Bainbridge Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Bainbridge Community Foundation supports children and youth, arts and culture, education, animal welfare, the environment, seniors, outdoor recreation, housing, health and other community needs in Washington.
IP TAKE: This is an accessible and well-rounded community foundation that supports nearly any type of nonprofit need in the area and that also regularly provides capacity building support to help Washington nonprofits achieve their missions.
PROFILE: With a history dating back to the late 1970s, the Bainbridge Community Foundation (BCF) is a community foundation based in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Local citizens created this grantmaking organization to address the specific community needs of island residents. BCF adopted its current name in 2005. The foundation aims to "assist fellow community members in making a positive, sustainable impact in the extraordinary home that we share.” It funds local efforts for children and youth, arts and culture, education, animal welfare, the environment, seniors, outdoor recreation, housing, health and other community needs.
The Bainbridge Community Foundation has a community grants cycle that is the heart of the BCF grantmaking effort and supports many different types of local causes. It responds to urgent needs, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Each year, this BCF program awards between 40 and 70 grants totaling between $100,000 and $600,000. Recent grants have gone toward legal advocacy, support for abuse victims, spay and neuter clinics for animals, artistic performances and housing support services. Other interests include immigration services, arts education, caregiver support, youth development and historic preservation of local neighborhoods. Community grants fund program, capital, direct and operating expenses.
BCF also has a capacity building grants program that provides funding for board and staff training, strategic planning, program analysis and technology needs. In addition to grants, BCF also surveys nonprofits to analyze local needs, provides tactical support to nonprofits, awards scholarships to youth, gives philanthropy awards to recognize local individuals and brings different entities together to solve challenges.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range between about $1,000 and $15,000. The average BCF grant has been between $4,000 and $8,000 lately. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Bainbridge Island in the state of Washington. Past local grantees include Salish Sea Expeditions, Special Olympics Washington and Kitsap Humane Society.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. In the past, community grant applications have been accepted between February and April. The capacity building grants program has been open for applications during the month of October in the past. BCF uses the Common Grant Application, which can be accessed online. Direct general questions to the staff at info@bainbridgecf.org or 206-842-0433.
PEOPLE:
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