In Washington, D.C., community-led organizations are helping young people overcome barriers to opportunity through mentorship, support, and healing-centered engagement. One such leader is Tia Bell, founder of The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, whose work is deeply rooted in her lived experience with gun violence. Through programs like TRIGGER University, the organization has empowered more than 500 youth prevention leaders and reached thousands across the city. By combining mentorship, workforce development, and leadership training, The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project creates pathways for young people to thrive. JBRF is proud to support this work through trust-based philanthropy and leadership development.

Nonprofits are essential to the wellbeing of communities across the country.
Yet many organizations are facing growing demand, funding uncertainty, and leadership burnout.
For Black-led nonprofits, these challenges are often even greater.
Sustainable impact requires investment in leadership, governance, and organizational capacity.
When nonprofits are strengthened, communities are stronger too.

For Lecester Johnson, access to education is more than a pathway—it’s a lever for stability, mobility, and long-term opportunity.
East of the Anacostia River, that work is critical for adults navigating systemic barriers.
Through her leadership at Academy of Hope, Johnson has built pathways that connect education to real economic opportunity.
Her approach recognizes that adult learners are balancing work, family, and financial pressures.
Because when education is accessible, its impact extends far beyond the classroom.

Women’s history in Washington, D.C. is actively shaped by Black women leading with purpose across every sector of the city.
Their work extends from boardrooms to neighborhoods, building systems of care, opportunity, and equity rooted in lived experience.
This legacy is grounded in pioneers like Mary McLeod Bethune and Dorothy Height, whose leadership reshaped national movements.
Today, initiatives like Black Women Thriving East of the River continue that work through health, workforce, and community support.
Together, these leaders are not only preserving history but actively building stronger, more just systems for future generations.

Through our SustainABLE Community Initiatives portfolio, JBRF invests in leadership development that strengthens organizations beyond their programs. By sponsoring community-based leaders to participate in New Strategies Rising at Georgetown University, we help expand access to high-level strategic training. The program equips nonprofit leaders with tools to align mission and funding, sharpen strategy, and build long-term sustainability. For participants like Connie Williams, Ryane B. Nickens, and Gene Finley, the experience translated directly into clearer plans and stronger fundraising approaches. This is capacity building designed to last—rooted in community leadership and built for long-term impact.

Meaningful progress in health equity is built with intention—through systems designed around real lives and accountable leadership. Ruth Pollard exemplifies this approach. As President and CEO of the DC Primary Care Association, she strengthens community health centers that anchor neighborhoods across Washington, DC. Her work aligns strategy, operations, and community voice to ensure care is accessible, coordinated, and dignified. By building systems that reflect how people actually live, she helps turn equity from principle into daily practice.