About

Whidbey Community Foundation launched the COVID-19 Community Resilience Fund on March 19 with $25,000 seed funding designated by its Board of Directors. Through the generosity and support of the Island community and beyond, WCF has raised over $180,000 for this Fund.

To date, WCF has awarded nearly $80,000 to 18 organizations from the COVID-19 Fund. Funds will be used toward a variety of needs, including: purchasing Air Purifying Respirators for Whidbey Island’s only public-serving hospital; supporting increased demand at food banks; coordinating meal services to children, families, seniors, and those experiencing homelessness; tele-health therapy for survivors of abuse; tele-health services for early childhood intervention; free childcare for healthcare workers and first responders; and technology to support remote learning for homeless youth.

In addition to the COVID-19 Community Resilience Fund, WCF has begun a list of resources for nonprofits impacted by coronavirus which will be regularly updated on our website.

All In WA is a coordinated statewide relief effort powered by a coalition of public officials, companies, philanthropic leaders, community foundations, United Way organizations, community leaders, frontline nonprofits, and individuals. These groups are coming together to provide immediate critical and emergency support for workers and families most affected by COVID-19 across Washington State, and to mobilize committed community and philanthropic groups to go All In for WA. Learn more about All In WA here.

Whidbey Community Foundation has joined the All In WA campaign to help raise awareness for the All In WA Fund and Cause and Community funds that will collect donations, inspire Washingtonians to step up, and help address the health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 on Washington’s most impacted communities.

There is a $25M contribution in funds to match new donations, dollar for dollar, up to $1 million per unique donor. If you would like to donate to WCF’s COVID-19 Community Resilience Fund and unlock matched dollars, please indicate “All In WA” when you donate.

How to Donate

Make checks payable to Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF).  Mail checks to:  PO Box 1135, Coupeville WA. Please note “COVID-19 Fund” in the memo.

We welcome donations of any size.  100% of all contributions will go directly to programs or services responding to the impact of Coronavirus on Whidbey.  All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

In addition to posting the results of this funding campaign in news and social media, donors will be provided a personal recap of the distribution of all donations.

How to Apply

WCF developed a brief application to collect community-based organizations’ needs. 

How will grants be made from the Fund?

Given the dynamic nature of the pandemic, WCF is providing grants on a rolling basis to ensure dollars are deployed in the community quickly and responsively. As funds are raised, grant requests will be considered. We intend to provide multiple phases of support as the community needs and challenges evolve, and as we gain greater clarity about the course of this crisis.

In this first phase, we are prioritizing community-based organizations that are serving communities and individuals who are immediately and disproportionately suffering from this crisis.  Our immediate focus areas include, but are not limited to:

• Food insecurity
• Economic insecurity
• Housing insecurity
• Access to health care and prescription medications
• Costs related to mitigating virus transmissions
• Access to transportation
• Access to childcare

Based upon the charitable structure of the Fund, our grants are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization, or other charitable organizations able to receive a tax-deductible contribution, such as schools, faith-based organizations and other public entities.  We will do our best to use philanthropic resources to address needs that are outside of governmental responsibility, but we also appreciate that philanthropy can often act nimbly in a way that government cannot.

Grantees

First Round – April 2

• WhidbeyHealth Foundation – to purchase Air Purifying Respirators for Whidbey Island’s only public-serving hospital
• Island Senior Resources – to expand programs, including Meals on Wheels, medical transportation, resource referral, and a new program called “Staying Connected” to reach out to seniors and people with disabilities
• Helping Hand of South Whidbey – to increase assistance including utility payments, gas vouchers, and food access
• The HUB Youth Central – to serve meals to families while schools and youth centers are closed
• Ryan’s House for Youth – for emergency operational support
• Readiness to Learn – to expand emergency services such as facilitating food bank access for homeless students
• South Whidbey Good Cheer Food Bank – for emergency operational support
• North Whidbey Help House – for emergency operational support
• Gifts from the Heart Food Bank – for emergency operational support

Second Round – April 15

• Citizens Against Domestic & Sexual Abuse (CADA) – for tele-advocacy and tele-therapy services for survivors
• Coupeville Boys & Girls Club – to offset the cost of providing free and reduced-cost childcare for healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers
• Oak Harbor Boys & Girls Club – to offset the cost of providing free and reduced-cost childcare for healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers
• Readiness to Learn – to provide phones, minutes, and data hotspots for low-income students and those experiencing homelessness in the South Whidbey School District
• SPIN Cafe – to provide meals for those experiencing homelessness and those in Oak Harbor
• Toddler Learning Center – for tele-therapy services for children and their families

Third Round – April 29

• Whidbey Homeless Coalition – to support services for those experiencing homelessness including food distribution, cleaning, outreach, and transportation
• I Support the Girls – Whidbey Island – to distribute menstrual products for girls and women experiencing homelessness
• South Whidbey Commons – to support their free soup program
• Whidbey Island Grown (fiscally sponsored by Northwest Agriculture Business Center) – to support an online marketplace for an Island Food Hub program that aggregates and provides locally grown food to the community

Fourth Round – May 20

• Clinton Progressive Association, to support the use of the Clinton Community Hall for the Atlantis STEAM group to create medical-grade masks, using its 3D printer, which will be distributed to health care organizations.
• The HUB Youth Central, to serve meals to 19 families while schools are closed and while the HUB’s youth center is closed due to COVID-19.

Updated May 27, 2020