As the region’s only locally-focused guide to civic engagement, Spur Local believes in the power of small nonprofits to spark big change together.

In 2003, they were founded by philanthropist Barbara Harman as the Catalogue for Philanthropy, an annual publication for donors to discover and support community-based nonprofits with limited capacity to tell their stories to a larger audience. Over the last 20 years, the organization has both raised nearly $60M for local nonprofits and grown to become the largest nonprofit capacity builder in the region, designing resources specifically for nonprofits operating with small teams and budgets.

Now, as Spur Local, they create a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable region by cultivating critical connections between residents and the nonprofits in their neighborhoods. They have raised more than $57 million for a network of 400+ small, local nonprofits, with 10,000+ donors giving through the Spur Local portal. Knowing that sustainable organizations are key to facilitating change, they have trained over 25,000 nonprofit professionals, strengthening their skills in fundraising, marketing, leadership and management, and more.

Every year, they engage 150+ residents who live or work in the Greater Washington region to volunteer as part of our nonprofit review process, choosing nonprofits that are critical to our communities here, where they live. They then conduct site visits and financial reviews with the selected nonprofits trusted by a volunteer team before inducting 80+ nonprofits annually into a four-year partnership, all at completely no cost to them.

Spur Local’s work is rooted in equity, collaboration, resiliency, empowerment, and community. They promote visibility, stimulate discussions and, together—as a sector, as a region, as neighbors—are a catalyst for good.