The Community Foundation of North Central Washington’s (CFNCW) Methow Valley Fund (MVF) welcomes Jon Brown and Jane Gilbertsen to its Local Advisory Board (LAB).

Jon Brown, New MVF LAB Member

Jane Gilbertsen, New MVF LAB Member

Jon is a lifelong resident of North Central Washington and the Methow Valley. He currently serves as Executive Director of Twispworks, and previously owned a restaurant, Arrowleaf Bistro, in Winthrop with his wife. Jon believes deeply in the spirit and promise of the NCW community and is honored and excited to be part of the amazing work that CFNCW and the Methow Fund does.

Jane Gilbertsen spent 20 years as a Seattle lawyer before returning to her home near Winthrop, where the next 20 years were shaped by community service and life on the farm. Jane served as a board member with the Methow Conservancy, the Community Foundation of NCW, the Methow Valley Fund, and TwispWorks. For many in the community, Jane is known for her farm years, caring for horses, mules, donkeys, labradors, cats, and rare-breed chickens, including 14 coops that earned her the affectionate nickname “the Chicken Lady.” When she’s not volunteering, Jane enjoys hiking, biking, and skiing. Jane is looking forward to having more time to return to volunteer work and serve with the Methow Valley Fund again.

The Methow Valley Fund’s LAB provides local leadership and insight into the fund’s annual grantmaking process. LAB members evaluate grant applications, attend site visits, and recommend grants to charitable organizations serving the Methow Valley. They also serve as ambassadors for the fund, helping connect with donors, nonprofit partners and community members while encouraging local legacy giving.

The MVF Grants Committee now has two open positions, where community members can get involved in local philanthropy by reviewing grant applications from local charitable organizations and generally supporting the MVF’s grantmaking process.

Community members interested in joining the Grants Committee can learn more and apply through cfncw.org/mvf-committee-app. Applicants must be current residents of the Methow Valley and be available to serve a two-year term. Applications are due by June 15, 2026.

This committee continues the Methow Valley Fund’s long history of local involvement and community-driven grantmaking. Established in 2006, the fund provides sustainable funding for a healthy, vibrant Methow Valley. Since then, it has granted more than $2.2 million to local nonprofits supporting social, environmental, cultural, and educational causes, creating a lasting source of community support for the valley.

If you have questions about the Methow Valley Fund or the Grants Committee, please reach out to CFNCW at 509-663-7716.