This marked our first site visit of our 2025 grantees—and a powerful reminder, as we step into our 10th year, of what’s possible when community and philanthropy come together!
In 2025, Whidbey Community Foundation and its donors directed $64,636 to Good Cheer to support their work creating a hunger-free Whidbey Island.
This total includes $10,436 in competitive grants, awarded through two of WCF’s core grantmaking programs:
- $5,000 from the Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program supporting “Everyone is Welcome Here,” Good Cheer’s DEIA initiative focused on inclusive policies, multilingual access, and organizational culture
- $5,436 from the Community Health Grant Program supporting their Food Preservation Project
That Food Preservation Project is already coming to life in tangible ways. With new equipment like a freeze dryer, Good Cheer is able to take surplus fresh food—often at risk of going to waste—and preserve it for future distribution. This not only reduces food waste, but also expands access to nutritious, shelf-stable food that can be distributed year-round, especially during times when donations are lower. The freeze-dried strawberries are particularly delightful!
Additional support included $10,000 from the Whidbey Food Resilience Fund, $5,000 from the Holiday Sculpture Fund, and nearly $40,000 through donor advised funds—demonstrating the many ways philanthropy comes together to support one organization.
Serving more than 1,250 households each month, Good Cheer continues to meet urgent needs while strengthening the systems that sustain long-term food security.
As we look ahead to our next decade, this partnership reflects the heart of our work: connecting people who care to causes that matter—and investing in a stronger, more resilient Whidbey Island for all.
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.