|
Dear Crimsonbridge Friend,
Ten years ago, we embarked on a journey to create a different kind of philanthropic organization. We believed deeply in the power of education and wanted to work closely with others to address barriers that limit children and families from realizing their potential and their dreams. At the heart of our approach was valuing relationships, embracing new ideas, integrating technology, communicating strategically, and working directly with a vast range of community partners.
As the Crimsonbridge Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025, we were filled with gratitude for the incredible network of nonprofits, schools, and community leaders who have joined us in building bridges over the past decade. It was particularly special to gather this fall with 150 leaders, friends, and family for an evening of celebration and community. The highlight of that evening was watching guests connect and share stories about their work in Education, Leadership, Environment, and Catholic Initiatives. Together, we took time to reflect on shared accomplishments and look forward to future possibilities.
From local partnerships to global convenings like the Raising Hope Conference in Italy and the Reykjavik Global Forum in Iceland, our team continues to learn alongside our partners and develop strategies together. As we approach 2026, we look forward to expanding our work in Career Pathways, connecting learners to training and credentials that lead to meaningful careers, while continuing to strengthen existing efforts such as nonprofit resiliency through LeaderBridge and advancing Environmental Sustainability throughout the Greater Washington Region, which we call home. We also remain committed to building robust communications in Catholic schools throughout the United States, ensuring every student and family is welcomed and able to succeed.
Thank you for being part of this journey, your partnership makes the next decade of impact possible.
With deep appreciation,
Gabriela Smith
Founder & Executive Chair |
Danielle M. Reyes
President & Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
A Decade of Building Bridges Together. Founder & Executive Chair Gabriela Smith hosted an evening of gratitude and celebration for the Crimsonbridge Foundation’s 10th anniversary in October. The event brought together 150 guests from across the region and country to honor the impact of nonprofits, schools, and community partners who have been a part of the Foundation’s journey over the past decade. The joyful energy in the room was palpable as community partners connected, made plans to collaborate in the future, and provided words of support and encouragement for each other. The brief program included remarks from Founder & Executive Chair Gabriela Smith, President & CEO Danielle M. Reyes, and Board Member Adri Smith Reig. Watch the Video here.
|
|
|
Crimsonbridge leadership and staff represented the Foundation across national and international convenings this fall. Founder & Executive Chair Gabriela Smith, President & CEO Danielle M. Reyes, and Sustainability & Stewardship Partner Bill Reig participated in the Raising Hope Conference in Italy, while Danielle also joined the Running Start delegation at the Reykjavik Global Forum, LinkedIn’s National Digital Roundtable, and attended the Urban Tree Summit hosted by Casey Trees. Director of Catholic Initiatives Caitlin Mayo connected with valued partners at the University of Notre Dame ALMA Summit in Philadelphia, and Senior Program Officer Robyn Attebury Ellis contributed to the Grantmakers for Education Conference in Memphis, where she led multiple sessions and networking events in her role as Co-Chair of the Postsecondary Access and Attainment Impact Group.
|
|
|
|
Photo Source: Complete College America free online library
|
|
|
Building New Postsecondary Pathways. Nearly half of all American adults hold a postsecondary credential, but millions still lack access to education that leads to fulfilling and productive careers. With this in mind, Crimsonbridge launched Career Pathways, designed to connect more learners with high-quality training, recognized credentials, and higher-paying jobs, especially in communities where opportunities are limited. Our partners are helping make this vision a reality: the American Institute for Boys and Men, Community College Research Center, Merit America, SkillUp Coalition, Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE), and Sova Solutions. Crimsonbridge also launched new research on ways to reengage the 36 million adults who started college but didn’t finish. Learn more about Career Pathways and join us in expanding opportunities for every learner.
|
|
LeaderBridge Supports Nonprofit Resiliency. Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership hosted its first cohort on Leading Nonprofit Resiliency in October. One session was led by Matt Gayer and Amanda Liaw of Spur Local, Crimsonbridge partner and LeaderBridge administrator. From first-time founders and established communications professionals to solo-staffed nonprofit leaders, the session shared tips on strategic and crisis communications that are in high demand. These 3 takeaways resonated with DMV leaders most:
- Tailor your nonprofit’s messages for different partners - community participants and donors don't receive the same stories or asks.
- Organizations need to put out the same message 8 times for your audience to see it.
- Strategic communications and crisis communications are not the same, and teams need a plan for both.
Visit Spur Local's Resource Library for tools and templates as your team develops your plans.
|
|
|
|
Photo Source: Potomac Conservancy
|
|
New Report Card released for the Potomac River. According to Crimsonbridge partner, Potomac Conservancy, the Potomac River's progress is holding steady at a solid B. It's cleaner than it used to be, but still too polluted for safe swimming or fish consumption. Outdoor recreation is booming, with public access expanding and nearly a 10% increase in river recreation since 2020. In the midst of a remarkable comeback, the Potomac River region has seen industrial and farming pollution continue to decline and over 20% of the region’s forests, streams, and farmland are conserved. Read more here.
Also, did you know fall and early winter is a good time to plant a tree? Partner Casey Trees released easy-to-understand Tree Planting Videos and instructions to keep your new tree(s) thriving for years to come. To learn more about all of Crimsonbridge's Environmental Sustainability partners' work in the Greater Washington DC Region, visit our website.
|
|
|
Bishop Evelio Mejivar Highlights Impact of Welcoming Communications in the Catholic Church. For the Catholic Church, communications is an invaluable tool for building and strengthening relationships, and intentionally engaging community members in the life of the parish. In this video, Bishop Evelio Mejivar shares how best practices in inclusive and bilingual communications are making an impact in the Archdiocese of Washington. In partnership with Crimsonbridge, the Archdiocese of Washington Office of Communications is working directly with parishes to create robust communications strategies with the goal of building bridges and improving how parishes communicate on their websites, social media, and in person. As Bishop Evelio shares in the video: everyone, “regardless of language or background, must feel truly at home in their parish, fully welcome, fully included, and fully part of the body of Christ.”
|
|
#Community
Our commitment to participate, engage, listen, and learn with the communities we support.
|
|
|
|
|
