BEACON serves a vulnerable population of immigrants and refugees who are not eligible for or cannot afford other adult education programs. Learning English and making progress on educational and employment goals can have an enormous impact on their lives and the security of their families. Typically, BEACON offers eight levels of instruction in three semesters, classes in technology literacy and work readiness, citizenship panels for test aspirants, and pre-literacy classes for the five percent of students who have no schooling. Responding rapidly when spring classes were canceled, BEACON offered a free 10-week, four-level, cellphone-compatible class (about half of students lack tablets or laptops). Experienced teachers created timely content on topics like COVID-19 and the 2020 Census. Developing best practices for future online offerings was a top priority: it's a new world out there, and BEACON will be ready for whatever comes next.

Information coming soon

Awards & Recognition

BEACON is the recipient of the 2021 Agnes L. Colgan Community Service Award: Arts & Education from the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

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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 the Catalogue for Philanthropy

Each year 120 expert reviewers evaluate applicants for distinction, merit, and impact. Each featured charity has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. The Catalogue for Philanthropy charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $40 million for charities across the Greater Washington region.

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

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