Spotlight On

Mission:
The mission of The Community Foundation is to facilitate individual, family and organizational giving at all levels to create a permanent source of philanthropic capital to improve the quality of life in the metropolitan Washington region.

This mission is accomplished by:

• connecting donors to organizations providing impactful programs;
• serving as a convener and catalyst on emerging issues; and
• providing sound financial management of assets.

Background:
Founded in 1973, The Community Foundation serves residents of the Greater Washington region. It includes three affiliate community foundations under its umbrella:

• The Montgomery County Community Foundation
• The Prince George's Community Foundation
• Alexandria Community Trust

Thanks to thousands of generous individuals, corporations, organizations, and families who have contributed financially to the Foundation, The Community Foundation's assets now exceed $360 million. According to the most recent survey published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is one of the 50 largest philanthropic foundations of any type in the United States. In FY2007, The Foundation and its donors made more than $95 million in grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Washington metropolitan area and beyond. The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is now the largest funder of nonprofit organizations in Greater Washington.

The Foundation and its three affiliates are part of a network of some 700 community foundations across the United States. Each is a tax-exempt, public charity made up of funds established by individuals, families, and corporations.

In addition to managing donors' charitable dollars, through its Community Leadership Fund, The Community Foundation makes grants to Washington-area nonprofit organizations doing exemplary work in education, workforce development and other pressing needs throughout the region.

The Community Foundation is overseen by a diverse volunteer board and operated by a paid professional staff with expertise in understanding the community's issues, needs and resources.

Current Programs:
The Community Foundation works to ensure equity, access and opportunity for all residents of the Greater Washington area. Its primary focus is on investing in education reform, workforce development and other programs that bring positive change to the region. We help donors assist us in reaching these goals through the following:

• Donor Advised Funds

Community Foundation donors enjoy a tax-smart, flexible and efficient way to manage their charitable-giving dollars. In addition, they have full access to the valuable expertise of our Community Investment team, with their in-depth knowledge of our community and effective nonprofits.

• Philanthropic Advisory Services

This service allows corporate and foundation professionals to focus on the spirit of their giving, while we handle whatever range of services our clients desire, from administration to proposal to review and consultation on strategic giving.

• The Community Leadership Fund

The Fund, made possible by generous donors, supports The Foundation's unrestricted grantmaking in the areas of education, workforce development and more.

The "Spotlight On" highlights the activities of a different 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving the Metropolitan Washington, DC community. The selection of organizations for the "Spotlight On" is based on criteria such as programmatic interests, geographic focus, and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation of the region's nonprofit sector.

If you'd like to see your NPO in the "Spotlight," e-mail a description of your organization, following the above format, to dclibrary@foundationcenter.org, with "Spotlight Submission" in the subject line.