Population: Low-income

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:

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. 

A group of protesters marching, many carrying American flags and signs displaying messages in support of essential workers.

Information provided January 2025

Legal Services of Northern Virginia

EIN: 54-1137931

Mission Statement

To provide access to justice for disadvantaged individuals and communities.

Program Summary

LSNV provides free legal help to Arlingtonians who cannot afford a lawyer by providing services in a variety of substantive civil legal areas, including: family law/domestic violence, housing law/eviction prevention, consumer protection, elder law, public benefits claims, access to health care, child advocacy, and AIDS/HIV issues. Staff and volunteers provide legal advice, brief service, and representation in administrative hearings and in court, as well as community legal education, and advocacy before local and state governmental entities, all without charge to our clients. 

What ways can the public get involved?

Volunteer.  Every year we work with hundreds of volunteer lawyers and paralegal who help us extend our reach and serve more clients.

Financial support.

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

Donations go to direct services; helping a survivor of domestic violence obtain a protective order and escape the cycle of abuse; helping a low-income family avoid eviction and stay in their home; helping a low-income veteran obtain the benefits that he is entitled to after decades of services; and many other types of cases which impact basic needs.  

Information provided March 2026

Food Pantry at St. George’s

Mission Statement

The mission of our Food Pantry, Arlington’s longest running, active food pantry: to serve as a vital source of food and fellowship for Arlingtonians who are in great need. Our goals and commitment – to provide equitable access to resources and opportunities needed for EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER to be healthy, safe, and economically secure.

Program Summary

The Food Pantry at Saint George’s Episcopal Church, the oldest in Arlington, was established in 1989. Our mission is to serve as a vital source of food and fellowship for people in need in the Arlington community. By partnering with parishioners, local organizations, and individuals in the area, we help create a community solution to a community challenge.  It is a fully-volunteer, unpaid Church ministry.

We provide one bag of food items that will last a client for 2 days, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. Typical items include bottled water, boxed milk, canned vegetables, canned and microwavable pasta, canned and instant soup, instant oatmeal, applesauce cups, snacks, and fresh fruit.  Basic personal care staples, baby wipes and diapers are also handed out.

Impact Statement

Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we serve approximately an average of 70 Arlingtonian’s daily.  During the first quarter of 2026, the highest number of guests we served in one day topped 108.  Visiting us each day we are open provides clients’ food to last six days.  

No one is denied food.  Clients are welcome to a wide variety of food offerings.  Baby wipes and diapers are handed out for mothers with infants.

Our number of Food Pantry clients is steadily increasing.  The number of clients served doubled from 2024 to 2025 and the start of 2026 shows a similar trend.

What ways can the public get involved?

We would be most grateful for cash donations that will allow us to replenish our weekly food supplies.  We appreciate food donations that include bottled water, canned and boxed food goods.  We welcome volunteers who can help prepare our bagged items and feed those who come to our Food Pantry.   

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

Information provided March 2026

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 expands educational opportunity, cultivates growth and resilience, and activates youth leadership and community contribution.

Program Summary

The Center for Youth and Family Advocacy (CYFA) expands educational opportunity, cultivates growth and resilience, and activates youth leadership and community contribution. Across Arlington, CYFA is building the infrastructure that ensures young people have access to opportunity, support, and pathways to lead.

CYFA’s work reflects a clear progression. Through Guiding Personal Success (GPS), youth access opportunity in safe, engaging environments, including The Zone for elementary students and Guiding Personal Success to Youth Employment Services (GPS2YES) for middle and high school youth. CYFA delivers these programs in Arlington Public Schools and in partnership with Affordable Homes and Communities, providing academic support, social-emotional learning, and opportunities to build healthy minds, healthy bodies, and healthy relationships, along with college and career exploration.

As youth grow, they develop accountability and leadership through the Youth Restorative Diversion Initiative (YRDI), a community-based alternative to the juvenile justice system where young people take accountability and repair harm through restorative practices, including PEER and Youth Peer Court (YPC), with advanced leadership through Youth Peer Court Ambassadors.

Youth then step into contribution. Through The Next Chapter, CYFA supports youth in the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center and through reentry, connecting them to education, workforce opportunities, and community resources. Through the Justice Leadership Club and CYFA’s Youth Advisory Board, youth lead and create meaningful change.

Impact Statement

CYFA’s work ensures that young people have access to opportunity, develop the skills and resilience to navigate challenges, and step into leadership within their communities. Through consistent, relationship-based support, youth remain engaged in school, strengthen decision-making and accountability, and build pathways toward college, careers, and long-term stability.

In 2025, CYFA served more than 320 youth, reaching hundreds of family members through engagement and connection to resources. In 2026, 100 teens participated in CYFA’s youth-led Listen Learn Lead Summit, demonstrating the power of youth leadership in action. Across afterschool programs, 60 young people are actively engaged in academic support, social-emotional learning, and skill-building.

Through the Youth Restorative Diversion Initiative (YRDI), CYFA provides a community-based alternative to the legal system, with 99% of youth successfully completing the program and 9 in 10 avoiding deeper system involvement. Every $1 invested in YRDI returns $8 in social value.

Through reentry and leadership pathways, youth not only stay connected to opportunity, but contribute to their schools and communities, strengthening the broader Arlington community.

What ways can the public get involved?

Community members can stay informed through CYFA’s newsletter and Instagram, learning more about our work and the ways we support youth and families across Arlington. Sharing CYFA’s work and using your voice to raise awareness helps expand opportunity for young people.

Financial support is critical to sustaining CYFA’s programs, including educational opportunity through Guiding Personal Success (GPS), restorative diversion through YRDI, and youth leadership initiatives.

There are also opportunities to give your time. Volunteers can support events such as the Listen Learn Lead Summit and other youth engagement activities.

You can also help connect young people to leadership opportunities by sharing pathways to get involved, including the Youth Advisory Board and Youth Peer Court and PEER Ambassador roles.

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

Your donation to CYFA directly supports programs that expand opportunity, strengthen resilience, and build youth leadership across Arlington.

Contributions sustain Guiding Personal Success (GPS), including The Zone and GPS2YES, which provide academic support, social-emotional learning, and opportunities for young people to build healthy minds, healthy bodies, and healthy relationships while exploring college and career pathways.

Your support also powers the Youth Restorative Diversion Initiative (YRDI), including PEER, Youth Peer Court (YPC), and Youth Peer Court Ambassadors, which provide restorative, community-based alternatives that help young people take accountability, repair harm, and stay connected to school and opportunity.

Donations fund The Next Chapter, supporting youth in the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center and through reentry with education, workforce readiness, and ongoing guidance, as well as leadership opportunities like the Youth Advisory Board, Justice Leadership Club, and youth-led events such as the Listen Learn Lead Summit.

Additional support makes community-based experiences like Unplugged possible, creating safe spaces for connection, well-being, and positive peer engagement.

Together, your investment ensures young people have the support, relationships, and opportunities they need to grow, lead, and contribute.

Information provided March 2026

The Fenwick Foundation

EIN: 27-4879033

Mission Statement

The Fenwick Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on improving quality of life, health and wellbeing in ways that are not addressed or “below the radar.”  We provide a wide range of therapeutic recreational, cultural and educational outings and activities as well as support programs, including economic support, dental care, and vision care to low-resource and vulnerable adults and older adults, veterans and returning military personnel, people with disabilities, caregivers, and immigrant status adults.  

Program Summary

Enriching Lives — Social, & educational opportunities to attend theater, museums, sporting events, “out-to-eat” group lunches/dinners, zoo visits, parks, river cruises, bowling, movies, etc.  Program addresses mental and physical health needs of  Seniors/Elderly, Veterans, and other special needs individuals living in skilled nursing, assisted living, & group residence facilities to get groups “out-of-the-house” for physical/mental stimulation and activities.  Program encourages more active lifestyle and social interaction.

Dental Care —Project ADAPT provides needed dental care to low-income older adults, immigrant-status low-income adults and people with disabilities not receiving adequate or any dental care.  We provide a full range of  dental procedures/ treatments as well as a dental home for our patients in Northern Virginia.  Far too many do not have financial or logistical access to this basic health care need.  We are determined to change this condition. 

Impact Statement

Enriching Lives has had an impact on those combating mental health and physical health issues.  Our program gets people “out of the house” and into the community to help address the issues of loneliness and isolation.

Our Project ADAPT Dental program has had a major impact on the oral health of those we served.  Pain has been lessened, smiles have been returned, and folks have been able to more easily chew and eat food. Oral health impacts heart and physical health, so our patients have been impacted in these areas as well.

What ways can the public get involved?

Our programs require funding to operate.  Your donations will help us to continue and expand/improve these vital programs.

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

Your donation goes to help fund our programs and keep them running.  Over 90% of donations go directly to fund the organization’s programs.  

Your donations help us to obtain tickets to the activities we sponsor.  And your donations go to directly fund needed dental treatments and procedure for those who otherwise can not afford the cost of dental treatments.

Information provided March 2025

Boolean Girl

EIN: 82-1408294

Mission Statement

The mission of Boolean Girl is to diversify STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) by teaching and inspiring girls, low-income students, and underrepresented youth in grades three to eight through meaningful, hands-on instruction and sustained exposure to computer science and engineering in a collaborative and welcoming environment.

Program Summary

At Boolean Girl, we work to diversify STEM by teaching and inspiring girls, under-represented groups and low-income kids to code, build, invent and animate. Primarily serving the greater Washington, DC, area, we provide girls-only and co-ed classes, summer camps and after school programs, teaching coding and engineering in an inclusive, welcoming environment. 

With separate curriculum for elementary and middle school students, children learn computer science and engineering fundamentals through a series of unique projects, hands-on challenges, and play. Our students learn coding, robotics, AI, engineering, teamwork, and digital citizenship while making new friends and having fun. With a robust curriculum and hands-on projects, we educate and empower the next generation of technologists. In addition, we hire rockstar instructors, many of whom are high school and college students who complete paid internships or workforce development programs and are excellent mentors for our younger students.

With our micro:bit for All program, Boolean Girl provides micro:bit kits to schools and students to teach coding, along with lesson plans integrated into core curriculum such as math and science, as well as supplemental lessons in computer science or specials.

At Clubhouse, students excited to continue learning coding and engineering join small groups in after-school or weekend sessions to develop their own STEM projects, share their learnings, and get inspired to continue their STEM journey. Our curriculum incorporates programming and engineering including robotics, mechanics, and circuits, along with art and creativity.

At week-long Boolean Girl camps, girls learn computer science and engineering fundamentals from our rockstar instructors through a series of unique projects. Younger students begin with Scratch coding, starting with Storytelling in Scratch and progressing through Building Games and AI. Beginning in sixth grade, we teach more advanced coding with Python, in addition to Web Development and Artificial Intelligence. We also offer two types of engineering classes for students in grades five through eight: traditional robotics (things that move), and wearable machines.

Impact Statement

Women make up half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce, but less than one third of the science and engineering workforce. Latinx and African-American women make up less than 3%. Research has shown that a 28 percentage point gap exists between male and female Gen Z members regarding their interest in pursuing careers in engineering or computer/technology fields. Boolean Girl was founded to address this by fostering inclusive, creative, and collaborative environments in which girls can learn and grow confidence in STEM subjects at a pace equal to that of their male peers.

Over ten years ago, we started our journey teaching 49 girls in one elementary school in Arlington, Virginia. We have now reached over 60,000 girls and underrepresented youth throughout the greater Washington, DC area, in addition to online students across the country. 

In 2025, we reached over 10,000 students through Summer Camps, after-school Clubhouses, micro:bit for All, and other online and in-person events. We worked with 75 schools (72% of which were Title 1) to get over 6,000 micro:bit Kits to 5th grade students, training older students as instructors for the younger students. In addition, 45% of our students come from low income households and receive scholarships.

What ways can the public get involved?

The public can help through donations, sponsorships, volunteering at our events, or even teaching. 

Our partners and sponsors help us fund and run our programs through financial support, providing space for events, volunteers, technical support and other resources, and through offering guidance.

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

We run revenue generating summer camps that are open to all youth. This revenue covers our overhead costs which have been less than 10% of our overall costs for 10 years. This means that 100% of your donations go to programs that impact the community. 

Information provided March 2026

HopeLink Behavioral Health

EIN: 54-0880899

Mission Statement

HopeLink inspires hope and provides support for individuals and families experiencing crisis and behavioral health challenges. Through innovative services and a collaborative approach, we strengthen our community one life at a time.

Impact Statement

At HopeLink, we envision a society where hope is universal. Through access to quality behavioral health, crisis intervention, and suicide intervention services, we foster an inclusive community in which everyone can attain wellness and a genuine sense of belonging.

What ways can the public get involved?

HopeLink relies on the support of our community to provide our mental health and crisis services. We offer volunteer opportunities for adults, youth, and groups including corporate groups. Gifts to support the organization help HopeLink to serve the thousands of adults, youth and families in our community. 

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

Your dollars are critical in supporting HopeLink’s behavioral health, crisis and suicide intervention services. The demand for mental health services in our community is on the rise, and support from our community allows us to be able to offer services to our community members in need, despite financial, language, or other barriers that our community members may face to accessing care. 

Information provided March 2026