Through its extraordinary network of partners and volunteers, ALIVE! provides emergency and basic needs support for Alexandrians facing hunger, eviction, job loss, homelessness, health crises, and other emergencies. Rising to meet increased demand since the pandemic began, ALIVE! serves 4,000 families (and counting) every month. Through their Eviction Prevention Program, families are able to stay in their homes, with struggling households receiving direct cash assistance to pay rent, utility, and medical bills. Last year alone, more than 150,000 individuals benefited from their food distribution programs. What’s more, ALIVE! provides safe and healthy shelter for women and their children while helping them work toward permanent housing. Since volunteers lead and staff many of these programs (delivering food, driving the furniture truck, reading to children), 90% of ALIVE’s budget directly supports our neighbors in need. Let’s keep this humanitarian powerhouse alive … and thriving.

Headquarters: VA-City of Alexandria

Where They Operate: VA-City of Alexandria; Citywide

Age Groups Served: All

Ethnic Groups Served: African American; Asian American; Caucasian; Latino/Hispanic

Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members

Schools They Work In: Alexandria City Public Schools

Awards & Recognition

ALIVE!'s Child Development Center (CDC) received four-star rating in Virginia Star Quality Initiative (VSQI) for early childhood education, 2011, 2013, 2015.
Catalogue for Philanthropy, 2015
Catalogue for Philanthropy, 2012
Catalogue For Philanthropy, 2008
Alexandria Commission on Aging "Outstanding Agency" 2008

Press

  • It Starts At Home
    Thu Sep 17 2015, Alexandria Gazette-Packet  
    A commentary authored by ALIVE! Executive Director Diane Charles regarding affordable housing and community engagement.
    connect here

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for ALIVE! is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Every year, 190+ local nonprofits (with budgets under $4M) apply to join the Spur Local network. 170+ community volunteers assess these applications for impact. 100% of organizations are site visited and financially reviewed. Finally, 76+ critical, local nonprofits are selected for inclusion in Spur Local's annual print and digital catalog, and enter a four-year partnership with us. Since 2003, we have raised over $65 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region. We charge no fees and raise funds separately to support our work.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

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