by Nicole Acosta | Oct 19, 2020 | Uncategorized
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2020 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (with a one-hour break between 12:00-1:00 p.m.) Location: Virtual training using Zoom Registration Cost: $25 Registration: https://learninglabgrants101.eventbrite.com Join us for a Social Impact Institute: Learning Lab workshop, “Grants 101: Grant Writing, Grantor Research, and Program Evaluation,” where we will demystify the grant-seeking process. From proposal narratives to budget forms, from outcome measures to funder relationships, we will cover the all the basics you need to know to submit quality grant proposals to potential funders (and, properly manage your grants once received). A representative from George Washington University Virginia Science and Technology Campus Library will also teach participants how to use the Foundation Directory Online, a local resource provided by GWU Loudoun, available to local nonprofits seeking grant funding. Presenters The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties’ team of Amy Owen, President, and Nicole Acosta, Director of Grants and Nonprofit Programs, have more than 40 years combined of nonprofit experience, including development, nonprofit management, grant writing, and grant making. Tara Patterson serves as library manager at the George Washington University Virginia Science and Technology Campus (Ashburn, VA), with more 20 years of experience in providing student research assistance and interlibrary loan services. In addition to traditional academic library resources, the branch offers public visitor access to the Foundation Directory Online, a free service and database that helps nonprofits search for the grantmakers most likely to fund their projects. About the Social Impact Institute The Social Impact Institute, a program of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, offers personalized support, specialized training, and in-depth programming...
by Nicole Acosta | Sep 30, 2020 | Uncategorized
This week, Loudoun Serenity House opened its new sober living facility for women, located in Leesburg. Loudoun Serenity House was founded by local community member Melissa Hinton, who identified a need for a sober living home in Loudoun County that served women. While there are sober living homes for men in Loudoun, the county had yet to open a similar program for women. You can learn more about Melissa’s journey in a recent article by the Loudoun Times-Mirror. Over the last two years, Melissa and a dedicated group of volunteers worked with the Community Foundation to make Melissa’s vision become reality. The Community Foundation, recognizing the need that this program would meet in Loudoun, served as fiscal sponsor to Loudoun Serenity House and provided guidance as Melissa and volunteers put the pieces in place to form a nonprofit, raise start-up funds, and find the right property to open the sober living facility. After months of planning and hard work, Loudoun Serenity House has now formed its own organization and has opened Loudoun’s first and only sober living house for women. To learn more about Loudoun Serenity House’s mission and how you can help, visit:...
by Nicole Acosta | Sep 17, 2020 | Uncategorized
Date: Friday, September 25, 2020 (with second workshop on Thursday, October 1) Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (both dates) Location: Online webinar Registration Link ($15 for Loudoun Chamber members, $25 for nonmembers)This two-session workshop will introduce how to create a successful communications plan, will give you tools to do your own, and will provide time in the second session for you to get an expert review of your individual strategy, plan and messages. After this workshop you will: Know how to build a communications plan that stimulates engagement and gets results. Understand the difference between a Mission and Vision plan. Know the importance of a strong and consistent brand. Know effective techniques to make “the ask” that drives donations. Know what the press wants to hear about what you’re doing as an organization and how to get the press to spread your story (for free!). Join us for both sessions to be entered into a raffle for a one-hour, one-on-one assessment of your organization’s communications plan (a $3,000 value). NOTE: This event is a part of a series. The second workshop is on Thursday, October 1st from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. You will be automatically registered. About the Presenters Deb Haynes Swider: Chief Strategist, Loud & Clear Marketing, LLC Deb has always been a collector of stories – whether reading, writing, or listening to them.Turning the love of storytelling into a career, Deb has helped tell the story of companies across the United States, trade associations in the DC metro area, non-profit organizations who are changing the world, and politicians who often hang around longer than they should. Sharon L. Wright: Owner and...
by Nicole Acosta | Sep 17, 2020 | Uncategorized
The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties is now accepting applications to be considered for a new grant opportunity, the Giving Tuesday Matching Challenge. As part of its COVID-19 relief efforts, the Community Foundation offers the Giving Tuesday Matching Challenge opportunity to five human services nonprofits that are members of the Loudoun Human Services Network. Funding for the Giving Tuesday Matching Challenge is provided through donations made to the Community Foundation’s Community Emergency Relief Fund. The Community Emergency Relief Fund was established in March 2020 to accept and strategically disburse funding to address COVID-19 emergency response and relief efforts in Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. The Community Foundation will select five human services nonprofits that can demonstrate significant hardship due to COVID-19 to participate in the Giving Tuesday Matching Challenge. As many organizations have lost revenue during the pandemic due to cancelled fundraisers, reduced fees for services, or funders changing grant priorities, the Giving Tuesday Matching Challenge is designed to help catalyze fundraising efforts for nonprofits and energize their donors to support their work during this difficult time. Selected organizations will commit to raising at least $5,000 during Giving Tuesday, and in return, the Community Foundation will grant up to $5,000 in general support funding per organization matched from the Community Emergency Relief Fund. Giving Tuesday is a nationally recognized day of giving to nonprofits, and takes place this year on December 1, 2020. Selected nonprofits will coordinate their own fundraising campaigns to meet the minimum $5,000 fundraising challenge. Donations received by the selected nonprofits between Tuesday, November 24 and Tuesday, December 8, 2020 may count towards the minimum $5,000 fundraising...
by Nicole Acosta | Aug 31, 2020 | Uncategorized
The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia have partnered to offer grant opportunities to qualifying organizations serving Loudoun County through the Loudoun Impact Fund. The Loudoun Impact Fund is a giving circle of caring donors, each making gifts of $1,000 (per person) or $5,000 (per foundation or corporation) to the Fund. Gifts are pooled together to leverage funding and offer grants with impact, here at home. Some members may be new to grantmaking and look forward to learning more about programs, needs, and solutions in Loudoun County. Grantmaking Priorities The Loudoun Impact Fund grant advisors will consider applications to fund services and projects that positively impact vulnerable or at-risk children and youth in Loudoun County. Proposed projects should address one or more of the following: Basic needs support for low-income, vulnerable, or at-risk children or youth, including food, shelter, and housing; Physical and behavioral health and wellness for low-income, vulnerable, or at-risk children and youth; Trauma-informed services for low-income, vulnerable, or at-risk children and youth addressing and preventing family violence and/or child abuse; Academic and school-readiness support for low-income, vulnerable, or at-risk children and youth; Programs providing high-quality child care for low-income, vulnerable, or at-risk children and youth; Programs providing life-skills and training to low-income, vulnerable, or at-risk children and youth; Youth development and leadership opportunities low-income, vulnerable, or at-risk children or youth. Priority may be given to organizations/programs that: Can demonstrate significant hardship or increased demand for services due to COVID-19, or; Provide services directly to populations that may be disproportionally impacted, physically or financially, by COVID-19. Organizations may...
