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What Makes Us Different
For 20 years, CORE Foundation has built a powerful legacy—now fueled by the energy of the next generation.
CORE Foundation is a nonprofit that ignites and incubates changemakers.
We serve as a fiscal sponsor for grassroots leaders with bold ideas but limited time or resources. Under our 501(c)(3) umbrella, they get immediate access to everything needed to launch and sustain a charitable program:
* Nonprofit legal status (without a six-month filing process)
* Financial systems and compliance infrastructure
* Fundraising platforms and donor management tools
* Insurance, governance support, and risk management
* Strategic coaching and a community of fellow changemakers
This means leaders can focus 100% on their mission—not paperwork, not accounting, not navigating IRS regulations.
Since 2007, we've incubated 50+ community-led initiatives—proving that when you remove barriers, grassroots leaders create extraordinary impact.
We look for vision, not credentials. A parent who sees kids going hungry. A veteran who knows what fellow vets need. A survivor who understands patient families. If you're committed to serving your community, we'll provide the structure to make it happen.
Join us to ignite the next generation of changemakers.
CORE Foundation is a nonprofit that builds nonprofits.
CORE Foundation doesn't fund nonprofits—we create them. We say "yes" to grassroots ideas that traditional philanthropy often overlooks. Then, we provide the entire nonprofit infrastructure, allowing local changemakers to immediately impact our community.
CORE Foundation removes the barriers that stand between passionate leaders and the communities they want to serve.
We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as a fiscal sponsor and operational backbone for grassroots changemakers. Instead of spending 6+ months and thousands of dollars filing for nonprofit status, leaders can launch their charitable projects immediately—with full nonprofit infrastructure from day one.
Here's what we provide:
* Legal 501(c)(3) status for tax-deductible donations
* Financial management, bookkeeping, and compliance
* Insurance, governance structure, and risk management
* Fundraising tools, strategic coaching, and peer community
* Everything needed to turn a bold idea into a sustainable program
We work with leaders of all backgrounds—parents, veterans, survivors, volunteers—who see needs in their communities and refuse to look away. You bring the vision and commitment. We provide the structure and support.
Since 2007, we've helped launch 50+ charitable initiatives serving tens of thousands across Northern Virginia. Because passion shouldn't have to wait for paperwork.
Since 2007, we've helped launch 50+ charitable initiatives serving tens of thousands across Northern Virginia. Because passion shouldn't have to wait for paperwork.
Our Superpower
20 Years of Impact
Behind every CORE Cause is a leader who saw a need and decided to act. For 20 years, we've said "yes" to their bold ideas—and together, we've launched 50+ initiatives that have touched tens of thousands of lives. From weekend food programs to adaptive sports, cancer support to inclusive community spaces—these are the stories that prove what's possible when passion meets infrastructure.
50+ charitable initiatives. Tens of thousands of lives touched. Two decades of community-led change. Here are the stories behind the numbers—the leaders, the moments, and the missions that make CORE Foundation's work real.
Be part of the next 20 years of community-led change.
My name is Aaron. I am 14 years old and born and raised in Reston. I have a learning disability, dyslexia. In school, I struggle because of my learning differences, so participating in triathlons helps me gain a lot of self-confidence. I have also become closer to my community as a result. My neighbors encouraged the beginning of my triathlon journey when I was 7 years old. In 2018, I will compete in my eighth Reston Youth Triathlon and my first Reston Sprint Triathlon. I decided to race with purpose and fundraise because both of my parents have experienced loss due to cancer, including my grandpa, uncles, and my aunt. Triathlons bring the community together for a good cause, and I want to make a difference. My advice to other kids who want to give triathlon a try is that if I can do it, anyone can. I encourage all children to participate and try to have fun; don’t be afraid or intimidated. When you finish, you feel good about yourself. In addition, it is tons of fun. If you are interested, I would recommend reaching out to triathlon coordinators who can easily advise you on where to start. There are many volunteer positions within the triathlon that need to be filled for the event to be successful, and you will also earn service hours. Remember, you are not alone, and there are many volunteers who can guide you during the race.
Aaron’s Triathlon Journey, from Youth to SprintRU SigEp Brothers by the Wayside, one of CORE Foundation’s original CORE Causes, has had a transformational experience. From the beginning, they believed in our mission—to bridge the gap for fraternity brothers and extended Radford University friends and family. We support those who have fallen by the wayside due to health challenges, financial hardship during COVID, or life circumstances that left them isolated. Because of CORE Foundation’s support, we have been able to provide direct financial assistance, strengthen our local chapter through scholarships, and re-engage the greater Radford University SigEp community in meaningful ways. A powerful example is our annual regional Day of Service, which brings brothers and friends together to clean up the Signorello Farm. The property belonged to a brother who passed away, leaving behind not only a wife, but three children and a maintenance-heavy farm. That day isn’t just about cleaning land or cutting wood; it’s about honoring legacy, serving with humility, and experiencing the bonds we formed years ago. Over the past 20 years, CORE Foundation has modeled what sustained generosity looks like. Their belief—that community service creates a ripple effect—has proven true in our story. We have grown not only in resources but in unity, compassion, and purpose. As I often say, “The act of giving and community service is a race without a finishing line.” CORE Foundation has helped us keep running that race. And, because of them, more brothers and friends are running alongside us.
Service Days for Brother by the WaysideThe Helping Hungry Kids (HHK) partnership with CORE Foundation has been instrumental in enabling us to expand our inventory and sustain the necessary supply of food items for our students in need. We became a CORE Cause in 2019, but soon after that, schools shut down due to the COVID pandemic. Closures introduced a huge obstacle for us, since HHK weekend food bags are delivered to students through their school. We were also unable to run our monthly food drives, so we needed donations of food. CORE Foundation jumped right in to help. They used social media and email to encourage people in our community to donate to PODS storage units in parking lots around Reston. And, we worked with Dogwood Elementary School to quickly get food out to families for the weekend. By 2026, we have grown to serve 600 students with weekend food bags. HHK is deeply grateful for CORE Foundation’s partnership and its unwavering dedication to uplifting our community.
Helping Hungry Kids During COVID
Where It Started
In 2006, Doug Bushée was planning a local triathlon when he noticed something: more than one of his friends wanted to start a nonprofit. But the barriers were enormous. Just filing the federal paperwork could take six months, and legal fees could easily exceed $5,000. Add in complex compliance requirements, and these roadblocks stood between passionate people and the causes they cared about—all before they could serve a single person.
Doug saw a better way. What if he used the proceeds from that first Reston Sprint Triathlon to build infrastructure that future changemakers could tap into? Instead of everyone struggling to build a nonprofit from scratch, he could do the hard work once, then passionate leaders could plug in and pursue their visions. It was a shift from isolated acts of service to a shared platform for multiplying impact.
By 2007, CORE Foundation was born—an incubator for grassroots changemakers with bold ideas but limited resources. Doug's philosophy: remove barriers, accelerate impact, and empower others to be the change.
Twenty years later, that philosophy has launched 50+ community-led initiatives serving tens of thousands across Northern Virginia. It all started with one race, one question, and one person who believed grassroots leaders deserved a faster path to impact.
The Origin Story / The Backstory / The Lore / The Spark
Our Partners in Purpose
For 20 years, CORE Foundation has built a powerful legacy—now fueled by the energy of the next generation. None of this would be possible without our visionary partners and sponsors.
Ready to align your brand with 20 years of proven impact and the next generation of community solutions?
