Archives: NonProfit

Liberty’s Promise

EIN: 27-0058022

Mission Statement

Liberty’s Promise supports young immigrants in need while encouraging them to be active and conscientious American citizens. Our programs aim to make the immigrant experience an affirmative one for young newcomers while instilling in them a sense of pride and support for American ideals of democracy and freedom. By doing so, Liberty’s Promise seeks to reaffirm our fundamental egalitarian and democratic traditions for future generations.

Program Summary

Liberty’s Promise serves low-income, immigrant youth, ages 11-21, through after-school programs of civic engagement and a summer internship program. Our programs, Civics and Citizenship, and Civic Engagement for Beginning English Language Learners (CE-BELL), are designed around four pivotal themes: civic engagement, community involvement, college access, and career readiness. While both programs share a core curriculum, CE-BELL, conducted in Spanish, incorporates an English-language-learning component tailored for recently arrived youth. Our newest program, Civics and Citizenship Junior (C&C Junior) supports middle school youth in their transition to high school.

Our programs, conducted twice a year from October to December and March to May, engage participants in 90-minute sessions twice a week over ten weeks. In addition to the 20 in-class sessions, participants attend two field trips each semester to community sites of civic interest (fire stations, the police department, county government offices, etc.).

Our internship program, Opportunities Plus, matches participants with a host site for an eight-week internship during the summer. During internships, youth acquire professional skills that will be beneficial to them as they integrate themselves into the U.S. workplace. Participants are placed in internships in Arlington County with nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and government offices.

Our programs are designed to help newcomers learn about the civic life of Arlington so that they feel at home in the county.

Impact Statement

Liberty’s Promise operates 27 out-of-school-time programs across the Washington DC and Baltimore metro areas and a professional internship program that has given more than 800 youth a first-hand introduction to the American workplace. Our civics programs serve more than 800 youth annually, and we have worked with more than 8,500 youth since we began in 2005.

To measure the short-term impact of programs, we administer an evaluation to youth upon completion of each semester. On these evaluations, we expect at least 75 percent of our high school respondents to report feeling: a) more involved in their community, b) better prepared for college, and c) more prepared for a career. We routinely exceed these expectations every semester.

Ultimately, the history of Liberty’s Promise is best expressed by the amazing things we have helped our youth accomplish. More than 97 percent of our program participants have finished high school, and 51 percent has some college education, far above the national average for low-income, immigrant youth. In Arlington County, our alumni from Wakefield High School have gone on to become educators, financial advisors, accountants, business entrepreneurs, and more.

What ways can the public get involved?

The public can actively engage with our work by becoming guest speakers at our programs, where they can share valuable resources, insights into various career paths, and personal stories with our youth. Many of our guest speakers come from an immigrant background themselves and can provide a valuable perspective and encouragement for our youth since they were once in their shoes. 

During the spring, we also host small groups of volunteers to work with our youth in Job Skills Workshops. In preparation for summer internships, volunteers work with our youth to craft a resume and cover letter, and also offer tips and advice and even engage in interview practice. 

Volunteers can further contribute by hosting high school summer interns at their workplaces. Our summer internship program offers participants hands-on work experience and opportunities to gain practical skills in a desired field. This not only enhances their resumes but also empowers them for future success.

On average, we engage with more than 100 volunteers annually across all our program locations. Joining us as a guest speaker, workshop facilitator, or internship host provides a direct and impactful way for the public to support our mission.

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

The charitable dollars we receive are strategically allocated to maximize impact. For the 2025 budget, we earmark 87 percent of all revenue for program costs, encompassing staff time, program facilitators, food, transportation, internships, materials for activities, and enriching field trips. This allocation underscores our commitment to directing the majority of funds towards the core elements that directly benefit and uplift the individuals we serve. By prioritizing program-related expenditures, we ensure that our charitable dollars are utilized efficiently to make a meaningful and positive impact on the community we support.

In Arlington County, all charitable contributions are used for direct program costs.

A photo showing a group of Wakefield students posing in front of a firetruck with members of the Arlington County fire department.

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

Centers for Opportunity

EIN: 45-2910746

Mission Statement

At Centers for Opportunity (CFO), we believe everyone’s story is unique, and that one’s past does not dictate their future. CFO empowers adults to reach their personal and career goals. Our mission is to provide support that helps propel individuals toward those goals. We offer peer mentoring from those who’ve walked comparable roads, demonstrating that success is attainable with every step. At CFO, success waits behind every door of our five centers and via our virtual programs. 

Program Summary

At Centers for Opportunity (CFO), we help individuals overcome barriers to success because we know that a person’s past does not define their future. We happily meet people where they are and walk beside them through their journey to achieve the life of their dreams.

We do this with our five pillars of success:

BASIC NEEDS

Since 2011, CFO has been focused on meeting the needs of those we serve. We connect individuals to safety net services such as food, medical care, and housing to help stabilize their lives.

PEER SUPPORT

Recovery is possible at CFO. Our staff, who are also in recovery, provide essential support to those navigating mental health and substance use issues. Peer support fosters lasting change.

WELLNESS AND RECOVERY

At CFO, we encourage creativity to help individuals navigate what they are facing. We focus on programs such as art-for wellness, daily journaling, and the importance of self-love.

EMPLOYMENT

CFO’s employment program connects individuals with jobs, promoting financial stability, and personal development in a supportive setting. The program is open to anyone who is unemployed or those seeking new opportunities.

VIRTUAL SUPPORT

CFO offers weekly virtual support groups for those who are home-bound or who prefer online services. Individuals connect, share experiences, and make new friends.

We invite you to visit our five centers and join our virtual programming to unlock your potential. At CFO, your future starts now!

Impact Statement

At the Centers for Opportunity, we are dedicated to transforming lives and communities through innovative programs and services. We help adults achieve their personal and professional goals. Over the past year, we have made significant strides in creating opportunities for those in need, fostering a sense of hope and resilience. Following are some of most recent results:

What ways can the public get involved?

At the Centers for Opportunity, we value you. 

Here’s how you can make a difference:

1. Volunteer: At CFO, we welcome skills-based and sweat equity volunteerism as we seek to help empower individuals to move toward independence. Whether it’s tutoring, mentoring, helping at our centers, teaching a virtual class, or assisting with events, every bit helps. Reach out to the center near you to get started.

2. Donate: Your contributions enable us to sustain and expand our programs. Every donation, big or small, can help change lives. You can donate directly or can provide an in-kind donation, such as canned goods or warm winter/cool summer clothing for those we serve without a home. You can even host a crowdfunding event and encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to support our work in Arlington. Visit our website to do so.

3. Advocate and Awareness Building: Spread the word about our mission and the work we do. Your voice can inspire others to get involved. If you see someone who can benefit from our services, please let them know we are here to help them. Word-of-mouth advertising is invaluable to us as many we serve may not use social media. Questions: Email info@CentersForOpportunity for more information.

4. Partner: Collaborate with us to create new opportunities. Businesses, organizations, and individuals can all play a role in our mission. Questions: Email info@CentersForOpportunity for more information.

5. Attend Events: Join us at our fundraising events, workshops, and community gatherings. It’s a great way to connect and show support. Watch our website to learn about upcoming activities: CentersForOpportunity for more information.

6. Join our newsletter email list: Keep up with what is happening at CFO to read success stories of those we have served and about ways to engage. Email info@centersforopportunity.org to do so.

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

One hundred percent of your donation will go toward helping an adult in your community gain their independence. Below are some examples of where your money goes.

Every donation makes a difference! Thank you for helping us transform lives.

Information provided March 2025

Signature Theatre

EIN: 62-1417785

Mission Statement

Signature Theatre broadens and brightens the region’s cultural landscape with bold productions of challenging new and established works and engaging education and outreach programs.

Program Summary

The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre is widely recognized as the premiere venue in the Washington region to see musical theater, especially new musicals, and is renowned for producing large-scale musical productions, often with full orchestras, in its intimate theaters, giving audiences a unique experience that they can’t have anywhere else. 

The Theatre serves as a cultural anchor of its northern Virginia neighborhood, and is a major source of employment and revenue generation for the local community, providing more than 600 jobs and presenting more than 800 performances annually, including a full season of musicals and plays, Cabaret series, new work programming, bi-monthly YouTube series, complementary discussion nights, artist Q&A events, seminars, and classes.  

As producers of high-quality art, Signature provides access to its artists through its arts education and training programs. Serving approximately 7,000 middle and high school students annually from two-dozen schools across the region, the Theatre offers a wide range of free and tuition-based programs, including its flagship Signature in the Schools program, Education Residencies in local schools, and its artist training programs, such as Overtures and Stage One musical theater training, and Signature Conservatory for serious teen actors. 

Impact Statement

Signature’s programming impacts more than 100,000 patrons annually, including more than 7,000 students and young people. 

What ways can the public get involved?

Signature Theatre has a dedicated group of nearly 400 volunteers. They perform some of the most integral jobs in the Theatre on a show-by-show basis including greeting patrons, collecting tickets, and directing patrons to their seats. For more information, please visit https://www.sigtheatre.org/about/work/volunteer/.

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

Your gift supports Signature’s productions and arts education programs, including our more than 600 artists, musicians, and craftspeople, and our more than 800 events annually. 

A photo from Signature's recent production of Ragtime.
Photo Credit: Daniel Rader

Information provided March 2025

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

L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C.

EIN: 52-1233065

Mission Statement

Make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, revealed through mutually transforming relationships.

Foster an environment in community that responds to the changing needs of our members, while being faithful to the core values of our founding story.

Engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society.

Program Summary

The heart of our work is providing holistic, person-centered belonging and community in inclusive L’Arche GWDC homes for people with disabilities. L’Arche is unique among residential service providers in that core members (adults with intellectual disabilities) and assistants (people without intellectual disabilities who support core members, working as Direct Support Professionals) choose to live life together like a family.

Two of our homes are located in South Arlington.

Lifelong care and relationships are foundational.

We believe it’s possible to shape a world that welcomes every person as a fully valued and meaningfully contributing member of society.  We do this by providing holistic, individualized care for core members (adults with intellectual disabilities) rooted in mutual relationships.

Education and Advocacy are essential.

Our way of life has the power to remove barriers between people with and without disabilities. Through formal and informal educational moments, we promote the understanding that all people are valuable and integral to mutual thriving. We advocate for each other and for laws that promote inclusion to create more human communities.

Mission of Transformation is the result.

We nurture each other’s leadership potential and spiritual formation to discover who we

are and how we can contribute to the greater good.  Investing in our model of belonging and community supports opportunities for transformative relationships across difference and makes a more human society possible for all.

Impact Statement

Core Members – adult with disabilities who live in our homes – have specifically reported the following benefits of our model:

What ways can the public get involved?

Join our Community Connections Program  for adults with and without intellectual disabilities, held one Saturday each month in Arlington.

Join an online prayer night. Prayer nights happen on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm Eastern Time. Click here for the Zoom link and to learn more.

Invite us to come to your community (workplace, faith community, etc) to talk about L’Arche.

Contact us (info@larche-gwdc.org) for more opportunities, including volunteering.

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

The impact of your donation to L’Arche GWDC can be seen in our daily lives – in the cozy, safe homes we live in, in the vans that get us where we need to go, and in the loving relationships between core members and Assistants/DSPs.  Medicaid funding covers basic needs like shelter and food. Donations allow us to thrive and truly participate in our community. With donations, we maintain our homes and yards, go on vacations together, ensure that our Assistants/DSPs receive meaningful wages, go out to eat with friends, buy groceries and utilities, do outreach, and so much more.

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