The Mission Elevation program is an extension of VCDC's commitment to ensure communities are vibrant for all residents. Created 5 years ago, Mission Elevation is the newly named iteration of the successful program the Nonprofit Sustainability Challenge.

VCDC's Technical Assistance (TA) Program offers unique benefits to our partners in affordable housing to help them obtain the resources they need to create real change in their communities. Recently, we used TA funds to support training services for over 80 property managers and maintenance staff at our affordable communities across Virginia.

Housing Alexandria, a nonprofit developer based in Northern Virginia, is dedicated to creating homes and community-focused spaces that empower the residents of Alexandria. With over 840 affordable homes delivered and 400 additional rental units currently planned for construction, the organization has significantly impacted the Alexandria region. As Housing Alexandria has grown, CEO Jon Frederick and COO Elisa Mondragon recognized the need for strategic guidance to tackle new, ambitious projects. To address this, they joined Cohort 6 of VCDC’s Mission Elevation program.

The Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC) is a community-focused organization that provides essential services to low-income and vulnerable residents including an emergency shelter, a veteran transitional housing program, a food pantry, and a day support program. Recently, JCOC reached a major milestone in their mission to empower communities after beginning renovations for a campus that will create 38 new supportive housing homes for people experiencing homelessness in Virginia Beach. As JCOC has expanded, Executive Director Todd Walker and Development Director Kristin Ward recognized the need to enhance their administrative, financial, grant management, and fundraising capacities. To address these needs, they joined VCDC’s Mission Elevation (ME) program.

We are delighted to announce the six organizations joining Mission Elevation for the 2023-2024 program cycle. The Mission Elevation program has been creating professional growth opportunities for community development nonprofit and quasi-governmental organization leaders since its inception in 2017.

Allison Bogdanovic is the Executive Director of Virginia Supportive Housing, Virginia’s first and largest nonprofit organization that develops and manages permanent supportive housing for homeless adults. She’s seen a lot of change and growth during her time at the organization, and joining the first cohort of Mission Elevation in 2016 did more than just boost and amplify that growth – it helped her learn how to face uneasy challenges and reframe VSH’s mindset to make a bigger impact in the communities they serve.

“Being a part of initiatives and cohorts such as Mission Elevation allows you to take a step back from our day-to-day innerworkings and be more strategic about the future.”

Jeff Smith is the Executive Director of Rush Homes, a Lynchburg-based nonprofit that creates homes for people with disabilities and low incomes. Mission Elevation gave Jeff the tools to learn how to increase Rush Homes’ capacity in fundraising and property development and help him grow into a skillful, confident leader.

2022 - What a year! We are incredibly grateful to our partners who we helped make huge impacts in the communities they serve.

Three years into her position as Executive Director of Housing Families First, Beth Vann-Turnbull knew it was time to make drastic changes the organization's funding model to be able to continue meeting the rising needs of families in Richmond that need a place to call home. To help address this challenge she was encouraged to apply for the second cohort of VCDC’s Mission Elevation program.

Prior to joining Mission Elevation, Hope Cupit, CEO of Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP), realized that her organization needed a major departmental reorganization. She knew that Mission Elevation was a sustainability program and believed it could help SERCAP tackle several performance challenges: getting new loan products, faster automation, faster services, and improving marketing initiatives. We asked Hope to reflect on her experience, where she shared that she achieved more than she could have expected from the program.

The Mission Elevation program is an extension of VCDC's commitment to ensure communities are vibrant for all residents. Created 5 years ago, Mission Elevation is the newly named iteration of the successful program the Nonprofit Sustainability Challenge.

The Mission Elevation program is an extension of VCDC's commitment to ensure communities are vibrant for all residents. Created 5 years ago, Mission Elevation is the newly named iteration of the successful program the Nonprofit Sustainability Challenge.

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance has set out to reverse the many years of economic decline, revitalize the downtown area and sustain Harrisonburg’s Main Street as a destination location.