Articles, Blogs, & Findings
2024 Butterfly Bash Program
At the beginning of the year, Fair Chance takes time at staff meeting to reflect on the previous years’ accomplishments. We practice the art of recognition, affirmation, celebration and gratitude.
Fair Chance Honors Boston Consulting Group (BCG) at the 2024 Butterfly Bash
At the beginning of the year, Fair Chance takes time at staff meeting to reflect on the previous years’ accomplishments. We practice the art of recognition, affirmation, celebration and gratitude.
Fair Chance Honors Carol Thompson-Cole at the 2024 Butterfly Bash
At the beginning of the year, Fair Chance takes time at staff meeting to reflect on the previous years’ accomplishments. We practice the art of recognition, affirmation, celebration and gratitude.
Fearless Fund Case – What Steps Can Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leaders Take Now?
Fair Chance and BakerHostetler recently presented a webinar, Race-Based Grantmaking and Charitable Activities: Protected First Amendment Speech or...
Bridging the Gap Between Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Thank you to Accenture for sponsoring and hosting this year’s Roundtable.The Fair Chance Roundtable brought together various stakeholders to discuss...
Four DC Nonprofits Complete Pathways Partnership
On Thursday, June 6th, Fair Chance will celebrate four DC nonprofits who have successfully completed the Pathways Partnership program. Over eight...
Over 50 Community Members Attend Fair Chance Roundtable
On Monday, May 20th, over 50 community members attended the Fair Chance Roundtable at Accenture's office in Washington, DC. Attendees represented a...
Five Nonprofits Selected for BCG Fellows Program
Five Fair Chance alumni partners have been selected for the 2024-2025 Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Fellows Program. Since 2016, BCG has provided...
2024 Fair Chance Roundtable
We are thrilled to extend a warm invitation to all of you for the upcoming 2024 Fair Chance Roundtable. This special event, hosted and sponsored by...
Message from our CEO March 2022
In 2019, Fair Chance released a Racial Equity Framework providing an overarching strategy to inform our annual goals and activities. The framework...
Message From Our CEO February 2022
At the beginning of the year, Fair Chance takes time at staff meeting to reflect on the previous years’ accomplishments. We practice the art of recognition, affirmation, celebration and gratitude.
Apply to be a 2022 BCG Fellow Today!
Applications for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Fellows Program are now open! Most nonprofits that have completed a Praxis or Ready for Work Partnership are eligible to apply for the free, yearlong consulting opportunity.
2021 Butterfly Bash Recap
The 2021 Butterfly Bash raised more than $400,000 to fund stronger leaders, successful nonprofits and life-changing opportunities for children and youth experiencing poverty.
Prince George’s S.O.A.R.
Fair Chance is proud to serve more Prince George’s County nonprofits through the Prince George’s S.O.A.R. program, in partnership with the Prince George’s County City Council and Venture Philanthropy Partners.
Message from the CEO – July 2021
In the book Reinventing Social Change, the author explores the racist and sexist roots behind the devaluing of social change sector leaders and organizations. One way nonprofits continue to be victimized is by shortchanging overhead.
Webinar Post-Game: Preparing For 2022 Government Grants
Thanks to everyone who attended our webinar: Preparing for 2022 Government Contracts and Grants: Part I and/or Part II! Included below are the slides and the recording that were shared during the webinar.
42nd Annual Dubliner Golf Classic
Thank you to everyone who attended the 42nd Annual Dubliner Golf classic on Monday, June 28th at Argyle Country Club! Together, we raised over $60,000 to support our work.
Message from the CEO – June 2021
In this issue, we are excited to present the 2020 data from our programs in Washington, DC and Prince George’s County, MD. Last month, we shared our alumni survey data and this month we are sharing our pre- and post-assessment data for 2020 partners.
2020 Post-Partnership Results
Ten nonprofits completed partnerships with Fair Chance in 2020. These organizations persevered in the midst of the pandemic, making their achievements even more admirable.
Message from the CEO- May 2021
At the end of April, Fair Chance held our annual Advisory Board Meeting and Town Hall. This was an opportunity to convene our various stakeholders to provide an update on our work in 2020 and share our strategic vision for 2021 and beyond.
Message from the CEO – April 2021
Last year, crisis was the order of the day for local nonprofits. Despite this turmoil, nonprofit leaders went above and beyond to continue serving communities.
Meet the 2021 BCG Fellows
Fair Chance is proud to announce the sixth class of Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Fellows.
Fair Chance in the News
Fair Chance CEO Gretchen Van der Veer recently wrote an article for Nonprofit Quarterly titled, “Preserving Education amid COVID: The Vital Role of Community Partnerships”.
Message from the CEO – March 2021
On Thursday, March 18, The Prince George’s County Council, Venture Philanthropy Partners + RaiseDC, and Fair Chance hosted Prince George’s Proud — a celebration of the 2021 graduates of the Ready for Work program in Prince George’s County.
Message from the CEO – February 2021
As you consider your end-of-year giving, please remember the small community-based nonprofits embedded in local neighborhoods, serving the children and families most affected by this pandemic.
December 2020 Partner Highlights
During the month of November, First Generation College Bound (FGCB) hosted its first virtual FAFSA/MSFAA help sessions for seniors at seven high schools across Prince George’s County.
Message from our CEO – December 2020
As you consider your end-of-year giving, please remember the small community-based nonprofits embedded in local neighborhoods, serving the children and families most affected by this pandemic.
A Successful Virtual Fair Chance Butterfly Bash Honors
While we couldn’t celebrate in person, Fair Chance’s Butterfly Bash Honors was nothing but successful. We raised more than $300,000 towards life-changing opportunities for children and youth experiencing poverty.
Running Towards a Better Tomorrow: The 26 for 26 Marathon
On November 15, 2020, Fair Chance Board Member Brendan Coleman and friends Adam and Connor ran 26.2 miles for the 26% of DC youth experiencing poverty. They raised over $42,000 to support Fair Chance’s work.
Fair Chance Makes Election Day a Paid Holiday for Staff
As early voting begins and Election Day approaches, Fair Chance joins fellow nonprofit capacity building organizations in the Charge Up Collaborative action to make Election Day a paid day off for employees.
Meet Our Newest DC Partners
Fair Chance is excited to introduce you to the 2021 Cohort in Washington, DC! These nonprofits serve nearly 1,700 children and families across all 8 wards. From prenatal support to early literacy intervention to outdoor exploration, our new partners are providing youth in our city with vital opportunities.
September 2020 Partner Highlights
A Night on the Farm is Common Good City Farm’s signature fundraising event of the year and proceeds from the event series will fund the organization’s food distribution efforts as well as other educational programming.
August 2020 Partner Highlights
City Kids Wilderness Project‘s Alumni Engagement and Success Partner, Priya Cook, wrote an op-ed for Parks and Recreation Magazine focused on the importance of nature being accessible to all. Cook discusses the impact COVID-19 has had on City Kid’s youth and their families.
Meet the Newest Members of our Program Team
Fair Chance is excited to introduce the four newest members of our Program Team. Our four Capacity Building Consultants will work with our newest partners in Washington, DC and Prince George’s County, MD.
July 2020 Partner Highlights
Community Educational Research Group (CERG) has begun construction on the expansion of its 4021 Minnesota Ave site after having been awarded an expansion grant from the LIIF foundation . This work will add space for 45 new infant & toddlers and kicks off with…
Care Calls Initiative
In April, Fair Chance launched the Care Calls initiative to ensure our alumni nonprofits had the support and access to resources to sustain programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were sent out to the network and then Fair Chance’s program staff…
Fair Chance Awarded Economic Club Community Grant
The Economic Club of Washington has awarded Fair Chance a $25,000 grant as part of their Community Grant Program. This grant will support Fair Chance’s work with nonprofits in Wards 7 & 8 and Prince George’s County.
Cohort 3 In Prince George’s County Begins
Fair Chance is proud to introduce you to the nonprofits in Cohort 3 of the Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative. This initiative is a collaboration with Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP) to strengthen select nonprofits in Prince George’s County…
We Stand in Solidarity
Fair Chance believes community-based nonprofits have a critical role to play in addressing the long-standing injustices in our community. We will continue to keep you updated about our work in partnership with our network of nonprofit partners.
How To Help Nonprofits Weather These Uncertain Times
Our new normal may no longer feel new but we can agree that it still does not feel normal. The reality is that many of us are scared; we are entering a new world that poses challenges to our health, our careers, and our neighbors.
Fair Chance’s Response to COVID-19
As the COVID-19 Outbreak continues, Fair Chance is monitoring the needs of the nonprofit sector and our community. In these uncertain times, what keeps us grounded is staying connected and remembering what truly matters. What matters most to us is keeping…
February 2020 Partner Highlights
Learn more about how our partners and alumni have engaged our community: Community Youth Advance, Foundation of the Advancement of Music & Education, Homeless Children’s Playtime Project, Live It Learn It, New Futures, Open City Advocates, and ScholarCHIPS.
2020 Class Of Boston Consulting Group Fellows
Fair Chance is proud to announce the fifth class of Boston Consulting Group Fellows. The following Fair Chance Partners have each been paired with a team of BCG Consultants to receive pro bono executive coaching and consulting on specific projects over the course of 2020.
Fair Chance Featured On Great Day Washington
Fair Chance appeared on Great Day Washington on Giving Tuesday to share our mission and successes as well as the successes and stories of our partners ScholarCHIPS, M.O.M.I.E.’s TLC, College and Career Pathways, and Greater DC Diaper Bank.
New Programs & Increased Investment
Fair Chance is thrilled to report that through partnership and increased investment, we will be able to work with more nonprofits serving children, youth, and families experiencing poverty in our region. New Programs, More Nonprofits. Increased investment in our work.
41st Annual Dubliner Golf Classic Benefiting Fair Chance
Thank you to all the golfers who joined us on Monday, June 24th for the 41st Annual Dubliner Golf Classic at Glenn Dale Golf Club. This was a record-setting revenue year for Fair Chance – we raised over $60,000! A special thanks to the Coleman Family and staff of The Dubliner…
Fair Chance Named a Semifinalist for Drucker Prize
We are excited to announce that Fair Chance was named one of the 25 semifinalist (out of 431 applications) for the 2019 Drucker Prize, a prize given to innovative nonprofit organizations. We are honored to be listed alongside such outstanding organizations…
2020 Praxis and Pathways Partners
Fair Chance is proud to introduce you to the six nonprofits in our 2020 cohort. These organizations provide a wide range of services to children and families in the DC area, including early childhood care; workforce development; legal services for working mothers…
Ready For Work Cohort 2 Gets Started
Our second cohort of Ready for Work Nonprofit Capacity Building partners in Prince George’s County began their 3-year partnership cycle. These organizations join the four nonprofits from Cohort 1, for a total of eight organizations served by Fair Chance in Prince George’s County.
Announcing Fair Chance’s Racial Equity Framework & Plan
Today I am proud to release Fair Chance’s Racial Equity Framework and Plan. This document is the outcome of over two years of deep reflection, critical conversations, and collaborative work resulting in a guide for Fair Chance’s work moving forward.
Fair Chance Welcomes New Pathways Partners
Last May, we selected four nonprofits for our inaugural cohort of the Pathways Partnership. These organizations started their work as a cohort in December 2018, and will graduate at the Fair Chance Honors on April 29, 2019, alongside the three nonprofits in our Praxis Cohort.