The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia selected Best Buddies in Virginia and DC as a 2024 Grantee! Best Buddies received a $18,000 grant from the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Fund that will support our Jobs Program and help our participants find meaningful employment.

Best Buddies in Virginia and DC is one of 59 nonprofit organizations in our area that were selected to receive a grant this year in a highly competitive process. The Community Investment Funds are the signature grant cycle managed by the Community Foundation in which funds are invested in organizations serving the Northern Virginia community in the areas of child and youth development, disabilities, education, Latino engagement and achievement, mental health, aging, military personnel and their families, and safety net support.

The Best Buddies Jobs program supports individuals with IDD in finding and maintaining competitive integrated employment. The Jobs Program supports people from the moment they decide they want to work to the moment they get their dream job offer. Best Buddies Employment Consultants support individuals with resume and cover letter creation, interview preparation, onsite job training, and ongoing support. In addition, we work to support our employer partners, host inclusive workplace trainings, and continue to build towards making every workplace a genuinely inclusive workplace.

An estimated 85% of adults (18+) with developmental disabilities do not have a paid job in the community. Best Buddies works to change that.

The Best Buddies Jobs Program currently supports 50 individuals with their employment journey. These funds will continue to expand the impact and number of individuals we can support in gaining and maintaining employment.

The Best Buddies Jobs Program takes an incredibly person-centered approach and places focus beyond the typical jobs in which a person with IDD might be placed. Best Buddies focuses on finding work that matches the job seeker’s interests and talents.

Best Buddies is grateful for this investment and recognition from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia in our mission of creating opportunities for integrated employment and successful transitions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).