EIN: 54-0788580
Mission Statement
The Arlington County Medical Society Foundation (ACMSF) is powered by Arlington’s physicians, who serve as the driving force behind our mission to strengthen healthcare access for communities in need across Arlington and Northern Virginia. Because our physicians work on the front lines of patient care, they are uniquely positioned to identify where healthcare gaps are most urgent and to direct resources where they will have the greatest impact. Through grantmaking, scholarships, education, and hands-on community engagement, ACMS Foundation channels the expertise, credibility, and commitment of the local medical community into lasting improvements in health equity and access.
Program Summary
ACMS Foundation’s programs are shaped and led by physicians who see community health needs firsthand. Because our physicians work directly with patients across Arlington and Northern Virginia, they are able to identify which local health needs are most critical and prioritize funding accordingly — ensuring donor dollars go where they matter most and raising awareness along the way. We provide grants to trusted local organizations and raise awareness.
We also invest in the next generation of physicians through scholarships for Arlington students pursuing medical careers, with a focus on supporting underserved student populations. In partnership with the Arlington County Medical Society, we offer hands-on shadowing experiences and career days that connect scholars directly with practicing physicians.
Beyond funding, ACMS physicians raise community awareness of pressing health issues, provide patient referrals to appropriate care, and share health education across the region — extending our impact well beyond grantmaking into direct community engagement and trust-building.
Impact Statement
For over a century, ACMS/Foundation has translated the expertise of Arlington’s physicians into measurable community health outcomes. In the past five years alone, our foundation has granted $80,000 to trusted local health organizations — Arlington Free Clinic, Neighborhood Health, VHC Health’s Palliative Care and Cancer Resource Center, VHC Health Pediatric Clinic, Hopelink, and the Culmore Clinic — expanding access to care for Arlington’s most vulnerable residents.
Over the past decade, ACMS Foundation has awarded $75,000 in scholarships to help launch the careers of aspiring physicians from underserved Arlington communities, while the Arlington County Medical Society continues to offer students invaluable shadowing experiences and career mentorship.
Our legacy runs deep: for 25 years, our Sharon McGowan Breast Health Fund provided life-saving breast health screenings to 2,900 uninsured women, delivering 2,500 mammograms, 300 sonograms, and 170 biopsies — funded by $700,000 raised by the medical community and coordinated with local hospitals and providers. ACMS Foundation also historically helped provide polio vaccines across Arlington.
Today, that same physician-driven commitment continues through active grantmaking, scholarships for future physicians, and community health engagement across Arlington and Northern Virginia.
What ways can the public get involved?
Donate to the ACMSF Donor Fund — Support grants identified by need by ACMS physicians to trusted local health organizations serving Arlington’s most vulnerable residents.
Contribute to the Scholarship Fund — Help launch the careers of aspiring physicians from Arlington’s underserved communities.
Attend, Support or Sponsor Fundraising Events — Help sustain ACMS Foundation’s grantmaking and scholarship programs through community fundraising efforts.
Spread Awareness — Share information about local health resources and ACMS Foundation’s work to help connect community members with care.
Refer or Connect Community Members to Care — Help residents access local clinics and health services supported by ACMS Foundation grants.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Every dollar donated to ACMS Foundation is directed by Arlington physicians who see community health needs firsthand — ensuring your gift goes where it matters most. Donors can choose to give to our Donor Fund, which grants to local health organizations addressing the most pressing needs and raising awareness across Arlington and Northern Virginia; to our Scholarship Fund, supporting Arlington students from underserved communities pursuing careers in medicine; or leave your gift undesignated to be applied where the need is greatest. 100% of proceeds go directly to programs — never overhead.
Information provided October 2026