Joyful Determination: What a Corgi Reminds Us About Community Building

We are honored to introduce you to this week's guest blogger Bess Littlefield, CEO of the Virginia Funders Network (VFN)! VFN is a community of over 130 philanthropic investors who strengthen Virginia communities through collaborative learning and action.

In 2020, when the pandemic weighed heavily on everyone, I found myself unable to write the usual cheerful holiday family update. Instead, Finn, our then 4-year-old Pembroke Corgi (with some help from his grandmother, Gigi), took over.  

Their version brought humor, love, and a much-needed reminder of joy:

“We loved 2020. Since March, Mom and Dad were home all the time. We got treats during Zoom meetings so we wouldn’t interrupt. I (Finn) did my own Zooming—running laps around the house. Mom and Dad didn’t quite get it – they sat in chairs for their Zooms. They did leave us to get COVID tests so they could go to Maine and made a couple of day trips to Charlottesville, but we forgave them (eventually). And when Mom set up a new office upstairs, we figured out how to find her and interrupt Zoom meetings again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love, Gigi and Finn.”

This year, Finn will write the holiday message again—though sadly without Gigi, who passed away last month. Even in loss, Finn still brings us joy. His loyalty never falters, his companionship comforts us, and his spirited personality makes us laugh daily. He may be small in stature, but he is strong, determined, and persistent (especially around dinnertime).

Finn reminds me of my colleagues in philanthropy.

Members of the Virginia Funders Network (VFN)—a community of more than 135 grantmaking organizations and partners—show the same qualities Finn embodies. They remain loyal to the communities they serve, no matter the challenge: a natural disaster, shifting federal policy, or uncertainty about the future.

Like Finn, they bring energy and joy. When VFN members gather, you hear laughter and celebration alongside serious conversations. Their determination is evident in the bold steps they take to support nonprofits across Virginia. Their strength comes from collaboration—supporting one another, sharing lessons, and amplifying the impact of every dollar granted.  

These attributes were evident in the first meeting of the planning committee for VFN’s 2026 Annual Conference. For some on the planning team, their communities have already lost federal funds to support the most vulnerable, and the number of grant applications has increased. For others, the anticipation of what may come has caused anxiety for their community partners.

While philanthropy alone cannot fill the gap left by the loss of public sector investment, VFN members act every day to ensure Virginia is a place where every community is valued, thriving, and empowered.

This year, Finn’s holiday message will also be VFN’s: steadfast loyalty, joyful companionship, and determined action in service of others.

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Armstrong McGuire is proud to be a Partner Member of the Virginia Funders Network. Explore our recent Partner Member Spotlight featuring Principal Bert Armstrong, and read Advisor Beth Briggs’ featured blog on succession planning for family foundations. Senior Advisor Staci Barfield also recently led a session at the Shenandoah Valley (Region 8) Regional Funders Gathering, titled “Planning When the Future is Foggy: Scenario Thinking for Strategic Clarity,” introducing participants to the power of scenario thinking as a strategic tool for navigating uncertainty, exploring risks and opportunities, and fostering resilient, purpose-driven planning.