Long dock extending out over the water at dusk

Apply for a grant

2022 Annual Grant Cycle Is Now Closed

Whidbey Community Foundation has announced three topic areas for its 2022 Annual Grant Cycle:

  • Child & Family Wellness
  • Food Insecurity
  • Technology Capacity Building

Grant applications of up to $5,000 will be considered beginning July 1 through September 12.

About the Grant Programs

Child and Family Wellness
The health and well-being of children is associated with numerous outcomes on their physical, mental, social, educational, and economic development. This is also true of the family responsible for caring for these children. Child and family wellness is particularly important during this time of COVID recovery. All programs supporting child & family wellness are encouraged to apply, and WCF is particularly interested in funding programs related to: early childhood (ages 0-5), and mental health.

Family is defined as a household with at least one person under the age of 18.

Food Insecurity
With the cost of living rising many of our food banks, senior services and other community-based programs fighting food insecurity are seeing an increase in clients. Access to affordable, nutritious food is of particular need and importance.

Technology Capacity Building
We believe that technology can have a transformative effect on the ability of nonprofits to achieve their missions. Yet, competing or restricted funding priorities limit so many nonprofits from making the technology investments that could expand their reach or accelerate their impact. Access to technology tools or services should be the enabler, not the barrier, to the resources, opportunities, and information these critical nonprofits need to succeed.

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. 

Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF) 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

Timeline

Grant applications will be accepted beginning July 1 through September 12, 2022. Decisions are expected to be made by the Board of Directors at the October 2022 meeting, and grants distributed in November 2022.

Reporting and Learning

Grant periods will run for 1 year. We will ask all grantees to send a brief report (1 – 2 paragraphs) at the end of the grant period explaining the result of your grant from Whidbey Community Foundation.  We are especially interested in hearing about:

  • The use of the funds – what the grant money was able to pay for
  • Specific challenges or unexpected changes
  • Specific successes
  • If available, a picture of your grant and/or the organization (digital format) that we could use in future publicity about WCF grants, in order to help us promote your work and raise even more funds to support nonprofits and charitable causes on Whidbey Island.
  • Additionally, WCF will follow up with your organization via email and/or phone halfway through the grant term to understand progress to-date, and any stories to share with our broader Island network.
  • Finally, we will ask all grantees within each grant program to attend a debrief session in Spring 2023 (over Zoom). Our hope is that this will serve as a learning cohort. We will bring together grant partners as requested to learn, support, and share information.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about the 2022 Grant process, contact WCF at info@whidbeyfoundaiton.org, or call us at 360-660-5041.

As WCF 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 at the bottom of the page.

Learn More

Watch the recording of our 2022 Annual Grant Cycle Q&A to learn more

Updated September 2022