Population: BIPOC
CARE, Inc.
EIN: 54-1807476
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide and serve our clients with resources, education, enrichment and economic opportunities. We do this for the disadvantaged and underserved, primarily serving and mentoring low-income, at-risk youth and families.
We work with community partners and provide them with project/program management and support, fundraising events, technical skills and grant writing.
Program Summary
Our programs and activities include the following:
- Community Learning afterschool programs and summer camps that build collaborations through resources and education for those we serve with opportunities, apprenticeships, classes, workshops and retreats.
- Association of providers who we support and encourage them to support our participants.
- Resources for Parents, Seniors, Ex-Offenders and Youth to support and enrich their lives.
- Education and opportunities through programs like Dinner Chats, Community Gardens and Youth Markets at our Green Valley Farmers Market. We believe in “Teaching Men to Fish and Farm for a Living” to become self-sufficient.
- Enrich the lives of those we serve in underserved communities.
- Economic development opportunities at our Green Valley Farmers Market and Learn to Earn Program, Mobile Food and Concession Stands. We provide opportunities for employment and income through these programs in underserved communities.
- Preserving the history in communities and engaging residents to learn more about how they can enrich their lives and their communities, by understanding their past.
Impact Statement
- Underachievers who attend our programs find purpose and grow up with skills learned for a lifetime of living.
- Parents gain access to resources and programs that can meet their needs. We engage them in community matters as volunteers and resources, helping them to relay their needs and get any help that they need.
- Our programs created to serve youth are now modeled by others and offered in several communities.
- We work with partners and help them to be successful in delivering their programs and activities to those in need.
- Our youth are provided opportunities afterschool and outside of home that can lead them to learn skills and fulfill their goals in life.
- Starting with Gardening for the community we have now connected our Gardening Apprenticeship Program (GAP), Farm to Table and the Green Valley Farmers Market (GVFM) that will provide coupons and encourage healthy eating and wellness through other market activities.
What ways can the public get involved?
CARE is primarily an organization served with volunteers. We look for volunteers that want to share their knowledge and skills to enrich the lives of our program participants. Volunteers are needed to mentor, teach and chaperone. Volunteers works with groups in our gardens and will be helpful in setting up and operating our Farmer’s market and selling goods and services. No specific skills are required, just time and energy. Students in middle and high school can volunteer and participate in GAP and Learn to Earn, while preparing for college.
We always welcome any donations and contributions of resources that we use in our programs and distribute to families in need. We provide family time meals and snacks and refreshments in our programs afterschool and when we meet with parents. Parents can attend Dinner Chats to meet service providers and share their needs.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Donations help us to buy and provide school supplies for students, snacks afterschool, meals for family times and programs. For programs we provide supplies that includes arts & crafts, healthy eating and incentives and awards. Awards includes trophy’s, certificates, gift cards and gifts to recognize special achievements and accomplishments.
Student scholarships are awarded to those who want to participate in organized sports, clubs and camps. Sometimes we supplement fees that can be several hundred dollars for a summer camp. Donations help to support our summer and afterschool programs with staffing when needed. Transportation cost for field trips and admissions are needed for those we work with, that cannot afford to pay added cost.
We use space and facilities that sometimes charges us fees and requires us to have insurance to cover any liability issues.
Our programs and support for the communities we serve is based on donations, grants and in-kind services.

Information provided March 2025
OAR of Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church
EIN: 54-1024562
Mission Statement
OAR is a community-based nonprofit organization that envisions a safe and thriving community where those impacted by the legal system enjoy equal civil and human rights. Through our Upstream work, we are confronting and dismantling individual racism and racism in the legal system and across all systems. Our Downstream work allows us to be on the journey with individuals of all genders returning from incarceration and their families. We also offer alternative sentencing options (including community service) and diversion programs so people can avoid the trauma of incarceration and instead help the community thrive.
Program Summary
OAR Upstream:
Racial Justice + Liberation
We lift the voices of Black, Indigenous, Latinx/e/o/a, Asian, and Mulitcultural (BILAM) people who have experienced racism and other intersecting forms of marginalization and challenge white people (WP) and those who have benefited from personal and systemic racism to become leaders in dismantling injustice and redressing the harm caused by personal racism. Efforts include facilitating multiple intensive virtual learning cohorts for community members and especially those working in law enforcement and the criminal legal system that address liberation and dismantling whiteness.
OAR Downstream:
Reentry Services
We work with individuals at the Arlington County Detention Facility, the Adult Detention Center in the City of Alexandria, the closest Virginia state prison, and other correctional facilities who are preparing to return to the community and who come back to Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church. We also journey with their families before and after release. Our efforts in facilities include pre-release workshops focused on reentry issues, health and wellness, group psychotherapy, and transition planning. After release, we provide direct services (such as housing assistance, clothing, transportation, smartphones, laptops, debt repayment, and ongoing help with rent and other expenses), offer a comprehensive Employment Program, and facilitate an ongoing weekly virtual support group for program participants. OAR also established a pilot, gender-responsive, clinical services initiative providing a range of reentry services specifically tailored for individuals identifying as women/female/femme who are coming home to the community after experiencing incarceration.
Alternative Sentencing + Diversion
OAR works with Arlington County and the City of Falls Church Courts to provide alternative sentencing and diversion programs. OAR’s community service program allows individuals to do volunteer work in the community in lieu of jail time and fines, to work off their accrued court costs, and also pay court costs. OAR is implementing a Diversion program in partnership with the Vera Institute and Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney – Arlington County and the City of Falls Church with the goal of reducing recidivism as well as racial disparities amongst individuals sentenced to diversion programs. (by 20% each year)
Impact Statement
OAR is a Collective, non-dominant, decolonizing, pro-Black, racially just, radically joyful, deeply loving, come as you are, liberated organization that puts participants first. We center authentic and fully engaged relationships with all members of the OAR community. Our goals include partnering with those who have experienced incarceration so they can create a safe reentry for themselves and preventing other individuals from enduring that trauma through alternative sentencing programs. With our upstream social justice work, we hope to spur the type of pro-Black racial justice activism that will help ensure that no one will need our social services and OAR no longer needs to exist 50 years from now.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
- $50 – Provides a stipend to a child of an OAR participant impacted by incarceration
- $100 – Provides 1 month transportation/metro fare for OAR participant(s)
- $250 – Cover ID retrieval for OAR participant(s) needed to secure housing
- $500 – Covers up to three months of coaching for an OAR participant(s)
- $1,000 – Provides up to one month of rent for at least an OAR participant(s)
- $2,500 – Provides up to 90 days worth of reentry services for OAR participant(s)

Information provided March 2026
Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation
EIN: 47-1374686
Mission Statement
The Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation serves economically vulnerable mothers and babies by increasing access to much-needed health care support, conducting research to affect systemic change, and ensuring they have the supplies needed to bring baby home. In honor of Jennifer Lawson, a loving mother of three who tragically lost her life in 2014, we aim to honor her dedication, generosity, and kind heart by fulfilling the vision that she crafted for every mother and baby in need.
Program Summary
We have 3 primary initiatives to accomplish our mission. The first is to ensure families have everything they need to bring baby home safely – from cribs to car seats. The second is to increase access to quality care by funding innovative pilots – such as tele-health – that enable these families to access care that meets their daily needs. The third is to raise awareness of the issues facing this community through thought leader events and social media promotion.
Impact Statement
Throughout our 9-year history we have served more than 3,000 families, provided more than 350 basics materials, hosted 10 awareness campaigns, and funded more than $250,000 to support Including projects focused on infant care, tele-health, & maternal mental health. In addition to these mission related activities, we strive to be nimble in an ever-changing environment to help these families in other important ways. For example, in 2020 we launched a program to put kitchen staff back to work while delivering home cooked meals to new mothers whose family were affected by the economic shutdowns.
What ways can the public get involved?
We have two ways of getting involved with the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation. Volunteer throughout the year by helping us collect gently used baby supplies such as car seats, strollers, and portable cribs. In addition, our signature fundraising event, the 5K and Family Fun day is always in need of volunteers. This event is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving at the Knights of Columbus.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
The Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation is giving economically vulnerable mothers and babies renewed hope by increasing access to much-needed health care support, conducting research to affect systemic change, and ensuring they have the supplies needed to bring baby home. Your support changes lives.
$25 helps provide a breastfeeding starter pack
$50 helps provide a portable crib
$100 helps provide a car seat
Information provided March 2025
Challenging Racism
EIN: 81-2305195
Mission Statement
To empower and inspire people to disrupt racism one compassionate conversation at a time.
Program Summary
Challenging Racism (CR) is an Arlington-based 501(c)3 and our mission is to empower and inspire people to disrupt racism one compassionate conversation at a time. For more than 20 years, we have trained organizations and individuals using professionally designed and facilitated programs to build awareness and skills to courageously talk about race and equity. We offer introductory programs, topic-specific workshops, book/podcast/movie discussions, and facilitator training. We also provide DEIBA (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and accessibility) advisory services for organizations to effectively disrupt all “-isms” in the workplace.
Our approach is based on conversations and storytelling, rooted in facts and local history, to create a shared experience that dispels dangerous myths and assumptions. We invest the time and self-reflection needed to build deep knowledge, skills, and practice to normalize conversations on race and othering, and to hold the difficult conversations necessary to advance systems-level change.
We serve diverse participants from a wide range of local partners including government, schools, non-profits, faith groups, theatre companies, and the private sector. We build the capacity of the organizations we engage with so that they can assess and lead their own social and racial equity programs, and our alumni go on to act as change agents in the community.
Challenging Racism is a ”small but mighty” non-profit organization, dedicated to advancing intersectional anti-biased and anti-racist work in our diverse but segregated communities across Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV). We are Black-led, staffed majority by women, and benefit from the guidance and wisdom of our talented and diverse Board.
Impact Statement
We center race because racial inequities exist in every system: health, education, criminal justice, employment, and more. We center intersectionality because racial disparities persist across all identities: gender, sexuality, education, ability, age, socioeconomic, citizenship, and more.
Most Americans lack racial literacy and conversational practice to effectively impact these inequities and disparities. Our workshops move participants from a misconception that discrimination, bias, and racism is simply the work of “bad individuals” to an understanding that racism is systemic. Moreover, it is a system of advantage that all of us participate in whether we intend to or not, and we can work to eliminate their consequences by working for equity.
Our participant surveys reveal behavior change in our participants after they learn about the root causes of inequities and types of bias. Our participants report a greater likelihood of recognizing and interrupting harmful microaggressions which results in a safer, more inclusive community for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) populations. In the workplace, we have observed organizations adopt an equity lens necessary to identify and challenge discriminatory practices, attract increased staff diversity, and successfully foster authentic relationships with BIPOC colleagues and beneficiaries. These impacts are measurable and necessary for systems-level change.
What ways can the public get involved?
Challenging Racism enthusiastically welcomes the public to join our programs as participants or serve as hosts of a Challenging Racism program in your community or workplace. Every program we facilitate helps build awareness and community power where advocacy and action for racial and economic justice are most needed today.
We also welcome volunteers to join us as we design and implement a range of outreach activities to support racial equity and anti-racism. Our volunteers help plan events, build partnerships, outreach via social media, apply for grants, raise funds, and design programs for organizations needing our conversations. All skills are needed and volunteers can choose to help with discrete activities or lead on racial equity initiatives. Interested volunteers can fill out our Volunteer Form on our website or contact us for more information at info@challengingracism.org.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Interest in our racial equity and DEIBA workshops has never been stronger. However, members of our larger community are left out because of tuition costs, which are required to sustain our organization, pay our professionally-trained racial equity facilitators, and fund the highest quality curriculum writing.
Contributions make our conversations and workshops more available to every member of our community and more affordable to passionate, committed, and diverse participants. Your donation enables local leaders and community members from diverse backgrounds to strengthen their facilitation and advocacy skills for racial equity and to go on to teach others and disrupt and dismantle systemic racism across our community.

Information provided March 2025
Wesley Housing
EIN: 51-0155779
Mission Statement
At Wesley Housing, we build up the lives of our most vulnerable community members by creating and operating healthy, inclusive, stable, affordable housing communities and providing supportive resident services.
Program Summary
Beyond building/preserving permanent housing options for low- and moderate-income persons across Virginia and Washington, DC, we strive for our housing to be a foundation to thrive. We do this by offering free support services/education to every resident to guide them on their paths to self-sufficiency. As such, our core lines of business are real estate development, asset management, property management, and resident services.
Through our Housing Stability Initiative (HSI), the basis of our resident services programming, Wesley Housing provides supportive services to all 4,700+ residents on-site in their communities, including 380 households in Arlington. The Initiative operates on the basis that housing is the foundation vulnerable families need to thrive, and once stabilized, families can build up other aspects of their lives. As such, in addition to eviction prevention support, the HSI also provides workforce development opportunities, health/wellness offerings, and material assistance.
Impact Statement
For more than 50 years, Wesley Housing has provided permanent, affordable housing to over 35,000 households experiencing financial insecurity.
Today, we own 42 communities, including multi-family apartments and communities for older adults/individuals with disabilities/chronic disease. Five of these communities are located in Arlington County and are home to 840 residents, 87% of which are BIPOC and earn $41,470/ year on average for a household of two.
At the same time, we are still rapidly expanding. Our Real Estate team has over 850 affordable units in its development pipeline, including new construction and renovations, such as the Melwood-Wesley Inclusive Community in Arlington.
The impact we make each year is measured by the success of our residents. In 2024, 1,351 households accessed linkage and referral services. Through the work of our resident services team, 286 evictions were prevented, 18 residents received new/more gainful employment, 346 residents participated in health/wellness offerings, and 1,884 residents received material assistance (i.e. food/hygiene items). This summer, we served 85 youth through Quest summer camp, and launched Odyssey for older adults, engaging 180 participants. In addition, 455 K-12 students received new backpacks and supplies through Supplies for Success, and over 600 residents received holiday assistance through Holiday Help.
What ways can the public get involved?
Wesley Housing welcomes support of our major giving campaigns throughout the year including the Housing Stability Initiative (year-round), QUEST Summer Youth Enrichment Program (April/May), Supplies for Success (July/Aug), and Holiday Help (Nov-Dec).
In addition, volunteers serve in many capacities including youth and adult education assistants and tutors; translators; holiday helpers (gift wrappers, sorters, delivery drivers); school supplies donation sorters and delivery drivers; food pantry assistants; youth summer camp chaperones; and more.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Donations help strengthen our award-winning Housing Stability Initiative (HSI) by allowing us to adequately scale our resident services to our growing portfolio. Following a recent merger with Virginia United Methodist Development Corporation, Wesley is well-positioned to serve over 4,700 individuals with low income across 42 communities this year. Funding will help ensure each of these community members have access to the support they need to thrive.
Information provided March 2025
Restorative Arlington
EIN: 87-3950513
Mission Statement
We create connection, belonging, and safety for all community members. We:
- Build capacity to implement and use restorative practices by providing knowledge, space, and tools;
- Strengthen our community through practices that build mutual understanding among people;
- Empower people who have been harmed to exercise their voice and choice;
- Promote healing, accountability, repair and restoration;
- Create space for all people to meet their needs with dignity, compassion, and courage
Program Summary
The Heart of Safety Restorative Justice Conferencing Program (HOS) is our primary programmatic offering. Through HOS, we partner with community members to respond to wrongdoing using a people-centered and trauma-responsive approach. The HOS conferencing process enables everyone affected by an incident of harm to understand what happened and why, and to collaboratively determine a path forward. Our HOS facilitators support people who have been harmed as they exercise their voice and determine how best to meet their needs for healing and repair. Likewise, facilitators support people who have been responsible for harm in taking meaningful accountability. HOS takes cases by referral from court system partners, such as the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, and community members. Court referrals to HOS are designed to serve as a diversion for youth and transition-age adults, with a focus on ending criminalization of Black, Indigenous and other people of color.
In collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including victim services providers, Restorative Arlington is honored to partner in creating the Restorative Pathways Restorative Justice Program. Over the next two years, this partnership will design a Restorative Justice Option for victims/survivors of intimate partner violence, dating violence, sexual harm, and gender-based violence. Instead of relying on legal system referrals, Restorative Pathways will be directly accessible to community members and integrated into the services provided by our partner organizations. Restorative Pathways will also accept referrals from other local organizations through a community referral process. Restorative Pathways is funded by a pilot program from the US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.
We also offer opportunities to learn about and experience restorative justice practices that increase belonging, share experiences, and engage on difficult topics with dignity, compassion and courage. These include community building circles, basic circle training in partnership with George Mason’s Carter School, and resources and events shared in our newsletter.
Impact Statement
Our Heart of Safety Restorative Justice Conferencing Program makes justice, healing, and safety accessible for people and communities who want to choose a supportive, culturally sensitive option to address harm outside of the current court system. The restorative justice conferencing process centers the needs and voices of people who have been harmed and creates opportunities for repair and healing that the legal system simply cannot provide. The process also enables people who have been responsible for harm to understand the impact of their actions and to take responsibility for making amends in ways that honor the needs of the person(s) they harmed. We treat all participants as valued members of the community and have found that as the restorative conferencing process repairs individual relationships, its ripple effects extend to families and the community as a whole. Extensive research reflects what we have experienced: restorative justice conferencing leads to meaningful accountability, more victim satisfaction and greater reductions in recidivism than adversarial court processes.
Evaluations of our community-building circles consistently show that participants experience a strong sense of connection, and that they feel deeply heard. Our circles have also provided safe spaces for brave conversations about issues such as racial justice.
What ways can the public get involved?
- Sign up for our email newsletter to learn about opportunities and resources on our home page: https://www.restorativearlington.org/
- Add your voice to our Community Advisory Team! Nominate yourself or someone else using this form: https://forms.gle/YqKpehYH8jHidS4cA
- Invite your friends, family, and community to be part of the solution by hosting a Salon Fundraiser! This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about Heart of Safety in a small group and invest in creating a better sense of justice, healing, and safety for our community. Email invest@restorativearlington.org
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Your investment shows solidarity and support for our work and our community. Donations support access to justice and safety for community members who choose Restorative Justice Conferencing in lieu of traditional court prosecution, program innovation, and the systemic peace-building work required for a paradigm shift from punishment to healing. For example, $6,000 supports one Heart of Safety Restorative Justice Conferencing case.
In alignment with our commitment to centering community voice, we only accept unrestricted donations. This ensures that we can be responsive to emerging needs of our community partners.
Information provided March 2026
NAMI Northern Virginia
EIN: 51-0241920
Mission Statement
Our mission is to serve Northern Virginia individuals, family members, and friends affected by mental health challenges through awareness, education, support, advocacy, and collaboration with community partners.
Program Summary
NAMI Northern Virginia educates, advocates, and provides support to those impacted by mental health concerns. All our programs are free to the public, and we like to get people, the public, knowledgeable about mental health so that they don’t face a crisis. We don’t focus only on the peers, those living with mental illness. We are also concerned about helping and advocating for the families and loved ones that support them.
Supporting mental health is about more than just connecting to treatment. NAMI Northern Virginia provides the services needed to support wellness in our community, from lending a listening ear to a concerned family member, to working with individuals long-term connecting to resources for legal and housing assistance. Finding support in groups provides those in need a sense of community, a place where they know they are not alone, a place to share their experiences and gain support from others who understand.
Some of our no cost programs include:
Education
NAMI Northern Virginia’s training and education team work to give best-in-class information on de-escalation, mental health signs and symptoms, and mental wellness – in the home, the workplace, and with loved ones. Our training is trusted to provide honest and open conversations that not only educate but shift perspective around mental health support and community, breaking stigmas associated with mental illness. These training sessions leave participants feeling empowered to invest in mental wellness and supported on their mental health journey.
Support Groups
NAMI Northern Virginia holds support groups for people with mental health conditions, and for family members, and loved ones of people with mental health conditions . Led by trained leaders who’ve been there and faced similar experiences, participants gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others.
Classes
Our classes provide information and strategies for taking care of yourself and the person you love, while understanding that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope. The group setting of NAMI’s SAMSHA evidence-based classes provide mutual support and shared positive impact—experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. Our classes are safe, confidential spaces. Courses provide an opportunity for mutual support and growth.
Impact Statement
NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI provides free advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. NAMI Northern Virginia is a NAMI affiliate serving the over 2.4 million people of Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church. NAMI’s programs can help you to better understand your or a loved one’s mental health condition. You will learn from connecting with others who have similar experiences. All of our support programs are free, confidential, and peer-led. Simply put, NAMI Northern Virginia is an organization of peers and families. They understand because they’ve been there too.
In 2023, NAMI Northern Virginia provided over 10,000 touchpoints of service to people in the Northern Virginia area. They include individuals living with mental health conditions, their family members and friends, mental health professionals, law enforcement and first responders, and our neighbors.
What ways can the public get involved?
- If you want to support the mission and work of NAMI Northern Virginia, please consider donating.
- If you are interested in volunteering, we have many ways you can be involved.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
- $25 – Provides mental health resource materials to be distributed at community health event.
- $35 – Allows one person to find hope, connection, and community in a support group.
- $75 – Allows one person to hear open and honest mental health stories that dispel misconceptions.
- $300 ($25 p/month) – Allows one family member to learn how to communicate effectively and handle a crisis.
- $600 ($50 p/month) – Allows one peer to learn how to set a vision for their future and improve their communication skills.
- $1000 – Provides refresher training for all support group leaders.
- $1200 ($100 p/month) – Allows a group of people to hear real-life mental health stories that help break stigma.
- $2500 – Allows one group of people to meet in a safe space to discuss challenges and success and foster community.
Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities available
Information provided March 2026
Edu-Futuro
EIN: 54-1914671
Mission Statement
The mission of Edu-Futuro is to empower immigrant and underserved youth and families through education, leadership development, parent engagement, individual case management, and workforce development. Our vision is to realize the potential of immigrant youth and their families.
Program Summary
Edu-Futuro’s work is focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through the power of education. We serve nearly 4,000 students and parents annually through our range of free, bilingual, Two-Generation programs:
- The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), our flagship program for youth, offers a series of services and training workshops designed to fulfill Edu-Futuro’s vision of a “Classroom-to-Career” continuum of support that helps students to graduate from high school, enroll in college, and achieve professional success. Each year, hundreds of students participate in ELP’s five core initiatives: our afterschool ELP STEM Robotics clubs for youth in grades 6-8; virtual Pre-ELP high school preparation workshops, also for youth in grades 6-8; ELP-I college readiness and leadership workshops for students in grades 9-12; ELP-II year-long college enrollment mentorship and scholarships/financial aid guidance for high school seniors; and ELP-III college life guidance and mentorship for students attending local postsecondary institutions.
- Chronic Absenteeism Program (CAP), our newest initiative developed in response to the sharp increase of chronic absenteeism among Economically Disadvantaged, English Learner, Hispanic, and other youth when schools reopened after the COVID crisis in 2021. Originally launched in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, CAP has been such an outstanding success that Edu-Futuro is now working with both Fairfax and Arlington Public Schools to conduct intensive outreach to hundreds of chronically absent students each year, with the goal of returning youth to the classroom and reducing dropout rates for some of our region’s most vulnerable populations.
- Parent Empowerment Services (PES) complement the work of our youth programs through a range of workshops aimed at helping low-income, immigrant, and Latino parents navigate our local school systems, become more involved in their children’s education, and improve family communication. In addition, our Case Management Services (CMS) provide emergency assistance to any family in need, connecting beneficiaries to such services as rental support, food distribution, health services, and other aid programs offered by government agencies or local nonprofit organizations.
- Workforce Development Services (WDS) build on the supports offered through PES to equip hard-working parents with the essential skills needed to leave low-wage service jobs and improve the economic well-being of their families. Core services include: our popular computer and smartphone literacy course, Tech for Parents, and supplementary Resume & Cover Letter Workshops; our comprehensive, year-long GED Certification Program; financial literacy workshops and coaching through the Financial Empowerment Network; and one-on-one employment counseling for beneficiaries requiring individualized support.
In addition to these program pillars, since 2019 Edu-Futuro has been the proud home of Línea Directa, one of the nation’s longest-running weekly Spanish-language television programs dedicated to public service. For over 35 years, Línea Directa has operated as a crucial link between Latino families and trusted information on public health, education, and a multitude of social service issues. A unique media partnership with NBC4-Washington allows Edu-Futuro to air Línea Directa on Saturday mornings, at 11:00 a.m., on the region’s leading Spanish-language station, Telemundo 44.
Impact Summary
Each year, Edu-Futuro changes the lives of thousands of low-income, immigrant, and Latino families across Northern Virginia: In the most recently completed Fiscal Year 2023-2024, we provided a record-breaking 5,353 services to 3,937 unduplicated children, youth, and adults. Some of our most significant recent accomplishments include:
- In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Edu-Futuro mobilized to become one of the largest providers of direct financial aid to Latino and immigrant families in the region: stabilizing over 1,800 households and distributing more than $2.6 million to date for rent, food, medicine, and other basic necessities.
- Since 2021, the 219 outstanding high school seniors who graduated from our Emerging Leaders Program have been collectively awarded more than $29 million in life-changing scholarships and financial aid.
- Last year, our public service television program Línea Directa won an Emmy Award from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the category of Societal Concerns (Long Form), for the production of a half-hour program focusing on the fentanyl crisis that has led to the death of many adolescents across the Washington region during the past three years.
What ways can the public get involved?
Led by our full-time Volunteer Coordinator, each year Edu-Futuro engages approximately 350 volunteers who provide invaluable support for our programs as workshop co-facilitators, career panelists, and mentors. Volunteers play a central role in guiding program beneficiaries along their professional journeys, particularly as mentors for the Emerging Leaders Program. We also use volunteers for one-time opportunities to serve as panelists for career exploration workshops, committee members to review applications and select recipients for college scholarships, and judges for our annual speech and essay competitions. For more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Mariana Balgurevich, at volunteer@edu-futuro.org, or consult our volunteer registration form.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
Generous donations made to Edu-Futuro are what allow us to provide our services to nearly 4,000 students and parents each year. It is important to note that about 75% of the funds we receive through grants and contracts each year are earmarked for specific programs, and do not cover critical operating and administrative expenses. Unrestricted funds like those we raise from individual donors help give us the capacity and flexibility we will need to meet our ambitious goal of serving more than 5,000 unduplicated individuals in Fiscal Year 2024-2025–and to strengthen our organization to face new challenges in the years to come.
More than anything, though, your support can help change the lives of young people like Eric Pleitez, an Emerging Leaders Program graduate who went on to earn his both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Finance from the George Washington University. Eric recently shared a testimonial with us that can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/MvGkh4PLCMY

Information provided March 2025
Centro de Apoyo Familiar
EIN: 26-0452137
Mission Statement
Transform communities through economic, social and educational empowerment in collaboration with community and faith-based organizations.
Program Summary
The Asset Building Department provides programs that focus on empowering individuals and their families with the knowledge on how to begin, retain, and construct assets. These programs emphasize on the importance of homeownership and the use of sound money management practices to address housing and financial issues to retain housing stability and to plan for long-term financial success and wealth building.
Community transformation Program: CAF partners with community organizations and faith-based organizations that are members of CAF’s Connectors Network to implement the community programs we offer. CAF uses a very successful train the trainer model in which members from the different communities we serve are trained by CAF to become health educators called Promoters. CAF promoters once trained, provide educational workshops to their communities.
- Indoor/Outdoor Air Quality: The purpose of this program is to create healthy homes and neighborhoods by improving the quality of air and empowering the community with information and resources about environmental and/or public health issues through educational workshops, community cleaning events and Asthmas prevention health fairs at targeted neighborhoods.
- Climate Change & Clean Energy: Throughout this program, CAF has successfully trained community leaders and organizers to increase their capacity to engage, educate, organize, and mobilize their communities to increase their knowledge on climate change and clean energy adoption strategies.
- Water Management: This Program allows CAF to train and educate members of the community about stormwater and available reimbursement programs by training families and youth with a strong connection to the environmental health movement.
- Recycling: The purpose of this program is to educate about the benefits of recycling and promote practical ways to do it at home in the communities we serve as a way to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and contribute to air quality.
- Leadership Development: This program includes a set of activities that prepare current and future leaders to effectively play their role inenvironmental conservation. Currently, CAF conducts programs to train Youth ECO-Promoters, who acquire the tools necessary to lead the emerging generation on climate change issues. CAF is also a co-anchor of coalitions such as the Mid Atlantic Justice Coalition, where it works to find solutions that address economic needs, toxic hazards and community health; and the Salon Wellness Coalition, which emerged in late 2023 as an initiative to facilitate informed decisions regarding health and safety, thereby promoting a culture of wellness within the salon industry.
- Capacity Building: CAF, together with the University of Maryland, is carrying out two initiatives, TCTAC and MATCH, aimed at developing and strengthening the skills, abilities, processes and resources that organizations and communities need to adapt to the changes that climate and environmental justice knowledge imply.
Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF) brings you comprehensive virtual English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, tailored to fit your learning journey. Take control of your future with our flexible program designed for beginners, intermediates, and advanced learners.
Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF) empowers you with our comprehensive Digital Literacy Training Program, offered right within your community at our convenient Community Transformation Hubs. This is a comprehensive training program with 10 training modules and built-in practice exercises to help you apply what you learn.
Impact Statement
Through its services and programs, Centro de Apoyo Familiar reached and impacted over 25,000 low to moderate-income families annually. Specifically through the programs and services listed above.
What ways can the public get involved?
We continue to encourage community involvement through offering meaningful careers, volunteer opportunities, exciting events and through the participation of number of community events where CAF can extremely benefit from.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
CAF will use your donation to be applied to a number of the programs that CAF currently offers and that is more appealing to you. CAF also benefits from you donation to support our general operation and to build capacity in many areas of the organizations.
Information provided March 2024

CARE, Inc.
OAR of Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church
Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation
Challenging Racism
Wesley Housing
Restorative Arlington
NAMI Northern Virginia
Edu-Futuro
Centro de Apoyo Familiar