organization-leadership: LGBTQ-led

He She Ze and We

EIN: 37-1964125

Mission Statement

He She Ze and We (HSZ&W) supports transgender and nonbinary people of all ages and empowers their families and allies to create the life-saving, inclusive environments we all deserve.

Education, Support, Advocacy, and Community are at the core of our work.

Program Summary

He She Ze and We is based out of Richmond and is deepening our work statewide across Virginia. HSZ&W offers virtual and in-person options for learning, sharing resources, and strengthening our community. 

In Northern Virginia, He She Ze and We provides a monthly in-person educational support meeting in Arlington. This meeting also offers a youth hangout social space for ages 5-13. 

Ally & Community Education is a fee-based professional training program tailored to the needs and goals of businesses, schools, agencies, and community groups looking to learn more about gender diversity and how to create or expand inclusive practices.

The HSZ&W Trans Wellness Fund supports access to gender-affirming care across Virginia. This fund has a quarterly application and distribution process to reduce or eliminate financial, practical, and support barriers to GAC for Virginians, as well as transgender and nonbinary people living in banned states who are traveling to Virginia for their care. We are accepting donations year round to sustain this grant. For more information, please visit https://heshezewe.org/twf. 

Our Family Connections program serves families with school-age gender-expansive children. This crucial program provides a break from the challenges our youth face at school or in their communities and offers a safe, inclusive environment where families, including parents and siblings, gather to connect and have fun together.

HSZ&W’s Trans Adult Social Club (TASC) has started in the Richmond area. This program is for trans and nonbinary adults looking to make meaningful connections, share resources, and have fun in a free and sober space to build community. HSZ&W is looking for collaborative partners to be able to bring TASC to Northern VA in the future, if desired and needed.

Impact Statement

He She Ze and We works to improve the lives of transgender and nonbinary people of all ages by supporting them directly as well as educating and supporting families, allies, and community members to create inclusive, affirming environments. Through personalized support services for families and trans & nonbinary adults, we meet people where they are and help them with the resources and education needed for lasting acceptance and belonging.

Family and community support is the #1 protective factor when it comes to keeping our loved ones safe from self-harm and suicide. Just one supportive adult can reduce the risk of suicide by nearly 50%. Imagine the impact when entire families are informed, accepting, and affirming – this is the transformative work of He She Ze and We.

In 14 years of grassroots work, HSZ&W has helped thousands of transgender and nonbinary people. Our organization is continuing to build a strong allied community with our education, support, and advocacy efforts to ensure they can live their lives fully and authentically in Virginia.

What ways can the public get involved?

Donate to help us increase our capacity to be a sustainable organization: https://heshezewe.org/donate/

Contribute to HSZ&W Trans Wellness Fund, which supports access to gender-affirming care across Virginia: https://heshezewe.org/twf 

Bring our Ally & Community Education Program to your workplace or community:

Fill out this form – https://heshezewe.org/forms-education 

Volunteer to help us spread awareness about He She Ze and We and expand our reach: https://heshezewe.org/forms-volunteer 

Consider being a fiscal sponsor for one of our annual events: Fundraiser & Dance Party and/or Back to School Youth Empowerment Event:

https://heshezewe.org/events/

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

Information provided March 2026

OutLaw

EIN: 99-2386327

Mission Statement

OutLaw’s mission is to advocate for the rights and well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community, engage in meaningful dialogue and activities that promote unity and understanding, and educate the public and our members about pertinent issues. We believe in the power of diversity, the importance of visibility, and the necessity of action in pursuit of equality and justice. Together, we are OutLaw, and we stand strong in our commitment to create a world where everyone can live authentically and love freely.

Program Summary

OutLaw is a dynamic and inclusive LGBTQIA+ nonprofit organization that is dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive environment for all individuals. Our programs are designed to promote advocacy, community engagement, education, and outreach within the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond.

  1. Advocacy: We work tirelessly to champion the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community at local, state, and national levels. Our advocacy efforts include policy reform, legal support, and public campaigns to combat discrimination and promote equality.
  2. Community Engagement: We believe in the power of community. Through various events, workshops, and social gatherings, we aim to create a space where individuals can connect, share their experiences, and support each other.
  3. Education: Knowledge is power. We strive to educate the public and our members about the issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. This includes hosting educational seminars, distributing informational materials, and providing resources for further learning.
  4. Outreach: Our outreach efforts are focused on connecting with the community to spread the word about our gender marker and name change clinics. We understand the importance of these services in the lives of many in the LGBTQIA+ community, and we strive to make them as accessible as possible. We utilize a variety of communication channels, including social media, community events, and partnerships with other organizations to reach those who can benefit from these clinics. Additionally, we offer guidance and support throughout the process, ensuring that individuals are not alone in their journey towards living their most authentic lives.

Impact Statement

Since its inception, OutLaw has made a significant impact in the lives of countless individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community. Our advocacy efforts have led to increased awareness about the rights and needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Our community engagement initiatives have fostered a sense of belonging and support, creating a safe space for individuals to express themselves and connect with others.

Our educational programs have empowered both the LGBTQIA+ community and the general public with knowledge, promoting understanding and acceptance. Most notably, our outreach efforts have made a profound difference. By spreading the word about our gender marker and name change clinics, we have helped many individuals take crucial steps towards living their most authentic lives.

The impact of OutLaw extends beyond these tangible achievements. Every conversation sparked, every mind opened, and every life touched contributes to a more inclusive and accepting world. While there is still much work to be done, we are proud of the progress we have made and are committed to continuing our mission.

What ways can the public get involved?

  1. Participate in Events:
    • Keep an eye out for our events, workshops, and gatherings. Attend these to learn, connect, and contribute.
    • Events may include gender marker and name change clinics,  panel discussions, workshops on LGBTQIA+ rights, and community-building activities.
  2. Volunteer:
    • We rely on volunteers to organize and run our programs. Consider volunteering your time and skills.
    • You could assist with event planning, outreach efforts, or administrative tasks.
  3. Spread Awareness:
    • Use your voice and social media platforms to raise awareness about our mission and initiatives.
    • Share our content, stories, and educational materials to reach a wider audience.
  4. Donate:
    • Nonprofits like ours depend on donations to sustain our work. If you’re able, consider making a financial contribution.
    • Sponsor one of OutLaw’s events or clinics. We are always welcoming new sponsors and donors. Sponsorship opportunities exist for a wide variety of items, events, clinics, and more. Please reach out to OutLaw President, Mack Freilich (he/him/his) outlaw@gmu.edu for more information. We are eager to have your support!
    • Even small donations can make a difference.
  5. Collaborate:
    • If you’re part of another organization or group, explore collaboration opportunities with us.
    • Joint events, partnerships, and shared resources can amplify impact.

Remember that your involvement matters, and together, we contribute to a more inclusive and empowered LGBTQIA+ community!

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

Donations go directly back to the community, mission, and initiatives of OutLaw, including its fundraising efforts, events, clinics, and resources. 

Information provided June 2024

National Chamber Ensemble (NCE)

EIN: 46-4007072

Mission Statement

The Mission of the National Chamber Ensemble (NCE) is to entertain as well as provide opportunities to appreciate and enjoy the art of chamber music, bringing together performers, audiences and composers. The NCE produces high quality chamber music performances for the general public at a reasonable cost. Through our performances and commissions of original musical works we present a full range of chamber music repertoire from the classics to the contemporary. The most important goal of the NCE is to build a sense of closeness between performers and audience that enhances the feeling of community and a deeper musical experience.

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

Contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. They support educational programs NCE produces as well as general operation support such as printing, piano movers, piano tuners etc. They may help with special projects involving guest artists.

Information provided March 2025

The Sycamore School

EIN: 47-4551914

Mission Statement

To provide a dynamic, nurturing and personalized education that inspires a passion for learning, self-discovery and connection to the community. 

Program Summary

TSS follows a mastery-based learning model that integrates academic development, social and emotional growth, and civic engagement.  We create a meaningful learning process, whereby teachers personalize instruction according to students’ interests, needs, and aptitudes. Teaching focuses on cultivating transferable skills in students that apply to various jobs or tasks across settings, such as effective communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. We don’t give grades or tests; our core learning tools include feedback and reflection.  We’re intentionally small, maintaining a 1:6 teacher to student ratio for middle school and 1:7 for high school. We can accommodate students who have a specific learning disability, anxiety, ADHD, high functioning autism, and/or social skills deficits. However, we are not a school specifically for students with learning struggles. We want to attract a cross section of students who reflect the diversity that is present in our larger population. Our target student is curious, wants to learn, and is looking for a more progressive learning environment. 

Impact Statement

TSS provides personalized, inquiry-based experiential learning, helping students make connections across content areas and to the real world. Many of our students learn differently and may require a more flexible learning environment that explicitly teaches executive functioning skills and social emotional skills alongside academic skills. Our accommodations are specific to the student and we provide both remediation and acceleration depending on the student and their unique needs. Many of our students are twice exceptional (2E), meaning that they are gifted in one area but struggle in another area. Our students cultivate the skills necessary to  be independent life-long learners, such as effective communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, cognitive flexibility, perspective taking, and teamwork. In middle school, our focus is on skill development. In high school, we want our students to apply the skills they’ve learned to new situations, effectively advocate for themselves, and take ownership of their learning. Our students graduate TSS with a mastery-transcript that is similar to a digital portfolio, showcasing their areas of study, strengths, and interests. It includes the skills they have mastered and exemplar pieces of work, such as a capstone project.

What ways can the public get involved?

We partner with other nonprofits, local businesses, and professionals in our community to provide community service, a speaker series, internships, career day, and volunteer opportunities. Fridays are TSS’s community-based learning days, where our students go into the community on field trips and community service outings. Sometimes, the community comes to us. We regularly host guest speakers  and have school demonstrations and activities. Individuals can volunteer to be a guest speaker, capstone project mentor, and/or a community partner. 

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

TSS is a small independent nonprofit school that does not receive any federal or state funding. As such, our revenue comes from tuition and fundraising. We raise funds to offer need-based financial aid and reach underserved students. We are always striving to increase the diversity in our community. We try to keep our tuition affordable to attract a wide range learners. Many of our students are neurodivergent and require small classes and individualized instruction to access the curriculum. Other students have felt unsafe in larger school settings and seek an inclusive safe space to be their authentic selves. We are proud to have a large LGBTQIA+ community at our school, reflected in our students and staff. 

Information provided April 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

ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV)

EIN: 54-1302368

Mission Statement

Empowering People with Disabilities to Live Independently. 

The ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV) is a community resource and advocacy center run by and for persons with disabilities. ECNV’s mission is to END dependence by empowering people with disabilities to live independently. We are a cross-disability organization and work with people of all ages who have every type of disability. ECNV’s experience is extensive in peer-lead advocacy and support. We can bring best practices, strategies, success stories, and firsthand experiences to the table related to how peer-led advocacy can effectively empower people with disabilities (PWD) and promote self-advocacy.

Program Summary

ECNV is peer-led by people with disabilities, including staff, volunteers, and the Board of Directors, who have unique perspectives and understandings of living in the world with a disability. 

We offer:

Impact Statement

Our workshops equip participants with practical life skills and navigating daily challenges with greater ease. ECNV mentorship programs establish connections, provide guidance, and encourage personal growth. Collaboration with the community, schools, and our outreach efforts break down societal barriers, promoting understanding and acceptance.

What ways can the public get involved?

Volunteering/mentoring opportunities and donating gently used Durable Medical Equipment to our DME closet. Corporate sponsorships.

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

Donations go to our general operating funds used to continue to provide support and services for people with disabilities.

Photo of the END dependence staff

Information provided March 2026