Dear Community Foundation Fundholders,
I hope you and your family are enjoying the beautiful fall weather!
Thanks to your continued generosity and care, our community of givers collectively awarded nearly $30 million in grants last quarter (quarter ending September 30, 2022) to nonprofits working to strengthen our region and beyond.
In September, we were proud to release our Annual Report for the Fiscal Year 2022 (April 2021 - March 2022). The report features our new vision for change, with stories demonstrating how your support and partnership help us be responsive to all kinds of needs, as we work to strengthen and support communities across the region. In case you missed our 2022 Annual Meeting or the release of our Annual Report, you can find the recording and resources here.
Last quarter, our community impact work included:
Transitioning the Children’s Opportunity Fund to become the Children’s Opportunity Alliance, a new independent nonprofit organization that will serve as Montgomery County’s Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity.
Investing $765,000 to strengthen community and education in DC and Montgomery County through two initiatives — a partnership with Martha’s Table to support and strengthen Ward 8 nonprofit organizations, and the Children’s Opportunity Fund.
Welcoming seven new staff members and five new Advisory Board members in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. We are thrilled by the vast array of experience they bring and by their drive to help us close the racial wealth gap.
Hosting our quarterly DMV Community Book Group for a conversation about “What We Get Wrong About Closing the Racial Wealth Gap” with co-author Anne Price, the first female President of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development.
Last month, we were pleased to welcome Richard K. Bynum as the new Chair of our Board of Trustees. As chief corporate responsibility officer for The PNC Financial Services Group and a member of its Executive Committee, Bynum leads the PNC Foundation, Community Affairs, ESG practice, Community Development Banking, and Diversity and Inclusion. Recognized as one of region’s most influential business leaders by the Washington Business Journal, Richard is an accomplished executive with nearly 20 years of executive leadership experience.
I’d like to also share our heartfelt thanks to Katharine Weymouth, our outgoing Board Chair. Katharine has been a tremendous force and a key strategic advisor as we navigated a CEO search, a global pandemic, and the launch of our 10-year strategic framework. As a Community Foundation Trustee for the last 6 years, Weymouth also continued a family tradition and legacy of giving and service to the Greater Washington region.
With the end of year approaching, our staff is available to assist with carrying out your philanthropic goals for 2022. Please be mindful of our December 16 deadline for your yearend grantmaking activities to ensure your nonprofit partners receive their funds by December 31.
Thank you for your continued partnership in serving our community’s needs today, and in building a better tomorrow for the Greater Washington region.
Sincerely,
Tonia Wellons
President and CEO
P.S. I hope to see you next month at one of our signature celebrations – the Civic Leadership Awards in Prince George’s County on November 10 and the Celebration of Giving in Montgomery County on November 16.