New Beginnings
an end is also a new beginning . . .
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Marital separation and divorce are two of the most stressful life events anyone can experience, second only to death of a spouse (Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale). It is often an isolating experience with little or limited support from family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. The legal process can be drawn out, acrimonious and financially devastating. Children and extended family members can also be affected by the rupture of the marriage.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Facilitated Discussion Meetings
New Beginnings offers 5 monthly discussion meetings, facilitated by a member-volunteer, trained to guide the discussion.
Expert Speakers
1-2 expert speakers each month from the professional community. Topics include divorce law, financial guidance, coping skills and personal growth issues.
Dinner & Movie Night
Social event and community outreach the first Saturday of every month, featuring a fixed-price dinner and movie of choice at various locations in the DC metro area.
Social Events
5-12 events throughout the year, including picnics, potluck dinners, dances and game nights.
Divorce 101
6-week public education seminar for people contemplating or in the early stages of separation, offered twice a year in Rockville since 2013. Also offered twice in Virginia (2014), once in Frederick (2015) and once in Columbia (2016).
Where we work
Awards
Self-Help Group of the Year 1980
Mental HealthAssociation of Northern Virginia
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of discussion meetings held
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Facilitated Discussion Meetings and Expert Speakers
Number of participants
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Facilitated Discussion Meetings and Expert Speakers
Number of phone calls/inquiries
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Inquiries about services, received through website or phone
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Facilitated Discussion Meetings
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Meeting hosts, facilitators, and leadership positions
Number of attendees (Divorce 101)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Divorce 101 is a 6-week public education series offered twice a year for people contemplating or in the early stages of separation. The number shown is the number of unique participants.
Number of professional volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Attorneys, mediators, financial advisors, and mental health professionals (Divorce 101 and expert speakers)
Number of pro bono hours contributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Divorce 101 and expert speakers. Divorce 101 was also offered in Frederick in 2015 and in Columbia in 2016
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
New Beginnings offers the supportive community of others experiencing the same challenges, reducing isolation and offering practical guidance. Our goals are to ease the process and speed healing, so that people can recover from this life crisis and find new meaning in their lives. We also educate people about the divorce process, so that they have sufficient information to make good decisions for their future.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We provide a friendly and supportive environment in which people can share and explore their feelings and challenges as they navigate the life crisis of separation and divorce.
Facilitated discussion meetings, held online or in members' homes, encourage people to identify and address issues of concern. Online meetings allow anyone anywhere to participate.
Expert speakers from the professional community offer specialized wisdom and practical guidance.
Social events provide opportunities for people to expand their support network and practice new social skills.
Members who are able to open their homes as hosts gain practice in useful new skills as a single person.
Members who train to become meeting facilitators gain confidence and the gratification of helping others as they were helped.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
New Beginnings is based on the premise that you help yourself by helping others. Each person brings the wisdom of their own experience to the group. We learn from each other and find strength in community.
Our programs are member-driven, relying on volunteers to schedule meetings and social events and to offer their homes. One paid staff (Executive Director) oversees the monthly calendar and manages all administrative aspects.
Membership dues, meeting/event fees and donations provide the financial base for our programs.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For 44 years, New Beginnings has been a unique and valuable resource for the DC metro area. No other organization does what we do.
*For a period of about 10 years beginning in the mid-1980's, New Beginnings was one of several area support groups that joined together as the Coalition of Separation/Divorced Self-Help Groups. The purpose of the Coalition was to pool volunteer and financial resources of member groups in order to sponsor outreach events on a larger scale than would otherwise be possible by any one group. The largest such event was a day-long Singles Fair featuring workshops, lunch and a closing reception.
*Through the mid-1990's, we offered many weekend workshops, led by area professionals, on issues related to separation/divorce, relationships and personal growth.
*Since 2002, we have offered monthly Dinner & Movie Nights, held in different locations in MD, DC and VA. These popular social events provide easy opportunities for newly single people to get out of the house, socialize with others and enjoy a dinner and movie they might not pursue on their own. In 2018, we began offering Sunday Brunch & Movie outings as well for those who prefer daytime activities. **These social events are suspended until it is safe to resume them.
*In 2018 we began offering online discussion meetings, allowing people to participate by phone or webcam without having to battle traffic or engage a babysitter.
*In 2020 in response to the pandemic, we moved all our programs online.
*In 2021 we began re-introducing in-person meetings, held in members' homes, while keeping some meetings online.
*We have trained many members to become meeting facilitators. Some of these have gone on to pursue careers in mental health.
*Over 200 couples have met and married in New Beginnings; some have had children. While this is not the goal of New Beginnings, it is nonetheless an indicator of a positive impact on many lives--even some who would not be here otherwise.
*Our signature program, Divorce 101, begun in 2013, is entering its 11th year. This 6-week series, offered twice a year, features 12-14 of the top family law professionals in Montgomery County. Participants pay only $10/session or $50 for all 6.
What's next?
Our goal is to continue current programs, possibly expanding the number of offerings by number or geographic area. New Beginnings is the only ongoing support group for separation/divorce and the only one open to people with or without children. Online meetings permit expansion beyond the DC metro area.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
New Beginnings
Board of directorsas of 01/21/2024
Richard Rieman
Craig Durkin
Jefferson Consulting
Carol Randolph
New Beginnings, Founder
Richard Rieman
Cecilia Snyder
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/19/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.