grant | ALXnow

Racial equity fund awards $200K to 29 Alexandria nonprofits and leaders

Published July 9, 2026 at 2:45PM

Act for Alexandria CEO Heather Peeler (center) at an event celebrating Fund for Racial Equity grantees (via ACT for Alexandria)

ACT for Alexandria’s Fund for Racial Equity has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to 29 local organizations and individuals, the organization announced in a new report.

The nonprofit created the fund in 2020 and established a resident community advisory board to lead grantmaking in 2024. The advisory board led three rounds of grantmaking over the next two years, awarding flexible, unrestricted grants to the organizations and individuals, according to ACT for Alexandria’s A Journey in Hope report.

News

Community Lodgings secures $73K grant to boost youth education in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published May 19, 2026 at 11:45AM | Updated May 20, 2026 at 11:40AM

Community Lodgings Executive Director Lynn Thomas makes a presentation at the Many Hands Annual Meeting on May 12, 2026 (via Many Hands)

Alexandria nonprofit Community Lodgings has won a $73,000 grant from D.C.-based philanthropic organization Many Hands, Inc.

After a months-long application process that included an in-person presentation from applicants, Many Hands awarded $73,000 each to Community Lodgings, AfriThrive Inc., and DC Greens. It also awarded $100,000 to the D.C.-based School Justice Project, for $319,000 in total donations. There were 88 applicants for the organization’s annual grants.

News

Shiloh Baptist Church receives $360K grant to preserve historic sanctuary

By Emily Leayman

Published March 2, 2026 at 3:45PM

Shiloh Baptist Church (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Shiloh Baptist Church is among more than 30 historically Black churches to receive a new grant aimed at preserving and restoring their buildings.

The church at 1401 Jamieson Avenue has received $360,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund as part of its Preserving Black Churches grant program. Recipients were announced last week.

News

ACHS teacher wins grant to create learning experiences on the Declaration of Independence

By James Cullum

Published February 18, 2026 at 2:20PM

Alexandria City High School math teacher Essie Jones (staff photo by James Cullum)

A teacher at Alexandria City High School has been awarded a $5,000 grant to create a project commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year.

ACHS math teacher Essie Jones is one of 51 educators nationwide to be selected for a Teaching America250 Award. The grant will allow her to “design and implement an engaging learning experience that helps students explore the history of America’s founding and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence,” according to Alexandria City Public Schools.