NOTE: In recognition of shelter in place ordinances among our communities, our requirements for the 2020 Sponsorship Program have changed. It is important that we continue supporting changemakers while we collectively observe social distancing. 

Overview

Thanks for your interest in Beneficial State Foundation. We are a unique foundation in that our primary role is to protect and support the triple bottom line missions of Beneficial State Bank. We help ensure that the banks meet the goals of generating prosperity for people and the planet, and avoids extractive practices while being financially sound.

Beneficial State Bank is helping to build human and environmental prosperity primarily by providing fair and honest loans and financial services to businesses and nonprofits that are striving to be a force for good. We at the foundation support this work in the ways described here.

Sponsorships

We fund and manage the sponsorships of Beneficial State Bank. From day one, Beneficial State Bank has been committed to supporting our community above and beyond its lending by providing sponsorships to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations each year — before the bank has made any profits. Historically we have provided the equivalent of 10% or more of Beneficial State Bank’s profits. That’s ten times the U.S. average corporate giving of less than 1% (0.76%).

Sponsorships

We will continue to help the bank provide sponsorship 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)

We choose to make small sponsorships available to many organizations; most of our sponsorships since 2013 were less than $1,000.

Making community possible

At U.S. Bank, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change in our communities. Through our Community Possible Grant Program, we are partnering with organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing and communities connected through arts and culture.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners.

Home

Children and families are better positioned to thrive and succeed in a home that is safe and permanent. Access to sustainable low-income housing is increasingly challenging for low- to moderate-income families. In response, our giving supports efforts that connect individuals and families with sustainable housing opportunities.

Access to safe, affordable energy-efficient housing

We provide financial support to assist people in developing stability in their lives through access to safe, sustainable and accessible homes. Examples of grant support include:

• Organizations that preserve, rehabilitate, renovate or construct affordable housing developments for low- and moderate-income families, individuals, seniors, veterans, and special-needs populations
• Organizations that provide transitional housing as a direct stepping stone to permanent housing
• Organizations that focus on veterans housing and homeownership
• Construction of green homes for low- and moderate-income communities
• Clean energy retrofit programs for low- and moderate-income housing developments
• Organizations that provide access to renewable energy
• Improving waste management systems to include recycling and composting programs

Homeownership education

Owning and maintaining a home requires significant financial knowledge, tools and resources. We support programs that assist low- and moderate-income homebuyers and existing homeowners. Examples of grant support include:

• Homebuyer education
• Pre- and post-purchase counseling and coaching
• Homeownership-retention programs designed to provide foreclosure counseling

Work

We know that a strong small business environment and an educated workforce ensure the prosperity of our communities and reduce the expanding wealth gap for communities of color. We provide grant support to programs and organizations that help small businesses thrive, allow people to succeed in the workforce, provide pathways to higher education and gain greater financial literacy.

Investing in the workforce

We fund organizations that provide training for small business development, as well as programs that support individuals across all skill and experience levels, to ensure they have the capability to gain employment that supports individuals and their families. Examples of grant support include:

• Small business technical assistance programs
• Job skills, career readiness training programs with comprehensive placement services for low- and moderate-income individuals entering or reentering the labor force

Providing pathways for educational success

• To address the growing requirements for post-secondary education in securing competitive jobs in the workplace, we support:
• Organizations and programs that help low- and moderate-income and at-risk middle and high school students prepare for post-secondary education at a community college, university, trade or technical school and career readiness
• Programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions that support access to career and educational opportunities for low- and moderate-income and diverse students

Teaching financial well-being for work and life

Financial well-being is not only critical for financial stability, it’s crucial in helping individuals be successful in the workplace. Examples of grant support include programs that positively impact:

• K-12 and college student financial literacy
• Adult and workforce financial literacy
• Senior financial fraud prevention
• Military service member and veteran financial literacy

Supporting the green economy through workforce development

The green economy is fast becoming an area of opportunity for workforce development programs. Funding support includes:

• Reskilling or retraining for jobs in renewable or clean energy
• Building and maintaining infrastructure to support renewable energy, including EV charging stations and bike/transportation programs

Play

Play brings joy, and it’s just as necessary for adults as it is for kids. But in low-income areas there are often limited spaces for play and fewer people attending arts and cultural events. That’s why we invest in community programming that supports ways for children and adults to play and create.

Access to artistic and cultural programming and arts education

Our investments ensure economic vitality and accessibility to the arts in local communities, as well as support for arts education. Examples of grant support include:

• Programs that provide access to cultural activities, visual and performing arts, zoos and aquariums and botanic gardens for individuals and families living in underserved communities
• Funding for local arts organizations that enhance the economic vitality of the community
• Programs that provide funding for arts-focused nonprofit organizations that bring visual and performing arts programming to low- and moderate-income K-12 schools and youth centers

Supporting learning through play

Many young people across the country do not have the resources or access to enjoy the benefits of active play. Supporting active play-based programs and projects for K-12 students located in or serving low- and moderate-income communities fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration and impacts the overall vitality of the communities we serve. Funding support includes:

• Support for organizations that build or expand access to active play spaces and places that help K-12 students learn through play and improves the health, safety and unification of neighborhoods in low- and moderate-income communities
• Programs that focus on using active play to help young people develop cognitive, social and emotional learning skills to become vibrant and productive citizens in low- and moderate-income communities

Outdoor places to play

Environmental stewardship enhances and improves the livability of our communities. Supporting efforts to preserve, protect and enhance outdoor spaces is now part of our Play pillar of giving. Funding support includes:

• Cleanup efforts in community spaces, including (but not limited to) beaches, rivers, and streams
• Protecting green spaces within the community, including planting trees, mangroves and seagrass
• Programs that support community, native and/or pollinator gardens, including community composting

Creating healthier communities, together

Providence provides funding to community partners in support of our vision: Creating healthier communities, together. Sponsorships and grants offer opportunities for Providence to build new partnerships with organizations doing work for the people of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Throughout the year, Providence through its Community Health Division, works to support community partners to address specific unmet needs.

Our decisions are largely based on our CHNA (Community Health Needs Assessment).

Event sponsorships

Types of requests accepted for consideration include, but are not limited to, community and fundraising events, conferences, health fairs and forums.

We accept requests for event sponsorships on an ongoing basis throughout the year. In order to ensure equity to all community partners, we request that you please submit only one event sponsorship request per year for your organization. We recommend that requests be submitted at least 90 days prior to your event.

Sponsorship awards typically range from $250-$2,500.

Program support

Examples of past awards for program support include, but are not limited to, fruit gleaning with low-income communities, dental and other services for homeless populations and scholarships to supplement conference registration costs.

We accept requests for program support on an ongoing basis throughout the year. We recommend that requests be submitted at least 120 days prior to needing the funds.

Maximum program support awards are $10,000, awards typically range from $1,000-$2,500.

Priorities

Providence is a member of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. As such, we have conducted Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) every three years for the past 15. In line with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, our most recent assessment was conducted at the individual hospital level. This led to hospital-specific Community Health Improvement Plans. These assessments and plans help shape grants, program support and event sponsorships included in our Community Benefit distribution. In keeping with our Mission, it is another way we are responsive to the needs of our communities.

All eight Oregon hospitals identified unmet needs and health improvement activities in the following general categories:

• Access to Care: Primary, dental or culturally-responsive care
• Behavioral Health: Mental health, substance use and treatment or adverse experiences, trauma prevention
• Chronic Conditions: Diabetes, obesity, hypertension
• Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing: Affordable housing, healthy food, living wage jobs, transportation

Since its inception, the Foundation, which is still led by Lester T. Sunderland's descendants, has focused on supporting construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other markets traditionally served by the Ash Grove Cement Company. 

 The Foundation prefers to make grants for construction and special interest projects rather than for annual operating expenses. 

Grants for planning, design, construction, renovation, repairs and restoration of facilities are considered. Areas of interest include higher education, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects and energy efficient affordable housing projects sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations. 

Funding Areas

In recent grant cycles, the Board of Trustees has awarded the majority of grants in four broadly defined areas:

Health Care and Hospitals

A growing area of need in many of the communities the Foundation serves. In 2017, more than $2.9 million was awarded to hospitals and health-care groups to build and improve their facilities. 

Human Services

The Foundation awarded over $7 million to human service nonprofits in 2017, and the majority of grants in this area were awarded to groups that provide essential services to youth and families. Grantees included a range of youth-focused groups, including the Kansas 4-H Foundation, Kids TLC, Ronald McDonald House & Boys & Girls Clubs. 

Higher Education

In 2017, the Foundation awarded more than $10 million to over 45 educational organizations. Grantees included community colleges, private colleges, and public universities. 

Arts and Culture

Our Mission

To improve the quality of life in all communities throughout Grays Harbor County, Washington.

Our Vision Statement

To be the leading source directing charitable support to meet our current and future community needs.

Giving Priorities

Establish Quality Education and Learning Opportunities for all ages

Involve families and communities in student achievement and aspirations by supporting:

• Programs that fully integrate on-site services of school districts and nonprofit organizations
• Tutoring and mentoring programs
• Learning efforts designed to reduce the preparation gap
• Dropout prevention at critical transition points and reconnect dropouts to school and employment via alternative education programs
• Efforts to involve parents and families in schools/education

Foster a Strong and Connected Community by supporting:

• Efforts to promote and enhance positive self-worth within the community

Teach skills for success in life, college, vocational training and career by supporting:

• Programs that provide high quality career and technical education and training
• Efforts that teach students financial literacy
• Support systems for first-generation or returning, low-income college students
• Programs that promote literacy

Promote Health and Wellness

Promote Healthy Lifestyles by supporting:

• Programs focused on addressing health disparities or disproportionately affected populations
• Programs that seek to reduce and/or prevent teen pregnancy, Tobacco use, Drugs and Alcohol, child abuse and/or Domestic Violence
• Treatment programs for substance abuse and mental illness
• Services for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse
• Organizations and projects that promote and encourage healthy lifestyles

Provide Broad Access to Arts, Culture and History

Broaden community engagement and access through support for:

• Programs that encourage participation in the arts through schools and the broader community
• Programs to connect people to the historical culture of Grays Harbor
• Efforts to preserve community landmarks

Help Meet the Basic Needs of Residents

Increase access to nutritious food and clean clothing by supporting:

• Collaboration among food programs in order to better respond to hunger needs
• The infrastructure needs of food banks who consistently offer nutritious food and access to clean clothing
• Free, culturally appropriate meal programs for children year-round

Help to Prevent Homelessness by supporting:

• Efforts to transition people from homelessness by offering support services such as counseling, childcare and job training
• Organizational efforts to prevent homelessness
• Nonprofits working to keep housing affordable

Small Grants Program

The Grays Harbor Community Foundation (GHCF) operates a highly impactful Community Building Grants program twice annually. These opportunities are targeted toward organizations looking to address larger scale projects in their community. However, to truly be responsive and meet the needs of our community, the GHCF has implemented a Small Grants Program. This program targets organizations looking to make a more immediate impact on a smaller scale. Small Grants will be offered through multiple granting opportunities.

Small Grant requests might include small scale technology needs, items for shelters or housing programs, food purchases for feeding programs, educational supplies for early learning or schools, small renovation or improvement projects, capacity building, etc. Priority goes to organizations that plan to use the funds immediately or within 2 months.

Type: Any organization which addresses one or more of our Giving Priorities.

Our Mission

To improve the quality of life in all communities throughout Grays Harbor County, Washington.

Our Vision Statement

To be the leading source directing charitable support to meet our current and future community needs.

Giving Priorities

Establish Quality Education and Learning Opportunities for all ages

Involve families and communities in student achievement and aspirations by supporting:

• Programs that fully integrate on-site services of school districts and nonprofit organizations
• Tutoring and mentoring programs
• Learning efforts designed to reduce the preparation gap
• Dropout prevention at critical transition points and reconnect dropouts to school and employment via alternative education programs
• Efforts to involve parents and families in schools/education

Foster a Strong and Connected Community by supporting:

• Efforts to promote and enhance positive self-worth within the community

Teach skills for success in life, college, vocational training and career by supporting:

• Programs that provide high quality career and technical education and training
• Efforts that teach students financial literacy
• Support systems for first-generation or returning, low-income college students
• Programs that promote literacy

Promote Health and Wellness

Promote Healthy Lifestyles by supporting:

• Programs focused on addressing health disparities or disproportionately affected populations
• Programs that seek to reduce and/or prevent teen pregnancy, Tobacco use, Drugs and Alcohol, child abuse and/or Domestic Violence
• Treatment programs for substance abuse and mental illness
• Services for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse
• Organizations and projects that promote and encourage healthy lifestyles

Provide Broad Access to Arts, Culture and History

Broaden community engagement and access through support for:

• Programs that encourage participation in the arts through schools and the broader community
• Programs to connect people to the historical culture of Grays Harbor
• Efforts to preserve community landmarks

Help Meet the Basic Needs of Residents

Increase access to nutritious food and clean clothing by supporting:

• Collaboration among food programs in order to better respond to hunger needs
• The infrastructure needs of food banks who consistently offer nutritious food and access to clean clothing
• Free, culturally appropriate meal programs for children year-round

Help to Prevent Homelessness by supporting:

• Efforts to transition people from homelessness by offering support services such as counseling, childcare and job training
• Organizational efforts to prevent homelessness
• Nonprofits working to keep housing affordable

Community Building Grants Program

The Grays Harbor Community Foundation addresses community needs by supporting nonprofit organizations throughout Grays Harbor County. The Foundation recognizes that the needs of our community are many. We support organizations in arts and culture, education, health and human services. Grant applications from all nonprofit organizations that meet our priorities and that are serving local residents are welcomed and encouraged.

The Grays Harbor Community Foundation offers a flexible granting cycle to address our community’s needs and immediate goals. We give high priority to investments that create positive, substantive change and attempt to resolve problems at their source.

Community Building Grant Details

Two Community Building Grant cycles occur twice annually, with an application deadline of February 1 and October 1. GHCF looks for proposals that show:

• The strength of the applicant organization.
• Address a community need.
• Fit well within the GHCF’s giving priorities.
• Show the ability to leverage other funding.
• Have a positive impact on persons and/or the community.
• Demonstrate the capacity to provide the necessary services using good administrative and financial management.

Focus Grants

From humble beginnings, our competitive grant programs have grown to change thousands of lives, bolster many missions and create more vibrant communities in Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties. Focus Grants are awarded to organizations that clearly demonstrate how they are disrupting intergenerational poverty. Our awards vary in size, typically ranging between $25,000 and $50,000.

Through our discretionary grantmaking, we acknowledge the experience of intergenerational poverty is not shared equally in our community. Throughout history, policies have systemically excluded communities of color from the opportunities we all need to thrive, directly affecting their disproportionate experience of poverty.

Through our discretionary grantmaking, we are committed to reducing disparities by:

• Supporting organizations working to address the root causes of intergenerational poverty like racial and structural inequities and helping create policies and systems that center people with lived experience.
• Prioritizing organizations led by members of the communities for which they serve.
• Reaching into each of our communities in southwest Washington and actively engaging as a strategic partner to all the counties we serve.
• Increasing the capacity of organizations in the community whose work, mission and values align with the mission, vision and values of the Community Foundation.
• Investing in innovative strategies that are guided by community need to solve emerging and structural societal issues.

Seeking Shared Prosperity

To accomplish this goal we invest in the following community impact areas, which we believe will improve all lives in southwest Washington.

• Basic Human Needs: Many in our community are working to survive, and every day presents a challenge to find food, shelter and security. For this reason, we fund organizations and programs that fulfill the basic needs of underserved people, families and communities. This includes needs such as food security, rent and utility assistance, affordable housing, physical and mental health, caregiving, domestic violence services and more. By addressing these pressing needs as they arise, people are better able to plan for their futures.
• Educational Attainment: In today’s economy, a good job and upward mobility increasingly depend on educational attainment. Without access, inclusivity and strong social supports, even students with great potential can encounter barriers. We invest in efforts that provide equitable opportunities along the entire educational continuum from birth to adulthood, so that every child enters school ready to learn and is able to achieve their goals for post-secondary success.
• Asset Building: All southwest Washington residents should have the opportunity to achieve financial security. We fund efforts to improve the economic health of the people and communities who face the biggest barriers to mobility. These include asset- and wealth-building strategies, employment services, financial planning and credit repair, small business development, homeownership, community livability, economic development and more.

Community Impact Lens -The following priorities help guide our funding toward projects and programs that have the greatest potential for community impact.

• The program or organization addresses an important community need in southwest Washington and is focused on dismantling disparities and increasing opportunities for historically underserved communities;
• The proposed project or work is consistent with the organization’s mission, and the organization has the experience and knowledge to address the identified community need;
• The organization is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion both internally, through its institutional practices and policies, and externally, through its partnerships and program delivery;
• The program or organization is working to build awareness around intergenerational poverty and address its root causes;
• The organization’s programs are clearly defined, avoid duplication and are grounded in strength-based best practices in the field;
• The organization seeks to include the voices and perspectives of the people and communities it serves during program development and conducts outreach and service delivery with cultural sensitivity;
• The organization has established trusted community relationships and meaningful community partnerships;
• The organization seeks to collaborate and share, carrying out their work in coordination with partners or through coalition building efforts;
• The outcomes and activities noted are realistic and the organization has demonstrated potential of future impact;
• The organization demonstrates competency in fiscal planning and management; the project budget and grant request are commensurate in size with the organization’s overall budget and with the proposed impact of the work; and additional support is sought from other funding sources.

NOTE: BECU member nominations are accepted through the Letter of Inquiry deadline, above. Nonprofit supplemental applications are due by the full proposal deadline.

Nominate a Nonprofit

Not all heroes wear capes. Some work to end hunger, others push for social equity and justice, and others transform lives through mentorship, education or the arts. Heroism takes many forms, and we're counting on you to help us identify the heroes among us.

The People Helping People Awards is an annual, member-driven program that recognizes members and nonprofits that help others. Each winner receives up to $50K in grant funds. This year, through our Black Community Development Project (BCDP), a five-year, $5 million commitment to Black communities and racial equity, we're giving up to $150K in additional funding to Black-led nonprofits nominated by BECU members.

So look around you for heroes who deserve recognition, and nominate a nonprofit for a BECU People Helping People Award today.

Giving Areas and Subcategories

Advancing Education (Pre K Through College) 

Access to education, mentoring, educational materials and programming, classroom/school and PTSA funding for educational programs/materials/experiences

Arts And Culture 

Equitable access to art experiences, underrepresented art and cultural organizations, cultural programs

Creating Economic Opportunity 

Living-wage jobs, small and startup businesses, job quality for low-wage workers

Preserving Health And Promoting Wellness 

Access to healthcare, illness prevention/cure, mental health, patient support, disabilities, veteran advocacy

Preserving Or Restoring The Environment 

Conservation, stewardship, sustainability

Providing For Basic Human Needs 

Affordable housing, homelessness, senior advocacy, infant and child advocacy, food/diaper/clothing banks

Strengthening Local Communities 

Neighborhoods, public safety, search and rescue, outdoor spaces, rotary/chambers of commerce.

Pacific Power Foundation

The Pacific Power Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Pacific Power. Our mission, through our charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of our communities.

In 2021, the Pacific Power Foundation awarded more than $1 million to local nonprofit organizations.

Apply for a Grant

The foundation manages its grants in four cycles. This helps the foundation carefully review similar requests to ensure maximum benefit.

Community Enhancement

Affordable housing, community resilience, community and recreation centers, economic development, libraries, monuments, memorials and science centers.

Environmental Respect

Animal and wildlife biodiversity; carbon and methane emissions; conservation of natural resources; environmental management systems; parks, trails and gardens; resource stewardship; waste management reduction, and water usage management.