March 21 – 27
ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington Community Foundation will each use the funds donated by Amazon for grants to nonprofits addressing food insecurity, housing/shelter, and providing emergency financial assistance.
The Rotary Club of Alexandria has made a grant for $10,000 to the ACT for Alexandria ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund, reported by The Zebra. Also, the Alexandria City Council unanimously approved a ‘matching grant’ of $100,000 in city funds to the ACT fpr Alexandria community foundation to help solicit donations for food, housing, medical needs and other items, reported by The Washington Post.
Britepaths launches “Adjust, Give, Donate” for those in need. Learn more about the program at Virginia Connection Newspapers.
Pronita Gupta, job quality director at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), is mentioned in an article about the impact of COVID-19 on restaurant workers, reported by City Limits.
The Center for Nonprofit Advancement is collecting (and updating regularly) resources, tools, webinars and templates from multiple sources and posting them on its website in Coronavirus Resource Tools. The most recent post: COVID-19 Response for Individuals, Small Businesses and Nonprofits, a webinar presented by Industry Expert GRF CPAs on Wednesday, April 1, 1:00-2:30 about managing taxes, cash flow, workforce planning, IT security and general crisis management―all while working remotely.
The Coalition on Human Needs and the CLASP are among many rights groups who have urged the inclusion of immigrant families in the Coronavirus Relief Bill, reported by Human Rights Watch.
Community Foundation for Northern Virginia distributed Round One Grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund for Northern Virginia.
The Washington Post details how you can volunteer to help nonprofit organizations during the coronavirus crisis, including DC Central Kitchen and DC Safe.
Fourteen DC local sports broadcasters announced the “Voices of DC Sports: Helping to Feed the City” program. Through the initiative, fans are encouraged to request video messages from the individual personalities through the personalized video shoutout platform, Cameo. For a minimum $25 donation, the selected broadcaster will record a personalized video message. Proceeds will benefit DC Central Kitchen, the Capital Area Food Bank and Martha’s Table. Reported on Redskins.com.
The Greater Washington Community Foundation is currently taking requests for proposals for its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
Miriam’s Kitchen is listed in an article featuring 35+ organizations that are helping restaurants, workers, and farmers survive COVID-19, reported by Food Tank.
Valley Independent Sentinel reports that My Sister’s Place is closed. Do not drop off donations.
Buzz Roberts, president and CEO of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, is quoted in an article discussing multifamily lender challenges during the coronavirus crisis, reported by Affordable Housing Finance.
Sandy Markwood, CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, is mentioned in an article discussing how the pandemic is forcing family members into a new role as caregivers for elderly loved ones, reported by The Washington Post.
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is urging Congress to approve $200 million in emergency funding to house homeless veterans temporarily in hotel rooms and secure coronavirus tests for those who get sick, reported by Stars and Stripes.
Diane Yentel, the president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, is quoted in an article about the Trump administration’s coronavirus eviction freeze, reported by Yahoo News.
132 organizations have signed a statement on government coronavirus emergency transparency and public access, including the National Center for Health Research and the Student Press Law Center, reported by NCAC.
Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services says members of the senior center will still get meals delivered on a weekly basis, reported by CBS19 News.
The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging (SAAA) needs supplies to help homebound senior citizens cope during the coronavirus emergency. Donations of shelf-stable foods, paper products such as towels and toilet rolls, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are needed for distribution to elderly clients, said SAAA executive director Linda Holtzapple. Reported by The Winchester Star.
The Student Press Law Center has assembled many resources to help university professors, student media programs and collegiate journalists with virtual learning/teaching, reported by the Poynter.
Volunteers are needed in Alexandria for food distribution (strict safety measures are in place). Marion Brunken, executive director for Volunteer Alexandria, is putting out the call for help, saying, “Our core mission at Volunteer Alexandria does not and cannot stop under the most trying times our community may face. The need for community support is now greater than ever, and our volunteers matter more than ever,” reported by The Zebra.
March 14 – 20
ACT for Alexandria, Alexandria’s community foundation, and ALIVE! have both activated a COVID-19 response fund for organizations that support Alexandria’s vulnerable populations, reported by Alexandria Living. Heather Peeler, CEO of ACT for Alexandria, is quoted in an article reported by ALXNow discussing how Alexandria businesses are bracing for the effects of COVID-19.
Shannon McCracken, vice president for government relations for the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), is quoted in an article discussing the risk coronavirus poses to those with disabilities, reported by disability scoop.
Lucy Beadnell, advocacy director for the Arc of Northern Virginia, is quoted in an article discussing the difficulty of getting a coronavirus test, and how it is made harder for those with a disability, posted on WAUM88.5.
Amazon has donated $1 million in “emergency COVID-19 response funds” to four large DC area community foundations, including $200,000 to the Arlington Community Foundation, reported by ARLnow and Alexandria Times.
Janine Tursini, the director of Arts For the Aging, is mentioned in an article discussing the difficulty of volunteering amidst the coronavirus and how helping people could mean putting them at risk, reported by The Washington Post.
Shannon Steene, executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, is quoted in an article about cities struggling to protect vulnerable homeless populations as coronavirus spreads, reported by The Washington Post.
The Center for Nonprofit Advancement has added a Coronavirus Resource Tools page to its website where organizations can find a range of helpful tools created by a variety of organizations specifically to help nonprofits deal with the challenges of this public health crisis.
Natalia Otero, executive director of DC SAFE, is quoted in an article about restraining orders in domestic violence cases extending through April due to the coronavirus, reported by the Washington City Paper.
In partnership with Dreaming Out Loud, the Little Sesame team will deliver meals to the residents of the most vulnerable DC communities, reported by The Washington Post.
The Father McKenna Center has no plans to close but is taking preventative measures. CEO and president Kim Cox said that the center will remain open unless unforeseen circumstances occur, reported by Street Sense Media.
Martha’s Table is continuing to deliver meals to seniors as individuals work to protect themselves from the virus, reported by WUSA9.
At Miriam’s Kitchen, staff members are restructuring programs in a way that limits large gatherings of people in enclosed spaces, says CEO and president Scott Schenkelberg in an article posted on Street Sense Media. Miriam’s KItchen is also mentioned in articles discussing how you can volunteer and help amidst the coronavirus pandemic at The Chronicle of Philanthropy and DCist.
Robyn Grant, director of public policy and advocacy at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, is mentioned in an article discussing how nursing home staffing woes have complicated the battle against coronavirus, reported by Bloomberg Law.
Jo-Ann Wallace, president and chief executive of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, is quoted in an article discussing how the coronavirus pandemic is upending the criminal justice system, reported by USA Today.
Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, of Ohev Sholom, the National Synagogue, is quoted in an article discussing what religious leaders have been doing to adjust to the coronavirus, reported by the DCist.
Nonprofits in the District of Columbia can now apply for low-interest working capital loans of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help alleviate economic injury resulting from the on-going coronavirus pandemic. Learn the three step process.
Volunteer Alexandria has a growing number of organizations in need of assistance this month, and there are ways you can help both virtually and safely in person. One of the most critical needs is to help with food distribution for public school students, learn more about how you can help the Alexandria community at Alexandria Living.
The United Way of the National Capital Area activated its Emergency Assistance Fund to help its non-profit partners. These partners expect an increased demand from people who will need economic assistance, access to food and other basic necessities during this time, reported by WUSA9.
March 7 – 13
The Arlington Bunny Hop 5K Charity Fun Run/Walk is now open for registration. Bridges to Independence and OAR (Offender Aid and Restoration) will be the beneficiaries of all net proceeds this year, reported by Falls Church News Press.
The Campagna Center could be getting a facelift and a new addition as the local early learning organization struggles to find a way to make good use of their historic, but in many ways outdated, building. See the full story at ALXnow.
Joseph Leitmann-Santa Cruz of Capital Area Asset Builders is featured on a live discussion of how lack of paid sick leave is complicating the US virus response. Watch the video on PBS. The nonprofit is also featured in an exclusive article in The Washington Informer about their efforts in supporting DC residents with a pathway to greater financial security.
The Center for Alexandria’s Children raised $65,000 as it honored community philanthropist Brooke Sydnor Curran and Inova Health Systems FACT Director Mary Hale at its annual CAC Gala on February 27 at the Old Dominion Boat Club. See the full story posted on Connection Newspapers.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement has closed its physical office for the next two weeks, but its entire team will continue to work virtually and maintain normal business functions as much as possible. Contact information for all team members is available on the website. For immediate assistance, call 202-457-0540.
A local celebrity chef recently brought Louisiana spirit to the Mardi Gras fundraiser at DC Central Kitchen. Read a full recap at The DC Line.
The Father McKenna Center and Kim Cox, their president, are featured in an exclusive story about how they have continued to serve the poor despite the coronavirus, posted on the Catholic News Agency.
Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) has postponed its Annual Gala scheduled for March 14 due to concerns over the possible spread of COVID-19 and the potential health risk to older adults in particular, reported by The Zebra.
The T. Howard Foundation has postponed its annual fundraising dinner due to coronavirus concerns, reported by Multichannel News.
February 29 – March 6
A group of female veterans with ‘The Mission Continues’ helped give Calvary Women’s Services‘ Anacostia home a makeover, published by both The Patch and The Washington Times.
Alexandria’s children will be a little safer this year thanks to the support of 150 patrons who stepped up to raise $65,000 for the Center for Alexandria’s Children (CAC) at its recent annual benefit, reported by The Zebra.
Jeff Chester, the executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, is quoted in an article about Spotify’s ‘Top Fans’ messages by The New York Times.
Hannah Matthews, deputy executive director for policy with the Center for Law and Social Policy, is quoted in an article about housing programs being jeopardized in the Trump budget, reported by Richmond Free Press.
Shepherd Smith, a founder of Children’s AIDS Fund International, is quoted in an article discussing Dr. Deborah Birx and her experience fighting epidemics as Ambassador-at-Large and the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, reported by The New York Times.
The Greater Washington Society of CPAs is hosting two free seminars for nonprofits on how to deal with the impact of Coronavirus on business continuity, meetings and events: Legal Strategies for Nonprofit Meetings, March 10, 2:00 – 3:00pm and Business Continuity Planning, Wednesday, March 11, 10:00 – 11:00am.
Kakenya’s Dream is featured in an exclusive article about their mission and what they’re doing to achieve it, posted on Ms. Magazine.
Lyric Thompson, the director of policy and advocacy at the International Center for Research on Women, is quoted in an article about António Guterres and his drive for gender parity at the U.N., reported by The New York Times.
The Fairfax County Park Authority and the McLean Project for the Arts have revealed plans for an arts campus at Clemyjontri Park in McLean, the meeting where the announcement was made is summarized by The Tyson Reporter.
Last Friday, the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) convened a webinar online to discuss the power of ex-presedential candidate Bloomberg’s giving. Read a summary at Philanthropy Women.
Lori Smetanka, executive director of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, is quoted in an article discussing nursing homes and what they’re doing to prevent infection amidst the Coronavirus crisis, reported by NPR.
Rainbow Families, the region’s oldest and only nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ families, will have their Annual Family Conference on May 16 on the campus of the Washington National Cathedral, with workshops, guest speakers, kids activities and more. Learn more on their website.
This year’s Senior Services of Alexandria Annual Gala will pay tribute to three individuals who are making a difference in the Alexandria community. See full story at The Zebra. During the month of March, Senior Services of Alexandria, in partnership with the City of Alexandria’s Division of Aging and Adult Services, will reach out to our community to bring awareness of senior hunger through volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels or supporting local senior centers and programs that support older adults, also reported by The Zebra.
Enrollment is now open for spring and summer breaks with Impact programs, Volunteer Alexandria’s after-school service learning program for middle and high school students, reported by The Zebra.
The Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) is featured in an article about students urging Lafayette to join the consortium themselves, reported by the college newspaper, The Lafayette.