President and CEO Bruce McNamer.
Letter From Our President and CEO
Friends,
As we reflect on our 2019 fiscal year (April 1, 2018 – March 31, 2019), the generosity and community spirit of our donors, partners, and community members gives us so many reasons to celebrate.
This year, the launch of our new Building Thriving Communities framework refocused our strategic grantmaking approach on addressing poverty, deepening culture and human connection, and preparing for the future of work. This refresh deepens and expands The Community Foundation’s existing work by leveraging new tools, prioritizing strategic partnerships, and developing innovative approaches to address the region’s most pressing challenges. Inspired by this framework, we are excited to lead a public-private partnership with the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness to build off District Government’s strategies and momentum by making critical investments to ensure homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring in DC.
mobilizing philanthropy
By mobilizing philanthropy for this community, we provide a stable funding source to respond to today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.
Investing in Strengthening Our Communities
Partnering with Donors and Nonprofits to Create Lasting Impact
Photo courtesy of DC Fiscal Policy Institute.
Denton Scholars at the 2018 Awards Banquet.
Photo courtesy of MGM National Harbor.
Programming Highlights
For Donors
Members of our Sharing Montgomery Committee visited the nonprofit Interfaith Works, which provides free clothing and household goods to 13,000 income-qualified residents each year, as well as classes and other resources.
47 site visits to local nonprofits
3 Funders’ Roundtables in Montgomery County
2 President’s Forums on homelessness and innovations in education
For Professional Advisors
Rebecca Rothey, CFRE, CAP®, AEP®, gave an engaging presentation on Working with Professional Advisors to a packed room at the annual Practical Planned Giving Conference.
180 meetings
11 presentations conducted for advisory firms
2 events held for advisors from leading financial, law, accounting, and other advisory firms across the region
For the community
At the Celebration of Philanthropy, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and our President and CEO Bruce McNamer present former DC Mayor Anthony Williams with the 2019 Civic Spirit Award.
Nearly $1 million raised and more than a thousand community members attended our three signature events:
Leading in the Community
Through our community impact funds, we address critical challenges facing our communities and invest in nonprofits making a real difference.
Children’s Opportunity Fund
The Children’s Opportunity Fund completed its second grant cycle and doubled its impact for a total of $1.2 million invested towards closing the achievement gap for children and families in Montgomery County.
The Resilience fund
The Resilience Fund made $410,000 in emergency grants to 7 nonprofits responding to the local impact of changes in federal policies by providing a variety of services to: assist with reuniting families separated at the border and detained in MD or VA; provide legal or medical services and advocacy for immigrants, refugees, Muslims and other vulnerable communities; and offer emergency cash and food assistance to our neighbors impacted by the partial Federal Government shutdown.
THE CATALYST FUND
The Catalyst Fund advanced our Future of Work portfolio with $250,000 in investments to support wealth-building and entrepreneurship among low-income residents of color through microloans, small business training programs and support for micro-enterprise development.
Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative
The Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative celebrated its 10th anniversary by updating its strategy to focus on eliminating inequities based on race, ethnicity or gender and providing new career pathways and wealth-building opportunities for local workers.
CITY FUND
The Community Foundation, in partnership with District Government, administered the final City Fund Safer, Stronger DC grant competition with $1.2 million awarded to 25 nonprofits improving the lives of District residents through access to educational, economic and job opportunities, health care services, quality education and job training, and reducing exposure to violent crime.
Sharing Funds in DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties
Sharing Funds in DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties selected 77 local nonprofits to receive $685,000 in grants.
Sharing DC addressed homelessness with flexible funding to help our marginalized neighbors obtain and move into permanent housing and provided support for youth homelessness prevention and intervention programs, including services for LGBTQ youth.
Sharing Montgomery and Sharing Prince George’s focused on the economic security needs of county residents by supporting nonprofits providing safety-net services which help individuals in crisis to lift themselves out of poverty, educational activities that prepare young people for a successful transition to adulthood, and workforce development programs that help residents earn a living wage.
Prince George’s County Domestic Violence Community Assistance Grant Fund
The Prince George’s County Domestic Violence Community Assistance Grant Fund made $239,500 in grants to local nonprofits working to protect and support survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking by providing housing and wraparound services, such as legal and mental health services, or therapeutic services to improve social and emotional stability.
Operating with Excellence
We are committed to operating with the highest standards of integrity and stewardship to ensure donor funds are effectively reinvested in improving our community.
FY2019 Financials
Combined Investment Fund Performance
Vanguard Index Funds Performance
Special thanks to our FY19 Friends of the Community Foundation.
In Memoriam
Our community of givers lost two individuals who each played an important role in advancing the work of The Community Foundation and creating a lasting impact for individuals and families locally and around the county.
We were deeply saddened to learn of Victoria (“Vicki”) Sant’s passing on Tuesday, December 11, 2018. Vicki was a long-standing champion of The Community Foundation’s ideals, having served as vice chair of the board, an emeritus board member, major donor, and President of the Summit Fund. Read our message honoring Vicki’s legacy.
It is with great sadness that we mourned the loss of our long-time friend, Nancy Fax, who passed away Monday, June 4 after a brief illness. She was a two-time member of the Advisory Board to The Community Foundation in Montgomery County, serving as chair from April 2004 to March 2006. She also co-chaired The Community Foundation’s Professional Advisors Council for many years. Read about her legacy.