Philanthropy DMV (formerly the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers) was a left-of-center critical race theory-aligned membership association of grantmaking nonprofits. It ceased its activity on December 31, 2024. ¹

Background

Philanthropy DMV was founded under the name “Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers” in April 1992 as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) membership association of grantmaking institutions in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Initially, the association aimed to help its members improve the general living and working conditions of people in the region. However, starting in 2016, the organization took up additional efforts to align its members’ grantmaking activity with critical race theory. In 2018, the organization’s board of directors furthermore voted to elevate that new focus to an official commitment, characterizing it as its “North Star.” ^{2 1 3 2 4}

In 2023, the organization officially changed its name from the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers to “Philanthropy DMV.” On November 13, 2024, Philanthropy DMV announced that given its structural lack of financial viability, it would be “wind[ing] down” its operations effective December 31, 2024. ^{5 6}

Members

Member organizations, institutions, and government entities of Philanthropy DMV included the

Greater Washington Community Foundation, Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, Arabella Advisors, JPMorgan Chase, TD Bank, Wells Fargo, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, the Washington, D.C. Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships, Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Bainum Family Foundation, Crimsonbridge Foundation, de Beaumont Foundation, Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation,  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, Flamboyan Foundation, Hill-Snowdon Foundation, if: A Foundation for Radical Possibility, Pink House Foundation, Potomac Health Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Washington Home Charitable Foundation, Weissberg Foundation, Council on Foundations, Equity In the Center, Funders For Justice, Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Funders Together to End Homelessness, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Hispanics in Philanthropy, and United Philanthropy Forum. ⁷

Leadership

As of 2025, the Philanthropy DMV website listed Gloria Nauden as the transition CEO of Philanthropy DMV as well as the founder of the D.C. Community Development Consortium Institute. Previously, she was the vice president of marketing and corporate communications at City First Bank, marketing director in the office of the chairman at Black Entertainment Television (BET), and an appointee to the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Additionally, Nauden is a board member of the Viva Dance School, CaptialBop, and Words Beats and Life. ^{8 9}

Marla Dean was listed as the transition chair of Philanthropy DMV’s board of directors as well as the executive director and CEO of Bright Beginnings, legislative chair for the Ward 7 Education Council in the District of Columbia, corresponding secretary for the Dupont Park Civic Association, member of the Low Income Investment Fund’s New Market Tax Credit Advisory Board, and member of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) Thrive by Five Coordinating Council. Previously, she was an English and government teacher in Detroit Public Schools as well as the education chair for the PennBranch Citizens Civic Association. ^{10 9}

1. “Our North Star.” Philanthropy DMV. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://philanthropydmv.org/about/.
2. Smith, Ramzey. “Howard University Hosts Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers.” Howard University: The Dig. November 25, 2019. https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/howard-university-hosts-washington-regional-association-grantmakers.
3. “Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers.” ProPublica. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521756853.
4. ARCHIVED: “Frequently Asked Questions.” Washington Regional Grantmakers Association. Archived May 17, 2022. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517174648/https://www.washingtongrantmakers.org/frequently-asked-questions.
5. “Philanthropy DMV to Wind Down Operations as it Celebrates a Legacy of Impact.” Philanthropy DMV. November 13, 2024. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://philanthropydmv.org/2024/11/13/philanthropy-dmv-to-wind-down-operations-as-it-celebrates-a-legacy-of-impact/.
6. “Washington Business Journal’s coverage on PDMV’s Wind down.” Philanthropy DMV. December 8, 2024. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://philanthropydmv.org/2024/12/08/washington-business-journals-coverage-on-pdmvs-wind-down/.
7. “Our Members.” Philanthropy DMV. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://philanthropydmv.org/directory/.
8. “Gloria Nauden.” CBC Power100. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://cbcpower100.com/celebrity/gloria-nauden/.
9. “Transition Team.” Philanthropy DMV. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://philanthropydmv.org/team-2/.
10. “Dr. Marla Dean.” DC Early EdX. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://dcearlyedx.org/dr-marla-dean/.