What Act for Alexandria does

ACT for Alexandria is a 501(c)(3) community foundation established in 2005 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia (201 N. Union St., Suite 110). It operates as a coordinating platform for local philanthropy, serving three constituencies: individual donors and philanthropic partners seeking charitable giving vehicles, Alexandria-based nonprofits that receive capacity-building and programmatic grants, and Alexandria residents who benefit from funded community initiatives. Its signature program is Spring2ACTion, Alexandria's annual 24-hour giving day that mobilizes donations to local nonprofits. The organization disburses funds through a portfolio of grant programs — Capacity Building Grants ($1M+ committed since 2005), the Fund for Racial Equity (over $150,000 in inaugural grantmaking), the Alexandria Resilience Fund, the Alexandria Childcare Workforce Stabilization Grant Program ($1.7M+ distributed), Sleeves Up, ALX ($145,657 across eight grantees), the Community Access & Emergency Support Grant Program, and the Fresh Start Initiative Fund (over $1M committed for eviction diversion in partnership with the Mayor's Interfaith Council). Complementary initiatives include Welcoming & Belonging, NeighborShare ALX, ALX Beyond the Classroom, Youth Employment & CTE Initiative, and an Economic Mobility Agenda proposing 13 policy and budget priorities.

The organization runs a lean operational model (1–10 employees) and applies a trust-based, equity-centered grantmaking approach with community advisory boards guiding funding decisions. It does not sell products or services; revenue is generated through charitable contributions from individuals, corporate annual/event/media partners, and institutional funders (Greater Washington Community Foundation provided match dollars for the Fund for Racial Equity). Distribution is direct: donor engagement channels include charitable funds, donor-advised funds, legacy giving, and the Spring2ACTion giving-day platform; grantee channels include the Capacity Building Grants program, the Racial Equity Cohort, Community Access & Emergency Support, and past grant programs. Recent strategic emphasis areas — the 2023 strategic plan, 2025 Impact Report ("The Power of Together: People, Resources, Results"), 2026 CFLeads national case study, and Candid accreditation — point to maturing governance, national thought-leadership positioning, and a gradual shift from pure grantmaking toward advocacy and systems-level economic mobility work.

Name

Act for Alexandria

Legal name

ACT for Alexandria

Website

https://actforalexandria.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACT for Alexandria is a 501(c)(3) community foundation in Alexandria, Virginia that mobilizes local philanthropy through Spring2ACTion giving day, capacity-building and racial-equity grants, donor-advised funds, housing-stability initiatives, and advocacy on economic mobility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Philanthropy and Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tuition Assistance & Voucher/ESA Program Administration (EDADAHAF), Consumer Rights & Public Interest Advocacy (BPAGAFAK)

Keywords

• Community philanthropy
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Charitable giving
• Donor advised funds
• Community foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Others, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: ACT for Alexandria raises funds from individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations to support grantmaking to Alexandria nonprofits and community initiatives. The organization serves as a community foundation facilitating charitable giving.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACT for Alexandria is a community foundation that pools charitable contributions from individual donors, corporate partners, and partner foundations and redistributes them through grant programs and community initiatives in Alexandria, Virginia. It runs the annual Spring2ACTion giving day, capacity-building grants, the Fund for Racial Equity, the ACT Youth Council, donor advised fund and charitable fund administration, legacy giving services, and inclusion-focused programs such as Welcoming & Belonging.

Product overview

Act for Alexandria is a community foundation that operates as a unified portfolio of philanthropic programs rather than a traditional product platform. The core offerings include Spring2ACTion (Alexandria's Giving Day), various grant programs (Capacity Building Grants, Fund for Racial Equity), youth engagement (ACT Youth Council), and community inclusion initiatives (Welcoming & Belonging). These programs work together to amplify community work by bringing people and resources together for collective impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fund for Racial Equity: A fund dedicated to supporting efforts that dismantle systemic racism and advance racial equity in Alexandria, guided by a Community Advisory Board.
• Alexandria Resilience Fund
• Sleeves Up, ALX
• Spring2ACTion
• ACT Youth Council
• Welcoming & Belonging

Products and services

• Spring2ACTion (Annual Giving Day) A 24-hour online fundraising and community engagement event that amplifies donations to Alexandria nonprofits through a unified giving day platform. Designed for individual donors and local nonprofits seeking concentrated annual fundraising support.
• Capacity Building Grants Grant program providing multi-year capacity-building investments to Alexandria nonprofits to strengthen leadership, operations, and organizational excellence using a trust-based, equity-centered approach.
• Fund for Racial Equity A community-driven fund providing sustainable grant funding dedicated to dismantling systemic racism and advancing racial equity in Alexandria, with decisions guided by a Community Advisory Board in Health, Education, Housing, and Child Welfare.
• ACT Youth Council A youth-led initiative that engages Alexandria high school students in shaping local philanthropic decisions and awarding grants to community nonprofits focused on educational equity and environmental justice; allocated $15,000 in grants over four years.
• Welcoming & Belonging Initiative Community inclusion initiative that fosters welcoming environments for newcomers, recent immigrants, and long-term residents, including participation in Welcoming America's Welcoming Week.
• Sleeves Up, ALX A COVID-19 vaccine partnership program providing grant funding to community organizations for vaccine education, outreach, and access in Alexandria.
• Alexandria Resilience Fund COVID-19 emergency response fund created to rapidly deploy philanthropic resources to Alexandria nonprofits and residents facing urgent community needs during the pandemic.
• Fresh Start Initiative Fund A housing stability fund partnering with the Mayor's Interfaith Council to commit more than $1 million to Alexandria residents facing eviction, pairing direct financial support with financial literacy programming.
• Donor Advised Funds and Charitable Fund Management Services enabling individuals, families, and advisors to establish and manage charitable funds at ACT for Alexandria, recommend grants to nonprofits, and access local philanthropic expertise and back-office support.
• Legacy Giving Program Planned giving services supporting donors who wish to include Alexandria's community in their estate plans, including bequests, charitable gift planning, and related resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000,000 invested in capacity-building grants to Alexandria nonprofits since 2005
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Mayor's Interfaith CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnering with ACT to address housing insecurity through the Fresh Start Initiative Fund, committing over $1M to residents facing eviction.
• Greater Washington Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Provided matchmaking dollars for inaugural Fund for Racial Equity grantmaking, enabling community-driven philanthropy.
• CFLeads and Welcoming AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ACT selected to participate in community of practice hosted by CFLeads and Welcoming America to foster inclusive communities and deepen welcoming and belonging work.
• Alexandria Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnered with ACT to fund COVID-19 vaccine outreach through the Sleeves Up, ALX program, distributing $145,657 to community organizations.
• ALX CommunitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate partner supporting ACT for Alexandria's community initiatives and philanthropy programs.
• Alexandria Restaurant PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate partner supporting ACT for Alexandria's community initiatives.
• City of AlexandriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner collaborating on community initiatives including COVID-19 response, resilience funding, and economic mobility programs.
• ReingoldsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate partner supporting ACT for Alexandria's community initiatives.
• Passport AutosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• Red Barn MercantilesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• Patterson Real EstatesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• WegmanssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• Giant FoodsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• Virginia Tech Innovation CampussupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• Clarke and SampsonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• Marks WoodssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting ACT for Alexandria events and programs.
• Alexandria Living MagazinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage of ACT for Alexandria activities and community impact.
• Alexandria StylebooksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage of ACT for Alexandria activities.
• Alexandria TimessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage of ACT for Alexandria activities.
• ALX NowsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage of ACT for Alexandria activities.
• Alexandria GazettesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage of ACT for Alexandria activities.
• The ZebrasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing coverage of ACT for Alexandria activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Cleveland Foundation: One of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S., serving a single metro with capacity-building grants, racial equity funds, and giving-day programming. Highly analogous model to ACT, just at much greater scale.
• Winston-Salem Foundation: A city-based community foundation combining donor-advised funds, competitive grants, and community impact initiatives. Closely aligned in scale and approach with ACT for Alexandria.
• The Seattle Foundation: A city-rooted community foundation running giving days, racial-equity funds, and capacity-building grants for local nonprofits, with similar combined grantmaking and advocacy positioning.
• Greater Washington Community Foundation: The largest community foundation in the DC region, directly partnering with ACT on the Fund for Racial Equity. Operates parallel grantmaking, giving-day, and equity programs across the same metropolitan area.
• Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation: A metropolitan community foundation combining donor-advised fund services, competitive grantmaking, and equity-focused community programs. Highly comparable operating model to ACT for Alexandria.
• Community Foundation for Northern Virginia: A regional community foundation serving Northern Virginia jurisdictions. Operates capacity-building grants, donor-advised funds, and racial-equity initiatives much like ACT for Alexandria, making it the closest functional and geographic peer.
• Foundation For The Carolinas: A mid-sized multi-county community foundation administering donor-advised funds, community impact grants, and equity initiatives. Comparable in structure and program mix to ACT for Alexandria's portfolio.
• The Baltimore Community Foundation: A mid-Atlantic community foundation with similar urban focus on equity, capacity building, and donor-advised fund services. Comparable geographic context and program design to ACT.

Others

• CFLeads: A national network of place-based community foundations advancing economic mobility and racial equity. Not a competitor but a peer ecosystem organization that has formally recognized ACT through its case-study program.

Broad incumbents

• The Boston Foundation: An established community foundation in a major metro, operating a much larger portfolio of grant programs, donor services, and economic mobility initiatives. Functions as a scaled analog of ACT's operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/actforalex
• Facebookfacebook.com/ACTforAlexandria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/action-alexandria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Act for Alexandria