Opening for applications on August 4, 2025.

Meet the 2023-2024 grantees! Click here to read the announcement.

About

The Community Grants Program aims to strengthen our Lewis, Mason, and Thurston County communities through broad, diverse, and flexible funding. This program supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations contributing to the region's overall social, health, and environmental well-being across a broad range of focus areas.

Program Objectives

2025-26 Community Grants Guidelines (Coming Soon!)

Copy of the Application Questions (Coming Soon!)

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. ‍
• 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.‍
• Equity: We support nonprofits serving all populations and seek to prioritize populations and communities with unequal access to resources and opportunities.

Grant Awards Details

• Community Grants will be awarded with the intention of providing two years of funding, contingent on (1) the availability of funds, and (2) the completion of grant reporting requirements as set by the Foundation.
• Total awards in 2025 will be approximately $400,000 with awards typically ranging between $1,500 - $7,500
• Most grants will be unrestricted. "Unrestricted grants "invest in a grantee's mission rather than specific projects or programs.

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations with up to date 501(c)(3) public charity status or groups fiscally sponsored by an eligible 501(c)(3) organization are eligible to apply for this grant.

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 that 100% of Community Grant funds will be used in Lewis, Mason, and/or Thurston counties.

For expanded eligibility please check out the Community Grants Guidelines.

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 class.

Due Dates & Timeline for 2025

• August 4: Application Opens
• August 29 at midnight: Applications Due
  Staff will be available through 5:00 pm on Friday, August 29 to answer questions and offer technical assistance.‍
• Late August - September: Grant Review Period
• November: Award Notifications & Grants Disbursements

Questions?

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is happy to assist with general questions regarding Community Grants during regular business hours by phone at 360.705.3340.

We also offers a few different ways to connect for assistance directly with our Program Officer, Tami Mason-Lathrop:

• Email & Phone Support: Please contact Tami by email at tami@thecommunityfoundation.com or call her directly at 564.999.4835.
• 1:1 Virtual Support: For personalized assistance navigating our online grants platform (GLM) and/your Community Grants application please book a time to meet with Tami. ‍