organization-leadership: Women-led

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

Rock Recovery

EIN: 26-3931272

Mission Statement

Rock Recovery is an eating disorder therapy nonprofit that was founded in 2009 to make life-saving eating disorder treatment and support accessible 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, community is the foundation for freedom. We also offer nationwide, virtual support groups for individuals seeking ongoing community support. 

Our current support groups 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 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 100% 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 414 program inquiries, and served a record 266 unique individuals with life-saving therapy throughout FY26 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026), 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

Encore Stage & Studio

EIN: 23-7311352

Mission Statement

For almost 60 years, Encore Stage & Studio has provided hundreds of thousands of young people the opportunity to grow and discover themselves through theatre: onstage, backstage, in the classroom, and in the audience. Our mission is to inspire young people to develop the creativity, empathy and confidence they need to create meaningful connections with peers and positively impact their communities.

Program Summary

Encore’s story is rich with successes on the stage as we serve over 20,000 children and their families each season. We are Northern Virginia’s premier children’s theatre and have been recognized nationally and locally as a leader in the non-profit field. Since our founding in 1967, we have produced more than 260 plays and musicals with newly commissioned works in each of the past nine seasons. Importantly, there are no fees to participate in a production as a cast or crew member.  

Our Flip the Script program premiered in 2019 as a major artistic and community-building endeavor, highlighting African-American voices with The Day Nothing Happened, a student-devised production project about the integration of the first school in Virginia. Students conducted first-person interviews and archival research before writing the full-length play. In 2022, we filmed an adaptation for younger students and the program continued with a new script focused on the Green Valley neighborhood in South Arlington in the spring of 2023. We were awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant to produce our third original play in this series, Jamila’s Table, which premiered in February 2025. Our Flip the Script plays now tour to local elementary and middle schools. 

Additionally, we offer a vibrant array of theatre arts educational opportunities for artistic expression and growth in a safe and nurturing environment. In 2025/2026, more than two thousand students participated in classes, summer camps and after-school programs, including partnerships with affordable housing nonprofits and Title I schools.

Our Board of Directors launched a new strategic plan in 2026 that builds on successes, connecting us to more youth and deepening our commitment to our community. We are proud that we successfully navigated the many challenges of the past few years and have seen significant growth and new opportunities. 

Impact Statement

Children are at the heart of our mission and we believe they have a vital role to play in the larger artistic community. We desire to provide our students with challenging, creative experiences. Our productions are affordable and wholesome. We provide the first theatre experience for thousands of kids who see peers onstage and envision themselves there. Our multi-age structure encourages mentoring and role modeling with participants not available in most schools. Our work is essential to the social, emotional, and mental well-being of children.

What ways can the public get involved?

We hope the community will support Encore by attending performances, participating in our educational programming and connecting us to potential partners. We are actively seeking volunteers with skills in the following areas: human resources, development, finance and non-profit management. 

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

Information provided March 2026

Avant Bard Theatre (Washington Shakespeare Company)

EIN: 54-1568294

Mission Statement

Founded in 1990 as Washington Shakespeare Company of Arlington County, Avant Bard is a performing arts organization dedicated to producing classic works (both time-tested and contemporary), emphasizing a provocative, bold approach in an intimate setting. Avant Bard is dedicated to showcasing the best emerging talent in the region mentored by seasoned, professional theatre artists and providing meaningful exposure to theatre and related arts through cutting-edge outreach and education programs that promote diversity and community dialogue. Avant Bard is dedicated to accessibility, ensuring that low-and middle- income patrons are always included in the performing arts.

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

Donations to Avant Bard Theatre primarily support the vibrant ecosystem of artists and creatives who bring our productions to life. Your generosity directly impacts our ability to pay actors, designers, and production staff, ensuring that they are compensated fairly for their exceptional work. Additionally, your contributions help fund the creation and construction of sets, the design of costumes, and the development of sound and light designs that enrich the audience’s experience.  Your donations play a crucial role in sustaining and enhancing the artistic quality of our productions.

Information provided March 2025

Arlington Artists Alliance (Alliance Gallery)

EIN: 54-2043690

Mission Statement

Our mission is to champion a vibrant visual arts community by providing exhibition space, professional development, and creative experiences for Arlington’s community. Our vision is to inspire Arlington visual artists to reach their full potential and to enhance Arlington’s quality of life with visual arts, culture and placemaking. Our core values are creativity, inclusivity, camaraderie, and collaboration.

Program Summary

Our organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. We have strong evidence of past grit and determination, fostering a strong artistic community and delivering quality artistic events throughout Arlington.

Our diverse group of over 200 local artists provide the core of our program.  We provide an inclusive community to share ideas, mentorship and growth opportunities to the benefit of our artists and the community.  We create and exhibit approximately 8 exhibitions at our new Alliance Gallery per year.  At least two exhibitions are created to promote underserved communities.  The remainder of the exhibitions are juried by acclaimed artists with both DMV and member artists invited to participate.  In addition we hold 3 weekend long art sale events for the community, collaborate with local businesses and government offices to display our artwork.  And to give back to our community we partner with local non profit groups such as True Ground to support mental health and Home is Where the Art Is to donate local original art to those in need. 

To highlight a few:

Arlington Career Center Exhibition

For the forth year in a row, the Alliance will support local students through a collaborative partnership that engages teenagers in all aspects of exhibition production – from exhibition concept, art creation, framing, promoting and curating the exhibition.

Spring and Winter Artful Weekends at Fort C.F. Smith Park

It’s A Steal

Earth Day on Langston Boulevard

ONGOING:

Through feedback from our partners and program participants, we have learned that our organization provides the artistic knowledge and curatorial expertise that can enhance our partner’s offerings. We meet evident and sustained community needs, attested by our growth in membership, testimonials from community partners, and long-term partnerships with businesses throughout the county. 

Christina Ascani – Arlington Career Center teacher/partner –  “Over and over, students highlight the gallery show as one of the best parts of their school career and as a teacher, it’s always so beautiful to see students work together and celebrate their talents as a community. We are so thankful to the Arlington Artists Alliance for their support and dedication to showcasing students and their creativity.”

Impact Statement

Our artists, partners and community members attest to the significant impact we create for them and our community, the Alliance designs and implements over 110 events annually, providing 1115 artist opportunities and providing exhibitions, displays, and interactive art to over 17,000 Arlingtonians and visitors.

Some of our on-going partnerships include:

As a small business incubator for artists providing opportunities to sell; we drive foot traffic to unique artistic spaces, attracting residents and tourists alike. We provide and sustain a culture of arts in Arlington.

We are proud that we were able to pivot from the loss of our Gallery Underground and studios in 2024 and found and built a new boutique gallery – the Alliance Gallery. We have increased community engagement with record-breaking show attendance, created new programs with partners, established new community exhibitions, increased artist sales, increased funding, and diversified and increased membership and staff. 

What ways can the public get involved?

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

Unfortunately due to the redevelopment of the Crystal City Underground and the subsequent loss of our free space there we now need to pay rent for the first time in our 25 year history.  

Charitable dollars are spent on supporting our staff, paying rent and utilities, expanding exhibition and teaching opportunities to our artists, supporting our student shows (student artists receive 70% of the sales amount, and we donate the remaining proceeds from this show back to the school’s art department).  For example $67 provides the services and supplies needed for 1 student to participate in the Career Center Student Show.  We had 70 students participate last year.

Information provided March 2025

Arlington Free Clinic

EIN: 54-1671883

Mission Statement

Arlington Free Clinic advances health equity by providing comprehensive, whole-person healthcare to our neighbors who would otherwise lack access.

Program Summary

Established in 1994, AFC continues to be Arlington’s only provider of comprehensive healthcare services for adults living with a low income and without health insurance. All AFC patients live in Arlington and have incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Every year, with the help of over 300 volunteers and 45 full/part-time staff, AFC provides access to comprehensive, patient-centered services to approximately 1,600 of our community’s most vulnerable residents. 

AFC’s model is one in which physicians, counselors, pharmacists, dentists, and physical therapists work side-by-side, creating a unique and integrated system of care. Collaborative practice is highly regarded as effective and as a model, is core to how we provide care at AFC. We are also one of the only organizations in Arlington providing direct healthcare services while simultaneously advancing systems-level change. With our paired priorities, we better serve our patients by having a clear understanding of the systemic barriers they face in achieving good health and can bring stronger systems-level solutions to the table as members of county task forces.

Impact Statement

In FY25, AFC provided 9,829 visits to 1,639 unduplicated patients, including: 

We provided 806 meetings with our Community Resource Navigator, who helps patients with needs “beyond the exam room”, including supplemental food, housing assistance, and employment opportunities. We administered 1,889 vaccines (flu, pneumonia, etc.), and filled 27,111 prescriptions (30-day equivalency) through our onsite, licensed pharmacy. All of this care was facilitated through our staff members and 326 volunteers who provided over 13,000 hours of service.

What ways can the public get involved?

Volunteers provide hundreds of hours of service each year in varied medical and non-medical roles, such as interpreters, physicians, counselors, physical therapists, telehealth facilitators, patient eligibility/discharge specialists, fundraisers, and board members.  

Currently, we have a high need for the following roles:  

Volunteers must commit to 1-2 shifts a month. Some appointments can be done via telehealth, and training is provided. For more information about volunteering, please contact AFC’s Volunteer Department at volunteer@arlingtonfreeclinic.org or visit our website: https://www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org/get-involved/volunteer/.    

We also welcome donations of items from our Amazon wish list, which can be found at this link here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1V9U5D30S9GEB?ref_=wl_share 

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

We receive no federal funding, but rely on private donations, foundation grants and the dedication and commitment of hundreds of volunteer doctors, nurses, and other medical/non-medical supporters since we opened our doors in 1994. Every contribution supports our day-to-day operations and makes a tangible difference in the lives of our patients. Specific examples of impact include: 

A photo of a woman administering a blood pressure measurement for a patient.

Information provided March 2026

Clothesline for Arlington Kids

EIN: 81-5100482

Mission Statement

To provide free clothing for school-aged children from low-income families in a dignified setting—through community donations, partner support, and purchased essentials—so they can feel comfortable and confident to learn, grow, and participate fully in school and community life.

Program Summary

The Clothesline collects clothes in new or excellent condition from the community and distributes them to low-income school-aged children  – free of charge.  We operate in a space that is welcoming to our clients and provides a dignified shopping experience.  Families can select clothing twice per year, picking out a full wardrobe for each qualifying child.  The basic wardrobe includes 5 pairs of new underwear and socks (given once per school year), 5 shirts, and 4 pants or shorts.  Additionally, we usually are able to provide shoes, dresses, bras, winter coats, swimsuits, PJs, hat/gloves, and accessories, depending on availability and season.  Our objective is for kids and teens to go to school feeling dignified and comfortable in their clothes so they can concentrate on their education.

Impact Statement

In 2024, thanks to the generosity of the Arlington community, we were able to deliver nearly 55,000 items of clothing to 1,545 low-income school kids in Arlington.  These wardrobes of clothing included nearly 2,200 pairs of shoes as well as 2,000 coats and light jackets.  These kids and families received a full season’s worth of clothing – saving them significant money for their tight budgets.  We were also pleased to move to our new location in 2024, providing a new bright space for families and volunteers.

What ways can the public get involved?

You can support The Clothesline in 4 ways:

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

Your financial donations are essential to making sure every child who walks through our doors finds what they need — in their size, their style, and with the dignity they deserve. Your support allows us to fill the gaps in our inventory so no child leaves without the basics they came for, including items we must buy new (like socks and underwear) and those we rarely receive in good condition (such as shoes and bras).

Your generosity also keeps our welcoming, dignified store open — a space that’s easy for families to reach by public transportation and staffed by caring professionals who interact directly with families and guide our volunteers, making every visit personal and respectful.

A photo of Ellen Moy holding out a basket of clothing including running shoes, hats and socks inside the Clothesline "store".

Information provided March 2026