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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Washington Forrest Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Aspire Learning ($64,000), Arlington Food Assistance Center ($50,000), Bridges to Independence ($40,200).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AHC INC ARLINGTON, VA | EXPANDED LITERACY AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS | $32,500 |
| ACT FOR ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $3,750 |
| APS-ALICE FLEET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARLINGTON, VA | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND ENRICHMENT | $1,000 |
| ARLINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,250 |
| ARLINGTON FOOD ASSISTANCE CENTER ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ARLINGTON FREE CLINIC ARLINGTON, VA | LEGACY AWARD GRANT | $10,000 |
| ARLINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGE ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $13,200 |
| ARLINGTON PARTNERSHIP FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARLINGTON, VA | LEGACY GRANT AWARD | $7,500 |
| ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS-DR CHARLES R DREW ELEMENTARY ARLINGTON, VA | COUNSELING | $1,000 |
| ARLINGTON RETIREMENT HOUSING CORPORATION ARLINGTON, VA | AGING WITH DIGNITY ASSISTED-LIVING SERVICES | $7,500 |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Washington Forrest Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from Washington Forrest Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 76 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending June 2025) • Total giving: $896,490 • Typical grant range: $170–$64,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2025):** • Aspire Afterschool Learning: $64,000 (General Operating Support & Drew Project Support) • Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC): $50,000 (General Operating Support) • Bridges to Independence: $40,200 (General Operating Support & Bridges Bash) • Leadership Center of Arlington: $12,500 (Program Scholarships and Ge…
Where does Washington Forrest Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arlington, Virginia, with some activity in the District of Columbia and North Carolina.
What size grants does Washington Forrest Foundation award?
In 2025, Washington Forrest Foundation awarded 61 grants totaling $896K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Washington Forrest Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Washington Forrest Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Washington Forrest Foundation's EIN?
Washington Forrest Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7002944. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Washington Forrest Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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