Orcas Island Community Foundation: Grants for Washington
/OVERVIEW: The Orcas Island Community Foundation supports nonprofits on Orcas Island in Washington in the areas of arts, early childhood education, general education, community development, animal welfare, parks and recreation, and workforce development.
IP TAKE: This foundation prioritizes youth philanthropy, so pitch an idea that gets local youth involved in community giving.
PROFILE: Founded in 1995, the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) is based in the island community of Eastsound, Washington and serves as a local community foundation. This funder welcomes all local nonprofits in a wide range of service areas to apply for grants through its grantmaking program. The foundation seeks to “[foster] philanthropy to enhance and preserve the quality of life on Orcas Island.” Grantmaking areas of interest include the arts, early childhood education, general education, community development, animal welfare, parks and recreation, and workforce development.
The OICF grants program broadly supports many of the 110+ nonprofits on Orcas Island. The funder looks for proposals that address specific needs, that have a high likelihood of success, that do not duplicate efforts, and that serve a large population of islanders. OICF mostly supports specific capital needs, non-recurring expenditures, and project-related expenses for programs. It provides multi-year grants for two or three years and occasionally grants for general operating funds if applicants demonstrate compelling need.
Grants typically range from $500 to $25,000. A majority of grants are between $3,000 and $8,000. In a recent year, the funder gave over $1.7 million, and grants totaling $232,015 were distributed through the annual grants process. Nonprofits can view a list of past grant recipients on the funder’s website. The foundation only supports organizations that benefit the residents of Orcas Island.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications, and in the past, the annual deadline occurred in early-March. The foundation reviews applications in late-March and notifies grant recipients in late-May. Grant seekers should direct general questions to the foundation staff at 360-376-6423 or via online form.
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