The Community Foundation of NCW’s mission is to grow, protect, and connect charitable gifts in support of strong communities. One of the primary ways we serve this mission is through grantmaking to nonprofits that serve the communities of Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan Counties. The following values, guidelines, and policies apply to the discretionary grantmaking programs of CFNCW.

Grantmaking Values

CFNCW recognizes that the grantmaking process is an expression of our values and the primary way we build relationships and fulfill our role in the nonprofit sector. We acknowledge the role of power in grantmaking. We strive to minimize power dynamics and use our unique position to further our partners’ mission-based work. As grant makers:

• We treat organizations as valued partners. Recognizing that our local nonprofits are serving the community on the ground and our role is to support their work.
• We are guided by mutual respect, appreciation, and trust. We approach each interaction as a partnership rather than a top-down relationship.
• We focus on the work people are doing over how they present it. Grant writing is a specific skill, and we recognize that not everyone has that skill and for some, English may not be their first language. We focus on each organization’s role in making meaningful change and achieving outcomes that matter.
• We strive for objectivity and fairness in our evaluations. We use an evaluation matrix so that we are not making decisions based on gut feelings or casual conversation; we disclose conflicts of interest and recognize and try to mitigate affinity bias in our decision-making.
• We value inclusivity and diversity. We respect and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity contributes to healthy and caring communities. We strive to encompass people of all ages, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, economic circumstances, geography, religion, and physical ability in our grantmaking. To that end, we seek grantees and partners that incorporate diversity into their missions and strive to encourage diverse governance boards, partner organizations and served constituencies wherever practicable. We strive to ensure that our grantmaking activities reflect and promote the diversity of the communities we serve.

Grantmaking Guidelines

In most cases, local nonprofits are eligible for unrestricted/general operating support, rather than specific programs or projects.  Grantees can use these unrestricted funds to strengthen the organization and further its charitable purposes as they see fit. CFNCW believes that this type of grantmaking is valuable because it:

• Enables nonprofits to build strong & sustainable infrastructures to provide programs and services that will have the greatest impact on our communities;
• Eases fundraising pressure on nonprofit leaders and allows organizations to focus on fulfilling their missions and running effective programs;
• Gives flexibility for adapting and innovating to meet changing needs
• Serves as a vote of confidence for nonprofit leaders and lessens the power imbalance between funder and grantee; and
• Shifts the conversation towards the outcomes of the grant and overall impact of the organization rather than focusing on a small slice of the mission.

Please carefully read the eligibility criteria for each grant program to clarify the type of funding awards available.

Grantmaking Policies

• Geographic Area: CFNCW considers grant applications only from nonprofit organizations in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties. 

• IRS Charitable Status: A nonprofit organization must have a current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. If permitted by the specific grant program, organizations that do not have tax exempt status may apply with a qualified Fiscal Sponsor.

• City or County Governments: Operational costs or essential services provided by government such as infrastructure, administration, or services such as fire and police, are not eligible for funding.  However, non-essential, quality of life, community enhancement programs not typically funded through tax dollars may be eligible. Please contact the Foundation before proceeding with an application.

• Public Schools: Individual public schools and charter public schools are currently ineligible for Legacy Fund Grants. Other grant programs, such as NCW Foundation for Youth and Woods Family Music and Arts, do accept applications from public schools. Please see eligibility criteria in each grant program. 

• Private Schools: K-12 Private schools, defined as tuition based educational institutions, may apply for funding if more than 50% of the student body is low income or receives tuition assistance. Tuition assistance is not eligible. 

• Early learning centers, preschools, and education providers: Such organizations are eligible to apply only if they have a current tax-exempt status under Section 501c3 of the IRS Code and are located in Chelan, Douglas, or Okanogan Counties. 

• Faith-Based Organizations: Grants will not be made for religious purposes nor general operating expenses for faith-based organizations but may be made for non-religious programs offered to the broader community. Characteristics of eligible programs include: a program that is located in a house of worship but not associated with the house of worship; program is available to people of all faiths and/or non-believers; program abstains from religious worship, instruction or recruitment as part of the grant funded program.  Please contact the Foundation staff if you have questions, clarifications or would like to have examples. Please also note that some grant programs managed by CFNCW do not allow any requests from faith-based organizations. 

• Multiple Submissions: Organizations are limited to one grant proposal per grant program for consideration during a single grant cycle. (The only exception to this is for organizations that are serving as a fiscal sponsor and may submit grants for their own organization as well as projects for which they are a fiscal sponsor.) City or county governments can submit multiple applications as long as they are from different departments. If applicable, wait periods for such grants will apply to the department rather than the whole of the city or county government. 

Eligibility for Legacy Grants for the following will be dependent on criteria established by Local Advisory Boards: 

• Fiscal Sponsorship: Any Fiscal Sponsor for a project or program must meet the eligibility requirements established by the IRS. Contact the Foundation for more information before proceeding with an application. Organizations who act as a fiscal sponsor for other projects not directly associated with the organization’s programs may submit multiple proposals per cycle - one for their sponsored program and one for their internal programs. 

• Wait Periods: Some Legacy Funds may require a one-year wait period between grants. Please see eligibility requirements under each Legacy Fund. 

Ineligible for Grants

• Individuals
• Lobbying or Political activities
• Multi-Year Requests
• Tuition, scholarships, or core operating expenses for public schools, public charter schools, private schools, or universities and colleges
• Religious organizations for religious purposes (see Grantmaking Policies section above)