The Wenatchee River Institute was awarded $4,000 to support Youth Education Field Days that expose children to science through fun, hands-on activities.

The Community Foundation of NCW has awarded $136,125 in Regional Impact Grants to 43 nonprofits across North Central Washington.

Regional Impact Grants provide up to $5,000 for nonprofit programs that work to meet community needs and enhancements in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties. A competitive grant program offered in the Spring and Fall, Regional Impact Grants provide one of the only grant funding resources for many of these nonprofit organizations.

This year the foundation received a record 69 applications. Each applicant is visited by a team of staff and board members to learn more about the proposed projects and are evaluated using a rated scoring sheet; final awards are approved by the board of trustees.

The foundation received $20,000 from an anonymous donor at the Seattle Foundation to be directed toward the Regional Impact Grants. In addition, the new Partners in Giving program allocated $5,000 to help increase the grant awards.

“We know there are so many nonprofits doing great work in our communities, and so many of them need our help” said Lisa Day, a member of Partners in Giving and also a foundation board member. “With so many applicants, we knew additional funding would be a huge help. This program was created for this kind of support.”

Partners in Giving provides businesses, families, and individuals who aren’t ready to open a fund an opportunity to support the work of the foundation. The foundation recognizes and appreciates the generosity of both gifts that increased capacity to fund Regional Impact Grant awards by 23%.

The foundation is now accepting applications for Fall Regional Impact Grants at www.cfncw.org/grants. Deadline is September 1.

Spring 2014 Regional Impact Grant Awards

Arts, Culture & Humanities | $27,200

• Art on the Avenues – $2,500 Beauty of the Bronze program at Columbia Elementary School
• Icicle Arts – $3,000 One-time purchase of classroom supplies for new location
• Lake Chelan Bach Fest – $1,500 Support for artists fees
• Methow Arts Alliance – $3,500 Art Education programs in Okanogan County elementary schools
• Music Theater of Wenatchee – $3,000 Support for facility improvements
• Omak Performing Arts Center – $2,000 Support for 2014-2015 performances
• Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center – $5,000 Support for Wildfire exhibit
• Wenatchee Valley Symphony Association – $4,500 Computer equipment upgrades
• Friends of Scout-a-Vista – $2,200 Upgrade flooring in kitchen facility

Education | $14,500

• Pateros School District – $2,000 Enhancements for school’s community garden
• Pioneer Middle School – $3,000 Upgrades to drum line for marching band
• Wenatchee High School – $3,000 Purchase of books for “Battle of the Books” program for freshman class
• Wenatchee High School – $2,500 Portable, dual-color 3D printer
• Wenatchee River Institute – $4,000 Support for Youth Education Field Days

Environment/Animal Related | $17,000

• Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group – $2,000 Equipment and materials for education and outreach programs
• Chelan County Mountain Rescue Association – $2,500 Rescue equipment
• Forest Ridge Wildfire Coalition – $1,500 Support for maintenance of fire break
• The Trust for Public Land – $2,500 General operating support for NCW initiatives
• Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition – $2,500 Support for hiring Eastern Washington staff member
• Wenatchee FIDO (Friends Improving Dog Opportunities) – $4,000 Construction support for off-leash dog area in Hale Park

Health & Human Services | $68,925

• Chelan Douglas County Volunteer Attorney Services – $2,000 CLE training in family law
• Chelan Fire District #5 – $4,925 “Jump-kits” for first responders
• Chelan Valley Hope – $5,000 Computer equipment upgrades
• DadsMOVE – $2,000 Professionally-facilitated workshops for fathers and families of special needs children
• Family Planning of NCW – $1,500 Video conferencing equipment
• Grief Place NCW – $3,500 Workshop by Dougy Center to train facilitators and other community members on methods to help grieving children
• Hospice Foundation of NCW – $5,000 Production of video to support feasibility study for capital campaign
• Leavenworth Community United Methodist Church – $4,000 Expansion of Friday food program sending home healthy food options for children over the weekend so they don’t go hungry
• Leavenworth Mountain Association – $3,000 Equipment for youth climbing camps
• Mobile Meals of Wenatchee – $4,000 Support for purchase of meals
• Okanogan County Community Coalition – $3,000 General operating support for anti-drug and violence programming for Okanogan youth
• Project Linus – $500 Materials for handmade quilts and blankets to donate to at-risk youth
• Rotary First Harvest – $5,000 Support for AmeriCorps volunteer in North Central Washington
• Diversity Justice Day for Youth – $1,500 Support Spring 2015 event
• Upper Valley Connection – $5,000 Support for hiring administrative assistant
• Wenatchee Police Department – $2,500 Equipment for Reserve Officers
• Wenatchee Row and Paddle Club – $2,500 Reinforcement of bank adjacent to boat launch
• Wenatchee Valley Dispute Resolution Center – $5,000 Support additional staff hours for volunteer training program
• Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center – $4,000 Purchase of point-of-sale system for thrift shop
• Women’s Resource Center of NCW – $5,000 Support for re-branding initiative

Public/Social Benefit | $8,500

• Initiative for Rural Innovation and Stewardship (IRIS) – $2,000 Software license for Listening Post program
• NCW Business Loan Fund – $4,000 Renewal of U.S. Treasury  Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certification
• Pybus Market Charitable Foundation – $2,500 Creation of a rental rate subsidy fund for nonprofit organizations to use event space