Washington Forrest Foundation
The Washington Forrest Foundation is a private, family foundation based in Arlington, Virginia. Incorporated in 1968, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a staff of three employees. The foundation has invested in south Arlington communities for over five decades, maintaining a focus on local impact and community partnerships.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.4M
+0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$896K
-20.8% YoY
Grant Count
61
-14.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
-7.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission emphasizes youth programs, with additional support for the arts, education, health, community welfare, and human services. Primary funding focuses on:
- Youth and afterschool enrichment programs
- Education and theatre programming for schools
- Human services and poverty alleviation
- Nonprofit capacity building and general operating support
- Community development and safety net services
Grantmaking
The foundation supports both general operating support and project-specific funding. It has demonstrated willingness to collaborate with other funders, including providing 25 percent of funding for the first wave of grants from the Arlington Community Foundation's COVID-19 Prompt Response Fund.
Grant Range
$170–$64,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arlington, Virginia, with some activity in the District of Columbia and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of June 2025:
- Total Assets: $11,418,852
- Total Revenues: $1,669,375
- Total Expenses: $1,594,962
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,418,852 | $11,344,181 | $12,895,653 |
| Revenue | $1,669,375 | $295,522 | $621,763 |
| Expenses | $1,594,962 | $1,740,765 | $1,738,228 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,311,369 | $1,469,953 | $1,486,117 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,370,432 | $20,108 | $379,605 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,103,103 | $1,049,912 | $1,008,650 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Allison A. Erdle – Executive Director (since 2012)
- Compensation: $131,232 (as of June 2024)
- Serves as Secretary on foundation documents
Leslie Ariail – Board Chair
- Founding member of Arlington Community Foundation
- Played a key role in setting the direction of Arlington Community Foundation during its formative years
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLIE S ARIAIL | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ALLISON A ERDLE | DIRECTOR | 30 | $131,996 |
| DAVID D PEETE JR | CHAIR | — | — |
| DANIEL LUCCKESE | SECRETARY | — | — |
| RACHEL G MRAD | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & TREASURER | 30 | $80,865 |
| BENJAMIN C GRAVETT JR | ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR & VICE CHAIR | 25 | $69,210 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Washington Forrest Foundation maintains a close partnership with the Arlington Community Foundation. According to the partnership, the two organizations decided approximately six years ago to work in concert, leveraging the Community Foundation's depth of information and relationships while maintaining independence. The foundation's leadership has played an integral role in reviewing and disbursing grants, including significant involvement in the Community Foundation's COVID-19 response efforts.
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Assets
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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