Conflict resolution skills are essential for navigating everyday encounters with landlords, employers, and others, but many historically marginalized people who have experienced trauma lack access to such skill-building resources. Negotiation Works partners with community organizations to provide custom courses for their clients who are returning from incarceration, experiencing homelessness, living in domestic violence shelters, or recovering from substance abuse. During sessions, participants role-play scenarios familiar with their lived experiences practicing active listening, effective communication, and other strategies. Course graduates become ambassadors, meeting regularly to continue mutual problem-solving. Partners also take part in professional development workshops so they have the tools to better advocate on their clients’ behalf. Improved relationships, employment, and housing situations cumulate impact, one positive interaction at a time.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 3

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; VA-City of Alexandria

Age Groups Served: Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49); Seniors (50+)


  • Number of class participants we serve annually:   Over 200
  • Number of community members we have reached since our founding:   1211
  • Number of courses we have offered since our founding:   105
  • Number of class sessions we have offered since our founding:   592

Awards & Recognition

In Spring 2024, our Executive Director received a “Hero of Hope” award from the DC Department of Corrections for making extraordinary contributions to supporting the residents of the DC Jail.

In March 2024, we were awarded a grant as one of the eleven recipients of the DC Office of Attorney General's "Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Violence Prevention Grant Program."

We were featured in the Center for Nonprofit Advancement's 2024 annual Nonprofit Agenda, which is distributed to 10,000 nonprofit professionals, government agencies, and others. The piece focused on how our organization builds peace by supporting self-advocacy and negotiation skills.

Our Ambassador and program graduate Lossou Wallace wrote a piece featured in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's "Raising Voices of Rentry Project" during Second Chance Month, April 2024.

Press

  • Tips to resolve disagreements and conflicts in a civil manner during these polarized times
    Thu Nov 2 2023, WUSA9  
    Melissa Reinberg of Negotiation Works, a DC nonprofit that teaches self-advocacy and negotiation, offers 5 tips to help resolve differences.
    connect here

Budget (FY0)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Every year, 190+ local nonprofits (with budgets under $4M) apply to join the Spur Local network. 170+ community volunteers assess these applications for impact. 100% of organizations are site visited and financially reviewed. Finally, 76+ critical, local nonprofits are selected for inclusion in Spur Local's annual print and digital catalog, and enter a four-year partnership with us. Since 2003, we have raised over $65 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region. We charge no fees and raise funds separately to support our work.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

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