Two Decades of Turning Compassion into Action
Since 2004, the Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation has served as the vibrant heartbeat of our credit union, transforming the "people helping people" philosophy into a powerhouse of community impact. What began as a local mission at Dranesville Elementary has ignited into a regional force for good, now supporting a network of 40 schools and nine nonprofit partners. For over 20 years, we’ve remained anchored by one bold, unwavering belief: every child, regardless of circumstance, deserves the chance to learn, grow, and dream without limits.
A History of Service
Our story is one of compounding generosity and record-shattering milestones. From awarding more than $2.6 million in scholarships to completing 156 outreach drives, we have touched hundreds of thousands of lives across Northern Virginia. In 2025 alone, we reached an incredible peak by serving 38,900 individuals in a single year—providing everything from brand-new shoes and holiday meals to life-changing mentorship for first-generation students. Today, we continue to move forward with more energy than ever, united by a shared purpose to build a future where every student has the dignity, resources, and opportunity to succeed.
- Founded with a single school partnership and a belief that every child in our Herndon-Reston community deserves the chance to learn, grow, and dream.
- Began our relationship with Dranesville Elementary School in Herndon, Virginia. That partnership still stands today.
- Became a proud sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run.
- Created the Ben DeFelice Scholarship Program in honor of a credit union pioneer. Six students received $9,000 in the program’s first year.
- Gave our first disaster relief grant of $10,000 to the National Credit Union Foundation Disaster Relief Fund after Hurricane Katrina.
- Sponsored Dranesville Elementary’s afterschool program in support of the “No Child Left Behind” initiative.
- Grew our circle of school partners to include St. Joseph’s and other local schools, sharing books on children’s economics and hosting financial education activities.
- Reached more than 1,000 children through our financial education activities and literacy outreach.
- Received our 501(c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service.
- Raised $27,880 from members in the Foundation’s first fundraising effort.
- Awarded $25,000 in scholarships to 10 students through the Ben DeFelice program.
- Reached 2,700 students through school assemblies and community events.
- Began administering the Central Intelligence Retirees Association (CIRA) Scholarship Program, broadening the families we serve.
- Awarded three teacher professional development grants to local schools. The year before, we had funded one.
- Taught more than 4,100 elementary students how to spend, save, and share wisely.
- Became a Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) designated charity, giving federal employees a new way to support our mission.
- Welcomed new school partnerships with Louise Archer Elementary in Vienna, and with Rachel Carson Middle School and Herndon High School in Herndon.
- Grew our financial education program to include savings lessons for preschoolers at Chesterbrook Academy and a new credit basics seminar for college students.
- Reached 5,125 students across every stage of learning.
- Awarded $75,000 in scholarships to 17 students.
- Held the first Night of Magic, welcoming critically ill children and their families at Children’s National Medical Center. The event raised $16,000.
- Reached more than 6,000 students through a variety of financial literacy programs.
- Created our corporate Volunteer Program, giving every Northwest employee paid time during business hours to serve Foundation programs.
- Earned national recognition with the Financial Education Advocate of the Year award.
- Opened new ways to give by adding a donation option to NWLink on the NWFCU website and accepting online credit card donations.
- Employees gave more than 1,700 volunteer hours to the Foundation’s work.
- Introduced the Westie in the Schools program, an animated book reading with the guest author and NWFCU mascot, Westie.
- Reached more than 5,000 students from preschool through college, teaching them to save, spend, and share wisely.
- Started a mentoring program at Dranesville Elementary, pairing at-risk students with caring adult role models.
- Earned recognition from the Children’s Miracle Network and FCPS Partners in Education for our work with students.
- Reached 3,500 students through the Foundation’s financial education programs.
- Helped local families during the holidays. NWFCU employees and members collected 770 pounds of food and 212 toys.
- Outfitted more than 75 students with backpacks and school supplies.
- Grew our scholarship program to $115,000 awarded across 21 recipients.
- Passed $150,000 in donations to Children’s Miracle Network since the Foundation’s beginning.
- Joined Rachel Carson Middle School to launch the first “Best Buddies” program in Fairfax County, opening doors for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Reached beyond Fairfax County to support new education programs in Prince William and Loudoun Counties.
- Started a food backpack drive with Dranesville Elementary School to help children through the weekend.
- Reached 3,600 students through the Foundation’s financial education programming.
- Gave more than $10,000 in disaster relief to Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières after Typhoon Haiyan.
- Taught nearly 33,000 students the importance of saving.
- Celebrated 10 years of community service and outreach.
- Held our first Summertime Food Drive, giving LINK nearly 10 tons of food.
- Completed our 100th outreach drive, meeting our community’s greatest basic needs.
- Held the first NWFCU Neon Night Glow Run, raising critical funds for the Foundation and our annual Night of Magic event.
- Served 800 critically ill children and their families since the start of Night of Magic.
- Awarded $958,650 in scholarships since the Foundation’s beginning.
- Created the Need-Based Scholarship Program, focused on outstanding students who need financial support to pursue their education.
- Shared a new Mission, Vision, and Values Statement for the Foundation, with a focus on youth.
- Hosted our first Drive for the Driven Golf Tournament. It would grow into one of our largest annual fundraisers.
- Received the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award and the Washington Business Journal Corporate Philanthropy Award for our work across the community.
- Welcomed a superhero theme to the Foundation, celebrating the everyday heroes in our community.
- Created the Higher Education Community College Award, opening scholarship opportunities to community college students.
- Hosted six Community Outreach Drives in support of youth across the region.
- Presented a Carvana vehicle to our raffle winner. Proceeds supported the Aspire Higher Scholarship Program.
- Raised $290,000 for our scholarship, mentorship, and outreach programs.
- Recognized as a Best of Reston Honoree for our philanthropic work and volunteer spirit.
- Nominated for the Volunteer Fairfax Award in recognition of our community impact.
- Started Wacky Wednesdays, a surprise party series for youth at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center.
- Provided 2,000 backpacks to students in need at local schools.
- Celebrated our 15th anniversary of service in the community.
- Hosted the 10th annual Night of Magic for 172 patients and their families.
- Awarded $150,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
- Met the moment as the pandemic arrived, shifting our focus to the unprecedented needs in our community through our outreach drives.
- Collected and delivered 33,000 food items to feed children in need across the greater Washington metro area, in partnership with 13 Giant Food stores.
- Distributed 51,000 diapers to Northern Virginia families.
- Delivered 1,000 winter coats and accessories to students.
- Provided $2,500 in tablets to help close the digital divide for students learning from home.
- Awarded $130,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
- Welcomed donors into the Foundation’s Legacy Program, a new way to leave a lasting mark on the community.
- Answered record-breaking school supply needs as students returned to in-person learning.
- Joined with 17 Giant Food stores to power the Foundation’s food insecurity drives.
- Awarded $130,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
- Distributed 50,000 diapers to Northern Virginia families.
- Gifted 2,000 coats and winter accessories to students in need.
- Awarded $135,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
- Provided 60,000 school supply items to four local elementary schools.
- Awarded $130,000 in scholarships to 37 students.
- Collected more than 10,000 food items for distribution to families in need.
- Gifted more than 500 coats and winter accessories to youth across our community.
- Distributed more than 350,000 diapers to Northern Virginia families since the program began.
- Became a sponsoring organization of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, honoring volunteers who give their time to strengthen our community.
- Completed our 155th outreach collection drive, meeting basic needs in the communities Northwest serves.
- Awarded $139,000 in scholarships to 29 recipients, bringing our grand total to $2,152,650 awarded since the beginning.
- Collected and distributed more than 36,000 food items to address food insecurity.
- Started Step Into Success, a program that provides a new pair of athletic shoes to free and reduced-meal students for the start of the school year.
- Invested more than $1.9 million in community outreach since 2004.
- Raised $1,129,390.47 in monetary and in-kind donations toward our mission.
- Awarded $185,000 in scholarships to 38 deserving students.
- Launched The N.E.E.D.S. Project (Nurturing Education Experiences and Dreams for Students), a new program delivering 23 life-changing projects across the community.
- Collected more than 55,000 food items for weekend backpack programs, a 52.8% increase over 2024, so students had nutritious meals beyond the school day.
- Continued our partnership with Thompson Restaurants, providing 1,200 chef-prepared Thanksgiving meals to families across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
- Distributed more than 30,000 hygiene items to under-resourced students through our Clean & Dream collection drive, a 115.8% increase that gave children the confidence and dignity they deserve.
- Provided 1,334 students with brand-new athletic shoes and socks to start the school year strong. There’s real joy in watching a child lace up new shoes for the first time.
- Distributed winter coats to 2,201 students in need, a 100% increase over 2024 in partnership with Koons Tysons Toyota.
- Welcomed 20 Northwest employee mentors at Dranesville Elementary and Herndon High School, and started a new mentoring program at James Madison High School, reaching 630 students.
- Selected by George Mason University for the Video for Social Change program.
- Earned recognition across the region, including Prince William County, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and Manassas City Public Schools, along with The Reston Letter and Loudoun Now.
- Grew our partnership with the Washington Commanders through Training Camp, Commanders Reads, Trick-or-Treat, and Shop with a Pro, bringing joy, mentorship, and meaningful engagement to hundreds of children in Title I schools.
A Legacy of Lasting Impact
“The work of the Foundation is built on our core value of giving back to the community and our collective responsibility to empower the next generation to succeed.”
—Jeff Bentley, NWFCU President & CEO and Chairman of the Foundation Board
View Our Yearbook
The Next Student Is Waiting for Someone Like You
Every program, every drive, and every scholarship on this page exists because someone decided to give. Your support connects directly to students who are counting on their community to show up for them. Join us and help write what comes next.