In response to the COVID-19 heath crisis, the Community Foundation of NCW has expanded its Helping Hands Grant Program to include supporting nonprofits organizations significantly impacted by the pandemic.
The Helping Hands Grant Program provides financial resources to nonprofit organizations in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties faced with unexpected and emergent needs. The foundation’s Board of Trustees has given authority to expand the existing criteria and application process to better respond to nonprofits’ current and imminent needs.
“We know that this is going to be a very difficult time for our nonprofit community and those they serve” said Gil Sparks, the foundation’s board chair. “It is our hope that broadening the criteria for this grant will help our nonprofit community continue to provide critical services to our communities and help weather this storm.”
NCW communities are already beginning to feel the short and long term effects impacting our workforce, economies, and families who were already struggling with affordable housing, affordable child care, and food insecurity. The foundation has a long history of supporting nonprofits serving those vulnerable populations during times of crisis.
“We are still intensely aware of the lessons learned from the 2008 recession and the devastating wildfires from 2014 and 2015 – recovery from this outbreak is going to require significant resources for the long term” said Beth Stipe, executive director. “The Staff and Board know that we need to prepare for a marathon, not just a sprint. The expansion of this grant funding is setting those preparations in motion.”
The foundation has been connecting and working with nonprofit partners across the region to understand their needs. “We need to adjust our program to be responsive.” Said Claire Oatey, director of community grants. “We anticipate the grant application to be open very soon. In the meantime, we are reaching out to our donors and the community to donate to the Helping Hands Grant and help us provide additional grants than our current budget allows.”
The Helping Hands Grant has been seeded with $45,000 from the Community Foundation. All contributions to the Helping Hands Grant will help to provide the financial resources to meet the current and future recovery needs of our region.
The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for its Stronger Schools grant, open to public schools and School Districts serving Pre-K-12th grade students in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
The grant offers up to $5,000 for programs that enrich school experiences for students, support teacher development, and other actives that allow schools to better achieve their goals.
Only one application may be submitted per school and can include several different projects by teachers, staff, etc.; however, each school can only be awarded up to $5,000. School Districts can apply separately with a $5,000 cap as well.
Over $462,000 has been disbursed to schools across the region since the grant program started in 2011. Last year, $70,000 was disbursed in Stronger Schools grants.
“Historically, we funded schools and nonprofits from a single grant program, but as our resources grew, we saw an opportunity to offer a program that met our public schools’ specific needs” said Beth Stipe, the foundation’s executive director. “It allows us to focus our efforts on helping make a significant impact for education in our region.”
Grants are awarded in June and will support the 2020-2021 school year.
The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for its Regional Impact Grant (RIG), the foundation’s largest funding opportunity open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties (excluding the Methow Valley).
The RIG is an annual, competitive grant that provides funding for organizations making a significant impact in their community. There is no maximum funding request, however awards are not likely to exceed $10,000. Requests can be for specific projects or general operations.
Each applicant is visited by a team of Community Foundation staff and board members to learn more about their organization and request, and evaluate awards based on several factors that demonstrate their need and potential impact in the community.
The foundation typically receives around 60 applications for the RIG, but only 25 are awarded. Recipients will receive a portion of their request, then participate in Give NCW, an online giving catalog that invites the public to donate and help organizations reach their full grant requests.
In 2018, the foundation awarded $240,000 in Regional Impact Grants to nonprofits, with an additional $203,000 in public donations through Give NCW.
Applicants must apply online, deadline is August 1, 2019. Give NCW starts Thanksgiving Day through December 31st. Grants are awarded in January 2020.
The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for its Regional Impact Grant (RIG) open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and government agencies in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties (excludes organizations in the Methow Valley and all public schools, as those entities have other dedicated grant programs).
The RIG is an annual, competitive grant – only 25 recipients will be chosen to receive awards, and last year the foundation received 60 applications. There is no maximum funding request, however RIG awards are not likely to exceed $10,000. Request can be for specific projects or general operations.
Award recipients will receive a portion of their grant request, and the remainder will be promoted on Give NCW, an online crowdfunding campaign that invites the public to learn about the nonprofits and donate to help fully fund their grant request. RIG awards are funded based on the foundation’s resources and the grant’s potential impact in the community.
“This is the foundation’s largest grant opportunity for nonprofits in our region, and we want to help make the biggest impact with the resources we have” said Claire Oatey, director of community grants. “The Give NCW campaign is a great way for nonprofits to raise awareness about their work in our communities, and with a $10 minimum donation, anyone can help support some of the programs that are directly impacting quality of life in their community and region.”
In 2017, a total of $441,630 was awarded to 25 nonprofits with over $235,000 coming from donations through Give NCW. To date, the RIG program has awarded over $4.5 million to support charitable work across North Central Washington.
Applicants must apply online, deadline is August 1, 2018. Site visits with each applicant are scheduled through the end of October and Give NCW starts Thanksgiving Day through December 31st. Grants are awarded in January 2019.
An endowment fund at CFNCW provides a nonprofit agency an annual income disbursement to support its operations while the principal of the fund grows in perpetuity.
The ideal grantee is a well-established, extraordinary organization making a significant impact on the community it serves. The organization must have experienced leadership at both the board and staff level who will use the $50,000 Endowment Grant to move the organization to the next level of expertise.
“Part of our mission is to help strengthen nonprofit agencies in an effort to support strong, healthy communities,” said Beth Stipe, the foundation’s executive director. “An endowment is an important component to securing long-term financial sustainability. The endowment grows over time through additional gifts and prudent investment through the foundation, which gives the organization the ability to continue their mission for generations to come.”
Previous recipients include Methow Trails, Numerica Performing Arts Center, and the Children’s Home Society of Weantchee.
The award will be announced and disbursed in September.
$200 grants available to help your Make a Difference Day project!
Did your organization coordinate a Make a Difference Day project last year? If so, you might be eligible for a grant of up to $200 to support your 2017 project!
The funds can be used in a variety of ways to help implement or enhance the quality of volunteer efforts for your 2017 Make a Difference Day project.
Recipients must be 501c3 charitable organizations, public agencies (schools, cities, government, etc.), or projects can be fiscally sponsored by a qualifying agency.
Applying for the grant is easy! Just let us know the title of your 2016 project and a description of your 2017 project. That’s it!
For questions on qualifying agencies, email jennifer@cfncw.org.
Important Dates
Deadline to apply: October 1
Grants awarded: October 10
Make a Difference Day: October 28
The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for the Eric C. Jensen Memorial Grant to improve literacy through technology and increase the ease and accessibility of information in libraries.
This grant is open to public libraries and public school libraries within the boundaries of Cashmere, Entiat, Wenatchee, and East Wenatchee School Districts. Awards range from $500 – $1000.
Previous programs funded by the grant include an Apple TV and two iPad teaching stations at Lewis and Clark Elementary Library and audiobooks and iPod shuffles for Pioneer Middle School Library.
Established in 2003, this grant honors of the work of Eric C. Jensen, which focused on expanding the use of information technology through innovative programs in the community.
The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for the Eric C. Jensen Memorial Grant to improve literacy through technology and increase the ease and accessibility of information in libraries.
This grant is open to public libraries and public school libraries within the boundaries of Cashmere, Entiat, Wenatchee, and East Wenatchee School Districts. Awards range from $500 – $1000.
Previous programs funded by the grant include an Apple TV and two iPad teaching stations at Lewis and Clark Elementary Library and audiobooks and iPod shuffles for Pioneer Middle School Library.
Established in 2003, this grant honors of the work of Eric C. Jensen, which focused on expanding the use of information technology through innovative programs in the community.
The Community Foundation of NCW has awarded $63,050 to Methow Valley nonprofits through the Methow Valley Fund (MVF).
Established in 2006, the MVF is funded by an anonymous donor and donations from the public to support programs that address community needs and enhancements for the Methow Valley.
“The Methow Valley is such a great example of a community taking care of each other” said Denise Sorom, the foundation’s director of community philanthropy. “The bounty of nonprofit work in the valley tremendously improves the quality of life, which makes it such a special place to live and visit.”
Grant Awards
Aero Methow Rescue Service – $3,500 Emergency responder/healthcare provider wellness and suicide prevention
Cascadia Music – $1,500 Music Library
Classroom in Bloom – $2,500 Garden coordinator
Confluence Gallery and Art Center – $2,250 Fundraising development
Friends of the Twisp Pool – $3,000 Support Pool and Safety Fund
Little Star Montessori – $3,500 General program support
Methow Arts Alliance – $4,000 Arts education program for Methow Valley students
Methow At Home – $2,500 Methow at Home Membership Grant fund
Methow Conservancy – $2,000 Volunteers in Action
Methow Field Institute/Interpretive Center – $1,000 Exhibit storage and enhancement
Methow Recycles – $3,700 Event Recycling Program Development
Methow Trails – $2,500 Methow Valley Trails Collaborative
Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival – $2,500 Outreach and community partnerships
Methow Valley Citizens Council – $2,000 Communications toolbox for effective advocacy
Methow Valley Community Center – $1,500 Auditorium chair replacement
Methow Valley Family Home Center Association – $4,000 Generator replacement
Methow Valley Riding Unlimited – $2,000 General program support
Methow Valley Theater – $1,500 New mobile spotlight
Methow Watershed Foundation – $3,600 Administrative support
Northwest Outward Bound School – $2,500 Outdoor education program for Methow Valley School District
Room One – $3,500 Access to pro-bono / low-cost legal services for vulnerable Methow Valley residents
The Merc Playhouse – $2,000 Summer Theater Camps
Twisp Valley Grange – $1,000 Access ramp
TwispWorks foundation – $3,000 Methow Skills Workshops
Winthrop Rink – $2,000 Rink spectator and visitor safety project
The next Methow Valley Fund grant opportunity will be in December of 2017.
Clovis Point Intermediate School received a $5,000 Stronger Schools grant in 2016 to support a summer library at Rock Island Elementary, where there is no public library access. Students came each week to read, play games, do art projects, and more.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2017
The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for its Stronger Schools grant program that supports public schools and school districts serving grades Pre-K through 12 in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties.
Up to $5,000 is available for programs that enrich school experiences for students, support teacher development, and provide opportunities for schools to better achieve their goals.
Applications can be submitted by teachers, staff, PTSAs, or supporting foundations. Only one application can be submitted per school with principal’s approval, but can include multiple projects.
New this year, school districts are also eligible to apply for programs that will provide district-wide programs or opportunities. School districts may apply in addition to schools within their district.
Stronger Schools grant awards are disbursed in May and must be used within the 2017-2018 academic school year.
Last year, the Community Foundation of NCW awarded $50,370 in Stronger Schools grants to twelve schools across the region, supporting music education, robotics, field trips, and more.
