Community Foundation Week 2020 - November 12-18

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region Joins Nationwide Celebration to
Recognize the Local Impact of Community Foundations

Your community foundation will join in a nationwide celebration, November 12-18, 2020, to recognize the increasingly important role these philanthropic organizations play in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.

For more than a century, community foundations have served as a trusted partner and resource whose effect can be seen in the lives of millions and in the vibrant neighborhoods that continue to thrive through their mission-driven work. During this time, community foundations come together to share and reflect on the stories of impact over the past year.

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region will share information each day about the value of giving through a named foundation fund as well as practical advice for making the most of charitable giving.

“The work of community foundations spans beyond the practice of giving. There is a tangible impact that can be seen in the lives of those these selfless organizations serve,” said Lisa Biever, Communications Director. “We are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging social problems and advance the most promising of opportunities to benefit our residents.”

Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits and represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Our Community Relief Fund has distributed more than $448,000 in coronavirus pandemic rapid response and recovery grants to area nonprofits. A new fund was established in June 2020 to advance racial justice in our region. We manage 41 scholarship funds from application, to citizen review to award and student celebration. Local seniors received $150,238 brightening a tumultuous 2020 senior year. We steward 171 named charitable funds on behalf of our generous community and collectively distribute more than $2 million in grants efficiently and effectively. 

As community foundations find solutions for communities large and small, urban and rural – it is the collective work of these organizations that will have the most profound impact. This was most evident amid this year’s coronavirus pandemic where over $1 billion was distributed by community foundations in response to the crisis. Additionally, community foundations went beyond the money to help their communities adapt during this critical time—supporting charities, schools, nonprofits, and small businesses through partnerships with public institutions in cities, states, and in cooperation with the federal government.

Community Foundation Week was created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush to recognize the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.