budget-size: Less than $1M

Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV)

EIN: 54-1345818

Mission Statement

To promote horticultural volunteerism and community improvement through trained volunteers, by fostering communication, education, and fellowship among those involved in the Arlington/Alexandria Extension Master Gardeners Program and supporting and promoting the program and its volunteer educational activities.

Program Summary

Through Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), Extension Master Gardener volunteers contribute thousands of hours annually to community education programs in Arlington County and the city of Alexandria. We maintain eight demonstration gardens that illustrate the wide variety of plants that grow well in our area as well as overall garden care. We operate plant clinics in farmers’ markets and a public library as well as at special events. We field a wide range of gardening questions through the Extension Master Gardener Help Desk at the Arlington County VCE office. We conduct public workshops in such areas as container gardening, composting, removing invasive plants and insects (such as spotted lanternfly and porcelain berry), and lawn care.  We provide free online classes, including weekly programs with original content focusing on best management gardening practices, sustainable landscaping, and urban agriculture.  We support horticulture therapy and school gardening projects, and we respond to other community needs as they arise.

Impact Statement

What ways can the public get involved?

If you want to be a volunteer educator, love gardening, and want to protect our environment by sharing what you learn with our community, consider becoming an Extension Master Gardener (EMG). Once certified, EMGs teach the community about our best management practices for urban agriculture and sustainable landscaping. EMGs retain their certifications by annually completing 20 volunteer hours and 8 hours of continuing education. For more information about training or becoming an EMG, please contact our Volunteer Training Program Coordinator, Leslie Fillmore, by email at LeslieF7@vt.edu.

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Donations to MGNV support the following that benefit the public:

A photo of children tending to a garden plot.

Information provided March 2025

VCS Cancer Foundation

EIN: 82-5047980

Mission Statement

A cancer diagnosis affects every part of a person’s life and can bring with it physical, emotional and financial stress. The VCS Cancer Foundation provides supportive services to cancer patients in Northern Virginia. 

Our mission is to reduce cancer patients’ emotional stress and enhance their well-being by providing needed financial assistance and other support so they may focus on their treatment and recovery.

Program Summary

Our Rainy Day Gift program provides financial assistance to Northern Virginia cancer patients who are struggling to pay for their everyday living expenses while in treatment. The goal of this program is to alleviate their financial strain and the emotional stress that accompanies it. We help them pay for non-medical expenses such as rent, utility bills and groceries. Instead of worrying about their mounting expenses, we want them to focus on what’s most important–their health and treatment.

Our Comfort and Companionship program provides support to cancer patients in select infusion centers in Arlington and Fairfax counties. The goal of this program is to brighten what may otherwise be a stressful treatment day. Our volunteers spend time with patients and their caregivers, alleviating their emotional stress and offering hope and encouragement. A warm smile, enthusiastic listening ear and friendly conversation go a long way to raising patients’ spirits. Our volunteers also serve beverages and snacks, providing a connection with patients who delightedly receive them.

Impact Statement

Cancer treatment is expensive; even for those with “good” insurance, co-payments, deductibles, and uncovered expenses can put significant strain on their household’s budget. This can lead to psychological stress for patients at what is already one of the most stressful times of their lives. Through our Rainy Day Gift program, we have helped hundreds of cancer patients pay for their everyday living expenses, providing some stress relief for those feeling overwhelmed. The impact of this program is best illustrated in the words of our Rainy Day Gift recipients:

“I have received the Giant gift cards and I really appreciate it. This gift means I am not alone in this battle with cancer and I am really glad that this gift will help me to provide for my family.”

” Your gift came at a great time and we really needed it. We were able to use it for things we couldn’t afford and pay for necessities. Your Rainy Day fund takes a little pressure off our financial difficulties and gives us peace of mind.”

“Thank you for allowing me to get my cell phone paid. I’m so grateful. This has taken a lot of stress off my mind.”

What ways can the public get involved?

We gratefully welcome monetary donations to support our Rainy Day Gift and Comfort and Companionship programs. 

We have volunteer opportunities with our Comfort and Companionship program. Interested individuals can send an email to: vcsfvolunteer@gmail.com.

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Donations are primarily used to fund our Rainy Day Gift program, which currently provides each qualified cancer patient with $500 in financial assistance.

A small portion of donations is used to support our Comfort and Companionship program. Funds are used in volunteer screening to pay for criminal background checks in order to ensure the safety of patients interacting with our volunteers. Donations are also used to purchase snacks for patients.

Information provided March 2026

Arlington Boathouse Foundation

EIN: 54-1618550

Mission Statement

The Arlington Boathouse Foundation’s mission is to provide access for Arlington residents to the Potomac River. Community members and students will greatly benefit from the ability to not only see but interact with the river that is a vital part of our county and the surrounding region.

Program Summary

From the beginning the vision has been to provide opportunities for both the rowing and paddling community in Arlington. The county boasts a long history of offering rowing to high school programs as far back as 75 years. For generations this rich history has intermixed with the area’s paddling community to give county residents additional outlets, both recreational and competitive, to the river. To connect with the world around us, the boathouse would offer an outlet for school and community-based educational opportunities. Additionally, by connecting residents and visitors to the Potomac River and its shorelines, the Arlington Community Boathouse will inspire an interest in protecting the river from pollution for all who enjoy access. Finally, early plans for the operation of the facility propose using it to provide access for watershed and river protection organizations. 

Impact Statement

The Arlington Boathouse Foundation is advocating for the new community facility to be an innovative model of environmental sensitivity and sustainability to serve a broad spectrum of resident and visitor users with access to the Potomac River. Not only will non-motorized water sports, such as rowing and paddling, be supported but the boathouse facility will serve as a unique classroom for nature study and stewardship. Envisioned as well are passive exhibits related to the site’s historic and cultural connections, such as the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. From the upper site near Rosslyn Circle, visitors can enjoy unsurpassed vistas of Georgetown, Foggy Bottom and the upper Potomac River.

What ways can the public get involved?

Here are three ways you can help build the Arlington Community Boathouse: 

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Charitable dollars are spent to do all things necessary for financing, designing, permitting, constructing, organizing, and operating a boathouse. 

A photo of Washington-Lee Women's crew team practicing on the Potomac river.

Information provided March 2025

Outdoor Lab (Arlington Outdoor Education Association)

EIN: 54-0840089

Mission Statement

Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA) creates opportunities for all Arlington Public School (APS) students to experience hands-on STEM outdoor education that extends traditional classroom opportunities.  As an all-volunteer organization, AOEA is committed to supporting experiential environmental learning by conserving undeveloped land and building inspiring learning facilities. 

Program Summary

The Phoebe Hall Knipling Outdoor Laboratory – known to generations of students simply as the Outdoor Lab – is a unique educational resource for students in Arlington Public Schools (APS). At the Lab, students learn science in an outdoor classroom and have experiences in nature that are uncommon in our urban community. These opportunities are possible through a partnership between the Arlington Outdoor Education Association (AOEA), a nonprofit organization which owns and maintains the 313-acre property, Animal Lab classroom building and other facilities, and APS.  

The Lab also hosts three weeks of summer camp for upper elementary and middle school grades, recruiting high schoolers to serve as junior counselors.

Impact Statement


The AOEA-APS partnership allows classroom education to expand into the great outdoors. This immersion supports a variety of learning styles as well as helps build social-emotional skills. In alignment with Virginia science education standards, lesson plans are honed by Lab staff and classroom teachers together.

This educational programming is combined with opportunities to boat on the pond, hike a mountain trail or catch fish. For many APS students, a trip to the Lab represents the first time they have experienced these activities or explored nature in an up-close way. 

What ways can the public get involved?

Volunteers help maintain trails and resources at the Outdoor Lab. They also enhance and/or preserve our natural environment by removing invasive species, improving drainage, and planting native plants. Additionally, volunteers help guide visitors at our twice-yearly Open Houses. We welcome small groups to volunteer together, like scouting troops or nature-related organizations.

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Your gift to AOEA strengthens the Lab facilities and natural environment for students to explore applied science:

Together, we ensure that students have access to this natural classroom as an extension of their traditional learning.

Students examining a stream.

Information provided March 2026

EcoAction Arlington

EIN: 54-1094546

Mission Statement

EcoAction Arlington educates, advocates, and acts to create a sustainable community by improving our natural environment, encouraging environmentally-friendly behaviors, ensuring environmental justice, and addressing the climate crisis.

Program Summary

EcoAction Arlington engages an annual average of 735 volunteers in a range of service activities as well as 2,711 students and 300 adults in educational programs.

We provide regular opportunities for local residents to participate in stream cleanups, invasive plant removals, and storm drain markings designed to protect and restore the local environment. Our signature volunteer program, Energy Masters, trains volunteers in service to the community through outreach and in providing energy efficiency and water conservation improvements in affordable housing apartment buildings.

We engage residents in making tangible behavior changes for personal sustainability goals. Arlington County Tree Planting Program and the Tree Canopy Equity Program, offers free trees to private-property owners. In the last year, we planted 661 trees and shrubs throughout the county. This includes 430 trees and shrubs planted in our target TreeCanopy Equity Program neighborhoods which addresses the inequity in tree canopy coverage. 

Impact Statement

Vision: Everyone in Arlington is collectively engaged in creating a sustainable community.

Values

What ways can the public get involved?

We offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities including, community clean-ups, training with our Energy Masters program, volunteering with APS students, advocacy work, and being a steward of the Arlington County environment. Our public facing events can be found: https://www.ecoactionarlington.org/get-involved/events/

Volunteers are also utilized for other projects that address the needs of the organization as well as their personal interests, like writing thank you notes to donors, or attending county meetings on behalf of EcoAction Arlington. If you want to help your local environment, EcoAction Arlington has an avenue for you to grow and thrive. 

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Donations to EcoAction Arlington support our mission to educate, act, and advocate for a sustainable community. Your donation supports programing, outreach, and implementation.  

Information provided March 2025

Healwell

EIN: 27-0743419

Mission Statement

Touch. Teach. Advocate.

We touch people affected by illness. We teach massage therapists how to provide care safely and effectively. We advocate for access to that care and for a broader role for massage therapists in healthcare.

Program Summary

Service – Our team of specially trained massage therapists provide care for people affected by serious illness in hospitals, clinics, infusion centers and patient’s homes. 

Education – Our courses are offered live and in-person as well as asynchronous and synchronous online offerings. Our educational content addresses the skills of massage therapy for serious illness as well as skills (like trauma-informed care, cultural humility, collaborative communication, etc) necessary to provide effective, sustainable care for all healthcare providers. 

Research – Our team participated in and published research in two major peer-reviewed medical journals in 2023, making a measurable and unique contribution to the body of research about the value of massage therapists in serious illness care. We received Phase II funding from the National Cancer Institute to create the final instructional video segments for an app-based caregiver education program to address the pervasive and painful effects of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy so our partners at Mayo Clinic in Florida can conduct a randomized controlled trial of the massage protocol taught in the app in 2025. We also trained massage therapists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and developed the research protocol to support a multi-site pediatric oncology massage study that will launch in 2025. 

Impact Statement

In 2024, our therapists provided more than 10,500 massage therapy sessions to people affected by serious illness (which includes patients, lay caregivers and healthcare workers). We had more than 1,500 enrollments in our courses for massage therapists and other healthcare providers. We accepted 11 massage therapists from all over the United States into the very first cohort of Healwell’s brand new, nine-month Massage Palliative Advanced Training for Healthcare (MPATH) certificate program. This is the first and only palliative care certificate program for massage therapists in the United States.

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Donations help us expand our programs and provide scholarships for those who might not otherwise be able to afford our trainings. They also allow us to maintain memberships in national palliative care organizations like C-TAC (Coalition to Transform Advanced Care) and NHPCO (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization). Donations fund the cost of attendance and presentation at national healthcare conferences and supports our research efforts.

Information provided March 2025

Arlington Neighborhood Village

Mission Statement

Arlington Neighborhood Village (ANV) provides services and social connections that enable seniors to age in their own homes with safety, independence, and an enhanced quality of life.

Program Summary

Arlington Neighborhood Village (ANV) helps older adults age in place vibrantly and safely in their own homes by providing practical assistance and social connection. ANV’s Financial Aid Fund ensures seniors of all backgrounds and means have access to its services and programs.

Direct Services: ANV vets, trains, and deploys a corps of volunteers to assist ANV members with the routine tasks that can challenge independence – rides to medical appointments or the grocery store, errands, foodbank deliveries, and assistance with at-home maintenance and technology.

Social Support: ANV also offers a range of opportunities to help its members stay connected to a community, avoiding the social isolation that can accompany aging. Our volunteers make friendly visits and check-in calls, while a full calendar of activities—such as a weekly speaker series, games, lunches, hobby groups, and fitness classes—fosters meaningful relationships and a strong sense of belonging.

ANV currently has 500 members, ranging in age from 58 to 102. Many of our members live alone (68%), 44% are 80+ years old, and many have challenges with mobility, hearing, or sight (31%). 20% identify as being Black, Asian, LatinX, or mixed race. Almost half (46%) of our members are lower-income seniors.

Impact Statement

ANV’s membership continues to grow and diversify, helping meet the needs of Arlington’s expanding population of older adults. In 2025, ANV served 500 members and is on track to grow to 550 in 2026, including 230 lower-income seniors. We activated 320 vetted and trained volunteers to meet our members’ needs and expect to onboard 20 more this year. ANV’s work helped contribute to Arlington County’s recognition by AARP as the #1 “Top Place to Live for Older Adults” for 2025!

Transportation is one of ANV’s most-used services: in 2025, volunteers provided 2,563 rides for seniors, 62% of which were for medical appointments, underscoring the essential nature of our work. Volunteers also provided a variety of other service calls: running errands (754), making friendly visits (581), providing tech support (259), and various other assistance, such as check-in calls and household chores (695). 

Last year, ANV offered an average of 12 social events each month, including activities such as “Coffee & Conversations,” which features guest speakers on a range of topics; seasonal walks; bocce ball; a book club; a low-vision cohort group; and dine-around lunches. Event participation ranged from 7 to almost 200 participants each.  

What ways can the public get involved?

Donate! Your contributions help us keep up the good work and expand to meet the growing population of seniors in Arlington County. You can choose to help fund our operations or support our Financial Aid Fund to help cover the participation costs for lower-income seniors.

Volunteer!  Our volunteers have a range of options to suit their preferences and availability, such as providing rides, running errands, being a friendly visitor or walking buddy, helping with household chores, offering tech help, and more. Volunteers also work behind the scenes, helping manage the ANV Office, fundraise, oversee finances, plan events, recruit volunteers, and plan health and wellness programs. Finally, volunteers serve on ANV’s Board of Directors. Contact our office to learn how.

Spread the Word! ANV is always looking for help to inform others about the organization and the services it provides to older adults in Arlington. Tell a neighbor about us!

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

General donations fund ANV operations – we have 4 full- or part-time employees and cover operational expenses such as office rent, insurance coverage, financial management services, and background checks for volunteers. 

ANV maintains a Financial Aid Fund that pays 80-100% of the membership fee for seniors with incomes below $65,000. As we serve more and more lower-income seniors each year, we seek donations to the Fund to ensure we can support all Arlington seniors who need our help. 

Information provided March 2026

Rock Recovery

EIN: 26-3931272

Mission Statement

Rock Recovery is a mental health nonprofit that strives to make life-saving outpatient eating disorder therapy and support more accessible and affordable for all.

Program Summary


Rock Recovery offers a variety of eating disorder therapy services for teens and adults (ages 10+) across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. With unique offerings like our meal support and body image therapy groups, as well as traditional individual therapy, our team of experts is here to support those who struggle and their loved ones. We are in-network with Aetna, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Optum/UHC, and Virginia Medicaid, and all of our programs are offered at sliding scale rates! 

In-Person Services:

Virtual Services:

Rock Recovery believes that complete freedom from eating disorders is possible, and that for many, faith is the foundation for freedom. We also offer nationwide, virtual faith-based support groups for deep healing and restoration. Our faith-based support groups are led from a Christian perspective, but we welcome people from all spiritual backgrounds and beliefs to join these groups. 

Our current faith recovery services include: 

In addition to direct therapy and support services, Rock Recovery provides educational workshops and trainings to decrease mental health stigma across the community, connect those in need to life-saving resources, and educate community members on how to get help for themselves or loved ones. 

Impact Statement

Rock Recovery is currently committed to improving mental health equity, and providing affordable outpatient treatment and supportive community resources to a minimum of 100 clients and their families across the DMV each week through our varying clinical recovery programs and therapy services. Additionally, Rock Recovery is committed to serving a minimum of 2,000 additional individuals and families annually in the Greater DC region and beyond through our community empowerment programs and support groups. 

Of recent graduates amongst all Rock Recovery programs from the last two years, 100% stated they were likely to refer someone who struggles to one of Rock’s programs, and 98% reported their quality of life improved as a result of Rock’s programs.

Our programs uniquely provide direct therapy services and allow clients and families to access a supportive of community of others who understand what they are going through. One of our teen program graduates shared this, “Rock Recovery allowed me to relate to other people. I felt acknowledged and heard and [Rock Recovery’s group] brought me one step closer to freedom and myself.”

What ways can the public get involved?

At Rock Recovery, we depend on an amazing team of committed volunteers to keep our programs running, and to maintain an active presence in the community. Whether you are a clinician in the field, or recovered and looking to give back, we have a role for you. Check out some of our unique volunteer roles below! 

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

At Rock Recovery, we believe that freedom from eating disorders is possible. We work to bridge gaps that keep people from the treatment they need and deserve, such as cost. Thanks to our generous community, Rock received 358 program inquiries, and served a record 196 unique individuals with life-saving therapy throughout 2025, with thousands more receiving educational mental health resources to help them care for themselves and their loved ones. 

By donating, you can come alongside our incredible clients and be a lifeline to the hundreds of people who need life-saving treatment and to connect with others who get what they are going through. The majority of funding Rock Recovery receives goes directly towards treatment scholarships that aid individuals who otherwise could not afford clinical treatment in accessing our care at significantly reduced rates.

Information provided March 2026

Avant Bard Theatre (Washington Shakespeare Company)

EIN: 54-1568294

Mission Statement

Founded in 1990 as Washington Shakespeare Company of Arlington County, Avant Bard is a performing arts organization dedicated to producing classic works (both time-tested and contemporary), emphasizing a provocative, bold approach in an intimate setting. Avant Bard is dedicated to showcasing the best emerging talent in the region mentored by seasoned, professional theatre artists and providing meaningful exposure to theatre and related arts through cutting-edge outreach and education programs that promote diversity and community dialogue. Avant Bard is dedicated to accessibility, ensuring that low-and middle- income patrons are always included in the performing arts.

How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?

Donations to Avant Bard Theatre primarily support the vibrant ecosystem of artists and creatives who bring our productions to life. Your generosity directly impacts our ability to pay actors, designers, and production staff, ensuring that they are compensated fairly for their exceptional work. Additionally, your contributions help fund the creation and construction of sets, the design of costumes, and the development of sound and light designs that enrich the audience’s experience.  Your donations play a crucial role in sustaining and enhancing the artistic quality of our productions.

Information provided March 2025