Apply for a grant
Whidbey Community Foundation is announcing up to $100,000 available for general operations and capacity-building grants for Whidbey nonprofits.
About the 2020 Annual Grant Cycle
Whidbey Community Foundation recognizes the tremendous strain on our nonprofit sector and the people and places they support due to the current economic and social issues. In addition to the COVID-19 Community Resilience Fund, which is actively raising and distributing funds to community organizations serving those populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic, WCF’s Board of Directors designated up to $100,000 toward the 2020 Annual Grant Cycle.
Grant applications of up to $5,000 will be accepted beginning July 1 through August 31.
Funding priorities
Through the Annual Grant Cycle, Whidbey Community Foundation wants to enable nonprofits working on Whidbey Island to focus on long-term mission fulfillment by providing support that is flexible and enables organizations to build critical skills and adapt as work structures pivot due to the pandemic.
The Community Foundation will prioritize funding for the following purposes:
- General operations
- Capacity-building support focused on building organizational capacities. Examples are leadership training, fundraising support, communications, technology upgrades, evaluation systems, and new collaborative capacities
- Project support
Additionally, Whidbey Community Foundation will prioritize funding toward organizations and/or projects that demonstrate a need for organizational recovery or changes in service delivery because of COVID-19.
A nonprofit that receives funding from WCF’s COVID-19 Community Resilience Fund is also eligible for funding from our Annual Grant Cycle. Please note that if your organization is seeking funding to address the immediate needs of COVID-19 that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, you are welcome to also apply for funding from the COVID-19 Community Resilience Fund here: https://www.whidbeyfoundation.org/covid-19/
Eligibility to apply for a grant
Any organization that operates with a charitable status or for a charitable purpose on Whidbey Island is eligible to apply for a grant. You do not need to have a headquarters or physical presence on Whidbey, so long as services are provided here.
Unlike our prior Annual Grant Cycles, we have opened eligibility to all nonprofit categories on Whidbey Island, including but not limited to:
- Animal Welfare
- Arts and Culture
- Business/Economy
- Education
- Environment
- Faith Based
- Health
- Historical Preservation
- Housing
- Human Services
- Parks & Recreation
- Service/Civic
- Youth
Whidbey Community Foundation does not award grants for the following ineligible organizations or purposes:
- Annual campaign appeals
- Endowments
- Individuals
- Political or lobbying activities
- Private operating foundations
- For-profit organizations
- Scholarships
- Religious organizations for sacramental or theological purposes
How to apply
The 2020 grant application will be open from July 1 to August 31, 2020. The online application can be accessed here: bit.ly/wcf2020grantapplication
Paper copies can be made available. Please contact the Community Foundation at info@whidbeyfoundation.org or call 360-660-5041 to request a hard copy of the grant application. You may mail in or scan and email a completed grant application if you are not able to access the online version.
Timeline
Grant applications will be accepted beginning July 1 through August 31. Decisions are expected to be made by the Board of Directors at the October meeting, and grants distributed in November 2020.
Short reports will be required of the grantees one year after grants are awarded.
If you have questions about the 2020 Grant process, contact the Community Foundation at info@whidbeyfoundaiton.org, or call us at 360-660-5041.
As the Foundation grows through investments and gifts from donors and businesses, we will continue to establish a variety of funds to make financial grants to Whidbey Island nonprofits. Stay up to date on when and how we will solicit proposals and distribute grants! Sign up for our email list.