Catalogue Blog: Catalogue for Philanthropy Greater Washington DC

Local Nonprofit Bulletin

08.05.22

Happy August! In this week’s edition of the bulletin, we’re rounding up ways you can get involved with small, local nonprofits across the DMV through exciting events, volunteer opportunities, and more! Know of another opportunity to engage that you want featured in our next edition? Reach out to Amanda, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, to collaborate!

Upcoming Events

The DC Funk Parade returns on Saturday, August 6, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM! Produced by The MusicianShip, this 8th Annual DC music celebration will take place along the U Street corridor, complete with a main stage, soul station, community corner, and more!

Support the next generation of rockstars and see brand new DC youth bands share their original music! Join Girls Rock! DC for their August showcase on Saturday, August 6, at 11:00 AM at the Black Cat.

This weekend is District Bridges‘ The Dog Days of Summer 23rd Annual Sidewalk Sale! Stop by Logan Circle and/or U Street between 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM this Saturday, August 6, and Sunday, August 7.

Common Good City Farm‘s upcoming calendar is filled with exciting events, such as Herbal Abundance, a class on how to source herbs sustainably, on Monday, August 8, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM.

View new work by incarcerated artists in Justice Arts Coalition‘s network at ArtLinks on Tuesday, August 9, between 7:00 – 9:00 PM. Participants are encouraged to share feedback, reflections, and encouragement with the artists through hand-written letters, which they will send to the artists!

The Insight Memory Care Center has a full calendar of upcoming events and trainings, including a virtual class on Wednesday, August 10, from 1:00 – 2:30 PM about how you can reconnect with someone with dementia through personalized activities.

Get your tickets to The Theatre Lab‘s teen summer shows, starting August 11! Catch Urinetown, presented by The Musical Theatre Institute for Teens, and Audrey Cefaly’s Tell Me Something Good, presented by The Summer Acting Institute for Teens.

Travel the world with Story Tapestries and Game Genius at the FRESHFARM market in Silver Spring on August 13 and September 17, with a scavenger hunt and performances by professional storytellers at 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 12:30 PM.

Catch The Dream Project at the Salvadoran Festival in Manassas, Virginia, on August 14 from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM! Can’t make it that day? They’ll also be at the Arlington County Fair from August 19 – 21 at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center.

Calling all nonprofit professionals! Join Keesha Ceran, associate director of Teaching for Change, on August 15 from 2:00 – 3:30 PM for a virtual coworking space to provide time and thought partners to build out and document those long-term goals that you haven’t yet gotten to.

Don’t miss Potomac Riverkeeper Network‘s remaining RiverPalooza Paddles! Their next upcoming one is a guided, interpretive paddle through Mallows Bay on August 20. Plus, they’ll be tubing at Harpers Ferry and hosting a Good-bye Summer Blow Out on the Shenandoah. For a more informative hour, you can also join them virtually on Wednesday, August 17, at 12:00 PM to learn about acid mine drainage, a water quality issue in the Upper Potomac.

Don’t forget to get your tickets to Washington Improv Theater‘s Improvapalooza, a five-day festival of experimental improv happening August 24 – 28! You can also catch them at a picnic on Sunday, August 14, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at Rock Creek Park.

In recognition of National Recovery Month, BEHIND THE MASK is a free art workshop by VisArts for every person, family, and community member with a connection to addiction. Join them on Thursday, September 8, from 5:00 – 8:50 PM.

Experience the mission and creative energy of the Sitar Arts Center at Sitar on the Piazza on Thursday, September 8, at 5:30 PM on the piazza of Ristorante i Ricchi!

Support Local

Interested in identifying future leaders? Help The Posse Foundation select the students who will become Posse Scholars! Using their unique evaluation method, you can work with them to identify young leaders who might be missed by traditional admissions criteria, but who can excel at selective colleges and universities. In this first phase of their process, they narrow down approximately 1,500 students who have been nominated for the Posse Scholarship to 600 by engaging them in activities that demonstrate their teamwork, strategic thinking, and other leadership skills. Learn more and sign up to volunteer with them!

Volunteer with Earth Sangha at their Wild Plant Nursery and do some potting, weeding, and labeling!

Strut Your Mutt with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue and help raise money to save the lives of Lucky Dogs and Cats!

There are still three shifts you can join for the Mother’s Outreach Network Summer Canvas for Guaranteed Income! Help increase public awareness and education around guaranteed income by canvassing from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Saturdays August 13, August 20, and August 27.

Community Family Life Services is hosting a Back 2 School Bash and you can help them ensure families have the tools they need to be successful in the upcoming school year. From backpacks to calculators to notebooks, check out their donation list and drop off your donations by August 16 at their headquarters on 305 E Street NW.

Become a fall volunteer with Casa Chirilagua! They are looking for volunteers to support elementary school students with homework help, facilitate small group discussions for mental health curriculum with middle school students, help high school students prepare for college, and more.

Justice Arts Coalition is recruiting outside pARTners who would like to work with incarcerated youth as part of a special partnership. If you have experience working with youth, sign up to be paired with a Free Verse Project youth writer or artist as a pen pal, with art as the center of correspondence!

Craving a sweet treat? Order from Sunflower Bakery — they have an August special, shipping this month only!

September is National Recovery Month. VisArts invites individuals to submit photographs/images/designs/artworks that address the struggle of addiction, the process of recovery, portraits of those we have lost to addiction and portraits of those who’ve found a path forward through recovery. Submit your work for inclusion in their five-night projected installation by September 2.

The Fund for Investigative Journalism is accepting proposals for grants of up to $10,000 to cover the expenses of investigative stories that break new ground and uncover wrongdoing in the public or private sectors. Attend their webinar on August 12 at 11:30 AM and submit your application!

Dress up as your favorite superhero and join SafeSpot for a 5K & fun run on Saturday, September 17. All proceeds will benefit children and families impacted by abuse in Fairfax.

Attend or volunteer for C&O Canal Trust‘s Park After Dark on Saturday, September 17. Proceeds support the mission of the C&O Canal Trust and fund preservation programs of the C&O Canal NHP.

Join Street Sense Media for Artshow on September 29 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM at metrobar and share an evening of art, community, and entertainment celebrating their artists/vendors! There will be food trucks, visual art, performances, and more.

On Thursday, September 29, from 6:30 – 9:00 PM, New Endeavors by Women will be celebrating the NEW women overcoming homelessness and the supporters who help them thrive! Join them for their fall fundraiser and auction at the Jackie American Bistro in Navy Yard.

Your story matters! The Arc of Northern Virginia works to show the community that people should not be defined by a disability. What really resonates is a personal story. Fill out their form to share yours.

From now through October, volunteer with Food for Others on the fourth Thursday of the month between 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Skyline Park, where you can assist in serving 150-300 families by packaging and handing out food. On Sunday, September 25, you can also participate in their Tysons 5K and Fun Run.

Save the Dates

September 15 | Common Good City Farm’s A Night on the Farm (September 29 rain date)

September 16, 6:00 – 9:00 PM | City Blossoms Garden Fiesta

October 1, 2:00 – 6:00 PM | Healwell’s Birthday Bonanza

October 6, 4:00 – 7:00 PM | Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia Pickleball Mixer & Happy Hour

October 6, 6:00 PM | DC SCORES’ One Night One Goal

October 7, 6:30 PM | Story Tapestries Elevate Voices – Celebrate Community

October 9, 1:00 – 4:00 PM | VisArts turns 35! Free anniversary open house

October 13 | Insight Memory Care Center’s Paintings & Pairings

October 14, 6:00 – 10:00 PM | Byte Back’s EVOLUTION: 25 Years of Transforming Lives Through Technology

October 19, 6:00 – 9:00 PM | FRESHFARM Feast

October 19, 6:30 – 8:30 PM | Georgetown Ministry Center’s The Spirit of Georgetown