As the region’s largest local funder, The Community Foundation is proud to partner with and support thousands of nonprofits working to make our communities more equitable, just, and thriving places to live and work. We are now accepting proposals for grant opportunities from the following funds at The Community Foundation:
For more than 40 years, Martha’s Table (MT) has worked to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities in DC so that every Washingtonian can stay and thrive. Knowing that one’s neighborhood influences access to resources, MT is doubling down on its investments in the communities we stand alongside.
MT believes community members know best what their communities want and need to thrive. In 2020, over 1,000 neighbors shaped MT’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. What we heard loud and clear from them is the need for direct investments to help grassroots organizations build capacity.
Martha’s Table created the Community Impact Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation in response. The purpose of the fund is to support and strengthen grassroots organizations in Ward 8 that have been historically excluded from institutional philanthropy and whose leadership and staff reflect the demographic composition and lived experiences of the communities they serve.
In the past four years, the Community Impact Fund issued three rounds of grants to high-impact organizations. In 2025, the Fund will accept applications for the next round of grants for a two-year cycle.
At the time of proposal submission, applicants must:
Be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit, AND status must be in good standing by having filed a form 990 or 990N in the last three years.
Be based in, or primarily serve, Ward 8 as defined by the 2022 Ward boundaries map for at least one year.
Have an annual operating budget of less than $1,000,000.
Cannot be listed on the OFAC Sanctions List or be a registered hate group with the Southern Poverty Law Center
Up to 10 unrestricted, two-year general operating grants will be awarded. Each grant will be a maximum of $15,000 per year for a total of up to $30,000 which can be used to support a range of activities including targeted initiatives and/or unrestricted, capacity-building.
Martha’s Table has a particular interest in projects that alight with Martha’s Table’s organizational priorities, including:
Economic Mobility
Quality Early Childhood Education
Youth Development
Health & Wellness
Mental & Emotional Wellness
On August 27 at 1:00 p.m., The Community Foundation and Martha’s Table held a virtual briefing for applicants to learn more about the opportunity and ask questions.
Applicants must submit a proposal via The Community’s Foundation’s online application system no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 15, 2025.
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by November 2025.
For questions or help regarding the online application system, contact Ben Murphy at bmurphy@thecommunityfoundation.org
For questions regarding the funding opportunity, contact Charlie Gussom, Martha’s Table Director of Community Programs, at cgussom@marthastable.org or visit Martha’s Table Website.
