The Alexandria Community Trust, Alexandrias own community foundation, is focused on supporting vital nonprofits when the need for funding and services has never been greater. Last week, ACT announced grants totaling $94,000 impacting 10 local nonprofit organizations serving children, youth and families in Alexandria.
These grants, part of ACTs Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program, encourage nonprofit operating effectiveness and support vital service delivery, especially important as nonprofits face dramatically rising demands for their programs and services. The grant recipients include: Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services, Inc., ALIVE!, Christ Church, Community Lodgings, Friends of Guest House, New Neighbors Education Center, Rebuilding Together Alexandria, Senior Services of Alexandria, The Campagna Center and The Reading Connection.
Traditionally, ACTs Nonprofit Capacity Building Program has offered two grant opportunities. This year, as part of the Capacity Building Grant Program, ACT created a new grant program to provide funding to organizations experiencing an increase in client demand and the potential loss of funding due to changes in the economy. These grants are funding organizations providing basic needs including food, emergency services, healthcare, clothing, and assistance with rent, utilities and medical bills.
The Campagna Center received a grant to explore opportunities for nonprofits to share back office services. As nonprofits look to do more with less, the research from this grant will help Alexandrias nonprofits work smarter and more effectively, said Lori Morris, ACT board member and chair of ACTs Community Investment Committee.
ALIVE! Executive Director Ken Naser noted in their application that they were seeing 30 to 40 percent increases in their food bank and Saturday food distributions. These grants provide a continued stream of funding when many granters are holding back or not funding at all, Wallmeyer said. Overall, ACT looks to continue to secure resources to help respond to growing needs in the community that is the role of a community foundation.
