Nancy “Bitsey” Folger: Birth of an Idea

It was the early 1970s and the community foundation movement was taking off around the country. Yet Washington, DC, was one of the few cities of its size that didn’t have a community foundation.

As the story goes, Washington native Henry “Hank” Strong – who at the time was president of the Washington-based Hattie M. Strong Foundation – learned of an individual who wanted to make a $250,000 donation to the city but could not identify an appropriate organization to receive and administer the gift.

Strong knew if there was one contributor in that position, there might well be one hundred. With that untapped resource in mind, in 1973 Strong, along with other civic leaders including Polly Shackleton, Davidson Sommers, Bishop John Walker, and Joseph Whyte launched The Community Foundation with initial funding from the Hattie M. Strong Foundation, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and the Cummins Engine Foundation. Other participants in those early years included Max Berry, Ronald H. Brown, Peggy Cooper, Arthur Flemming, John Hechinger Sr., Delano Lewis, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Vincent Reed. Those founders shared a common goal: to create a permanent source of philanthropic capital for our region.

One original member of the Board of Trustees was Nancy “Bitsey” Folger, who saw her participation as both an effective way to engage with others to help residents of our community and a privilege to be able to give back to the city she chose for her adult life. The daughter of Neil McElroy, Secretary of Defense in the Eisenhower administration, Bitsey learned from a young age the value of people coming together for a greater cause.

And while she prefers a quiet approach to giving, her generosity is well known. In 2000, when she was recognized as a Washingtonian of the Year, the magazine asked her to explain the secret to her success as a philanthropist. “It has to be something you really care about,” she said. “When I’m giving myself, I feel comfortable asking others.”

Among the many organizations near and dear to her heart that she supported through her Community Foundation donor-advised fund are the Sitar Arts Center (which she helped to found), the Black Student Fund, DC Action for Children, DC Vote, and Arena Stage.

A passionate philanthropist, generous connector, and devoted DC resident, Bitsey was there when The Community Foundation awarded our first grants, totaling $115,641. Fifty years later, we are making $88 million in annual grants and Bitsey remains a loyal member of The Community Foundation family and one of our region’s biggest cheerleaders.