NeighborShare ALX’s pilot program, which supports residents facing financial hardship, has been expanded from its original three-month run to a full year.

The program, launched in November by ACT for Alexandria in partnership with online donation platform NeighborShare, provides up to $400 in monetary support to Alexandrians facing an unexpected financial hardship.

“We received some generous donations from the community; we were able to extend it a little bit longer,” Chief Program Officer of ACT for Alexandria Brandi Yee said. “… [NeighborShare] is continuing on the program past the pilot. They have committed to working with these partners over the next year and continuing to offer the NeighborShare platform, as well as supporting the needs that get posted.”

Since its launch, the program has assisted 220 neighbors, which inspired the expansion of the program to include a wider array of needs and expand the service to a full year, organizers said.

The program was originally launched in response to the federal government shutdown, Yee said. The 43-day shutdown spanning from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025, left at least 670,000 federal employees furloughed, while about 730,000 others worked without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

During the six-week span, federal workers and contractors in Alexandria especially felt the plight of job insecurity.

According to a recent presentation to City Council, the number of federal employees residing in Alexandria has decreased by nearly 5% since January 2025, while private employment decreased by more than 1% in the same time frame.

The amount of assistance awarded to Alexandrians through the NeighborShare ALX program as of March 4 totals $30,000, with $8,000 coming directly from individual donors, ACT for Alexandria Program Manager Shelley Spacek Miller said.

But in February, NeighborShare ALX broadened its funding goals to include those impacted by the federal shutdown and those with more general needs. This means Alexandrians can request funding through the program regardless of if their requests are related to the shutdown or ongoing ripple effects, according to Yee.

Yee said ACT for Alexandria and NeighborShare decided to expand the program to include those not impacted by the government shutdown because of the outpour of donations and the continued financial gaps for families in Alexandria.

A partnership with NeighborShare appealed to ACT for Alexandria because it allows community members to rally to support those in need while bolstering the city’s preexisting nonprofit network, Yee said.

“Because I think the time we’re in now – when it feels like there’s a lot of things that are out of our control – a lot of people look at the local level to see, ‘How can I make a difference in my own backyard?’” she said. “Having a platform like this is an opportunity that allows people to take action, really meaningful action.”

The program connects donors directly with needs, which local nonprofit partners help identify. The financial gaps are posted on the website with their story and dollar amount requested, and donors can directly fund the request online. The donation goes directly to the nonprofit partners, who funnel the assistance to the person requesting help.

Or as Yee puts it: NeighborShare is “a platform that would help connect neighbors to neighbors.”

Local partners referring cases include Community Lodgings, Christ Church and the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia. As of March 17, four requests are active on the site for needs like housing payments and other bills.

“I think we always see that there is a real deep need in the community,” Spacek Miller said. “Whether it’s the high cost of living, the current environment here, it’s just really something that is pervasive and [has continued] even after the shutdown.”

If neighbors do not donate to the posted needs within two weeks, Yee said, then ACT for Alexandria donates to unmet needs using the organization’s reserves and donations from individual donors. This ensures that all needs posted to NeighborShare ALX are met.

Yee said she and the ACT for Alexandria team have been encouraged by the generosity of Alexandrians.

“We had hoped that this pilot would … also just be able to educate just the community about what the existing needs are,” she said, “and how even just a short pause in income can have ripple effects for stability and insecurity for families.”

With the expanded timeline of the NeighborShare program, Yee said the next challenge is continuing to get the word out so Alexandrians in need can be financially supported.

“When one person is struggling, the whole community feels that,” Yee said. “NeighborShare ALX is about shared responsibility and collective action.” Needs are updated daily at the program’s website. Donations of any size are tax-deductible and go toward meeting the listed needs, the site states.

“Every dollar matters,” Spacek Miller said. “Every dollar, every donation, we hope, is approachable. That’s one thing we appreciate about NeighborShare is that there’s an opportunity [to donate] that doesn’t have to be triple digit donations. It can be $5. It can be $10. It can be $15. Every time a neighbor supports another neighbor, that matters.”

By Ella Mitchell | Alexandria Times

As the federal government shutdown continues, tens of thousands of Americans are facing sudden financial instability and the effects will linger for months to come. NeighborShare is stepping in with a simple, trustworthy way for everyday people to directly help neighbors impacted by the shutdown.

Even before the shutdown, 1 in 3 American households couldn’t cover a $400 emergency. Missing even one paycheck can mean missed meals, an empty gas tank, or the risk of housing loss. The shutdown only deepens that strain for contractors, hourly workers, small business employees, and families whose livelihoods depend on the day-to-day rhythm of government operations.

NeighborShare provides a fast, flexible, and direct way to help. On its trusted platform, people who want to give can contribute to real, vetted needs sourced by a national network of local partners. Every dollar goes quickly and transparently to those most affected — ensuring temporary disruptions don’t become lasting hardships. “This is not a political issue; it’s a people issue,” said Kelli Kreps, Executive Director of NeighborShare. “We’re focused on creating fast, flexible cash assistance by connecting neighbors who need help to neighbors who want to help in a trustworthy way. NeighborShare makes it possible – quickly, transparently, and with care.”

Whether it’s $10 or $100, every tax-deductible contribution helps a neighbor stay on track. Together, we can turn compassion into action, one neighbor at a time.

To learn more or help a neighbor today, visit nbshare.org/federal.

NeighborShare, the pioneering direct-giving platform that connects donors with neighbors in need, today announced its expansion into greater Boston. The launch brings NeighborShare’s innovative approach to charitable giving to New England’s largest city, in partnership with eight respected local nonprofit organizations and with funding support from the MassMutual Foundation.

NeighborShare’s Boston launch marks a significant milestone in the organization's mission to create a more equitable and efficient charitable giving ecosystem. By leveraging technology to facilitate direct, transparent, and trustworthy person-to-person giving, NeighborShare provides immediate, targeted assistance to individuals facing financial hardships.

“We're thrilled to bring NeighborShare to Boston,” said Kelli Kreps, executive director of NeighborShare. “Our platform is already connecting neighbors in need with those who can help in 26 states across the country, and we're excited to work with our new partners to address critical unmet needs in the Boston community. The support from the MassMutual Foundation has been instrumental in seeding this expansion and we will be seeking out more Boston-based supporters to expand our number of nonprofit partners and ultimately neighbors served.”

The six nonprofit partners joining Women’s Money Matters and Bridges Homeward in NeighborShare’s Boston network are HarborCOV, La Colaborativa, NOAH, Roca, Sportsmen's Tennis & Enrichment Center, and Youthbuild Boston.

NeighborShare conducted an extensive discovery process earlier this year and selected the partner organizations through a competitive application process. Through the programs and services they already implement, partners will identify households in need and facilitate direct financial assistance for emergent needs such as car repairs, medical bills, childcare, and job training costs. Since its founding, NeighborShare has facilitated more than $1 million in cash assistance to nearly 10,000 neighbors nationwide. NeighborShare’s support serves as a safety net for safety net organizations, helping to ensure that a small, unexpected expense doesn’t cause a family to spiral into larger crises, like job loss or homelessness. With 1 in 3 Americans unable to afford a $400 emergency, this just-in-time cash assistance is crucial.

Verena Catherine Niederhoefer, Acting Executive Director of YouthBuild Boston, conveyed the organization’s excitement about the partnership: “Becoming a partner with NeighborShare will allow YouthBuild Boston to further assist young people of color in our community as they navigate a positive pathway to self-sufficiency, neighborhood responsibility, and careers in the building industry.”

Sunindiya Bhalla, Executive Vice President of Roca, Inc., expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “NeighborShare’s innovative approach aligns perfectly with our efforts to provide timely, effective support to those in need. We’re excited to see how this collaboration will enhance our ability to serve a group of very vulnerable, young women and mothers who often have nowhere to turn to for support.”

Philip Giffee, NOAH Executive Director, shares that "“OAH is excited to be part of the NeighborShare innovative partnership. With nearly four decades of experience in addressing the evolving issues faced by area community members, we are extremely glad to be part of a collaborative effort to bridge pivotal resident needs that otherwise would go unmet.”

Kourou Pich, HarborCOV CEO, also shares that “HarborCOV is grateful and excited to partner with NeighborShare to connect domestic violence survivors with resources for safety and stability. We look forward to partnering with the NeighborShare team and broader community to support survivors.”

“Thanks to the support of NeighborShare and its caring donors, Bridges Homeward is able to support some of the urgent needs of children in foster care and families in crisis. As we all know ‘It takes a village,’ and we are incredibly grateful that NeighborShare is part of ours,” said Courtney Gomez, Chief Program Officer, Bridges Homeward.

“Women’s Money Matters participants are all women and girls who live on low-incomes. They often face unexpected emergencies that can undermine their hard-earned financial progress. Our partnership with Neighbor Share provides important support that can help mitigate these setbacks, and prevent minor incidents from derailing their journey toward financial stability,” shared Danielle Piskadlo, Executive Director of Women’s Money Matters.

The MassMutual Foundation, focused on helping build the financial well-being and resilience of communities around the country, has provided crucial funding for NeighborShare's Boston launch. Dennis Duquette, president & CEO of the MassMutual Foundation, stated, “Building stronger communities is at the forefront of everything that the MassMutual Foundation does. Throughout our work with NeighborShare, we have seen how their vision of creating more direct pathways to charitable giving directly contributes to the strength of a community. NeighborShare’s recent expansion into Boston represents a vital step in realizing that vision by continuing to foster financial security for those who need it most. We look forward to continuing our partnership and are committed to further increasing financial resilience across Massachusetts.”

To see vetted needs and support a Boston neighbor today, visit www.nbshare.org/boston.

About NeighborShare: NeighborShare is a technology-driven nonprofit organization that facilitates direct person-to-person charitable giving. By connecting donors with individuals in need through vetted nonprofit partners, NeighborShare aims to create a more efficient and impactful model of charitable giving.

About the MassMutual Foundation: The MassMutual Foundation, Inc. is a dedicated corporate foundation established by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). The MassMutual Foundation fuels initiatives that increase financial resilience within communities served by the company and fosters a culture of community engagement for MassMutual’s employees as well as affiliated financial professionals. In support of this mission, the Foundation invests in programs that help people access resources needed to earn, protect, and help build their financial capability and thrive. The Foundation also supports community vitality efforts where MassMutual operates. To learn more about the MassMutual Foundation, please visit www.massmutual.com/foundation.