June 8, 2023
Amazon was named the top philanthropic company in the Washington, D.C. metro region by The Washington Business Journal, with $73 million donated in 2022. Since announcing that Amazon’s HQ2 would be located in Arlington in 2018, we’ve donated more than $161 million to local nonprofits, community groups, and schools around the region.

Amazon HQ2 at Met Park in Arlington, Virginia is more than just an office. Visitors can get a facial, eat tacos and ice cream, and even see local art.

"We are proud to partner with hundreds of organizations across Greater Washington who are working every day on the most pressing issues facing this region, from equity in education, to affordable housing, to regional economic development," said Patrick Phillippi, senior manager of Community Engagement for the HQ2 region. "We look forward to working together with our partners to continue to build stronger, inclusive communities across the region."

To learn more about Amazon’s commitment to the region, download our 2022 Community Impact Report.


December 2, 2022
Amazon was recognized as one of the top corporate philanthropists this year in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia metro region by The Washington Business Journal. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to the area, which is home to our second headquarters (HQ2) in Arlington, Virginia, and it’s only the beginning.

Since announcing that Amazon’s HQ2 would be located in Arlington in 2018, we have committed more than $88 million to local nonprofits, community groups, and schools around the region. This support is focused on addressing challenges like affordable housing, racial equity, sustainability, and equity in education.

With a $1 million donation to CodeVA and the opening of a new AWS Think Big Space for students and teachers, Amazon continues to expand investments in computer science education in HQ2 across Virginia.

We know that success and scale bring broad responsibility, and we strive to be a good neighbor in the communities where our employees and their families live and work. When we chose Arlington as the site of our second headquarters, we made a commitment to weave ourselves into the fabric of our HQ neighborhoods and be among the most trusted business and community partners in the region.

We work every day to be a trusted community partner, and it’s an honor to receive this recognition. We’re grateful to the many community leaders and organizations that we partner with to ensure we’re making the most impactful contributions—whether that be our volunteer time, in-kind donations, or financial support.

Amazon was also recognized by the Business Journal as the top corporate philanthropist in the Puget Sound region, home to our other headquarters.

Read more about some of Amazon’s investments in Arlington:

Uplifting communities

We are partnering with nonprofits, civic groups, and community leaders to spur inclusive economic growth across the HQ2 region with a particular focus on education, racial equity, affordable housing, and regional economic development.

A student draws on a poster board with two instructors watching him.

This includes our partnership with the nonprofit Doorways VA and its work to create pathways for people out of homelessness, domestic violence, and sexual assault into safer, more stable, and empowered lives. At the height of the pandemic, as the organization was pushed beyond its capacity, we supported Doorways VA in its efforts to expand shelter and community-based services. We also supported Doorways VA as it expanded housing for clients and increased access to crisis, legal, and medical counseling.

Equity in education

We know one of the most important ways we can drive inclusive economic growth in the region is by supporting equitable outcomes in education and skills training. We are grateful for and proud to support the work of our partners, like the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia. The nonprofit’s mission is to teach adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English so they can access employment and educational opportunities. Our funding supported the organization’s pivot to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have continued to support their now hybrid education model.

Amazon is donating $250,000 worth of products from Amazon Fresh across three organizations in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. to help tackle food insecurity among students.

We are also proud to be working with the NAACP Future Leaders Scholarship Award program that provides scholarships to Arlington students with financial needs.

And we are advancing education efforts in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the region through the first-ever AWS Think Big Space at Wakefield High School. The Think Big Space is an integrated environment where everything—from the furniture to the technology to the curriculum—work together to support interactive hands-on learning. The Think Big Space prioritizes personalized learning to engage students of all ages, interests, and abilities.

Regional cultural events

Amazon is committed to supporting beloved regional events, including the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and using our support to drive patrons to the small and minority-owned businesses in our new neighborhood, National Landing. This year, we brought the National Cherry Blossom Festival to National Landing through events like a kite festival at Virginia Highlands Park and a music festival at Long Bridge Park. We also supported Capital Pride—and for the first time, more than a hundred Amazon employees walked in the Pride Parade this year in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Sustainability

An inside look at the sustainability features of our new headquarters, which will run with zero operational carbon emissions.

We’re committed to and invested in sustainability because it’s good for the planet, for business, for our customers, and for our communities. In the HQ2 region, we are partnering with EcoAction Arlington to increase the tree canopy in communities with higher-than-average minority populations and people living in poverty. Data shows that these neighborhoods are often the most impacted by insufficient tree cover. The lack of trees has a real-world impact that can lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes, higher utility costs, and a lower quality of life.

Rendering of courtyard area near Amazon's new HQ2 location in Arlington, Virginia

Commitment to housing equity

One of the most significant challenges we face in the region is the availability of affordable housing, and we believe that the private sector and governments can do more to partner together.

Through the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, we’ve contributed more than $900 million to support affordable housing in the Arlington and metro-Washington, D.C., areas, with more to come. Since the launch of Amazon Housing Equity Fund in mid 2021, our efforts have helped create and preserve more than 6,000 affordable homes. Based on data provided by Arlington County, the funding has helped increase long-term affordable multifamily housing stock in Arlington by 22%.

We know there is more work to be done. This is just the beginning of our support of the broader community throughout the HQ2 region. We are thankful to all of our partners and neighbors, and we look forward to working together to continue to drive inclusive economic growth across the region.