We recently visited City Hall in Langley to learn more about a critical—but often invisible—investment in their operations: modernizing their IT systems.
In 2025, the City received a Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant to support a transition from a locally managed network (LAN) to a cloud-based Microsoft 365 Azure Active Directory environment. This project, which began in early 2026, is designed to strengthen digital infrastructure, improve cybersecurity, and significantly increase operational efficiency.
What became clear during the visit is just how outdated the current system is and the real risks that come with it. The City has been operating on a server that is over a decade old, with no shared calendars, limited file access for staff, and disconnected systems across departments.
Langley is a small city with a very small team, operating lean after years of budget constraints. Like many small organizations, they simply haven’t had the internal capacity or access to funding to make this kind of systems upgrade, especially since most state and federal funding opportunities prioritize brick-and-mortar infrastructure over operational needs.
One of the most striking examples discussed was public records requests. Currently, fulfilling a single request can require up to 14 separate searches across unconnected systems. This not only takes significant staff time but also introduces legal risk; errors in public records compliance can result in lawsuits. Moving to a centralized, cloud-based system will allow for streamlined searches, better records retention, and improved transparency.
We also talked about time as a resource. The total cost of the project is approximately $12,000—$8,000 supported by WCF and $4,000 from the City’s general fund. That one-time investment is expected to generate approximately $8,000 in annual savings moving forward, while also avoiding an estimated $40,000 server replacement.
While this grant was made to a municipality, the impact reaches far beyond City Hall. This work strengthens the systems that support public access, transparency, and day-to-day services for the entire Langley community. It’s a reminder that capacity building, whether in a nonprofit or a small local government, can be essential to a well-functioning, resilient community.
Grants like these are made possible by donors who give to the Foundation Fund—support that allows us to invest in the long-term strength and sustainability of organizations and institutions across Whidbey Island.
Support Community Grants
WCF is able to provide grants like these with broad support from our community. If you are interested in supporting WCF Grant Programs, we invite you to make a contribution to WCF’s Foundation Fund, which holistically supports our grant programs, nonprofit trainings/workshops, and WCF operations. Our Board of Directors allocates funding each year to ensure nonprofits have access to critical resources. WCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to Whidbey Island; all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Learn about different ways to make a charitable contribution here.