We are delighted to announce that Many Hands' Focus Area Committees have chosen the following organizations to receive this year's grants.

The mission of Communities in Schools of the Nation’s Capital (CISNCAP) is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CISNCAP’s unique model places dedicated staff members inside DCPS partner schools to identify students at risk of dropping out and engages community partners and volunteers to effectively and efficiently address both the academic and human service needs of students.

The mission of Edu-Futuro is to break the cycle of poverty by empowering underserved Latino and immigrant youth and families through education, leadership development, parent engagement, case management, and workforce development. In Edu-Futuro's two-generation approach to economic empowerment, the educational achievements of students motivate their parents, and in turn, youth are inspired by the economic progress of their parents.

The mission of Prince George’s Child Resource Center (PGCRC) is to create healthy and nurturing environments for children by supporting their families and educating their caregivers. Through home visits, child development education, adult education, and links to community services, including child care, housing, and nutrition, PGCRC helps families build stable futures, create homes free from abuse and neglect, and prepare children to enter school ready to learn.

The mission of The Wanda Alston Foundation (WAF) is to eradicate homelessness for LGBTQIA2S+ youth ages 18-24 and to ensure, through advocacy and programming, that they have access to services that improve their quality of life. The WAF is the only housing program in Washington, DC solely dedicated to offering pre-independent transitional living and support services to LGBTQIA2S+ youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness in all eight wards.

We welcome Many Hands members and their guests to hear from the executive directors of all four organizations at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 18 (details below). Following the presentations, members will vote to allocate the 2023 grant fund. One organization will receive the Many Hands $100,000 Impact Grant; three will receive Partner Grants of at least $60,000.

If you are not yet a member, we invite you to join us in supporting the remarkable work of all four grantees. New members are always welcome, as well as non-member gifts. Your generous contribution of any amount will go entirely to this year's grantees and help serve and empower women, children, and families in socioeconomic need in the greater Washington region.

To cast your vote in this grant cycle, please ensure that we receive your membership gift by Monday, May 15, in case of a check payment by mail, and by Thursday, May 18, for online gifts. We would also be delighted to receive your gift at the Annual Meeting. For further information on membership, please visit our website or contact Mary Kwak at membership@manyhandsdc.org.

RSVP Today! 2023 Annual Meeting - Thursday, May 18

Register today for the 2023 Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 18! Doors will open at 6:30 pm for check-in and light refreshments; the program will begin at 7:00 pm. Join us in person at Chevy Chase Village Hall or watch the livestream on our website. You can learn more and register for both options at manyhandsdc.org/events.

The Annual Meeting is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the work of Many Hands grantees and the generosity of our community, as well as the perfect way to introduce Many Hands to a friend. Invite a friend to discover the power of collective giving!

In preparation for the meeting, all members will receive an email later today with the grantees' proposals and information about voting. If you do not receive the email by the end of the day, please contact Karen Murrell at info@manyhandsdc.org.

When: Thursday, May 18 | 6:30 pm - 8:45 pm | Program begins at 7:00 pm

Where: Chevy Chase Village Hall | 5906 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD

Who: This event is open to Many Hands members and their guests.

Please email Anna Gunnarsson Pfeiffer at events@manyhandsdc.org with any questions. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Members, we want to hear from you! Look out for a link to the 2023 member survey in the grantee announcement email you'll receive on Monday, May 22, and please complete the survey by Friday, June 2. Your response should take no more than 10 minutes. The information you provide will help shape Many Hands' future programming as we seek to meet members' goals and needs.

We will also hold two listening sessions to supplement the survey. We invite you to gather with other members and share your feedback and suggestions on two dates:

Manisha Eigner has been a Many Hands member since 2020. She has served twice on the Housing Committee and once on Health. After working in the pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology for more than 15 years, Manisha channeled her entrepreneurial energy into cofounding Clear Skies Meadery, together with award-winning meadmaker Yancy Bodenstein.

How has your background in business, and as an entrepreneur, shaped the way you approach grantmaking? Coming straight from biotech, I would have looked at the grantmaking process as a project with checklists to complete. Being an entrepreneur has really changed the scale of my thinking. You’re focusing on the broader vision of the organization: what they’re trying to achieve with the grant money, how it relates to their cause, and how their cause relates to the mission of Many Hands. You’re also thinking about how a grant will affect them not just today but in coming years. Anyone can start a business, but how you’re going to sustain it—that’s something an entrepreneur has to think about every day. It’s the same for a charity, especially since needs have grown exponentially since the beginning of the pandemic and resources have not expanded at the same rate.

Click here to learn more about what inspired Manisha to join Many Hands, why the housing focus area particularly resonates for her, and what she has gained from her experience. Do you know a member we should profile? Send your suggestions to communications@manyhandsdc.org.

Many Hands is proud to co-host PowerUP! Baltimore 2023, the first in-person Philanos conference since 2020. The conference, which brings together giving circle members from across the country, will take place November 5-7 at The Four Seasons Baltimore. The program will include nationally recognized experts like Lisa Hamilton, president and CEO of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Hanh Le, co-CEO of If, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, as well as four tracks of breakout sessions that will address the power of collaborative grantmaking, best practices for innovative, inspiring, and inclusive collective giving, and trends that affect philanthropic initiatives.

Learn what's happening in collective giving across the country and connect with a dynamic community of philanthropic women! Early bird registration is now open. Register today at philanos.org/PowerUP!-Conference.

In order to broaden and diversify the group of women who can participate in philanthropy at the national level, Philanos has launched a pilot program to support women who are traditionally underrepresented in philanthropy and who otherwise might not attend the conference due to financial constraints. Two Many Hands members will receive the 2023 DEI Advocate Award, which includes prepaid registration for the conference (valued at $595). Attendees will be responsible for 1-2 meals and incidental expenses; lodging is not included.

Click here to complete a brief form by June 1 indicating your interest in receiving this award. If you have any questions, please email us at membership@manyhandsdc.org.

Many Hands leverages the power of collective giving to support nonprofits serving and empowering Washington, DC area women, children, and families in socioeconomic need. Many Hands is a 501(c)(3) organization. EIN: 51-0486987.