The Community Foundation of NCW has awarded $240,455 in grants to 30 nonprofits across the region. The grants were funded by the Regional Impact Grant and Partners in Giving programs.
The Regional Impact Grant (RIG) is an annual, competitive grant program that supports charitable organizations in Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties. Sixty organizations applied for the grant, and 30 received awards.
To evaluate and determine award recipients, a team of foundation staff and board participate in site visits with each applicant to learn more about their organization’s grant request and potential impact. The site visit teams visited all 60 organizations spanning the region, from Leavenworth to Chelan to Tonasket, and logged over 600 driving miles. These insightful visits are essential in helping the foundation’s board make thoughtful, informed decisions to ensure grant making supports a broad base of areas that enhance quality of life in the region’s communities.
Of the awarded organizations, 25 will participate in Give NCW, an online crowdfunding campaign beginning Thanksgiving Day through December 31st. Since the RIG can only award a portion of the grant requests, Give NCW provides an opportunity for the public to donate and help organizations reach their ultimate goals. Last year, Give NCW received over $253,000 in donations from the public – over $50,000 more than the foundation’s grant award amount.
While Give NCW is limited to 25 participants, the foundation’s board agreed to fund 5 additional organizations with programs that meet essential needs and/or have a significant impact in the community. A portion of this funding was made possible by the Partners in Giving program, comprised of individuals, families, and businesses that make unrestricted gifts to support the general work of the foundation.
"The foundation's budget for these annual grants is around $200,000 each year, which comes from bequests left by generous individuals and families who loved the region” said Claire Oatey, director of community grants. “We're trying to help nonprofits make a greater impact with larger awards, but each year we have more requests than we can fund. Added resources from our Partners in Giving allows us to grant a few extra awards, and Give NCW gives nonprofits an amazing opportunity to reach their full goal. We are so grateful for those that invest in making our region a better place for all."
GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS
*Organizations marked with an asterisk will not participate in Give NCW
| Organization | Project | Award |
| Alatheia Riding Center | Financial Aid Fund - Keep Them in the Saddle! | $14,000 |
| Artist Trust* | Professional Development for Artists in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan Counties | $5,000 |
| Camp Fire NCW Council | Outdoor Education Program for teachers and students | $5,000 |
| Cancer Care of North Central Washington | New commercial washers and dryers at Our House | $3,500 |
| Chapter 2 Chapter | Resourcing youth literacy programs in NCW | $7,500 |
| Chelan County Historical Society (Cashmere Museum)* | Collections Management and Reference Materials | $7,055 |
| Chelan-Douglas CASA Program | I am for the Child - awareness and volunteer recruitment program | $14,000 |
| Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council | Support for Literacy Council of Chelan and Douglas Counties | $6,000 |
| City of Entiat | Fire Station Park | $9,500 |
| FIRST Washington | After school STEM programs for vulnerable at-risk youth | $9,500 |
| Grunewald Guild* | Art Access wheelchair ramp | $5,400 |
| Habitat For Humanity Of The Greater Wenatchee Area | Townhomes at South Chelan Ave | $6,000 |
| Hand in Hand Immigration | Support for citizenship program | $14,000 |
| Hearts Gathered | General support for Okanagan Salish immersion Montessori school | $8,000 |
| NCW Economic Development District | Support for NCW Regional Economic Forum and Economic Development | $6,000 |
| Okanogan County Child Development Association | Purchase and implement updated fiscal and HR systems software | $11,500 |
| Okanogan County Community Action Council | Program to help individuals maintain health and reduce emergency visits | $10,000 |
| Okanogan Land Trust | OkaKnowledgy - educational lecture series | $4,000 |
| Pybus Market Charitable Foundation | Support for community programs and activities at the Pybus Market | $6,000 |
| Small Miracles | Free summer lunch program | $8,000 |
| Special Olympics Washington | General operating support | $6,000 |
| Team Naturaleza | Support for free, bilingual, natural resource and conservation education | $6,000 |
| Tender Loving Care for Seniors | Home-based support for seniors | $5,000 |
| The Friends of the Wenatchee Public Library | Support for Capital Campaign | $11,500 |
| Upper Valley Connection* | Theatre Camp | $7,500 |
| Upper Valley MEND | Access to fresh produce at the Community Cupboard food bank | $9,500 |
| Wellness Place | "FUEL for the FIGHT" offering pre-paid gas cards for rural patients fighting cancer | $8,000 |
| Wenatchee Valley DRC | Increasing access to low/no cost alternative Conflict resolution | $7,000 |
| Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center | Walk-In Freezer | $9,000 |
| Wenatchee Valley YMCA | "Ment2B" program providing mentoring services for youth ages 8-17 | $11,000 |
Printed courtesy of www.wenatchee.org/ – Contact the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce for more information.
137 North Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801 – (509) 662-2116 – info@wenatchee.org