Partners

Honors College Connects has worked with dozens of nonprofits in the Northern Virginia area

Over more than 10 years, Honors College Connects has worked with nonprofits throughout the region. Our current partners include the INOVA Forensic Assessment Consultant Team (FACT), Keep Prince William Beautiful, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries, Insight Memory Care Center, and Bridges to Independence.

“[Our students] were motivated, hard-working and shared creative ideas.” - Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation

“Our organization was able to put the student deliverables to work!” - Western Fairfax Christian Ministries.


 

Spring 2024 Partnerships


Fall 2023 partners


History and Past Partners

2022-2023

League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area

LWVFA partnered with HCC for two semesters with two separate projects for student teams. In the fall semester, students worked to help engage young participants and created a club prototype for a LWV Mason
club. In the spring semester, students worked to create a plan to increase donor engagement for the League and identify grants that can help with sustained funding. Both of these projects were incredibly successful, and
Mason now has its own chapter of the League of Women Voters!

Fairfax County

Fairfax County has partnered with HCC for 2 years now to assist the county in getting LEED certified. Students
have worked on data gaps analysis, surveying, and other projects to help Fairfax County identify areas of
improvement for LEED certification. Fairfax County is still a current HCC partner, and students are currently
working on furthering this important community project.

UpRooted Dance

The HCC Student team partnered with Uprooted Dance, a nonprofit focused on promoting interdisciplinary
dance performances, to help the new nonprofit expand and grow. Through research and interviews, the student
team identified a pressing need for outreach, and focused on expanding the nonprofit’s internet presence. The
student team designed sample social media posts, resource lists, and an internship program to help increase
young engagement with the nonprofit.

Project Knitwell

In partnership with Project Knitwell, a nonprofit that aims to develop resiliency through shared knitting
communities, students worked to develop an expansion model for the nonprofit. Based on research into other
organizations, interviews, and networking with George Mason offices, the team put together a plan that utilized
existing university networks to expand Project Knitwell’s presence. The student group put together a pilot plan
for Project Knitwell’s expansion onto George Mason’s own campus.

Friends of Guest House

The HCC student team partnered with Friends of Guest House, a nonprofit helping women with re-entry into
society after incarceration, to help develop a framework and tools for expanding FGH’s network with local
medical providers. After research, interviews, and prototyping, the student team put together surveys and a
distribution plan to both assess current resources for women seeking re-entry, and the willingness of medical
organizations to partner with Friends of Guest House.

MVLE Inc.

This semester, HCC students worked with MVLE Inc, a nonprofit focused on serving disabled individuals in
many aspects of life. The student team was tasked with improving communication among MVLE’s numerous
clients and constituents, which they answered through research, interviews, and a multi-channel plan. The team
put together a plan involving the use of phones, websites, partnerships, and self-monitoring to allow MVLE to
continue their work in the community while staying up to date with all of their people.

Annandale Christian Community for Action

The HCC student team was initially tasked with helping ACCA attract younger volunteers. However, through
research and interviews, the student team found that focusing on attracting specifically young volunteer leaders
would help promote longevity and reduce the load on all volunteers. The team put together prototypes for
special events, social media posts, and inclusive language examples that could help attract younger volunteers
through catering to their specific social needs and values.

Latino Economic Development Center

The Latino Economic Development Center returned for another project with HCC, this time to research ways
to help small businesses overcome common issues with digitization. The student team conducted research into
Spanish and English sources, interviews with local business owners and business consultants. For their nal
project, the team created a resource guide, available at different levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and in English and Spanish; the team also created a digital skills assessment to allow LEDC to assess which training and guides clients should use.

Veterans Moving Forward

The HCC student team worked with Veterans Moving Forward to help research ways to raise money in
low-cost, low-effort ways, allowing VMF to focus most of their energy on their mission of supplying service dogs
to veterans. The student team found that nonprofits can raise money at little to no cost through online auctions,
crowdfunding, and government money; they offered examples of sites and programs that partner with charities
to raise money, as well as checklists of what to do when securing sponsors or donations.

National Air & Space Museum Explainers Program

This semester, students partnered with the NASM program to help draw more volunteers to their Explainers
program, where high school and college students serve as tour guides to explain exhibits and engage museum
guests. The student team conducted research and interviews into how to expand volunteers demographics while complying with stricter than usual media limits due to NASM’s federal funding. The student team created a job description on Handshake, social media example posts, and flyers to attract a wider range of volunteers.

KEEN Greater DC

KEEN Greater DC, a nonprofit aimed at providing programs for young athletes and disabled individuals,
partnered with HCC this year to ask how they might expand their volunteer base, which took a hit after the
pandemic. Based on research and interviews, the student team found that the issue was further than volunteer
retention, and concerned KEEN Greater DC’s personal branding in general. The student team created an app
prototype, tri-folds, flyers and posters, and a list of potential partners to help KEEN Greater DC increase the
local awareness of its mission.

Shepherd’s Center Northern VA

The HCC student team partnered with Shepherd’s Center of NOVA to help attract volunteers, donors, and
clients. The team worked to update the website and better incorporate social media with news and newsletters
so that potential clients, donors, and volunteers might be more informed of current events from SCNOVA.

Creative and Performing Arts Center

CAPAC, a repeat partner with HCC, returned this semester to gain insight into digitization strategies, especially
with a focus on marketing strategies. Through research into scholarly sources and past projects, and interviews, the student team put together marketing material and a guide to digital marketing for CAPAC to utilize as they digitize more of their services and outreach.

2021-2022

Formed Families Forward

Working with Formed Families Forward, a nonprofit focused on helping foster children with special needs,
students worked to engage more non-responsive clients. Using interviews, examples drawn from other nonprofit
social media, and research into nonprofit client engagement, students developed a plan to help FFF ensure more consistent and involved engagement from all clients.

Just Neighbors

The HCC student team worked with Just Neighbors to expand pro bono legal services into rural Virginia for
immigrants, asylees, and refugees. Students used interviews with other pro-bono programs, research, and design skills to create a newsletter template and website design outline to help spread awareness about Just Neighbors’ pro bono program, especially in more rural areas.

MVLE Inc.

MVLE Inc returned this year to work with students to expand their hydroponic farming program for people
with disabilities. Students designed a buddy program and other curriculum materials to ensure that the program
addresses multiple needs, building farming skills and helping clients develop interpersonal relationships.

FCPS Get2Green

The HCC student team worked closely with Fairfax County Public School’s Program Get2Green to help design
“Earth Week” programming to engage young children more closely with their environment. Relying on a
mixture of educational and interactive exercises and curriculum, the student team designed a week’s worth of
material for teachers and students to participate in for every Earth Week.

Veterans Moving Forward Inc

Veterans Moving Forward partnered with HCC to help increase community outreach regarding their program
providing service dogs for veterans. Drawing on research into targeted outreach, interviews with other
nonprofits and graphic designers, and design skills from the students themselves, the team designed new logo
prototypes and other outreach materials to help people more immediately understand VMF’s purpose and
services.

INOVA FACT

The HCC student team partnered with INOVA FACT to improve outreach to young adults regarding INOVA
FACT services. The student team conducted research and interviews to design target social media posts
following the INOVA aesthetic scheme and educating audiences about healthy sexual and dating practices, as
well as resources available for people in need of help.

Latino Economic Development Center

The Latino Economic Development Center partnered with HCC to increase smartphone engagement with
their financial literacy/loan program and better monitor the impacts of the program. The student team utilized
research and interviews to create a plan to improve ease of use and a series of simple surveys to help track the
perceived impacts of the program based on the client responses.

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

The HCC student team partnered with Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to develop a way to monitor the
impact of WFCM’s food bank program and client satisfaction. Balancing the desire to gather information with
the negative impact of sending too many surveys, the HCC student team designed a series of surveys that
maximized the amount of information while minimizing the time and energy commitments for clients.

Insight Memory Care Center

The HCC student team worked with Insight Memory Care Center to improve outreach to the Fairfax
community. Students conducted research and interviews to focus on the specific difficulties and needs of
individuals with memory disorders, as well as alternative ways to reach underserved communities. The team
created an outreach plan with proposed sites of outreach and brochure prototypes to help increase community
awareness of IMCC.

Bridges to Independence

The student team worked on a slightly different project with Bridges to Independence, creating a case statement
to help Bridges to Independence gain more funding to continue their work helping homeless individuals gain
independence and get back on their feet. The team worked to review other case statements to identify which
aspects increase donor input and funding and craft a case statement, as well as a guideline for future case
statements.

2020-2021

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

The HCC student team worked with Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to develop an interview guide for new clients interested in the Pathways to Success Program, which provides intensive financial education, budget counseling and financial aid. Using insights gained in interviews with many different community members, the students created a guide and sample questions that made the interview process more relaxed and helpful for both potential clients and WFCM.

Reform Education for a New World

Working with Reform Education for a New World, the HCC student team created guidelines for a new curriculum and budget. These guidelines drew on community surveys, other example curricula and interviews with teachers and students to create a curriculum that would allow every student to excel. Through this project, RENEW has worked to reform education and help students throughout the community.

NOVA Mental Health Foundation

Working with the NOVA Mental Health Foundation, the HCC student team provided materials and guidelines to improve the donor outreach and fundraising strategy. The students provided contact information for potential donors and grants, message prototypes and advertising material. NOVA Mental Health Foundation has used these materials to bring in the funding necessary to continue serving our community. 

The Grassroot Project

The HCC student team worked with the Grassroot Project to improve donor support and develop a strategy to overcome the challenges of fundraising in a pandemic. The students used insights gained from interviews with alumni, staff and community members to create recommendations for a phone outreach program, newsletter and email campaign. The Grassroot Project has used these strategies to improve fundraising and better engage with its alumni network and community.

A Farm Less Ordinary 

The student team working with A Farm Less Ordinary focused on developing a process outlining the experience of volunteers on the farm. Over the semester, the students created a journey map to explore the process of recruiting, training, maintaining and developing volunteers within the organization. From these insights, the students then helped A Farm Less Ordinary retain well trained volunteers who share their passion for inclusive service.

Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons

Building upon the work of Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons, the student team explored the different needs, interests, and age groups within the deaf and hard of hearing community. With this broadened perspective, the student team found new ways to engage the deaf and hard of hearing community through social media platforms that are useful to their needs.

INOVA FACT Department

Building upon the well-established relationship between the Honors College and the INOVA FACT Department, the student team found ways the FACT Department can best outline their services to provide resources to potential patients. Taking the project a step further, the team then considered how INOVA FACT can present these resources in a way that responds to the consideration for people in LGBTQ+ population. This exploration allowed the INOVA FACT Department to expand the inclusivity of their services to better serve the community of Northern Virginia.

Creative and Performing Arts Center (CAPAC)

The HCC student team collaborated closely with the Creative and Performing Arts Center to design a new website. Building off of research into website design and interviews with various nonprofits and community members, the team created a new website that better reflects the values of the Creative and Performing Arts Center as well as showcasing their various performances. 

Latino Economic Development Center 

Working with the Latino Economic Development Center, the HCC student team found ways to improve the Center’s outreach. The team’s proposal built off existing practices to create an outreach method that helps the Latino Economic Development Center support the community with housing troubles.

2019-2020

Public Art Reston

Working with Public Art Reston, the HCC student team of 2019 created a survey to track local engagement and interaction with their art displays. Through insights collected from the survey, Public Art Reston was able to quantify their impact in the community and use the data for grant applications to fund future projects.

INOVA FACT Department

The 2020 HCC student team developed a process for training and certifying forensic nurses who provide services for victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. This team worked with the INOVA FACT Department to ensure the curriculum was to standard with the 2020 SANE guidelines necessary to achieve the forensic nurse’s certification. Through this collaborative project, HCC increased the number of SANE certified nurses in Virginia in order to best address the needs of our community.

Bridle Paths

The HCC students and Bridle Paths united around the mission of updating and polish the existing marketing materials that share the services of the therapeutic riding organization. Through the work of the student teams developed new outreach materials that organized the services of the nonprofits in a way that increased Bridle Path’s presence within the community. These new materials brought together new customers, potential donors, and greater sense of community support.

2018-2019

Arc of Northern Virginia

The Arc of Northern Virginia provides resources, such as the Guardianship and Special Needs Trust Program, to individuals with disabilities with the goal of improving their quality of life. The students focused on identifying companies in the greater Northern Virginia area, through which the Arc could potentially provide their expertise to employees. They conducted research on the effects of caregiving in the workplace and the overall quality of life for caregivers. In conjunction with providing the points of contacts within the large companies, they synthesized the caregiving research into talking points for the Arc to interest the companies in a potential partnership.

Fairfax Bar Association

The HCC students helped the Fairfax Bar Association in increasing understanding of factors that contribute to litigants appearing without representation at court in Northern Virginia. They created and distributed a survey to individuals after their time in court. With the students’ help, the Fairfax Bar Association was able to gain a deeper knowledge of how to help individuals throughout the area.

CIS NOVA

Communities in Schools is a national organization which works to keep children in school and on track to graduate by providing them with a wide variety of materials and resources. In order to promote the Northern Virginia chapter, HCC students provided an interview-based video to show to potential donors and investors. Students met and coordinated with contacts from CIS NOVA Site Coordinator of Gunston Middle School. The students created a 4-5 minute video that highlights the impact of Communities in Schools and creates a touching sentiment that prompts donations.

INOVA

The Honors College Connects INOVA group worked with the Ewing Forensic Assessment and Consultation Teams Department (FACT) at INOVA Hospital over the past six months to develop a plan to offer a Sexual Assault Examiner Course at INOVA Fairfax Hospital.

Fellowship Square

Fellowship Square is an independent senior living center that offers discounted apartments for seniors who may not be able to afford housing. The student teams created a video detailing the house’s mission, history and resident interviews.

2017-2018

Cornerstones

Friends of Reston

Giving Circle of Hope

MVLE, Inc.

Southgate

Touching Heart

2016-2017

Fairfax County Parks Authority

OAR of Fairfax

Volunteer Fairfax

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

2015-2016

Clean Fairfax

Empower Women International

Langley Residential Support Services

MVLE, Inc.

2014-2015

Arts Council of Fairfax County

Computer CORE

Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services

The Women’s Center

2013-2014

Brain Injury Services

James Mott Community Assistance Program

Leadership Fairfax

Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation

2012-2013

Computer CORE

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

HomeAid Northern Virginia

UCM

2011-2012

Homestretch, Inc.

New Hope Housing, Inc.

2010-2011

Langley Residential Support Services

Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC)

Reston Drop in Center

2009-2010

Leadership Fairfax