Search Through Grants for Capital Funding in Washington in the U.S.

AgWest Farm Credit

AgWest Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative with more than a century of experience serving farmers, ranchers, timber harvesters, and aquatic producers throughout the West. 

Rural Community Grants

AgWest Farm Credit is committed to improving the economic and social well-being of rural communities.

We are looking for creative and collaborative approaches to address challenges and provide opportunities to people who live in rural communities. This program provides grants to non-profit organizations for projects that improve rural communities within Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. This includes efforts such as building or improving facilities; purchasing necessary equipment to facilitate a local program; and funding capital improvements which enhance a community’s infrastructure, viability and/or prosperity.

Examples of rural community grant projects

• Fire engine for rural fire department
• Multi-purpose community building
• Improving community park facilities
• Computers for a community center’s educational classes

Grant amounts

Maximum grant request is $5000. Due to growing demand, the average amount awarded is between $500 and $2,500. An organization may only be awarded grant funds once per calendar year.

Ben B. Cheney Foundation Grant

The Ben B. Cheney Foundation makes grants in the communities where Mr. Cheney’s lumber company operated.

Within those communities, the Foundation will respond to a wide variety of requests. The Foundation’s main goal is to support efforts that help to improve the quality of life in those communities.

Type of Grant

The Foundation is open to a wide variety of programs serving the communities where we give. We prefer to focus on project grants rather than ongoing operating support.

A project has three distinguishing features:

• A specific time period with a beginning and an end,
• Specific accomplishments for the project, and
• A specific budget that outlines both what resources the organization needs to achieve the stated accomplishments and where the organization plans to obtain those resources.

Project Grants

Project grants are generally given on a one-time basis. The Foundation will evaluate an organization's plans for sustaining the impact of project grants, especially those for program expansion or starting new programs. That evaluation will include these questions:

• Are there identified sources of support capable of sustaining the program?
• Is the organization committed to a strategy to gain those sources of support?
• Does the project plan include activities towards gaining that sustainability?

While the Foundation understands that fund raising is a part of many organizations' budgets, we feel that this approach allows us to respond to needs that go above and beyond the annual operating budget. As a result, projects for one-time capital or equipment needs often gain priority.

Through this approach the Foundation is able to make grants to a number of first time grantees every year. Since 1975 the Foundation has supported 1,200 organizations.

Program Areas

The Foundation organizes its grant making into eight categories. They are displayed here for information purposes only. The Foundation does not budget to categories in advance and grant seekers are not required to apply by category.

• Charity - Programs providing for basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing.
• Civic - Programs improving the quality of life in a community as a whole such as museums and recreation facilities.
• Culture - Programs encompassing the arts.
• Education - Programs supporting capital projects and scholarships, primarily for six pre-selected colleges and universities with a record of service to Pierce County.
• Elderly - Programs serving the social, health, recreational, and other needs of older people.
• Health - Programs related to providing health care.
• Social Services - Programs serving people with physical or mental disabilities or other special needs.
• Youth - Programs helping young people to gain the skills needed to become responsible and productive adults.

Overview

Founded in 2007 by Kat Taylor and Tom Steyer, Beneficial State Bank is a B Corp Certified community development bank with branches in California, Oregon, and Washington. One hundred percent of the economic rights of Beneficial State Bank are owned not by private shareholders, but by nonprofit organizations, including Beneficial State Foundation. As nonprofit shareholders, we reinvest all distributed bank profit back into communities to promote thriving people, a healthy economy and a prosperous planet. This ownership structure allows us to learn and develop new metrics and standards as Beneficial State Bank tests and implements equitable banking products and practices.

As of 2023, Beneficial State Bank is a $1.7 billion asset state-chartered, federally insured bank with branches in California, Oregon, and Washington. Learn more about the origins of Beneficial State Bank.

Supporting Our Communities With Sponsorships

From day one, Beneficial State Bank has been committed to supporting our community above and beyond our lending by providing sponsorships to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations each year. We provide sponsorships to 501(c)(3) organizations in California, Oregon, and Washington that are engaged in transformative social justice and environmental work in our target sectors:

Social:

• Affordable and Multi-family Housing
• Arts, Culture and Community Building
• Education and Youth Development
• Beneficial Financial Services
• Economic, Business and Job Development
• Making, Manufacturing and Production
• Social Justice

Environmental:

• Environmental Sustainability
• Health and Well-being (non-food)
• Healthy Food
• Other Mission Categories (Business Ownership, Structures and Practices)

Beneficial State Bank has a unique business model compared to other banks. As a mission-driven bank majority-owned by the nonprofit Beneficial State Foundation, we work to maximize prosperity for our communities and our customers instead of working to maximize shareholder profits. We structure our business practices to benefit our stakeholders, not just our shareholders, so our total sponsorship budget is smaller than what you’ll find at a large, national bank. Therefore, we are limited in the number of sponsorships we can approve each year.

Liberty Mutual Foundation

At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. This purpose serves as a guiding principle for our philanthropic efforts, which seek to advance security and build resiliency for vulnerable people and communities.

We support organizations that work to empower individuals who are struggling to thrive amid challenging situations. 

Types of Support:

Liberty Mutual Foundation primarily provides programmatic and general operating support to 501(C)(3) organizations. Priority is given to organizations and projects that serve low-income youth and young adults. Each year, the Foundation awards a limited number of capital grants to current partner organizations whose missions closely align with our strategic grantmaking framework. 

Safeco Insurance Fund

Established in 2006, the Safeco Insurance Fund, a fund of the Liberty Mutual Foundation, supports the communities in which we live and work. In partnership with our grantees, our common purpose is: to invest the expertise, leadership and the financial strength of Liberty Mutual Insurance and its employees to improve the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors. 

Our grants help nonprofits that work to empower families and individuals who are struggling to thrive amid challenging situations. To that end, our grant-making priorities focus on organizations and programs in Seattle/King County that provide accessibility for individuals of all abilities; security for men, women and children experiencing homelessness; and educational opportunities for children and youth living in poverty.

We strive to give nonprofit organizations the flexibility they need. Therefore, the Safeco Insurance Fund makes single and multi-year program grants, supplemented by occasional capital and operating support. Discretionary proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and our Request for Proposals in specific funding areas have stated deadlines and are widely posted. Our review process is continuous.

The Norcliffe Foundation is a private family foundation established to improve the ​quality of life for all people in our community.

What we fund

Areas of support include human services, healthcare, civic and community projects, education, and arts and culture. 

Funding Areas

The foundation makes grants in the following areas: 

• Arts & Culture
• Civic & Community
• Education
• Healthcare & Research
• Human & Social Services

Grant Amounts

The Norcliffe Foundation provides support to a wide variety of organizations and projects. Grant size depends on the scope of the project and the capacity of the organization.

Nearly 60% of the grants we make are $15,000 or less.

Things to consider when determining the appropriate amount to request:

• What is the gift range already committed or pending from other funders and foundations? The Norcliffe Foundation is most interested in joining a community of funders and is rarely the largest donor to a project.
• Is there a history of funding from The Norcliffe Foundation and what is the range for those grants?

Funding Types

Funding types include:

• Capacity Building
• Capital and Infrastructure 
• Challenge or Matching
• General Operating
• Program Support ​

Background

Established in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union has become Oregon’s largest credit union with over 500,000 members. As we have grown, so has our commitment to community engagement, from the volunteerism encouraged among employees to direct financial support of schools and nonprofits.

Through an inclusive and equitable approach, OnPoint supports organizations in our membership area that align with our core impact values. We offer funding for community grants, sponsorships, and schools making a positive impact.

Focus Areas

All three potential funding tracks fall under OnPoint’s focus areas of Economic Opportunity and Community Vitality.

Economic Opportunity

• Financial Education and Programming
  • Organizations dedicated to empowering youth and adults through educational programming that connects them to all aspects of personal finance in order to make informed financial decisions
• Access to Capital
  • Organizations dedicated to empowering and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses with education on accessing capital, technical assistance, etc.
• Workforce Development
  • Organizations dedicated to creating pathways to career building, job training education, etc.

Community Vitality

• Hunger and Shelter
  • Organizations dedicated to supporting individuals/communities facing food and housing insecurity including, but not limited to food banks, rent assistance, etc.
• Education
  • Schools, school-adjacent, and other organizations dedicated to informing and educating individuals or the general public and providing teachers, parents and students with products and services that improve learning and decisions about opportunities.
• Community Development
  • Organizations dedicated to supporting and revitalizing communities through behavioral health, arts & culture, etc.
• Sustainability and Environmental Health
  • Organizations dedicated to sustainability efforts and projects.

Events & Sponsorships

OnPoint sponsors events and other activities for nonprofit, community-based organizations delivering programs that align with OnPoint’s key focus areas.

Funding

While we will consider all eligible requests, our average contribution ranges from $100 to $10,000.

Grant Opportunities

Communities need nonprofits to thrive

We believe in transformational ideas that help individuals, families and communities flourish—and since 1975, the Murdock Trust has invested more than $1.4 billion into nonprofit organizations that share our commitment to thinking bigger, challenging problems and making a true difference.

Strategic Project Grants

Capacity-building awards for mission-focused projects and infrastructure investment

Capital Grants

Is capital growth or expansion important to your nonprofit’s vision for long-term growth and success? The Murdock Trust regularly makes grants that support construction, renovation, land purchase and other capital projects. In most cases, we prefer to receive requests for these types of projects once your organization has raised a portion of the needed funds.

Grant Opportunities

Communities need nonprofits to thrive

We believe in transformational ideas that help individuals, families and communities flourish—and since 1975, the Murdock Trust has invested more than $1.4 billion into nonprofit organizations that share our commitment to thinking bigger, challenging problems and making a true difference.

Strategic Project Grants

Capacity-building awards for mission-focused projects and infrastructure investment

Equipment & Technology Grants

Best practices suggest that a healthy equipment and supporting technology infrastructure is essential. Please note that with these grants, recipient organizations are responsible for 50% or greater of the purchase cost.

Grant Opportunities

Communities need nonprofits to thrive

We believe in transformational ideas that help individuals, families and communities flourish—and since 1975, the Murdock Trust has invested more than $1.4 billion into nonprofit organizations that share our commitment to thinking bigger, challenging problems and making a true difference.

Strategic Project Grants

Capacity-building awards for mission-focused projects and infrastructure investment

Program & Staff

Expanding programs and adding staff are important markers of nonprofit success. Murdock Trust grants help fund both new programs and the expansion of existing programs and may be used to cover start-up costs and/or related staff member additions. Typically, we fund program and staff grants on a declining basis over three years (100/67/33%). 

Community Grant Program

The Community Grant Program is comprised of more than 90 funds established by donors who have given Innovia Foundation the flexibility to make funding decisions that accommodate changing needs and capitalize on timely and compelling opportunities in our 20-county region. This program has one cycle per year and organizations are eligible to submit one application per cycle. The maximum award amount is $15,000, with most grants in the range of $2,500 – $15,000.

Program Areas

Guided by local priorities and engaged residents, Innovia Foundation will invest in programs and initiatives that promote vibrant and sustainable communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive.

Impact Areas

• Education and Youth Development
• Innovia Foundation invests in nonprofit organizations providing access to learning opportunities for all ages – from early childhood reading programs to college campus site visits for first generation college students.
• Arts and Culture
• From rural community theaters to large symphonies, Innovia Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations that support the arts as economic drivers, educational assets, civic catalysts and bridges between cultures.
• Economic Opportunity
• Whether it’s providing job skills training for refugees or developing a commercial kitchen for local entrepreneurs, Innovia Foundation works with nonprofit partners to build prosperity for local families, businesses and communities.
• Health and Wellbeing
• From programs addressing child hunger to those ensuring no senior falls victim to abuse or neglect, Innovia Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to improve the social determinants of health in our community and meet the basic needs of our most vulnerable populations.
• Quality of Life
• Innovia Foundation recognizes that land conservation, compassion for our furry friends and wellplanned community spaces add so much to the quality of life we enjoy in the Inland Northwest and invests in organizations providing access to these community assets. 

Guiding Principles

Within our impact areas, we aim to fund proposals that are a strong fit with one or more of the following Guiding Principles:

• Respond compassionately to meet basic human needs
• We know that meeting basic human needs is fundamental to improving the quality of life for everyone. Innovia Foundation will collaborate with community partners to address both systemic issues and immediate needs.
• Bring people together to build inclusive communities
• We believe in bringing people together and building connections that enrich us all. We seek to develop places and spaces where everyone feels they belong and can participate in decisions that affect their lives.
• Expand opportunity and reduce inequity
• We recognize that persistent and systemic disparities diminish opportunities. We will bridge the divide that isolates and prevents members of our community from recognizing and reaching their full potential and will invest in organizations that address the root causes of issues and promote self-sufficiency

Project Types

Organizations may request a Community Grant for any of the following project types:

• Build a new program
• Expand an existing program
• Support for an existing program
• Capital projects/equipment
• This could include, but is not limited to, technology, furnishings, equipment, vehicles or building construction or renovation
• Capacity building
• This could include, but is not limited to:
• Collaborating with other organizations to improve services or eliminate duplication
• Strengthening governance, leadership or staff expertise
• Restructuring business models and accounting practices to improve organizational stability
• Building and diversifying revenue streams
• Developing and implementing long-term strategic plans 
• Refining communications, marketing and outreach 
• Improving volunteer recruitment, training and engagement
• Acquiring or improving impact measurement tools and program evaluation capacity 

The purpose of the Bamford Foundation is to improve the quality of life of individuals and to strengthen their communities, primarily in Tacoma, Washington and the South Puget Sound area of the Pacific Northwest.

History

The Bamford Foundation was established in 1990 by Calvin D. Bamford, Jr. and Joanne Bamford with the intent of supporting their home community of Tacoma, Washington. As long-time President of Globe Machine Manufacturing Company, founded in 1917 and located on Tacoma’s tide-flats, Calvin has demonstrated his commitment to give back to the Tacoma community through this foundation and through his membership on boards and in a variety of community organizations. Likewise, Joanne, having moved to the area in 1967 when she married Cal, has led a number of boards and has worked with many charitable organizations in the areas of education, human services and the arts, in order to improve the quality of life of families in Tacoma. The Bamford Foundation embodies the values that Joanne and Calvin instilled in their children and hope to instill in future generations. These values include the importance of family, life-long education, involvement in one's community, and generosity.

What We Support

Over the past 12 years, the Bamford Foundation has continued to make grants aligned with our four priority giving areas, primarily within greater Tacoma and Pierce County, in the spirit of our founders' mission to improve the quality of life of individuals and families and to strengthen their communities. The foundation supports 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, which include operational funds, capacity building funds, program funds, partnerships, and capital projects that are evidence-based; innovative; that promote equity, diversity, access and inclusion; and that invite individuals and families to use their voices and resources to strengthen their communities. We support efforts that represent collaboration with partners in the greater community for the most impact. The foundation's giving priorities reflect the board's value of the transformative role of lifelong education for individuals, families and communities:

Basic Needs (access to food, physical and mental/behavioral health care, housing and shelter, clothing and other basic needs, financial stability)

We support organizations that promote self-sufficiency through enabling individuals to meet their basic needs.

Early Learning and Parent support

We promote the healthy development and learning of young children 0-8 though our support of organizations, programs and initiatives/partnerships which improve access to and quality of early learning experiences including child care, support parents and primary caregivers as their children's first teachers, and enhance professional development and support of those who work with and care for young children.

Expanded Learning Opportunities

We support access to expanded learning opportunities for all of our community members, but in particular for children and youth preschool- grade 12, which includes participation in education-related programs in arts, cultural understanding and civic engagement; in the areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math); social-emotional learning; environmental education; and learning support programs (supporting different pathways to learning).

Access to Higher Education and Job training opportunities

We support programs, initiatives, and organizations that improve access for people to opportunities in postsecondary education, job training, apprenticeships and career pathways, including programs that support students to complete their degrees, and to identify and reach their educational, career and life goals.

Promoting Health Equity since 1992

The PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement is an independent, private foundation, not connected to any PacificSource entity. We are focused on finding ways to improve access to high quality healthcare for everyone—with an emphasis on helping underserved and vulnerable populations. We serve communities throughout Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and parts of Washington.

Equity Statement

At the PacificSource Foundation for Health Improvement, we believe everyone should have opportunities for a healthy life and community—regardless of resources, circumstances, or identity. We seek to advance equity, honor diversity, and foster inclusion throughout our work. This, in alignment with our values, enables us to learn from, collaborate with, and foster the inherent power of the communities with which we partner. 

Our Work

Advancing health equity through strategies that increase access to healthcare and eliminate health disparities for marginalized people and communities.

Funding Priority Areas

• Access to healthcare services for vulnerable and underserved populations
• Direct Healthcare Services – Mental/Behavioral Health, Medical, Dental
• Indirect/Support Services – Peer Support, Traditional/Community Health Workers, Navigation, etc.
• Prevention of health inequities through clinical and community-driven solutions, including interventions that advance equity and improve the health and well-being for those experiencing health disparities. 
  • The areas noted below are examples of approaches that we believe to be well aligned; however, we look forward to exploring opportunities with community partners, as we learn and refine this new priority area
    • Infant and maternal health - i.e. home visiting programs, developmental screening promotion, lactation support, etc.
    • Early childhood and parent education – i.e. ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) prevention, developmentally appropriate parent education, protective factors
    • Supportive housing– Specifically focused on co-located services, permanent supportive housing (program, not capital), and services that aim to improve health within a housing context.
    • Nutrition access and education – i.e. nutrition support and education to promote overall health, prevent negative health outcomes, or treat disease.
    • Building resilience– Healing-centered, community driven solutions that strengthen the resilience of marginalized people and communities. i.e. non-clinical behavioral health, accessibility, LGBTQ+, youth development, social connection, and climate-related health impacts.

Funding

Provides one-year and multi-year funding to support organizations working to advance health equity, as described in the funding priority areas and examples shown above.

Generally speaking, one-year grant requests are appropriate for organizations that are new to the foundation. Multi-year grant requests may be suitable for organizations known to the foundation and in good standing with prior awards. There are no firm limitations on the level of a grant request but typical awards range from $10,000-$50,000.

Braitmayer Foundation Grant

The Braitmayer Foundation seeks to support organizations advancing equitable access to experiential learning that is meaningful and relevant to students’ lives, including project-based and other active learning approaches. Grants will support efforts that increase the quality and quantity of teacher-facilitated projects and programs that amplify and spread the practice of experiential learning in K-12 schools. The Foundation will focus on projects and programs serving low-income students in coastal New England and coastal Pacific Northwest.

Background

The Braitmayer Foundation is a 4th generation family foundation that seeks to honor our shared values and continue our family legacy of giving to strengthen education. We seek to fund organizations that are increasing access to quality education for all students, especially in the communities with the least resources.

The Braitmayer Foundation has a history of supporting experiential education. Over the years, it has observed how experiential learning aligns with the demands of the global world and helps students be adaptable, innovative, and self-directed learners and leaders in their communities. It knows teachers have been the leading advocates of experiential learning in schools, addressing its challenges and spreading its practice. The Foundation has also seen how experiential learning centers young people as visible leaders and problem-solvers in their schools and communities.

The Foundation seeks to continue championing experiential learning in schools and support efforts that increase the quality and quantity of teacher-facilitated projects in schools serving low-income students.

Defining Experiential Learning

The Foundation is not dogmatic about the definitions of experiential, active, authentic, or project-based learning pedagogies. The Foundation encourages organizations taking creative approaches to advancing equitable access to student-centered learning to apply, even if they do not directly identify with experiential learning.

What the Foundation looks for in a project or program

The Foundation seeks to learn from projects and programs that can help build the field and spread the pedagogy, systems, and tools to a broad audience. It is especially interested in projects that have inclusive strategies for students – specifically student populations that are often overlooked, such as students with disabilities, including mobility, sensory, or are considered neurodiverse.

While the concept applications will provide more of a summary, we are looking for full proposals that communicate most or all of the following:

• Familiarity with the theory and practice. As leaders, applicants should be grounded in the field and the challenges of active learning, problem-based learning, experiential education, etc.
• Equity. The project explicitly tries to address equity – racial, class, gender, ability, etc.
• Universal design. Projects are accessible to people with various abilities, disabilities, and other characteristics.
• Clear goals and objectives. The project is outcome- and results-oriented.
• A learning orientation. The project addresses exciting questions about the challenges of the work that is useful to others.
• Experiential learning is core to the mission. Providing experiential or active learning for young people is a central aspect of the organization’s mission and a driver of the organization’s creativity, innovation, and ongoing partnerships.
• The proof is in the projects. Participants take leadership in producing tangible and authentic products, services, or experiences that benefit the larger community, build social capital, and showcase their talents. Does it feel real to the students?

Funding

The Foundation’s funding opportunity this year offers a limited number of one-year grants of $35,000 – $50,000 to organizations at various levels of capacity. The Foundation anticipates inviting a limited number of follow-up requests for continued and sustained support from this cycle’s pool of grantees, depending on progress and interest.

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Grants

Grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund advance ongoing preservation activities for historic sites, museums, and landscape projects representing African American cultural heritage. The fund supports work in four primary areas: Capital Projects, Organizational Capacity Building, Project Planning, and Programming and Interpretation. Grants made from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund will range from $50,000 to $150,000. In 2022, the National Trust awarded $3 million to 33 projects. Since establishing the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund’s National Grant Program in 2017, the National Trust has supported more than 200 preservation projects nationally.

Sherwood Trust

Sherwood Trust’s Vision

Everyone in the Walla Walla Valley has a sense of belonging and contributes to a thriving region. Sherwood Trust serves as a catalyst for building capacity, creating a cohesive, vibrant community.

Sherwood Trust’s Core Values

Collaboration. Empathy. Equity. Excellence. Integrity. Sustainability.

Sherwood Trust Giving Principles

• Private philanthropy is a strategic activity, not a charity. It demands the seriousness of a long-term investment and requires stringent underwriting to ensure grants support achievable, measurable results.
• An organization’s operational model and its execution is critical to achieving its mission. Sherwood Trust grants favor effective organizations that demonstrate strong leadership, competent management, strategic innovation and a record of achieving tangible results.
• Sherwood Trust grant programs are for organizations whose work directly supports our vision that everyone here has a sense of belonging and can contribute to our thriving region.
• We seek transformative investments that support local people working together toward stronger, more equitable communities.
• Sherwood Trust favors applicants with evidence of multiple donor commitments so Sherwood Trust is not funding the majority of the request. Sherwood Trust prefers to fund final grant dollars.

Core Values

• Collaboration – support for collaboration between organizations on a common project that address a community need 
• Empathy – support for initiatives that promote mutual understanding, learning and respectful community engagement
• Equity – support for initiatives that promote and strengthen inclusive, representative engagement in our region, particularly those that address inequities for underserved populations
• Excellence – support for nonprofits with a track record of sound operational management and development of internal capacities that enhance an organization’s resiliency
• Integrity – support for operations that demonstrate transparency and unity in the fulfillment of their mission
• Sustainability – support for strong, resilient organizations with a track record of good governance and accomplishment

Core Grants

Sherwood Trust seeks to invest initiatives that support our mission and values and are an organization’s most important priority. These generally fall within three major categories:

• Capacity grants for nonprofit organizations can include expanding service or operations, or funding for specific innovations or projects that support resiliency and strengthen an organization’s ability to fulfill its ongoing mission
• Community grants for qualifying neighborhood and community-based projects that generally include a public agency
• Capital grants for improvements to facilities or physical property

Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative Grant

Across the country, descendant communities and families are engaged in exciting and groundbreaking efforts to reclaim, rescue, and share overlooked stories and places of resilience, achievement, and perseverance. The impact of these efforts deserves admiration, resources, and partnership. Grants from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund's Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative will empower and equip descendant-led and family-led organizations and projects to preserve, activate, and manage historic places. This initiative is a testament to our belief in the capacity of descendant communities and families to be full partners and leaders in the physical preservation, interpretative programming, management, and governance of historic places.

The Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative is not just another grant funding opportunity. It's a unique, multi-year partnership and investment opportunity with one grant funding category – Stewardship Project. Powered by the Mellon Foundation's Humanities in Place, the Action Fund will award five grants and invest $200,000 per grantee, providing specialized consultation and best practices support for a period of two years.

Descendant and Family Stewardship Grants support project management, capacity-building, grantmaking, and convenings for place-based organizations. In collaboration and consultation with the Action Fund, the selected grantees will engage in the following activities during the two-year grant period as we work together to preserve American history and model new approaches in historic preservation:

• Completing a Stewardship Project needs assessment to inform the scope of work, the use of the grant funds, and define project milestones and deliverables.
• Receiving $200,000 in grant funds to develop a Stewardship Plan and launch the implementation of its recommendations.
• Promoting the partnership, process, and lessons learned for other stewarding organizations to replicate.
• Participating in convenings with initiative stakeholders to share best practices, build community, and advance the field.

The Stewardship Project's scope of work, for example, can include architectural and design services, strategic and fundraising planning, interpretation and program development, community engagement and audience development, staff support, limited capital and restoration, and other priorities established through the assessment process.

The Action Fund provides consultation to meet our grantees’ organizational needs and priorities. Our role as the grantor is to work hand in hand with our grantee partners through a collaborative process focused on asset management of heritage resources and holistic stewardship visioning and planning. Project partners will work as a team to achieve the grantee's short-term and long-term stewardship goals.

Help Define Descendant in Historic Preservation

Today, the preservation field has varying views on defining "descendant," though it is often used in connection to heritage sites associated with slavery, such as a plantation, burial ground, or jail. The Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative is a collaborative effort that values the input of all stakeholders. Our work with grantees includes strategic collaboration across the historic preservation field to define “descendant” and establish more broadly-adopted language. For example, descendant communities can include a direct blood lineage or historical affiliation to a site of enslavement, like Virginia's Sharswood Plantation, or social movements in education and civil rights, such as Washington-Rosenwald Schools, Birmingham Foot Soldiers, and the Tulsa Race Massacre.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is committed to understanding the different perspectives of descendant-led organizations and projects and seeks your help. Therefore, applicants for this grant can define “descendant” for themselves and make the case that their organization and project are descendant-led and family-led on the Letter of Intent (LOI) form. We deeply respect and value the unique perspectives and experiences that each organization brings to the table.

In addition to descendant-led, family-led describes organizations where family members with direct ties to a historic place help steward the site, such as a granddaughter advocating for Virginia's Anne Spencer House and Garden Museum, siblings volunteering at Philadelphia's John Coltrane Home, or a family saving a legacy farm. It may also include property owners of a historic residence or venue associated with Black history, actively supporting its preservation, public access, and interpretation.

About First Fed Foundation:

First Fed Foundation (formerly First Federal Community Foundation) is a private 501(c)(3) charitable corporation launched in 2015 with a generous gift of stock and cash valued at nearly $12 million from the parent company of First Fed, when the bank was converted to a publicly traded company. This gift underscored First Fed’s commitment to continue its 100-year tradition of supporting the communities it serves.

In that same spirit, First Fed Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities in which First Fed maintains full-service branches.

Committed to creating broad impact, the Foundation has contributed more than $7.3 million since 2015 to qualified nonprofit, tribal, and government organizations that provide community support, address homelessness and the availability of and access to affordable housing, and deliver economic and community development projects in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, and Whatcom Counties and Bellevue, Washington.

What are the Foundation’s four funding priorities?

Community Support: We contribute to eligible community and human service organizations that improve the quality of life within the communities we serve. We give priority to programs and projects that build capacity to better serve the broader community, and that benefit low- to moderate-income, disadvantaged and/or marginalized persons or families.

Affordable Housing: We support programs and projects that build upon First Federal’s legacy of improving the availability of affordable workforce housing, and access to decent, safe, and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income, disadvantaged and/or marginalized persons and/or families in the communities we serve.

Economic Development: We fund initiatives that encourage and expand economic development and living-wage job opportunities in the communities we serve, with emphasis on collaborative and public/private initiatives sponsored by local organizations dedicated to economic development.

Community Development: We support capital projects that offer valuable benefits to broad segments of the communities we serve, with emphasis on collaborative and public/private initiatives featuring multiple funding sources. The Foundation appreciates naming rights on capital projects it supports.

Community Accelerator Grant

ArtsFund is pleased to partner with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation on the third round of funding for the Community Accelerator Grant, a $10 million investment in Washington state’s arts and culture sector. The program, now in its third year, provides unrestricted grants to cultural nonprofit organizations across Washington state. In the program’s second year, it awarded 811 grants to organizations reaching 37 of Washington’s 39 counties. Funding will provide essential capital to Washington’s cultural organizations, including fiscally sponsored organizations and tribal entities, with primary missions of producing or supporting arts and cultural activities. The funds are intended to boost arts organizations’ ability to invest in their missions and essential roles serving communities across the state.

What is it

Funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, year 3 of the Community Accelerator Grant program will provide unrestricted grants for cultural organizations across Washington state in amounts of $2,500 to $25,000.

Investing in Community

The Annual Community Grants Cycle is the heart of the Bainbridge Community Foundation (BCF) grants program. Each year since its inception in 2005, BCF staff and dozens of well-trained community volunteers have spent hundreds of hours reviewing applications, conducting site visits, and setting priorities. BCF discretionary funds provide initial proposal funding; then Fund Advisors and the community at large are invited to partner with BCF to support these important programs. This community-based approach to grant-making ensures that community needs are met — by our own informed and engaged community members.

Areas of Support

The Community Grants Cycle, which supports nonprofits serving Bainbridge Islanders in:

• arts and culture,
• animal welfare,
• education,
• environment,
• health and human services, and
• recreation;

Community Grants Funding Types

• Program (Specific program or project)
• Capital (Equipment/facility repairs, etc.); Estimates must be provided at time of application
• Direct (Access to programming/support or access for underserved populations)
• Operating (General operating support)

Giving Back to Our Community

For more than 74 years the Baker family owned and published the Tacoma News Tribune. In 1986 Elbert sold The Tacoma News Tribune to McClatchy Newspapers. Taking $1.5 million from the sale of the News Tribune, he established The Baker Trust and Foundation in 1987 to provide funding for Tacoma youth programs, arts and education. “Tacoma did so much for my father; he just wanted to give something back,” said Elbert’s daughter, Martine, a former director.

In 1995 Elbert Baker died, leaving his family to continue the labor of love he had begun. Elbert loved the city of Tacoma, its people, and its institutions. His vision for the Foundation was that it should provide a legacy of fine arts, education, and health institution funding for the community, emphasizing programs for youth. The trust grows each year by about $100,000 in assets and it disperses at least five percent of its total annually. Recipients are determined by the Baker Foundation board, family members who each contribute to the trust financially.

Supporting the Future

The Baker Foundation has provided funding for the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, children’s art programs, local theater, and many annual events. The Baker Foundation Scholarship is awarded each year to seniors graduating from Tacoma high schools who show academic and civic merit. The Frank S. Baker Center is home to Day Surgery of Tacoma and other medical treatment facilities. The Sprague Building was rededicated as The Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center in 1995 after a major gift from Elbert Baker made complete renovation of the building possible.

The Baker Foundation is dedicated to preserving and furthering the vision of its founder through many years ahead. Like Elbert H. Baker II, the Foundation is a dynamic yet quiet influence in the community he loved. The people and institutions of Tacoma and Pierce County will continue to benefit from his vision for many generations.

Average Grant Amount

Program Grants average between $2,500 and $10,000. Capital Grants and Endowment Grants are $25,000 each.

Charitable Foundation

The Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation was created pursuant to the Last Will and Testament of Paul Lauzier. During his lifetime, Mr. Lauzier made numerous contributions to religious, educational, and community organizations. His legacy of charitable giving continues through annual grants awarded by the Paul Lauzier Charitable

Foundation in support of community development, youth programs, public health and safety, education, and agriculture.

There is no geographical limitation for funding requests. With that said, the Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation prefers to fund programs and projects geographically located in rural communities in central and eastern Washington, with an emphasis within Grant County.

The Foundation also provides support in the form of long-term grants disbursed over several years. The Foundation will consider funding requests for program support, equipment and capital projects. 

The Washington Fund

While we focus more exclusively on Oregon state impact, we still value our partnerships with Washington State nonprofits and value the incredible work being performed by our past and present partners there. 

• We generally expect our average Washington Fund award to mimic our Rose Grant program, with the median award being $25,000-$35,000; awards will vary significantly for this program, however, and will be difficult to predict
• Award terms are typically 1-2 years, with terms open to three (3) years for exceptional applicants
• Generally, this program is only open to general operating support. In rare cases, we will accept applications for Capital Campaigns, though awards for such efforts will still reflect the anticipated median size
• We expect this program to be competitive and will prioritize organizations with whom we have partnered before, especially those in Southwest, Central, and Eastern Washington. Partners in Western Washington, especially the greater Seattle area, are less competitive but still welcome to submit a self-nomination.
• This program is only open to organizations headquartered in and primarily serving Washington State and/or Oregon 

Art Project Grant

ArtsWA is offering support to groups providing art programming with and for the people of Washington State. Organizations do not need to have an arts-focused mission to apply.

Funding

Applicants can request between $2,000-$5,000 for their project. If awarded, grant amounts can vary depending on panel recommendations and available funds.

This is a reimbursement grant, meaning that payments will be made after the grant recipient expends funds, and after expense documentation and invoice forms have been submitted to and approved by ArtsWA.

The mission of The Stimson-Miller Foundation is to carry on the civic, cultural, educational, and health and human services charitable interests and concerns of the shareholders of Stimson Lumber Company in the greater Portland area and communities throughout the United States where Stimson Lumber Company conducts its business. 

The Glaser Foundation's Board of Directors is currently focusing on direct-line services, mainly to children and the elderly.

Grant Focus Areas

Medical

The roots of the Foundation’s Medical funding began when Paul Glaser sponsored a bed at Swedish Medical Center for low income patients. As medical funding models changed through the advent of Medicare and Medicaid, the Foundation’s support adapted to support immediate needs, hospital programs, and cutting-edge research. Through the Medical category, the Foundation funds innovative research and direct clinical services to low income residents of King County.

Services to Children with Disabilities

The Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that provide Services to Children with Disabilities with a particular focus on early intervention programs that address the needs of children from birth to five years old. Requests that address the needs of children from birth to twenty-one years will be also be considered.

Education

Education requests should share the goal of keeping kids excited about school and addressing the underlying conditions that contribute to the drop-out rate. Programs may include after school programs from the elementary level through community college and vocational programs are viewed favorably.

Services to the Elderly

The focus of the Services to the Elderly requests should be to enrich the lives of the elderly, particularly economically disadvantaged seniors. Grant requests that seek to address the physical needs, isolation, lack of mobility, and lack of intellectual stimulation will be considered. The Foundation prefers to fund direct line services, not large capital campaigns, and is supportive of new innovative programs and organizations.

Services to Children and Families from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

The focus of this category is to address challenges stemming from or contributing to poverty and economic insecurity. Grants will support programs that target food, shelter and clothing needs as well as domestic violence, addiction and homelessness.

Services to At-Risk Youth

Grants in this category seek to address systematic issues that keep youth vulnerable to interrupted education, homelessness, sex trafficking as well as addressing the needs of youth in foster care.

About Our Program

Our investments are guided by the fundamental belief in the power of live theatre to spark dialogue, bring different viewpoints together on challenging subjects, and provide a lens to process the critical issues of contemporary society.  

Through our Social Impact Theatre grant program, we proudly recognize organizations with production-specific support that are intentional and innovative in engaging with their audiences around these issues and are committed to reaching new audiences. This year, in addition to production-specific grants, we are introducing a new opportunity reflecting our value to support the health and sustainably of the American theater ecosystem.

We understand the current climate for theatres is incredibly challenging – with decreasing revenue sources and increasing costs, many theatres are struggling (and even those thriving face seemingly insurmountable challenges). And yet, we know that in times of challenge, the sector will apply its boundless creativity to adapt models and practices to remain sustainable.

This year, in addition to production specific grant awards, we will be selecting a small number of theatres to receive change capital grants of $10-$25K to kickstart new plans or to adapt and deepen strategies already in process. Awardees will form a cohort to share insights and to support each other and will commit to sharing lessons learned with the Foundation so that we can reshare information to more broadly support the field.

Given our available resources and in the spirit of focusing on our own learning, we will be considering change capital grants in the following three categories:

• Business models. We hear “the current model is broken!” and want to learn how you are experimenting economically. Ex. Letting go of spaces or activating new spaces, shared leadership, cost-sharing partnerships, alternatives to the subscription model etc.
• Building and deepening connection with your community. Are you exploring new programs or projects to increase interconnectivity between your community and the art on stage?
• New leaders. Does your theatre have a leader who has started within the last year who needs capacity to enact their vision and implement necessary changes?

 Grant Process

Interested organizations may request funding for one production and, if interested, one project for which change capital is needed, by submitting an LOI when our grant cycle is open. From this applicant pool, select organizations will be invited to submit a full application. Social impact theatre grants can cover artistic, production, and community engagement expenses.