Arlington County’s recent decision to funnel millions into its “RACE to Rebuilding Trust & Community” grant program, aimed at promoting equity over merit, raises serious concerns about the future of public funding. The County, in collaboration with the United Way of the National Capital Area, has made a strategic shift toward racial equity-based funding models. While intentions may be noble, focusing on racial equity rather than merit risks diminishing the very effectiveness and integrity of these programs.
Public funding should prioritize merit-based evaluation to ensure resources are allocated to organizations best equipped to address community needs. Yet, in the case of this equity-based grant initiative, the underlying assumption is that resources should be distributed based on racial demographics rather than the demonstrated ability to deliver results. Arlington County’s approach prioritizes race as a central factor, which risks undermining the objective of supporting nonprofits that provide the best outcomes for the broader community.
Merit, experience, and proven effectiveness should be the benchmarks by which organizations are judged—not race. While ensuring historically marginalized communities have access to opportunities is crucial, this should not be achieved at the expense of fairness, transparency, and accountability. By focusing heavily on race, the County may inadvertently penalize organizations that have a proven track record of success but do not meet the racial equity criterion. This results in the misallocation of resources, where public dollars are not necessarily being invested in the highest-performing organizations.
The application process also presents a troubling dynamic. The County’s effort to “streamline” and “make more accessible” the application process is commendable on its surface, but it raises the question of whether such adjustments lower the standards of competition. More technical assistance, training sessions, and support for applicants suggest the County is less interested in attracting the best and most capable organizations, and more focused on promoting racial equity. In doing so, they risk creating a system where grants are awarded not based on the strength of a proposal but on whether it meets the political agenda of the County.
Arlington’s leadership should consider whether their focus on racial equity as the defining characteristic of grant allocation is truly serving the entire community. Public funds should be allocated based on need and effectiveness, not on race. By centering this program on identity politics, the County risks alienating a broad range of organizations and undermining the credibility of its funding decisions.
Moreover, transparency in the selection process is key. The current system, which prioritizes a “racial equity lens” for reviewers, suggests that a bias is already built into the evaluation process. Reviewers should be trained to prioritize impact, innovation, and effectiveness—regardless of the racial background of an organization or its target audience.
In a time when many organizations are struggling to address the growing needs of the community—whether through food security, education, housing, or healthcare—Arlington County should focus on maximizing the effectiveness of its public funds. This means supporting organizations that have demonstrated success in addressing these issues, regardless of race. The county’s focus should be on merit, capacity, and outcomes, not on an agenda that risks dividing rather than uniting our community.
Arlington’s leaders must ask themselves if this program is truly achieving its purpose or if it’s simply checking the boxes of political correctness.