budget-size: Less than $1M

Arlington Chorale

EIN: 54-0830790

Mission Statement

​The Arlington Chorale creates a rich musical experience for its singers and the community by performing well-known masterpieces and compelling new works.

Program Summary

​The Arlington Chorale is a 501c3 nonprofit, auditioned, multi-generational chorus based in Arlington, Virginia, with singers drawn from across Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Founded in 1966, the Chorale presents high-quality performances that combine enduring masterpieces, compelling contemporary music, and newly commissioned works that are often centered on themes that build empathy, strengthen civic connection, and foster a sense of belonging.

The Arlington Chorale is deeply committed to supporting and engaging with our local community. Through the power of music, we build strong partnerships with other non-profit organizations and collectively amplify our impact. We’ve organized holiday events for the refugee community, offered free tickets to underprivileged groups, and nurtured service-oriented values in our youth ensemble to leave a positive and lasting impact on the Arlington community.

The Arlington Chorale not only enhances the community artistically by performing great music, it also changes lives by giving members a space to engage in teamwork and interact socially with one another. Recent studies have shown that choral singers are good citizens. They are significantly more likely to report regularly voting, reading books and newspapers, donating money to charities and other causes, and serving as officers of civic organizations. A large majority of choral singers credit their chorus experience as key to their team participation or leadership abilities, and with helping them to better socialize in other areas of their lives.

​​Building on over sixty years of choral art, the Chorale continues to present ambitious programming, rehearsing and performing primarily in Arlington. Choral singing builds community, providing a space for members to work toward a common artistic goal as they create, connect, and sing together.

Impact Statement

The Arlington Chorale strives to respond to a clear community need: Northern Virginia is vibrant and growing, yet many residents experience isolation, cultural disconnection, and barriers to participating in the arts due to cost, transportation, and limited access to high-quality live performances. The Arlington Chorale addresses these needs by offering enriching musical experiences that bring people together across backgrounds and generations, creating shared spaces where community members can gather, reflect, and feel connected through music.

In the 2024-2025 season, the Arlington Chorale presented four concerts and several other performances in Arlington and Alexandria, serving over 2,000 attendees.

What ways can the public get involved?

There are several ways to be involved with the Arlington Chorale! The first is to attend a concert. Information can be found on our website.

The Arlington Chorale is a community chorus and welcomes new members! If you would like to sing with the group, please reach out to Artistic Director Dr. Ingrid Lestrud at ingrid@arlingtonchorale.org.

Additionally, the Chorale supports a youth ensemble, Performers With Purpose. Designed for youth ages 11-18, this group uses choral music to serve their community in unique ways. Each season, these young singers partner with local non-profit organizations to learn about the group’s mission, engage in service projects, and use choral music to raise awareness for the partner organization. Those interested in joining Performers With Purpose should reach out to Ingrid Lestrud at ingrid@arlingtonchorale.org.

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

Donations help us expand our outreach in Arlington and continue providing high quality musical experiences for our singers and audience members. We support the artistic community as we hire soloists, instrumentalists, commission new works, and pay our staff. Without being able to cover programming expenses, the Arlington Chorale would not be able to carry out its mission.

Photo of the Arlington chorale performing

Information provided March 2026

The Marjorie Hughes Fund

EIN: 54-1610490

Mission Statement

The Marjorie F. Hughes Fund for Children promotes the health and well-being of Arlington Public School students through the thoughtful collaboration with public health nurses, APS staff, and community organizations. The fund provides financial resources to support the health care needs of uninsured and underinsured students.

We envision a community of Arlington Public Schools students in which their health outcomes are not impacted by their income level and insurance status.

Program Summary

The Marjorie F. Hughes Fund for Children is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1992 to honor the work of public health physician Marjorie F. Hughes. Dr. Hughes dedicated her career to working with public school students in Arlington, Virginia, and to addressing the health needs of underserved children.

The Marjorie Hughes Fund is made up of Public Health School Nurses, School Health Aides, Arlington Public Schools (APS) staff, and community stakeholders including pediatric office staff, dental providers, family shelter coordinators, and mental health providers. We work together to help uninsured and underinsured students obtain needed medications and vaccines, cover doctor visit fees, pay for dental treatments, and receive other necessary medical care.

The Marjorie Hughes Fund assists Arlington Public Schools children with medical expenses as well as partnering with local organizations such as Doorways and VHC Pediatrics to provide additional medical and mental health assistance to children in need.

Impact Statement

The Marjorie Hughes Fund offers up to $300 per student per year for medical expenses, and up to $500 per student per year for dental expenses, to students who qualify as low income and uninsured or underinsured. Thus far in the 2023-24 school year, The Marjorie Hughes Fund has provided almost $10,000 to more than 120 uninsured or underinsured students to obtain school entry physical exams, vaccines, urgent care visits, dental care, necessary vaccines, wheelchairs and medical equipment, etc. These students are now able to be in school, healthy and learning.

What ways can the public get involved?

Please donate to help Arlington County Public Schools students in need! Spread the word to friends, neighbors, and families about the good work that we do. We also welcome community volunteers in areas such as fundraising, social media, and non-profit management.

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

The Marjorie Hughes Fund is an all-volunteer organization with minimal overhead.

$79 provides an eye exam and two pairs of glasses

$99 pays for a required school entry physical exam

Any amount can help to keep a student in school, healthy and learning!

Photo of Female Doctor Meeting With Small Male Patient In Exam Room

Information provided April 2026

Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA)

EIN: 83-3874634

Mission Statement

Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA) is an Arlington-based non-profit that provides pro bono immigration legal representation and consultation for some of the most vulnerable immigrants in Northern Virginia, focusing on asylum-seekers and immigrant children.

Program Summary

RILA supports immigrants in our community by providing excellent pro bono legal assistance to those who are most vulnerable and have the fewest resources.  Focusing on asylum law and procedure, RILA comes alongside asylum-seekers, all of whom have fled life-threatening situations in their countries of origin, to guide them through the application process for asylum and represent them in immigration court. RILA also represents children and youth who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by a parent, petitioning for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status. Each of our cases is a years long process. During that time we obtain work permits for our clients, allowing individuals to reliably support their families.

In January of 2025, RILA added a Know Your Rights program in which we offer seminars virtually and/or in person to serve and inform immigrants and their families and community members in the Northern Virginia area. By partnering with local organizations, schools, and churches, we are sharing vital information with some of our area’s most vulnerable neighbors–immigrants and their families.

Impact Statement

RILA has demonstrated success in achieving significant, life-changing results for our clients with a 73% success rate for securing grants of asylum or some other type of humanitarian legal status for our clients. We have successfully obtained approval in 99% of our SIJS cases for children and teens who were abused or abandoned by a parent.

Over the past year, RILA managed a caseload of roughly 1,000 clients and assisted another 1,100 people by providing information and referrals. Since our founding, we have helped 134 individuals win asylum, allowing them to rebuild their lives in the United States in safety. RILA also assisted 264 children and teens in petitioning for and obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, a pathway to legal permanent residence for young people who have experienced parental abuse, abandonment or neglect. And RILA obtains work permits for its clients, allowing individuals to reliably support their families.

What ways can the public get involved?

RILA makes space for people in Arlington from diverse backgrounds to work together to support, listen and give. We employ an innovative clinic model that integrates RILA staff, volunteers, local partner organizations and clients all working together. Volunteers can:

Attorneys can write legal briefs or represent clients at the asylum office or in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Attorneys with daytime flexibility can also accompany RILA clients to ICE check-ins and other appointments with DHS. 

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

Information provided March 2026