Fairfax City Awards Grants to Six Local Nonprofits

Published on January 08, 2026

The City of Fairfax has awarded grants totaling $199,509 to six nonprofit human services organizations through the city's nonprofit grant program. The organizations, which serve clients of various ages and provide a range of vital human services and support, are all located in Fairfax City or provide services to city residents.

"Fairfax City has prioritized the delivery of needed services to our community through important relationships with area nonprofits," said Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read. "Local government cannot create programs for every critical service needed by our most vulnerable residents, but we can substantially impact services by providing funding to those organizations already delivering support services. These grant dollars are an investment in the overall health of our city."

Here is a list of grant recipients and the programs being funded:

• Britepaths will fund the Food4Thought Summer Program at Daniels Run Elementary School, providing summer food support for students and bilingual books for the school library. Britepaths helps individuals and families build resilience and financial stability. (Grant amount: $40,000)
• The Heart Leaf Center will provide mental health counseling for eight children and families. The Heart Leaf Center aims to expand the accessibility of mental health services to children. (Grant amount: $40,000)
• Pathway Homes will cover predevelopment funding for the creation of 10 residential supportive housing units. Pathway Homes provides non-time-limited housing and supportive services to adults with serious mental illness and other co-occurring disabilities. (Grant amount: $40,000)
• The Chris Atwood Foundation will fund a part-time certified peer recovery specialist exclusively for Fairfax City outreach, engagement, and service delivery as part of the Fairfax City Loves Recovery Expansion project. The Chris Atwood Foundation provides free life-saving recovery support and resources to people impacted by substance use and helps prevent substance use disorder. (Grant amount: $39,509)
• Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates will cover costs associated with recruiting, screening, training, and supervising CASAs, directly supporting CASA core advocacy services. CASA advocates for children referred by Fairfax County court who are experiencing abuse and neglect. (Grant amount: $25,000)
• The Lamb Center will cover tuition, testing fees, and related materials for employment-related certification for at least 15 guests. The Lamb Center is a daytime drop-in shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness. (Grant amount: $15,000)

"Fairfax City greatly appreciates and values our nonprofit partners, who play a critical role within our community, providing support to many of our most vulnerable residents," said Lesley Abashian, human services director. "This nonprofit grant program supports and expands their important work."

The city funded the grant program for $200,000 in fiscal year 2026. Ongoing funding for the nonprofit grant program is approved as part of the city's annual budget process. For more information, visit fairfaxva.gov/nonprofitgrants.