Computer CORE

EIN: 54-1968428

Mission Statement

Computer CORE’s mission is to prepare underserved adults in Virginia to realize career aspirations with foundational digital and professional skills.

Program Summary

Computer CORE is a 26-year old organization, which has served Arlington residents since a few years after its founding in 1999. Currently, CORE serves 50-100 Arlingtonians each year. CORE provides one-on-one assistance to individuals who lack digital literacy. We carefully guide each student by giving them a refurbished laptop computer to keep and the basic skills to turn it on, understand the keyboard, begin online assessments and get onto Zoom. Once they can take the computer home and join us on Zoom, the door is opened to over 24 highly individualized computer, English conversation, math, and other classes. Classes are taught by skilled and compassionate volunteers, who understand how difficult it can be for adults to find time for class and to set aside their embarrassment at not having the digital skills needed in today’s society. Students can return for as many classes as they need, and many return even after finding a new job or being promoted, because there is always a need for additional digital skills.

Impact Statement

Computer CORE assists adults to find their career and educational path using digital tools, such as a free computer and the basic skills to use it. As students gain confidence, tech vocabulary and knowledge, they can move beyond our beginning level classes and get introduced to coding, security issues, cloud computing, website design and other topics. CORE is a bridge to more advanced education and certification, such as a community college or 4-year college can provide.

What ways can the public get involved?

Computer CORE recruits volunteers to serve as online classroom lead teachers and Zoom administrators. We also need assistance with events, fundraising, marketing, communication and “back office” tasks. We hold quarterly computer donation drives and are happy to set up a donation table at your residence, business or event.

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

📚 $250 – Provides a free refurbished computer for a student to keep
👩‍🏫 $500 – Supports five weeks of instruction, mentorship, and technical support for one student.
🎓 $1,000 – Fully funds a student’s 10-week journey, including instruction, mentorship, and a laptop.
🏢 $5,000 – Provides training, mentorship, and laptops for five students, helping them gain job-ready digital skills.
🚀 $10,000 – Expands Computer CORE’s reach, supporting program development and new training resources.
🌟 $20,000 – Funds an entire cohort of 20 adult learners, giving them the tools and support needed to succeed in today’s workforce.

Information provided February 2025

National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Northern Virginia Chapter

EIN: 54-1366159

Mission Statement

Our mission is to advocate on behalf of Black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment.

Program Summary

The Northern Virginia Chapter, chartered with 35 members on January 22, 1984, in Arlington, VA, under the leadership of the late Mrs. Evelyn Reid Syphax, is committed to improving the quality of life of Black women and girls in the Northern Virginia area. The chapter is a 501(c) 3 advocacy organization dedicated to leadership development, political awareness, and enhancing career opportunities through networking and local programming. NCBW-NOVA addresses critical education, health, economic empowerment, and public policy dimensions.

Education:  NCBW delivers support services that help youth achieve their educational goals. By supporting positive experiences, fostering a positive self-perception and self-respect, encouraging excellence in education, and promoting the pursuit of positive lifelong goals, NCBW is creating future leaders.

Health: Health is a vital component of a thriving community. The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. is concerned about the well-being of the whole community and the whole person physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our primary focuses for health advocacy are Family and childhood Obesity, Cancer/Health Disparities, and Metabolic Disease. 

Economic Empowerment: The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. views economic empowerment as critical for a just society. We define economic empowerment as the ability to self-determine dreams, pursue and realize them by establishing the mechanisms to sustain generational wealth. NCBW’s programmatic initiative “Sisters-Nomic$” promotes economic self-sufficiency through financial literacy, family wealth building, and entrepreneurship.

Public Policy: As the premier advocacy organization in Northern Virginia for Black women and girls, we have hosted the Annual Luncheon Advocacy Forum for nearly forty years to bring critical issues to our community. Through moderated discussions with thought leaders and trailblazers across various fields, the Northern Virginia Chapter has generated a dialogue amongst our attendees so that they leave the event with ways to impact their local communities. Chapter members serve on local boards, and we meet with local officials, the League of Women Voters, and Housing Authorities to address local policies that impact Black women and girls, their families, and local communities.

Impact Statement

NCBW NOVA Chapter serves the Northern Virginia communities of Arlington County, VA, City of Alexandria, VA, and Fairfax County, VA. As our impact continues to affect the population served, each of our initiatives makes focused impact:

Educational impacts are to: Eliminate disparities Improved outcomes and graduation rates Provide vocational/college preparation courses Provide S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Education Support HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) Access Affordability.

Health impacts are Childhood and Family Obesity Initiative NCBW Cancer Health Disparities Program NCBW Metabolic Syndrome Initiative Prevention/Decrease Mortality Improve Health Outcomes Access to Affordable Healthcare Culturally Competent Research Quality of Life – Public Safety and Crime.

Economic Empowerment impacts are: Pay Equity African American Woman-Owned Business Growth Livable Wage Employment Opportunities.

Public Policy impacts are Voter Education/Rights Civic Engagement Increase Women Candidates Running for Political Office, Issue Timely Policy Alerts, and Issue Position Papers on Public Policy Platform Issues.    

What ways can the public get involved?

The public can get involved in our programmatic areas by attending listening sessions, responding to call to action alerts, e.g. voter registration, civic engagement and community organizing.

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

All monetary and in-kind donations matter and help to support our ongoing programmatic initiatives.  Charitable dollars are spent as the NCBW NOVA Chapter hosts more than twenty various activities and events each program year. Those activities include workshops on financial literacy, wealth building, leadership training and Board member development, Town Halls, webinars, and leading our robust young girls mentoring program.   

Information provided January 2025

Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC)

EIN: 54-0884513

Mission Statement

LAJC partners with communities and clients to dismantle systems that create and perpetuate poverty. We achieve this by integrating individual legal representation, impact litigation, policy advocacy, know your rights education, and organizing strategies. We work in and with communities to identify and address root causes of poverty while taking individual cases to mitigate acute impacts. We believe that the individual legal problems of our clients are inextricably linked to overarching systems of injustice and oppression, and that legal and organizing strategies can effectively dismantle the social, racial and economic systems that marginalize communities and keep people in poverty.

Program Summary

The changes to long-standing immigration policies and the mass deportations promised by the Trump administration are an existential threat to low-income immigrants; they threaten their family unity, their safety, and their ability to remain in the country. Additionally, low-income immigrants in Arlington County routinely contend with low-paying jobs and workplace abuses, substandard housing conditions, and threat of eviction.  LAJC’s attorneys, community organizers, and service navigators provide outreach, Know Your Rights education, appropriate referrals, linkages to safety-net services, and legal assistance to low-income immigrants who are facing immigration, housing, health, consumer and education related legal problems.

Our services help low-income immigrants overcome legal problems that threaten:

• 1) their right to remain in the U.S., family safety and unity (defense against immigration detention, affirmative immigration status adjustments, family emergency preparedness, Know Your Rights education on immigration policies and enforcement);  
• 2) their housing stability (e.g., evictions and substandard housing conditions);
• 3) financial stability (e.g., wage theft, predatory lending, debt collection, and access to public benefits and safety-net services).
• 4) their access to education (e.g. enrollment, IEPs, special education and mental health services), and
• 5) their access to affordable medical care (e.g., Charity Care applications, insurance enrollment and appeals, ACA subsidies).

Impact Statement

LAJC’s Know Your Rights presentations in Arlington are tailored to address expressed community needs, topics include: changes in immigration policy, safety in the face of aggressive immigration enforcement, emergency family preparedness, housing conditions and eviction, and how to access safety-net services. These KYRs have made the difference between families remaining safe during an ICE raid and family members being detained.

Our Community Clinics provide an opportunity for community members to receive one-on-one advice and services around immigration issues, including assistance creating family emergency plans and preparing power of attorney documents. We also have service navigators, housing and consumer attorneys present at these events to help address the many challenges low-oncome households face. These clinics provide a one-stop shop for legal services and education that is specific to low-income immigrants in Arlington. 

Brief through extended legal services to low-income immigrants facing an immigration, housing, employment, consumer, health or education related legal problem. These services are crucial to household stability and financial security. Additionally, LAJC’s Immigrant Justice Program is committed to providing immigration consultations to any Arlington resident who is detained in an ICE raid.

What ways can the public get involved?

We are currently looking for people (particularly attorneys) who can help with the preparation of power of attorney documents and guiding families with the collection of information that may be needed if a family member is detained by ICE or other emergencies.  

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

Donations help us employ the attorneys and community organizers that we need in order to provide the legal services, education, and service navigation that low- income immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented or live in mixed-status households, in Arlington need to protect themselves and their families. 

Information provided January 2025

Youth To Society Sports League (Y2S Sports)

EIN: 99-3901026

Mission

Youth suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people, and mental health issues have reached epidemic levels. Our mission brings a proactive approach and introduces a ‘new concept’ to the youth sports industry, combining sports and community service to empower and equip youth with essential social and emotional life skills to create positive change for the betterment of humanity

Program Summary

Y2S Sports brings a new concept and combines sports and community service to develop positive mental health skills. Our program is run like an organized sport, with ten-week seasons in the fall, winter, and spring, with camps in the summer. Each season, coaches are trained in the curriculum to deliver weekly practices that build character and socio-emotional skills in a fun, non-competitive, ‘sports’ environment designed around one community service project.

Impact Statement

Our program is designed to reach and impact all youth, regardless of socioeconomic status. Through equipping the minds of the next generation, we bring a proactive approach to the decline in youth mental health that impacts the future of the world by raising a changed generation for society.   

What ways can the public get involved?

We offer various ways to get involved, including leadership roles for high school athletes and through our community and corporate partnerships. We are always looking for local nonprofits within our community to collaborate with to provide players with volunteer opportunities to positively impact and support local initiatives and cultivate a sense of altruism and empathy in future generations.

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

Measuring Our Impact: To truly demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, we need robust software to track and measure outcomes. We can show how our program positively shapes young athletes by analyzing metrics like skill development, self-confidence, and team cohesion. This data will help us improve and share our success stories with partners, communities, and funders.

Supporting Our “Every Kid Plays” Policy: At Y2S Sports, we believe no child should be excluded from participating due to financial barriers. Your grant would directly support our efforts to provide scholarships and cover essential costs, ensuring that every child—regardless of their background—has access to a safe, inclusive, and transformative sports experience.

Supporting our community service projects. To allow kids to have more hands-on experience, we don’t want to have our players raise the funds to fund the project. We partner with other nonprofit missions to help support their cause and donate whatever is needed to fulfill the project

Information provided March 2025

Junior League of Northern Virginia

EIN: 54-0651635

Mission Statement

The Junior League of Northern Virginia is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

Program Summary

Throughout our robust history, the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) has been at the forefront of making a lasting impact in our community. We support several signature programs, with the collective goal of advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Each program also aligns with our focus area, Women Helping Women, and continued commitment to improving the lives of women and families in Northern Virginia through access to essential services and professional development opportunities.

Volunteer action: Each year, the JLNV donates thousands of volunteer hours to community organizations and programs in alignment with our mission and focus area. Last year, the JLNV provided 805 volunteer hours to 15 different community partners, including the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
Community Grants Program: The JLNV awards annual grants of funds and volunteer hours through our Community Grants program that support projects aligned with our mission, focus area, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Last year, the JLNV granted $10,000 to five local nonprofit organizations in the Northern Virginia area, including Bridges to Independence in Arlington.
Period Pantries: To further JLNV’s current focus area, the League is currently running a Period Pantry Campaign. Since 2023, the JLNV has launched five local period pantries across Northern Virginia, while collecting more than 20,000 period products to keep up with demand. Period pantries are designed to address the critical issue of period poverty by distributing free period products to anyone in need.
JLNV Teens Program: The JLNV is the first League in the nation to establish the JLNV Teens program, an opportunity for high school teenage women to partner with us to ignite lasting change in their community through leadership development and volunteerism. The program, which was launched in Summer 2024, currently has 38 members from over seven local high schools, including from Arlington area high schools.

Impact Statement

Since 1958, the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) has provided tens of thousands of service hours, thousands of hours in leadership training, and millions in financial support to local nonprofits across Northern Virginia. Throughout its history, the JLNV has been a founder for the Children’s Science Center, created the Family Resource Center with Shelter House, and built multipurpose rooms at the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter. Most recently, the JLNV is addressing period poverty in our communities and improving access to menstrual products for women in Northern Virginia through the establishment of our period pantries.

Each year, the JLNV partners with a diverse range of community agencies that reflect our mission, vision and values by providing much-needed volunteer resources and funding. This year, through our Community Grants program alone, the JLNV will contribute more than 330 volunteer hours, valued at more than $11,051, along with awarding $10,000 in grant funding to our community partners.

What ways can the public get involved?

There are several ways that the public can get involved with the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV). First, whether through individual giving, sponsorship, or in-kind donations, your support of the JLNV helps to expand our community programs and build future leaders. Approximately 94% of our community service programs and activities are funded through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations.

The JLNV also provides volunteers in response to requests from community organizations that reflect our mission and community focus. Community organizations can request volunteer support for short-term projects or events throughout the year.

Additionally, the JLNV welcomes all women across the Northern Virginia area who value our mission and share a common desire to drive positive change in the community to consider joining our League as members. We accept new members twice a year to be a part of our Spring and Fall New Member Classes. The JLNV is committed to inclusive environments of diverse individuals, organizations, and communities and we embrace the diverse representation of the women reflected in our communities and their wide range of backgrounds, opinions, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religions and lived experiences. We recognize that diversity among our members and our community outreach is critical to accomplishing our mission.

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

Donations help the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. As a donor, you are empowering the JLNV to continue our community work by:

Maintaining 5 Period Pantries across Northern Virginia, improving access for women to much-needed, but often out-of-reach menstrual products.
Volunteering 100s of hours of time to local community organizations that are committed to improving the lives of women and families in Northern Virginia.
Investing in the community work of local nonprofits selected through our annual Community Grants program (totaling $10,000 annually) who are committed to improving access to essential services and professional development opportunities for women and families.
Building the leadership potential of our community’s 300+ women leaders through training, project management, and board service experience.

Information provided March 2025

Little Beginnings Child Development Center

EIN: 52-1306992

Mission Statement

Established in 1986, Little Beginnings Child Development Center℠ is a non-profit, year-round, full-day childcare center based in Arlington, Virginia.

At Little Beginnings we believe that each child is entitled to responsive and respectful care, attuned to his or her developmental abilities, individual temperament, and interests. Through a collaborative framework, parents and teachers work together to create an inclusive, safe and nurturing environment where all children will grow and thrive.   

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

As a non-profit organization, we welcome children and families from all backgrounds. Donations assist us with providing high-quality education to low-income children at our center. 

Information provided October 2024

Project Knitwell

EIN: 27-2316864

Mission Statement

Project Knitwell helps people facing challenges by providing knitting instruction and shared community opportunities that promote wellness and resilience.

Program Summary

Project Knitwell will develop and deliver programs, resources, and research that demonstrate the benefits of knitting as a tool for achieving wellness, comfort, and community.  Project Knitwell has programs that serves people at Virginia Hospital Center and the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, as well as other local medical facilities that serve Arlington residents.  We also have several volunteers that are Arlington residents and we conduct many of our volunteer meetings at the Arlington Central Library.

Impact Statement

Project Knitwell has active programs at 12 sites throughout the Washington, DC area.  Sites include programs for patients and staff at local hospitals, as well as at community sites such as the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Hopelink and N Street Village.  Over 20 volunteers spent approximately 1500 hours annually teaching 1800+ people how to knit.

What ways can the public get involved?

The public can get involved by volunteering to teach knitting onsite, helping Project Knitwell do public events to spread the word, as well as support the organization with other publicity or fundraising activities.

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

Donations to Project Knitwell help provide quality instructional materials for participants, including yarn, needles and reference guides.  Donations also support our volunteer program to recruit, train and retain great volunteers.

Information provided March 2026

Center for Youth and Family Advocacy (CYFA)

EIN: 82-4681676

Mission Statement

CYFA uses collective impact, restorative practices, education, and advocacy to transform system and create sustainable community conditions for children, youth, and families to thrive in safe and healthy communities.  

Program Summary

At CYFA, we work to bring to life the words of Frederick Douglass: “It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” Through collective impact, restorative practices, education, and advocacy, we empower youth and families, breaking down barriers and creating sustainable, community-based systems that provide the resources and opportunities necessary for individuals to achieve their goals and realize their potential.

At the core of our mission is the BuildStrong Initiative, a dynamic framework addressing the needs of youth and families at all stages of engagement with community support. This initiative connects programs focused on prevention, early intervention, and systemic transformation, ensuring that lasting change is achieved at both the individual and community level.

Our Integrated Model of Partnership to Achieve Community-Based Transformation (IMPACT) brings together public and private stakeholders to design and implement sustainable, community-driven solutions. One example is the Children & Youth Master Plan in Danville, Virginia, which prioritizes systemic change over isolated interventions. Additionally, our Addressing Root Causes (ARC) Initiative works to tackle systemic inequities, influence public policy, and create frameworks for equitable funding, such as Arlington County’s efforts to build an equitable allocation model for discretionary funding.

Central to CYFA’s work is the Youth Restorative Diversion Initiative (YRDI), which includes transformative programs like Promoting Empathy through Equitable Resolution (PEER) and Youth Peer Court (YPC). YRDI helps to divert youth from entering the juvenile justice system by empowering them to take accountability for their actions in a supportive, restorative environment. Through PEER, youth resolve harm through community-led circles, and YPC provides a peer-driven alternative to the traditional court system. Over the past 18 months, YRDI in Arlington has received 102 referrals from law enforcement, juvenile court, Arlington Public Schools, and the community, with a 100% completion rate.

CYFA also fosters community healing through programs like Relax, Relate, Restore (RRR), which creates safe spaces for dialogue and connection, and Real Experiences Assisting Community Healing (REACH), which trains “credible messengers” within communities to guide at-risk youth toward healing. Through REACH, we have trained 45 gang-connected youth in Danville as peer leaders through the Youth Peer Court Ambassador Academy©, empowering them to lead transformative change in their communities.Through education and advocacy, CYFA addresses legal and systemic obstacles that limit access to opportunity. Our Legal Advocacy Workshops (LAW) have equipped over 100 youth with the tools to protect their rights, including a juvenile expungement initiative in partnership with the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center. The Guiding Personal Success (GPS) program provides social-emotional learning opportunities to youth connected to Affordable Homes and Communities, with our current cohort of 15 elementary school students receiving bi-monthly afterschool programming focused on promoting mental health, physical well-being, resilience, and positive life choices. Additionally, CYFA’s Campaign to Amplify Racial Equity (CARE) offers community members the chance to deepen their understanding of how racism impacts our systems and daily lives. Through community outreach, educational workshops, and open dialogues, this campaign encourages individuals to actively engage in dismantling systemic racism, fostering a more equitable society for all.

CYFA is committed to creating lasting change through community-driven solutions that empower youth, families, and communities to thrive.

Impact Statement

The Youth Restorative Diversion Initiative (YRDI) is a critical public-private safety initiative that provides young people restorative pathways to avoid formal legal system involvement, and the negative psychological, academic, and health outcomes associated with system involvement, through community-based programming. The YRDI not only helps youth succeed but also improves public safety and enhances the effective and efficient use of public resources.

The more contact a young person has with the juvenile legal system, the higher their risk of negative outcomes. “Pre-arrest diversion,” also known as “deflection,” removes the primary entry point into the legal system by proactively positioning law enforcement officers in a continuum of care focused on connecting young people with community-based resources to address the harms resulting from their actions in lieu of arrest.

Deflection has been found to be more effective at reducing recidivism (or future harmful conduct) than conventional judicial interventions. 

The YRDI is Arlington’s only deflection program for youth, and it is a success. On September 17, 2024, CYFA shared the YRDI’s Year 1 data to the ACB: https://tinyurl.com/bdf5ramu

Additional data can be found on our website at: https://cyfadvocacy.org/arlington-county/

What ways can the public get involved?

Each person’s individual power to lead, lend support, and take action drive real and sustained change in the community, particularly in advancing CYFA’s mission. There are a number of ways you can join our Civic Circle:

1. Stay informed and connected on the ways to support young people and families thrive through CYFA’s community-based programming.
2. Financially support CYFA, the Youth Restorative Diversion Initiative (YRDI), and our prevention, intervention, and community-building programs.
3. Use your voice and influence to raise awareness on the YRDI and its impact on youth and families.
4. Share your time and talents by volunteering at our events, including the Listen Learn Lead Summit.
5. Share the opportunity to serve on our Youth Advisory Board with middle and high school students.  
6. Share the opportunity with high school students to serve as PEER and YPC Ambassadors and administer restorative justice on matters involving local peers. 

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

Your donation to CYFA directly supports transformative programs that empower youth and families. It funds initiatives such as the PEER, YPC, and YPC Ambassador Academy© programs, which provide restorative justice opportunities to help young people take accountability and grow. These programs are designed to equip youth with the skills to implement restorative practices in their daily lives, building leadership and reimagining public safety in their communities. Your support also sustains our Guiding Personal Success programs, which offer youth vital social-emotional learning and personal development, while the Listen Learn Lead Summit empowers middle and high school students to embrace leadership.

Additionally, your contribution helps fund quarterly Teen Timeout programs that focus on youth mental and physical well-being, as well as our Law Day event, which ensures youth have the knowledge to protect their rights. CYFA also fosters community healing through Relax, Relate, Restore (RRR) circles, addressing critical issues and building connections. Your donation supports end-of-summer and back-to-school events, equipping children and families with the tools they need to succeed. These programs promote healthy minds, healthy bodies, and healthy relationships, creating a foundation for young people to thrive. Your generosity drives lasting change and strengthens the resilience of our communities.

Information provided March 2025

Arlington for Justice

EIN: 85-2202716

Mission Statement

Arlington for Justice is a community-driven organization bringing a new era of public safety to our neighborhoods. We center and serve Black people in Arlington, Va. through advocacy, criminal legal system reform, legislation and partnerships to end systemic anti-Black racism. We recognize the many ways that white supremacy affects a wide range of communities, including people with disabilities, immigrants and other people of color and we commit ourselves to systemic change that breaks down barriers for all impacted communities.

What ways can the public get involved?

Volunteer for Court Watch Arlington: email courtwatcharlington@gmail.com

Information provided May 2024