The 2022 Grants Cycle is Closed

2022 Community Grants Program Details

• We award around 80 grants annually through our Community Grants program
• Requested amount may be up to $5,000; awards typically range from $1,500 to $5,000
• Awards through this program in 2022 totaled $376,620
• 2023 Community Grants application dates will open in the summer

Program Objectives

In reviewing grant proposals, the Community Foundation prioritizes the following:

• Impact: We support organizations contributing to individual and community well-being across a variety of focus areas including arts and culture, community and civic engagement, environment, animal welfare, health and wellness, basic needs, and economic opportunity.
• Geography: We fund organizations that primarily work in our service area or fill unmet needs within our service area (Thurston, Lewis, and Mason counties, WA).
• Equity: We support nonprofits serving all populations and seek to prioritize populations and communities with unequal access to resources and opportunities.  

• Accountability: We seek to fund services that are designed appropriately for the communities they serve and prioritize organizations that meaningfully engage the voices, perspectives, and expertise of their program participants.
• Community Partnerships: We prioritize organizations that carry out their work in coordination with local community partners.

Most Grants Will Be Unrestricted

“Unrestricted grants” invest in a grantee’s mission, rather than specific projects or programs. Grantees may use funds as they see fit to reach their goals. This may include salaries, overhead, technology, marketing, and more. To qualify for unrestricted grants, an organization must be based in Thurston, Mason, or Lewis County and meet all other eligibility requirements.

Click here to read more about unrestricted funding and other updates to our Community Grants program.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility is limited to organizations with up to date 501(c)(3) public charity status or groups fiscally sponsored by an eligible 501(c)(3) organization. In addition to 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship:

• Organizations must demonstrate basic organizational capacity, including reasonable financial health and governance practices, including a minimum of 3 board members.  

• Organizations must acknowledge 100% of Community Grant funds will be used in Thurston, Mason, and/or Lewis County.

INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS

• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, age, status as a veteran, national origin, or any other protected classes
• Individuals

• Partisan political activities
• Religious organizations when funds would be used in whole or in part to further the organization’s religious purposes
• National and statewide organizations that cannot demonstrate a strong community-based local presence in Lewis, Mason, or Thurston Counties
• Re-granting organizations, service clubs and service club foundations
• Schools, school districts, PTOs, preschools, childcare centers, camps, and sports teams

NOTES AND EXCEPTIONS: Organizations with a regional or statewide geography that can demonstrate a strong, local, community-based presence and meet otherwise unmet needs in our geography may apply. Religious or faith-based organizations whose applications demonstrate programs that meet a critical need in the community, do not require religious participation, and align with the Community Foundation’s nondiscrimination policy may apply. Organizations that offer childcare, including camps, which offer robust or inclusive programming or serve underserved populations may apply.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound does not support organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, age, status as a veteran, national origin, or any other protected classes.

VIEW OR DOWNLOAD THE FULL 2022 COMMUNITY GRANTS GUIDELINES

VIEW OR DOWNLOAD THE 2022 COMMUNITY GRANTS APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Contact Us

We welcome and encourage questions about the Community Grants process. For questions about the Community Grants program or online grants platform, please use our contact form to connect with our programs team.

Volunteer

Grants Committees comprised of community volunteers who review and score applications help ensure we invest in what matters most in our communities by working together to make grant recommendations to the foundation’s Board of Directors. If you want to know more about this volunteer opportunity or sign up as a grant reviewer, please send us a message using our contact form to connect with our programs team.