The Southwest Community Foundation Inc

“Part i, line 1, mission statement: the southwest community foundation (swcf) is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the southwest quadrant of the district of columbia. It facilitates philanthropic giving aimed at supporting innovative and sustainable initiatives, projects, programs and events that enhance the community.”

“The 990 is reviewed by the board of directors prior to efiling.”

“PART III, LINE 4(a):THE SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 BY RESIDENTS OF NEAR SOUTHWEST TO PROVIDE A FORMAL MEANS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE QUADRANT THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC GIVING. THE FOUNDERS ACTED IN RESPONSE TO THE ACCELERATING PACE OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE THAT HAD BEEN SWEEPING THROUGH THE QUADRANT FOR THE PAST DECADE. THEY BELIEVED THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDED A FORMAL, IMPARTIAL, NONPARTISAN VEHICLE FOR DIRECTING PHILANTHROPIC MONIES TO THOSE AREAS WHERE THEY WERE MOST NEEDED AND BEST DEPLOYED. ORGANIZED FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, THE FOUNDATION RECEIVES FUNDS AND DONATIONS INTENDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS OF NEAR SOUTHWEST, DEFINED AS THE AREA BOUNDED BY 14TH STREET SW, INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SOUTH CAPITOL STREET, AND THE POTOMAC AND ANACOSTIA RIVERS. THE FOUNDATION SEEKS AND ENCOURAGES INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES, PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY. IT HAS AWARDED ITS FIRST GRANT TO THE SOUTHWEST BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (SWBID) FOR REVITALIZING THE SOUTHWEST DUCK POND, A TREASURED LOCAL AMENITY, AND VISIONING A CONNECTED SERIES OF PARKS STRETCHING FROM THE DUCK POND TO THE SOUTHWEST PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE GRANT FUNDS WERE PROVIDED BY MILL CREEK DEVELOPERS AS PART OF A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED WITH ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION (ANC) 6D IN RELATION TO CONSTRUCTION OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS ON 6TH STREET SW. IN PURSUING ITS GOALS, THE FOUNDATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH INDIVIDUALS AND LOCAL INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS. WASHINGTON DC IS A CITY KNOWN FOR MONUMENTAL GREEN SPACES LIKE THE NATIONAL MALL, VAST NATURE PRESERVES LIKE ROCK CREEK PARK, AND STATELY LANDSCAPES LIKE DUPONT CIRCLE. GIVEN THIS WORLD-CLASS COMPETITION, ITS EASY TO UNDERSTAND HOW ONE OF THE DISTRICTS MOST INTIMATE AND SERENE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS COULD FLY UNDER THE RADAR OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF CITY RESIDENTS. THE PRESENT-DAY SOUTHWEST DUCK POND IS LOCATED ON A BLOCK THAT HISTORICALLY WAS KNOWN AS THE COW ALLEY COMMUNITY, PRESUMABLY FOR THE BOVINE CREATURES THAT ONCE WANDERED THE PACKED-EARTH STREET. IN THE FIRST DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE REST OF THE DISTRICT WAS EXPERIENCING AN ECONOMIC BOOM, BUT THE MINORITY-MAJORITY SOUTHWEST QUADRANT REMAINED STUCK IN A CYCLE OF POVERTY. THE LARGEST EMPLOYER WAS AN INDUSTRIAL RAIL YARD, AND MUCH OF THE HOUSING STOCK WERE SO-CALLED ALLEY DWELLINGS. IN THE EARLY 1950S, URBAN PLANNERS EMBARKED ON AN EFFORT TO FIX THE AREA FOR RESIDENTS. DENSE, HISTORIC BLOCKS OF HOUSING WERE CLASSIFIED AS BLIGHT AND BULLDOZED TO MAKE WAY FOR REDEVELOPMENT. THE BILL FOR THIS ARCHITECTURAL BLOODLETTING INCLUDED ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOZENS OF HISTORICALLY BLACK CHURCHES. THANKFULLY SIGNS OF LIFE DID EVENTUALLY EMERGE FROM THE RUBBLE OF THE WRECKING BALL. RATHER THAN THE BLAND PUBLIC HOUSING ARCHITECTURE THAT STANDS FRONT OF MIND IN CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOUTHWEST D.C. GOT TOWERS DESIGNED BY FAMED ARCHITECT I.M. PEI. THE AREA ALSO RECEIVED A BOUNTY OF PARKLAND, MOST OF IT WELL-TRAFFICKED RECREATION AREAS: A SOCCER FIELD, BASEBALL FIELD, PUBLIC POOL, PLAYGROUNDS AND NUMEROUS PICNIC AREAS. THE MOST UNIQUE, HOWEVER, IS THE LEAFY FOUNTAIN AT EYE STREET AND 6TH STREET SW. ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS A PART OF THE TOWN CENTER PARKS, AT SOME POINT IT ACQUIRED THE UNOFFICIAL MONIKER SOUTHWEST DUCK POND AMONG LOCALS, AND THE NAME HAS STUCK. THE SOUTHWEST DUCK POND OPENED IN 1972 AND WAS DESIGNED BY THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FIRM WALLACE MCHARG ROBERTS & TODD. THE CENTER POINT OF THE QUIET PARK IS A WATER FEATURE THAT SOMEWHAT RESEMBLES THE COMMAND BUTTON ON A MAC KEYBOARD FROM A BIRDS EYE VIEW PERSPECTIVE. THREE GAZEBO-SEIZED PENINSULAS JUT OUT INTO THE WATER, EACH PROVIDING SPACE FOR INTIMATE CLUSTERS OF TWO OR THREE LOUNGE CHAIRS. THE PARK IS ESSENTIALLY A DENSE COLLECTION OF PRIVATE BUBBLES, WITH A DOZEN OR SO SEATING CLUSTERS LOCATED FAR E”