy.

08/27/2026

Tyechia White always loved unearthing her family's history, but it was digging into 100-year-old court records and her great-great-grandfather's hard-won 34 acres that showed her exactly what was at stake when families don't have a plan.

Now during 'Make-A-Will Month', she shares how her personal discovery became part of a mission to help others learn the power of estate planning.

https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/news/from-genealogy-to-estate-planning-how-to-preserve-your-family-legacy

08/26/2026

It's that time of year again! Join us this Friday for the ninth annual Give 8/28 - a national giving day recognizing the power of collective generosity and the critical role that Black-led organizations play in helping communities thrive!

The Community Foundation is proud to partner with the , Black & Giving Back Institute to help elevate the incredible work of Black-led nonprofits across the DMV and the country.

For more information and to get involved, visit www.give828.org

08/25/2026

In celebration of Black Philanthropy Month and Give 8/28, we're spotlighting members of Benefactors, a national Black giving collective co-led by the Young, Black & Giving Back Institute and the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

Meet Dr. George L. Askew 🌟 one of the inaugural members of Benefactors: A Black Giving Collective.

Years before he'd ever heard of Benefactors, George was already running his own small experiment in collective giving — picking up loose change on his daily walks in New York City, then asking his social media network to help him decide where to donate it.

That instinct for pooling resources and listening to community found a home in Benefactors. "Our own individual contributions may be small, but our larger contribution to our community of color can be grand if we work together," he says.

For George, the giving circle model offers something philanthropy often misses. "Philanthropy has a history of deciding what it thinks is important. We need to keep listening to what communities actually need. A giving circle has an advantage there — it's closer to the ground."

https://ow.ly/9i2N50ZBW25

08/24/2026

Got a JD, a passion for the public good, and a knack for untangling contracts?

The Community Foundation is looking for a Part-time Legal Officer to help guide contracts, compliance, and risk management across our work as the region's largest local nonprofit funder. It's a great fit for someone with nonprofit or philanthropic sector experience who wants their legal skills to serve the public good.

Check out our website for more information!

https://ow.ly/WMRK50ZC4Zn

08/21/2026

Big news out of DC's Wards 7 and 8! Earlier this year, The Community Foundation announced a major investment in BOSSTANK — an innovative partnership between DC Community Development Consortium and National Bankers Association Foundation that gives entrepreneurs and small business owners real, hands-on support to build the operational systems that lenders and investors look for.

Last week, the program welcomed their first cohort of 22 entrepreneurs (the "BOSSES") who'll each be paired with a dedicated business advisor for a full year of one-on-one support — covering everything from bookkeeping to compliance to contracting pipelines -- while gaining a direct line to NBAF's network of minority depository institutions for capital down the road.

It's exactly the kind of capacity-building investment that turns opportunity into lasting, generational wealth. We can't wait to watch this cohort grow. 🌱

08/20/2026

In celebration of Black Philanthropy Month and Give 8/28, we're spotlighting members of Benefactors, a national Black giving collective organized in partnership with the The Young, Black & Giving Back Institute. Now in its third grant cycle, Benefactors has pooled the resources of its members to invest more than $80,000 in Black-led and Black-supporting nonprofits across the country.

For inaugural member Rahmirah Gardner, the model carries deep meaning: "It's a great opportunity to honor your history. Our community has historically pooled resources to support one another. It hasn't always looked like dollars and cents, but coming together to help those in the community who needed it. Benefactors is an iteration of that."

https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/news/benefactors-spotlight-getting-to-know-rahmirah-gardner

08/13/2026

Next in Voices of the Region: our very own Jonathan Schroeder, Senior Communications Manager at The Community Foundation, a Northern Virginia and DMV native.

For Jonathan, what makes this region special isn't any one place or group — it's the sheer diversity of people who've found their way here and found belonging. Here's how he describes what this community means to him:

"The DMV at its best is a thriving ecosystem where people from all races, places, identities, and backgrounds feel welcome, seen, and celebrated. As a region, it attracts people from all over the world – some only stick around for a year or two, some have been here for generations – but each of them have unique experiences, perspectives, and skills that have changed how I see the world and the amazing people in it."

Get to know Jonathan, and the people who've shaped how he sees the DMV.

https://ow.ly/CHZL50Zurbm

08/11/2026

Next in Voices of the Region: Nekeisia Booyer of The Training Source, a Seat Pleasant-based organization serving Prince George's County.

Through education, workforce development, and youth leadership programs, The Training Source helps residents across Prince George's County build toward economic mobility. Here's how Nekeisia describes what this community means to her:

"At its best, our community is one where everyone has access to opportunity regardless of where they live, what barriers they have faced, or where they are starting from. It is a vibrant, safe, and connected community where individuals and families can earn livable wages, businesses are thriving and investing locally, affordable housing is accessible, and residents of all ages are engaged and prospering."

Get to know Nekeisia and The Training Source's work in Prince George's County.

https://ow.ly/8QmX50ZuqaY

08/06/2026

Voices of the Region, our storytelling campaign celebrating Greater Washington through the people who live, give, and build here, returns to Prince George's County to meet Mike Echols, CEO of Max Cybersecurity LLC, who's called the region home for more than four decades.

Mike sees Prince George's County as full of talent that's often overlooked — and believes real leadership means creating the access and opportunity that lets that talent flourish. Here's how he puts it:

"Prince George's County is often recognized for what it is near, but not always for what it produces. This community is home to tremendous talent, entrepreneurial energy, academic excellence, creativity, and leaders who are making an impact locally, nationally, and globally... The challenge is not finding talent but rather ensuring that talent has the visibility, resources, mentorship, and pathways needed to succeed."

Meet Mike, and hear his case for investing in what's already here.

https://ow.ly/asNW50Zuovw