Whidbey Community Foundation is excited to welcome Jason Joiner and Jeff Natter to our Board of Directors. Jason is based in Central Whidbey and is a VP of Commercial Banking at People’s Bank; he also serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity and the Oak Harbor Rotary Club. Jeff is based in South Whidbey; he most recently served as the Executive Director of Pacific Hospital Preservation and Development Authority in Seattle before retirement, and also serves on the curriculum committee of Leadership Whidbey and on the board of OutRight International. Welcome Jason and Jeff!
Jason Joiner along with his wife Tina, both lifelong Coupeville residents, are raising their small herd of boys on their growing flower farm near Fort Casey State Park. Jason is active within his local church and currently serves on the boards for the Whidbey Community Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Oak Harbor Rotary, and several professional associations.
He was previously chair of the Island County Housing Authority and has served on numerous housing boards and taskforces pursuing the goal of a fully housed community. Jason studied business and economics at the University of Texas, holds a certificate in Business and Commercial Banking from the American Bankers Association, and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) specializing in commercial and investment property cash flow analysis. In 2018, after 13 years as a real estate professional, Jason was appointed to serve a term as Chief Deputy Assessor managing all activities of the Island County Assessor’s office, during which time he was accredited as an appraiser and became intimately familiar with the tax programs designed to keep seniors and disabled people in their homes. In 2021 Jason transitioned back into the private sector as Vice President, Commercial Banking officer for Peoples Bank where he still serves the lending and banking needs of the business and organizational communities on Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. In his free time Jason plays music, maintains a fruit orchard, and enjoys camping and hunting as well as fishing, crabbing, and sailing our local waters.
“Having been raised on Whidbey Island and now raising my own family here, I care deeply about the issues our island community faces. I have long supported efforts related to affordable housing, promoting small/local business, and supporting community agriculture. I have seen firsthand the destruction of lives which results from unstable housing. We must become a more resilient community. Whidbey Community Foundation has made an impressive impact in its short history, and many opportunities for future growth and development. I am honored to work with WCF to support so many worthy causes on this island that benefit our community today and for generations to follow.”
Jason Joiner
Jeff Natter has worked for over 30 years in the equity and social justice arena, as director of organizations focusing on health equity programs for underserved communities. Jeff spent the majority of his career working in the HIV/AIDS field, managing health education and volunteer programs in New York City and Seattle.
Currently, Jeff serves on the faculty and curriculum team of Leadership Whidbey, helping to develop and elevate leadership professionals on Whidbey Island. He also sits on the Board of Directors of OutRight Action International, a global LGBTQ+ rights organization. Jeff holds a Master of Public Health degree in Sociomedical Sciences from the Columbia School of Public Health and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the Yale School of Drama.
“Philanthropy represents the heart of any community. How we choose to donate our resources and our time defines our priorities as a people and brings out our best selves. I’m excited to work with the Whidbey Community Foundation to make this incredible island that we call home a more vibrant, healthy, and thriving place for all of us.“
Jeff Natter
Jason and Jeff join WCF’s Board of Directors who represent north, south, and central Whidbey Island. Formed in 2016, Whidbey Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life on Whidbey Island by providing support for the nonprofit sector, assisting donors to build and preserve enduring assets for charitable purposes, and meeting community needs through financial awards.