The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and its newly formed Loudoun Community Cabinet announced the recipients of an inaugural grant cycle awarding three Loudoun-based nonprofits $160,000 in COVID-19 relief funding.

The Loudoun Community Cabinet was established with seed funding from Claude Moore Charitable Foundation in late 2019 through efforts of its executive director J. Lambert who helped to connect with local philanthropic investors to join the Cabinet, each who made a personal gift of $100,000.

As Loudoun’s charitable giving rates historically trend lower than national and state averages, the Cabinet aimed to take that challenge head on through high-impact giving and grant making.

“Members of the Loudoun Community Cabinet are dedicated to collaborative approaches to building public-private partnerships in Loudoun County to address unmet human service needs, improving the culture of Loudoun’s philanthropy, and strengthening nonprofit service delivery,” said Dr. William Hazel, chair of the Cabinet. Hazel joined the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation as senior deputy executive director in March 2020, and previously served eight years as Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Resources, overseeing 11 state agencies under Governors Bob McDonnell and Terry McAuliffe as well as serving as the Senior Advisor for Innovation for George Mason University’s Office of the Provost.

“This is a distinguished group of philanthropists committed to effective, strategic philanthropy in Loudoun,” said Hazel. “These are people who care deeply about Loudoun and are willing to invest here in their own backyard.”

Concerned about possible nonprofit closures and program disruptions among Loudoun’s safety-net organizations, the Community Foundation released the Cabinet’s first Request for Proposals in July to Loudoun-based human service nonprofits experiencing significant financial hardship due to the pandemic. After reviewing multiple requests for funding from local organizations, the following grants were awarded:

  • $100,000 to ECHO, headquartered in Leesburg, VA, for support of the organization’s operating expenses to sustain its mission to empower individuals with disabilities through skills building, job placement, day support, and transportation. The organization’s income model has been deeply affected during the pandemic by necessary social distancing requirements and the vulnerable population it serves.
  • $38,718 to Loudoun Literacy Council, headquartered in Leesburg, VA, to support the organization’s operating expenses to address new demands related to COVID-19 to enrich home-based learning and education through online workshops and literacy trainings serving a vulnerable population in Loudoun.
  • $21,285 to Volunteers of America Chesapeake and Carolinas, headquartered in Lanham, MD to support its operation of the Leesburg-based Loudoun Homeless Services Center and rapid-rehousing program, in response to increased numbers of people experiencing homelessness in Loudoun during the pandemic.

“We realized during this time of financial crisis nonprofits were very vulnerable—and that their loss of income ends up affecting thousands of Loudoun residents who will need their help,” shared Loudoun resident, Teresa Wheeler, a member of the Cabinet and recognized philanthropist. “I hope everyone will realize how important this time is to give, and to give locally. Every gift, no matter the size, makes the difference.” added Wheeler.

If you are interested in joining the Loudoun Community Cabinet, contact Pam Maroulis, Managing Director, at [email protected].