The Greater Washington Community Foundation (formerly known as The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region) is a public charity and the largest local community foundation serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including DC, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and Northern Virginia.
Founded in 1973, The Community Foundation manages charitable giving funds and invests in local nonprofits and communities through partnerships with individuals, families, businesses, and government entities. Since its founding, the organization and its partners have distributed more than $1.8 billion in grants. In fiscal year 2025, the organization distributed more than $130 million in grants to nonprofits, including donor-directed grants and competitive grants awarded through its own initiatives.
The Community Foundation is accredited by the Council on Foundations and holds a four-star Charity Navigator rating and a Candid Gold Seal of Transparency. It is led by President & CEO Tonia Wellons and governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees.
Mission The stated mission of the Greater Washington Community Foundation is to manage and mobilize philanthropic resources to address economic equity and community needs in the Greater Washington region.
History In 1973, a group of business and civic leaders including Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Maceo W. Hubbard, Peggy Shackleton, Hank Strong, and Bishop John T. Walker established the Community Foundation for Greater Washington (now known as the Greater Washington Community Foundation) to create a permanent source of philanthropic capital for the Washington Metropolitan region.
Initial funding was provided by the Hattie M. Strong Foundation, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and the Cummins Engine Foundation. The organization grew and began issuing grants to local nonprofit organizations in 1979.
Over the next five decades, the organization expanded its donor network and governance to include regional figures such as: Katherine Graham, Stewart Bainum Sr, Eleanor Holmes Norton, R. Robert Linowes, Don Beyer, Carol Thompson Cole, Vicki Sant, Charito Kruvant, Alex Orfinger, Artis Hampshire-Cowan, Alexine Clement Jackson, Daniel K. Mayers, David M. Bradt, Jr, Clarice Dibble Walker, Neal Simon, Katherine Weymouth, and others.
In the late 1990s, The Community Foundation established regional offices in Montgomery County (1996) and Prince George’s County (1998).
In 2021, the organization launched a 10-year strategic framework focused on four goals: pursuing economic mobility, addressing critical community needs, connecting philanthropy to impact, and strengthening neighborhoods and community institutions.
Initiatives
Responding to 9/11 Following the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, The Community Foundation established the Survivor’s Fund, which raised $25 million to provide services, financial aid, and support to victims and their families.
The fund partnered with Northern Virginia Family Services over the subsequent seven years to provide mental health services and financial aid to over 1,000 affected individuals.
Homelessness Services Beginning in 1985, The Community Foundation initiated investments to serve individuals experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. The organization launched Healthcare for the Homeless, a program that operated health stations in shelters and mobile outreach units. It also partnered with the Fannie Mae Foundation to distribute $70 million from its Help the Homeless Fund and Walkathon.
In 2019, in partnership with the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness, The Community Foundation established The Partnership to End Homelessness to bring together local government, service providers, advocates, and businesses to address affordable housing and support services.
As of 2026, the initiative has funded or preserved nearly 1,000 housing units for low-income residents, advocated for permanent supportive housing vouchers for nearly 5,000 households, and allocated approximately $20 million in funding toward affordable housing and local grants.
Arts Support In 2001, The Community Foundation established the Washington Creative Communities Initiative to develop support infrastructure for regional artists. Over seven years, the initiative allocated $800,000 to independent artists and nonprofit creative projects.
In 2020, in partnership with the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, it launched the Arts Forward Fund, which distributed more than $2.7 million to over 100 arts and cultural organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workforce Development In 2008, The Community Foundation convened the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative (later renamed Reimagine), a coalition of foundations, corporations, and public agencies. The collaborative raised more than $12 million for workforce programs across 30 organizations, assisted 6,000 workers with employment placement, and leveraged more than $50 million in state and federal workforce funding.
The foundation also led the 1998 launch of the Washington Area Partnership for Immigrants, a coalition addressing day labor issues, educational involvement, legal services, and organizational capacity for immigrant-focused nonprofits.
Emergency and Safety Net Funding During the Great Recession of 2008, The Community Foundation raised $5 million through the Neighbors in Need Fund to fund food, shelter, clothing, foreclosure prevention, and healthcare programs. Between 2008 and 2013, the fund supported advocacy efforts related to local government safety net funding.
Public Safety and Violence Prevention In coordination with the DC government, The Community Foundation administered The City Fund, a $15 million allocation for regional public safety initiatives. From 2013 to 2018, the fund supported organizations in areas affected by disparities related to social determinants of health.
Following the closure of the City Fund, the foundation continued funding violence intervention efforts. Between 2021 and 2026, the organization directed nearly $10 million toward youth engagement and community violence intervention initiatives, working alongside the Office of the DC Attorney General and the DC Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement.
Children and Family Programs In 2016, The Freddie Mac Foundation selected the organization to manage a five-year, $13.5 million grantmaking strategy focused on permanent housing solutions, educational resources, and foster care programs.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund The foundation launched the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund in March 2020. The fund distributed $11.5 million to 300 local nonprofits providing food, shelter, medical care, and legal aid.
The foundation additionally administered $80 million in emergency relief funds for small businesses, arts organizations, and excluded workers in partnership with local businesses and governments. This included Food for Montgomery, a $2.6 million public-private partnership with the Montgomery County government and the Food Council to expand regional food distribution networks.
Small Business Support In 2020, the foundation partnered with FSC First to provide $1 million in relief grants through the Prince George’s County Legacy Fund for Small Business Development, supporting 173 small businesses. In 2024, it partnered with the PNC Foundation to distribute over $500,000 to businesses along the Purple and Blue Line transit corridors.
DCA Together Relief Fund Following the 2025 Potomac River mid-air collision on January 29, 2025, The Community Foundation collaborated with community foundations in Northern Virginia to establish the DCA Together Relief Fund.
The fund collected and distributed nearly $800,000, which included $45,000 for first responders and mental health providers, and over $750,000 in financial assistance for victims' families. Corporate contributions included support from Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which hosted the "Legacy on Ice" benefit event.
Economic Mobility Initiatives The foundation has financed several guaranteed income pilot programs within the region, including Let’s GO DMV (DC), Arlington’s Guarantee (Northern Virginia), and MoCo Boost (Montgomery County).
In 2024, it launched Thrive Prince George’s, a $4 million pilot program providing monthly disbursements of $800 for 24 months to 50 former foster youth and 125 senior residents.
The same year, it initiated Brilliant Futures, a savings program managing up to $1,000 annually for up to 400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade for future educational or business investments.
Health Equity Fund In 2022, the Executive Office of the Mayor of DC and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield appointed The Community Foundation to manage the Health Equity Fund, a $95 million endowment intended to address public health outcomes and economic mobility in underinvested communities within Washington, DC.
The fund focuses on community infrastructure, policy advocacy, and economic programs addressing the structural determinants of health. As of 2026, the fund has issued 155 grants totaling over $90 million.
VoicesDMV In 2017, the foundation established VoicesDMV, a regional survey and community research initiative. Conducted every three years in collaboration with Gallup, Inc., the resulting VoicesDMV Community Insights Report compiles data on regional living conditions, economic challenges, and public sentiment regarding community needs.
References
External links
Official website