Supporting nonprofits has always been near and dear to my heart. Throughout my career and volunteer life, I have learned that nonprofits do the work to strengthen and connect our community. I learned firsthand how critical volunteers, board members, and donors are to the success and longevity of these organizations.
A report by The Generosity Commission earlier this year highlighted a troubling trend: over the past two decades, fewer people have been donating to or volunteering with nonprofits. This hits hardest for community-based organizations operating with small budgets and teams – 88% of all nonprofits in the United States have budgets below $500,000.
I’ve seen the effects firsthand. As the former Executive Director of For Love of Children (FLOC), an education nonprofit here in Washington D.C., I saw the impact that our tutors and coaches had on our students by simply showing up and giving them the attention they deserved.
The work of those dedicated volunteers had an impact that lasted throughout FLOC students’ academic careers, increasing their confidence and participation in the classroom, and also ensuring our students graduated from High School and went on to a post-secondary program or college.
I have seen how real change begins at the local level, with neighbors coming together to create a more vibrant, interconnected, and thriving region. As we approach this holiday season with reflection and gratitude, how do you plan to invest in the well-being of our region?
Give Your Time
Volunteering is not just about giving your time; it’s about creating positive change in your community. Whether you’re passionate about youth mental health, cleaning the Anacostia River, or ensuring our neighbors experiencing homelessness have warm food and clothing this winter, your contribution matters. Volunteering with family, friends, colleagues, and strangers is a meaningful way to strengthen your relationships while creating positive change. If you are not sure where to volunteer, try searching Spur Local’s volunteer portal to find solo, group, short-term, and long-term opportunities in your area.
Give Your Talent
Do you have time for a longer-term project and professional skills you can offer? Sharing your expertise in areas like marketing, legal, or finance is enormously helpful for small nonprofits. When you find an organization working on a cause you’re passionate about, ask them if there are skilled volunteering opportunities that may suit you. You can also consider joining a nonprofit board, a highly effective way to leverage your time, expertise, and resources to create greater impact.
Give Your Ties or Testimony
Sharing the story of the organization you care about makes a big difference for small nonprofits, like FLOC, that rely on word-of-mouth recommendations. Take time this giving season to learn about the grassroots organizations crucial to addressing local issues and spread the word about them to your network. Whether on your own or with friends and family, you can browse Spur Local’s digital catalog (or request a free print copy) to discover nonprofits in the arts, environment, education, food, housing, veteran services, and more. Each organization is selected for its critical local impact through a community-led vetting process, site visit, and financial review.
Give Your Treasure
Donating to a local nonprofit ensures your dollars go toward your community and directly influence the well-being of your neighbors. Explore Spur Local’s network of nearly 500 nonprofits based in the greater Washington region by location, issue area, and more. Make a one-time gift this holiday season, or consider making a recurring gift to sustain a nonprofit’s work for the long term. Have friends, family, or colleagues who may also be interested in supporting local? Get them a gift card so they can do the same!
Local nonprofits are deeply rooted in the neighborhoods they serve—mentoring the next generation, nurturing our dynamic cultural scene, stewarding regional ecosystems, and increasing the quality of life for everyone who lives here. Supporting them is a powerful way to uplift your community. Every small act of generosity creates a ripple effect. Together, we can make a big difference. I hope you join me this giving season.
Brandelyn Anderson is the Senior Director, Head of Strategic Partnerships at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Formerly the Executive Director of For Love of Children, she has a demonstrated history of program development and management, as well as professional development and public speaking. She is a Board Member of Spur Local (formerly the Catalogue for Philanthropy), a D.C.-based small nonprofit that cultivates critical connections between residents and the nonprofits in their neighborhoods, raising more than $65 million for local nonprofits while serving as the region’s largest nonprofit capacity builder.