The Community Foundation of NCW Awards $97,000 in Grants from the Methow Valley Fund, Announces New Game Changer Grant

The Community Foundation of NCW has awarded $97,000 in grants from the Methow Valley Fund to 23 local nonprofits to provide core operating support or funding for specific projects.

The grants are made possible by gifts to the Methow Valley Fund. Last year, the Community Foundation received bequests to the fund from Ken Westman, Mike Real, and David Walters – residents who cared deeply about the Methow Valley and were strong supporters of local causes.

“Ken, Mike, and David loved the Methow Valley” said Betsy Cushman, a Methow Valley Fund Advisor and Board Trustee at the Community Foundation of NCW. “Their bequests leave powerful and impactful legacies that will benefit the Methow Valley for generations to come.”

These generous and significant gifts prompted the Foundation and MVF Advisors to consider how this increase of support could make the most impact. After listening sessions with leaders in the community, the Game Changer Grant was created.

“We heard from local community leaders around the need for increased capacity to better position groups to tackle the complex issues facing the community. Issues such as affordable housing, senior care, fire and natural resources, and social and health disparities.” said Claire Oatey, the Foundation’s director of community grants. “We hope this Game Changer Grant will allow organizations or collaboratives to take their work to the next level.”

To pilot the Game Change Grant, the MVF Advisors invited the Senior Assessment of Support and Housing (SASH) and the Housing Solutions Network (HSN) – two collaboratives who were already working on local housing issues – to apply for funding. In January 2022, SASH received $12,500 to cover the cost of hiring a grant writer and project manager to secure and manage funding toward housing solutions for seniors and caregivers. HSN received $22,500 to hire a project manager to help with implementing affordable housing solutions.

The Game Changer Grant will officially open for proposals this spring for any Methow Valley nonprofit or collaborative working to move the needle on a community issue. The grant application opens on April 1st and groups will have an opportunity to introduce their Game Changer proposal by the May 1st deadline. The MVF Advisors will then invite 3-5 finalists to pitch their projects in June. With a total of $75,000 available this cycle, the Advisors may choose to award more than one grant.

METHOW VALLEY FUND GRANTS – $97,000

• Aero Methow Rescue Service – $3,000 Paramedic recruitment, retention, training
• Cascadia Music – $3,000 Core operating support
• Classroom in Bloom – $3,000 Garden programs
• Fire Adapted Methow Valley – $3,000 Equitable wildfire risk mitigation program
• Friends of the Twisp Pool – $7,000 Pool cover replacement
• Loup Loup Ski Education Foundation – $3,000 5^th grade Day at the Loup program
• Methow Arts alliance – $3,000 Core operating support
• Methow at Home – $7,000 Support to build the Preparedness Cornerstone
• Methow Conservancy – $3,000 Core operating support
• Methow Housing Trust – $3,000 Professional Development
• Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival – $7,000 2022 Summer Concert Series
• Methow Valley Community Center – $3,000 Core operating support
• Methow Valley Interpretive Center – $3,000 Creating a safe, welcoming, year-round entrance
• Methow Watershed Foundation – $7,000 Developing next steps as a community
• Northwest Outward Bound School – $7,000 Methow Valley Outdoor Education Program
• Resilient Methow – $7,000 Core operating support
• Room One – $3,000 Fresh Produce and Local Growers program
• Shafer Historical Museum – $3,000 Rebranding
• The Confluence: Art in Twisp – $3,000 Core operating support
• The Merc Playhouse – $3,000 Core operating support
• Twisp Tree Board – $3,000 “Seed to Sapling” tree nursery
• TwispWorks Foundation – $7,000 Core operating support
• Winthrop Rink – $3,000 Youth program support