Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s annual day of giving, kicks off early giving today (Wednesday) — two weeks before the main event.
The fundraising campaign supporting local nonprofits is marking its 16th year on Wednesday, April 22. Early giving runs through April 8 up to the event date.
This year, Spring2ACTion’s organizer ACT for Alexandria hopes to raise $2.5 million from 10,000 donors for 191 nonprofits. Spring2ACTion’s 2025 total was a record-breaking $3.1 million for more than 190 nonprofits through nearly 8,000 donors. Since 2011, Spring2ACTion has raised $26 million for nonprofits.
Between the partial government shutdown, federal workforce reductions and rising unemployment and underemployment, Alexandria’s nonprofits are facing greater strain. Upcoming changes to programs like SNAP and Medicaid could also push more people who no longer qualify toward nonprofits.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty in our whole world, and so that really also trickles down and affects people who are most vulnerable,” Brandi Yee, chief program officer at ACT for Alexandria, told ALXnow. “And so our organizations are ready to meet the need. That’s what they’re called to do, but they also need the resources to do it.”
The impact of early giving can vary year to year. Some businesses are hosting early giving events that donate a portion of sales to Spring2ACTion nonprofits. ACT for Alexandria will host its own Spring2ACTion Kick-Off Party at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at ALX Community Waterfront (201 N. Union Street, Suite 110).
“Hundreds of thousands of dollars can come in during early giving,” Yee said. “It all depends on the push that the nonprofits do and donors and them taking action.”
At the end of Spring2ACTion, bonus prizes are awarded to small, medium and large nonprofits in categories like most dollars raised and most unique donors. Nonprofits with the most funds raised and most donors during early giving will earn prizes.
Yee encourages residents to find a cause they care about to support for Spring2ACTion. Nonprofits cover a wide range of causes, from housing and food assistance to workforce development, animal welfare, arts, youth sports, environmental conservation and more. According to ACT for Alexandria, a quarter of 2025 donations were $25 or less.
“It feels like there’s so much going on in the world that is out of our control — it is great to be able to make a meaningful difference here in your own backyard,” Yee said. “We just really encourage folks to get on the site, find a cause or two that they care about, and it could be a great way for them to start a relationship with an organization. Maybe they’ll want to volunteer in the future, maybe they want to continue to financially support or learn more about the work that they do.”
