Community Foundation Announces New Legacy Funds Grant Program

WENATCHEE - The Community Foundation of NCW is pleased to announce a new Legacy Fund Grant program that will focus on place-based, community-centered grant distribution to charitable organizations meeting community needs throughout North Central Washington. 

Legacy Funds will now provide grant funding by their geographic regions in Cashmere, Chelan Valley, Mansfield, Okanogan Valley, Upper Valley, and Wenatchee Valley. These newly established Legacy Funds join the Waterville Fund and Methow Valley Fund as sources of geographic grant funding, which have been supporting causes in their region for decades. These funds have been established by legacy gifts from donors who wanted to leave a meaningful gift to their community beyond their lifetime.

“There are many ways for donors to leave legacies through the Community Foundation that can make a lasting impact.” said Beth Stipe, executive director. “While some donors choose to support their favorite causes or nonprofit organizations, others desire to support the community where they made their home, raised a family, developed a business, or fulfilled a career. Providing this type of broad, charitable resource allows the Foundation to support communities as they change and grow with time. As more donors are seeing the value of this type of giving, it made sense to reshape our grant program to maximize those resources, support our communities, and carry out the donors’ wishes.”

The Legacy Fund Grant Program will replace CFNCW’s Regional Impact Grant program, which ended in 2023. Qualified agencies will complete one application and be funded by the Legacy Fund in their community. The grant application for Okanogan County will open in Spring 2025 while all others will open in Fall 2024.

A Local Advisory Board (LAB), comprised of community volunteers, will have responsibility for reviewing applications and awarding grants. The Foundation is seeking volunteers to join a LAB in their community. The LABs will represent a broad and diverse cross section of each community, including a mix of long-time and newer residents, working and retired individuals, donors, volunteers, nonprofit representatives, and community members. Advisors provide leadership and input, recommend grants from the Legacy Funds established to benefit each community, help grow the funds, and inspire potential donors to leave a legacy in their local community.

“By establishing Local Advisory Boards, our goal is to provide opportunities for more local community members to become involved in community philanthropy. Working alongside the Foundation and other community advisors to evaluate grant applications from their local nonprofit organizations, volunteers achieve a deep understanding of the needs and assets in their communities. We hope this learning enables more individuals the chance to become ambassadors for growing local resources that local communities in NCW will need to thrive, for generations to come” added Stipe.

The foundation is currently accepting applications for LAB volunteers at www.cfncw.org/localadvisoryboards. The deadline to apply is March 1^st.

For more information on Legacy Funds, visit www.cfncw.org/legacyfunds.