Community Foundation’s 2027 Grantmaking Strategy Offers New Direction for Northern Virginia Nonprofits

By Rebecca Barnes

For nonprofit organizations, planning for the coming year often begins long before a grant application becomes available. There are programs to evaluate, budgets to prepare, and community needs that continue to grow. Understanding where funding organizations are focusing their resources can help nonprofit leaders make informed decisions about the work ahead.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA) is preparing to introduce its 2027 Economic Mobility Grant Strategy, with a focus on helping Northern Virginia residents achieve greater financial stability and opportunity. The foundation will host a virtual webinar on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. to explain its new approach and what nonprofit organizations should know.

For organizations serving Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and the surrounding communities, the presentation offers an opportunity to learn about the foundation's priorities and consider how their existing programs may fit into the broader regional picture.

A New Focus on Economic Mobility

The foundation's 2027 strategy centers on four areas: attainable housing, quality education, workforce pathways, and healthcare access. These priorities address challenges that are often connected in the lives of the people nonprofits serve.

A family struggling to find affordable housing may also face transportation challenges that affect employment. Someone pursuing additional education or workforce training may need access to reliable healthcare or other support services. For many residents, achieving financial stability involves overcoming several obstacles rather than addressing a single need.

Nonprofits throughout Greater Prince William are already working in these areas, often with limited resources and increasing demand for services. The foundation's new strategy gives local organizations an opportunity to examine how their work connects with regional priorities and where additional collaboration might be helpful.

The November 5 webinar is intended to explain the foundation's grantmaking direction. It does not mean that every organization working in one of these areas will qualify for funding, and it should not be interpreted as an announcement of open grant applications.

What Local Nonprofit Leaders Should Consider

When a foundation announces new funding priorities, it can be tempting to immediately consider how an existing program might qualify. However, nonprofit leaders may find it more useful to begin by understanding what the funder hopes to accomplish and how it intends to measure progress.

Organizations attending the webinar should pay particular attention to how CFNOVA defines economic mobility and the types of activities it expects to support. They should also look for information about geographic eligibility, funding priorities, application requirements, and whether the foundation intends to support established programs, new initiatives, or partnerships among organizations.

For nonprofits serving Greater Prince William, geography is an especially important consideration. Northern Virginia includes communities with different economic conditions, transportation options, housing costs, and access to services. Understanding how the foundation plans to address those differences may help local organizations determine whether future opportunities are appropriate for their work.

This is also a useful time for nonprofit boards and leadership teams to review their own programs. Which community needs are they addressing? What results can they document? Are there gaps in services that could be addressed through stronger relationships with other organizations?

Those conversations are valuable even when they do not result in a grant application.

Building Stronger Community Partnerships

One of the opportunities presented by a strategy focused on economic mobility is the chance to think about how different organizations contribute to a person's overall stability.

A nonprofit providing food assistance may regularly encounter families who also need housing support. An organization helping residents find employment may work with people who face childcare or transportation barriers. Healthcare providers, educational institutions, community organizations, and businesses may all have a role in addressing these challenges.

For local nonprofit leaders, the foundation's new direction provides a reason to revisit existing partnerships and consider whether there are opportunities to work together more effectively.

That does not necessarily mean creating new programs or changing an organization's mission. In many cases, strengthening relationships, improving referrals, and understanding what other organizations provide can help nonprofits serve residents more effectively.

Partnerships should begin with the needs of the people being served rather than the availability of a particular grant. Organizations that understand their communities and can demonstrate the value of their work will be better prepared to evaluate funding opportunities when the official guidelines become available.

Learn About the Strategy Before Applying

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia's November 5 webinar will introduce its 2027 grantmaking approach and provide an opportunity for nonprofit leaders to learn more about the priorities guiding future decisions.

Organizations interested in potential funding should wait for the foundation's official guidelines before making assumptions about eligibility, award amounts, application deadlines, or required documentation. The webinar is an opportunity to gather information and ask questions, rather than confirmation that applications are being accepted.

For nonprofits throughout Greater Prince William, the discussion may also provide a useful starting point for planning conversations with staff, board members, and community partners.

Funding priorities will continue to change, but the needs of the people our nonprofits serve remain central to their work. Understanding how regional resources may be directed can help local organizations make thoughtful decisions about their programs and the partnerships that support them.

How to Attend the November 5 Webinar

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia will host Economic Mobility in Action: CFNOVA's 2027 Grantmaking Strategy on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. The presentation will take place virtually through Zoom.

Nonprofit leaders, board members, and others interested in the foundation's new grantmaking direction are encouraged to attend. The webinar offers an opportunity to learn about the foundation's priorities and prepare for future funding opportunities.

Learn more and register for the November 5 webinar through the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.

Rebecca Barnes is the director of Give Back Prince William and publisher of Prince William Living. She is the founder and first chair of Leadership Prince William and a former chair of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce. Through her work in publishing, business leadership, and community service, she has spent years connecting local nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders while encouraging volunteerism, philanthropy, and partnerships that strengthen Greater Prince William.