Meet our Aerie Real Foundation Community Grant Winners!

The Somali Community in Hamilton is dedicated to empowering Somali-Canadians and other immigrant and refugee families by providing culturally responsive programs, advocacy, and support services. Their mission is to promote inclusion, equity, and community well-being through education, mentorship, social engagement, and partnerships that strengthen confidence, belonging, and resilience.

In January, 2025, amidst the devastation of the Eaton Canyon Fire, Avery Colvert, an eighth-grader at Eliot Arts Magnet in Altadena, CA, saw the girls in her community struggling-not just with what they”d lost, but with the invisible weight of uncertainty, isolation, and shame. It was clear they needed more than a temporary landing spot at a shelter-they needed hope, self-confidence, dignity, and a path to feeling whole again.
Altadena Girls grew from a simple act of care into a movement – building a world where every girl is seen, celebrated, and supported to become her truest self.

The mission of Friends in Deed is to provide supportive services with compassion and dignity to our neighbors experiencing homelessness and vulnerability. Friends in Deed vision is for a community where everyone experiences housing, food, and financial stability, and enjoys the support they need to flourish.

Girls Garage is the nation’s first construction and design program for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18. Located in Berkeley, California, we offer free and low-cost programming in architecture, carpentry, construction, design, engineering, and welding. Our mission is to create a safe and supportive space for girls and gender-expansive youth to learn technical skills and build pro bono construction projects for local nonprofits. We’re training the next generation of tradeswomen to build a better, more equitable world for everyone.

RTS empowers foster and first generation college students to graduate college, launch successful careers, and reach their full potential. Los Angeles County is home to more foster youth than anywhere in the nation. While over 90% aspire to earn a college degree, fewer than 4% succeed, and even fewer secure living-wage employment.

Their holistic model has transformed lives: 100% of RTS Scholars graduate within six years, 85% secure career-track jobs within a year, and 95% report feeling hopeful about their future for the first time. To date, RTS has served 450+ students, helping them achieve college graduation, career success, and independence.

The United Way of Ventura (UWVC) County’s mission is “To Mobilize and Inspire the Caring Power and Resources of our Community in support of our four impact areas of 1) Financial Security – United to End Homelessness, VITA, Women United, 2) Healthy Community – Building Healthy Smiles, 3) Youth Opportunity – Stuff the Bus, GradNation, Born Learning, 4) Community Resiliency – Emergency Food & Shelter Program, Volunteer Ventura County. Our United to End Homelessness initiatives include our Landlord Engagement Program (LEP) which aids in housing our homeless population as well as Rapid Re-Housing.

To inspire transformation in people and systems by building resources, relationships, and resilience. Peace Connections’ vision is a thriving community sustained by peace and social justice, which we work towards through Summer Enrichment Activities for Kids (SEAK), Harvey County Circle of Hope, and Laundry Love. These relationship-based programs bridge families with the community through a multigenerational approach!

With a mission to empower people from every economic class to build stability and positive relationships through individual transformation and community change, Circle of Hope has a goal to shift the mindset of the community toward a collective effort that seeks to reduce (and eventually end) poverty, increase community-led advocacy efforts to reduce poverty, and empower people by building social capital and leadership skills to engage in policy review. As they foster relationships between and among a diverse community, we are promoting peace and social justice. Poverty work is peace work. As long as there is poverty in our community, there can be no peace.

MLU’s mission is to call attention to the disparities and inequities faced by Latino and immigrant communities, develop solutions, and address challenges through coordinated action. MLU”s vision is a world where your zip code does not determine your lifespan.

Maryland Latinos Unidos (MLU) was established in December 2020 in response to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Latino communities across Maryland. What began as an urgent response to health disparities has evolved into a statewide advocacy and capacity-building organization dedicated to advancing equity and strengthening Latino-led and Latino-serving nonprofits.

Mamá Tierra builds on this foundation by equipping Latina mothers-and the CHWs who serve them-with knowledge and tools to protect their families and advocate for healthier environments across Maryland.

The mission of Peaceful Means is to end sexual violence across Indian Country beginning on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Sexual violence is a crisis among Indigenous girls and women. Rates of depression, suicide, teen pregnancy, and school dropout are also a crisis among Indigenous girls. Girls who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation (PRR) in South Dakota are no exception. Indeed, the vast majority of girls on the PRR live in poverty and have experienced a sexual assault. To address the crisis of sexual violence on the PRR , Peaceful Means (Wahwala Iyohlogya in Lakota) was founded in 2022 at the invitation of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (the governing body of the PRR). Peaceful Means is an Indigenous-led sexual violence prevention center seeking to end sexual violence across Indian Country beginning on the PRR .

To date, they have taught in school settings over 1,500 Indigenous children/teens on the PRR We teach a Lakota-adapted feminist empowerment self defense program (i.e., IMpower) to middle and high school girls. In addition to teaching, we evaluate the impact of their work. Most notably, they found am 80% reduction in sexual violence among Indigenous girls who took our feminist empowerment self-defense class. They also found that feelings of empowerment, mattering, hope for the future, and a academic/career commitment among girls increased.

Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ brings together people, partners, and resources to fulfill the most important needs and aspirations of their community. We care for the vulnerable locally and worldwide. They aide those living with hunger, mental illness, addiction, financial & personal crisis. Through education & engagement, they build cultural awareness and understanding among members of our diverse community. For over half a century, Federation has worked in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, NJ to better communities, bring people together, educate and help those in need.

The Global Girls Development Foundation (GGDF) is dedicated to empowering young women by providing them with the education, training, mentorship, and emotional support they need to succeed in male dominated industries. GGDF”s mission is to create pathways for girls to break down gender barriers, develop specialized skills, and confidently pursue careers in sectors where women remain underrepresented, while also prioritizing their mental well-being in these challenging environments.

Guided by their core belief in gender equity and inclusivity, GGDF is committed to building a world where girls are given equal access to opportunities that enhance their personal and professional development. They strive to foster environments where young women can build practical skills, gain hands-on experience, and connect with mentors who inspire and support their ambitions. In addition, we emphasize the importance of resilience and emotional health, equipping girls with the tools to navigate the pressures of male-dominated fields confidently.

LifeCare Alliance is a nationally recognized human services nonprofit organization with extensive experience serving our communities for over 125 years in Central Ohio. Their mission is to provide Nutrition, Health, and Support services that help restore the stability and self-reliance of people facing challenges stemming from medical conditions, disabilities, and/or aging in place. The vision and purpose of the Agency and our Alliance of donors and volunteers, is to help people live on their own terms with dignity, security, and independence. LifeCare Alliance achieves this vision by continuing to assist 21,000 Ohioans annually through our signature services and programs: IMPACT Safety, Home Safety & Repairs, Meals-on-Wheels, Senior Dining Centers, Wellness Services, Help-at-Home, Diabetes Services, Arthritis Services, HIV/AIDS Nutritional Support, Cancer Services, Cancer Nutrition & Personal Items Pantry, and Senior Pet Care.

New Beginnings For You Inc. (NBFY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Ohio, dedicated to empowering youth, young adults, and families-especially girls and young women-through compassionate support and transformative programs. Their mission is to advocate for, educate, and inspire hope in individuals through compassionate empathy, with a core focus on building confidence, promoting inclusion, and supporting long-term personal sustainability.

Since 2008, NBFY has provided a safe, inclusive environment where individuals from underserved and marginalized communities can gain access to education, life skills training, mental health support, and career readiness. Through specialized programming for young women-including mentoring, trauma-informed care, and leadership development-we help participants overcome trauma, restore self-worth, and unlock their full potential. By guiding individuals to identify and remove barriers to success, their organization fosters the inner strength, resilience, and self-belief needed to break cycles of poverty and move toward bright, independent futures.

Founded by Dr. Jenice Jones, PhD, Just The Beginning (JTB) serves formerly incarcerated women in Oklahoma, providing programs that promote empowerment, mentorship, and community reintegration. Dr. Jones, a Tulsa native and social scientist, recognized the unique challenges women face upon reentry-barriers to housing, employment, and emotional healing-and established JTB to provide holistic, trauma-informed, and faith-based support.

Since its founding, JTB has implemented evidence-based programs that help women break cycles of incarceration, addiction, and generational disadvantage. Through the Empowerment Program, participants receive skill-building, education, counseling, and personal development opportunities that foster self-sufficiency and resilience. Leadership development and spiritual growth are integrated into every program, enabling women to reclaim their purpose while positively contributing to their communities.

Today, Just The Beginning continues to transform lives one woman at a time, demonstrating that restoration, hope, and opportunity are possible for all who are committed to change.

ONABEN is driven by its mission to advance the economic development of Native peoples and all communities of color by the establishment of culturally relevant products and services designed to encourage the growth of individual and community wealth building, through the creation of aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses; financial empowerment initiatives; organizational development and community asset building.

Diversity and Inclusion Policy: Team ONABEN pledges ourselves to creating and maintaining an environment that respects diverse traditions, heritages, and experiences.

The mission of Pennsylvania Women Work is to empower women to advance in their careers and achieve self-sufficiency through life-changing career development programs and mentorship. We envision a future in which all people are empowered to succeed in the workforce, earn equitable compensation and attain economic security.

Pennsylvania Women Work has over three decades of experience in successfully supporting our region”s job seekers to achieve meaningful and family-sustaining employment in a rapidly changing labor market.

The mission of Youth & Family Services (YFS) is to support children and their families in being capable, caring, and contributing members of the community. YFS” vision is that all children in western South Dakota will develop healthy bodies, inquiring minds, wholesome relationships, compassionate hearts, creative spirits, the conviction to stand up for themselves and others, and the courage to build a better society.

The F.I.N.D. Design exists to equip girls and young women-especially those of color-with the confidence, skills, and community to flourish. They create healing-centered spaces that foster self-worth, resilience, and leadership through mentorship, education, and cultural connection.

Thistle & Bee is a two year residential social-justice social enterprise dedicated to helping women survivors of human trafficking and addiction rebuild their lives. Thistle & Bee”s mission is empowerment through love, offering a two-year residential wrap‑around program that provides safe housing, therapy, job training, employment in their social‑enterprise, and ongoing support to foster long-term healing and independence. Shop with purpose. Give with impact. Every item you buy supports healing, employment, and a new beginning for survivors.

New Day Cafe and Community Resource Hub is an ongoing initiative launched in 2016 to serve the residents of Houston”s 5th Ward and Kashmere Gardens-communities facing persistent food insecurity, economic hardship, and limited access to healthcare and wellness services.

Each week, they provide three hot, nutritious meals to up to 450 community residents, emphasizing the importance of balanced diets and wellness. In addition, they host up to six annual community events where residents receive health screenings, essential hygiene items, socks, and other critical support.

The Mind Project is a nonprofit committed to advancing mental health education by creating experiential and innovative pathways toward wellness, particularly for Hispanic youth and women. Their purpose is to support emotional and mental health needs by providing bilingual program offerings that blend experiential approaches, expressive arts, movement and immersive technologies.

Their programs are designed to break stigma, build coping tools, and open accessible entry points to mental health care within the local community through our trusted mental health partners. Led by young licensed mental health professionals, their work is scientifically grounded and mission driven as they build the mental health spaces we once needed ourselves. Through group workshops, community events, training pipelines, and policy advocacy, they aim to empower individuals to take small steps toward wellness while shaping stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable mental health systems.

The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Founded in 1936 by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and conservationist Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) was officially formed when Franklin D. Roosevelt convened the first North American Wildlife Conference. NWF is one of the nation”s most respected, non-partisan conservation organizations whose mission is to unite all Americans to ensure that both people and wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) empowers individuals and families to improve their quality of life, and to promote community cooperation and support in responding to family needs.” To fulfill this mission, NVFS develops and sustains transformative programs, projects, and partnerships that take a wraparound approach to identifying and eliminating barriers to independence for an average of 40,000 individuals and families annually experiencing poverty across Northern Virginia in the Greater Washington, D.C. metro area.

It is the mission, duty and purpose of Auto Repair Transformation (A.R.T.) to close the equity gap for workers and customers in the automotive repair industry by removing barriers to access, inspiring marginalized people to enter and thrive in the industry and advocating for inclusive and equitable environments. We primarily serve and address the needs of BIPOC, Women, LGBTQIA+, and low-income people.

This includes addressing a lack of education for these populations on how not to be taken advantage of when they need to get their cars repaired. This is especially important for low-income people. Low-income and BIPOC people are also disproportionately pulled over and receive citations for non-moving violation issues such as broken windshields, headlights, etc. These citations cost money or require attendance at a court date that takes away from work time. These individuals may experience destabilizing hardship from monetary citations or from missing work/income for court dates associated with citations for lack of vehicle maintenance.

Madison Reading Project connects our community with free books and literacy resources to ignite a love for reading that reflects and affirms the unique identities of young readers.

What began as a small grassroots effort has grown into a dynamic nonprofit that provides free books and literacy programming to children, educators, caregivers, and families who need them most. Our core program areas now include My First Pages (Early Literacy), Book Mark”d (School-Aged Literacy), Books for Educators, Community Access, and Family Literacy for All. The services offered through these programs include Dolly Parton”s Imagination Library for Dane County, Little Free Libraries, our two Big Red Reading Buses, Free Book Fairs, etc.

Madison Reading Project is now a leading force in literacy support for South Central Wisconsin and is helping to build a love of reading in the hearts and minds of kids.