May 2021
Newsletter
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Montha celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. On May 18, 2021, cities, states, elected officials, influencers and community groups are commemorating the third annual National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Day Against Bullying and Hate, led by anti-bullying nonprofit Act To Change. Exacerbated by COVID-19, there have been 3,800+ cases of anti-Asian hate in the past year. It's more important now than ever that we stand up to xenophobia, racism, and hate. Whidbey Community Foundation is committed to ending bullying and hate in the AAPI community and is proud to join this movement.
News & Updates from the Foundation
Essential Needs Program:
April Fundraising Update
Wow, what a way to kick-off our 3 month fundraising campaign! Between the Round-up for Charity Program at The Goose Grocer, Goosefoot and WCF our community came together and we raised an additional $16,440 in April for the Essential Needs Program, bringing our total to $66,440!

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far – every donation goes directly to Whidbey households in need. Learn more about our collaborative fundraiser and help us reach our $100,000 goal by clicking the link below.
Haggen Fundraiser Raised $9,000 for Island County Children
Thank you to Haggen and our local Haggen shoppers. Our community has collectively raised $9,000 through the Haggen Building Brighter Futures Together fundraising campaign that ran earlier this year. These funds to Whidbey Community Foundation will go directly to Partners for Young Children in Island County - our local early learning coalition, housed within the foundation, made up of organizations and individuals coming together to achieve the vision that all children thrive in nurturing relationships and healthy families. Together, PYC is cultivating community action to strengthen Island County families. 
New Funding Opportunities
Island Transit Launches 2021 Community Surplus Vehicle Program for Nonprofit Agencies
Island Transit, Island County’s public transit agency, announces its 2021 launch of its Community Surplus Vehicle Program. This relaunch continues Island Transit’s commitment to enhance the quality of life for Island County residents. This program began on April 5, 2002 Island Transit’s Board of Directors approved the first Community Surplus Vehicle Program. The vehicles, originally part of Island Transit’s fleet, will be used to improve equitable access to transportation throughout Whidbey and Camano Islands and strengthen connections in the community.
Nonprofit Community Recovery Grants
ArtsFund, in partnership with the Washington Department of Commerce, will soon start taking applications for the new Nonprofit Community Recovery grants. These grants will range in amount from $2,500 - $25,000 and are meant to cover Covid-19 pandemic hardship expenses that were incurred between 3/1/2020 and 6/30/2021. To qualify your organization must have had a 2019 annual operating budget of more than $25,000 and be in one or more of the following focus areas: Arts, Culture, Science or heritage organizations, Neighborhood organizations, or Sports and Recreation Organizations.

Application Portal opens on May 10, 2021. Final deadline for applications May 24, 2021.
Seed Grants For Growing Communities
The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in startup funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization.  

There is something special about every town—the old downtown, the pastures or woodlands, a get-it-done spirit, or an everyone-is-welcome ethic. Whether they are places, traditions, or attitudes, these community characteristics are the things that really matter to people. They draw people to a place and make them care about where they live. Such characteristics are a community’s heart and soul. Communities that acknowledge and value their heart and soul are able to take action to strengthen it.

CH&S is a highly inclusive process that engages residents in identifying what they love most about their communities, the future they want for it, and how to achieve it. The benefits are broad and long-lasting: civic pride and volunteerism increase, residents feel more connected to one another and to their municipal leaders, new leaders emerge, economic conditions improve, and towns become more resilient and better equipped to deal with emergencies like COVID.
Upcoming Trainings & Events
Introduction to Proposal Writing
Wednesday, May 19 | 10:00-11:00am
Hosted by Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation

An overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation including: the basic elements of a proposal, the "do's" and "don'ts" of writing and submitting a proposal and how to follow up whether the answer is yes or no.


FREE
The Future of Nonprofit Fundraising Events
Wednesday, May 26 | 9:00am-3:00pm
Hosted by Washington Nonprofits, Olympic View Community Foundation and Washington Festival and Events Association

A free one day seminar focusing on the changing needs of nonprofits in today's world. Register and listen in for a wide variety of event and fundraising topics including virtual, hybrid and in-person events.


FREE
Washington State Nonprofit Conference
Monday, May 17 - Friday, May 21
8:00am - 4:00pm Daily
Organized by Washington Nonprofits

The pandemic has challenged the dominant ways of thinking about place, space, and time in our personal and professional spheres as well as across the communities nonprofits serve. At the 2021 Washington State Nonprofit Conference we are excited to explore concepts of place, space, and time - inviting in different perspectives, uplifting innovative and adaptive stories from the field, and pushing our collective thinking and creativity.

Member Pricing Available
Online Learning Anytime, Anywhere!
The Washington Nonprofit Institute is Washington Nonprofits’ learning website ready to provide anytime, anywhere nonprofit learning to organizations of all sizes. Whether you need a quick answer about bylaws or a full learning program for your board, we’ve created a collection of curated tools, videos, and archived webinars.
Support Whidbey Community Foundation

Whidbey Community Foundation envisions a more vibrant, healthy, and unified Whidbey Island community. Our mission is to improve the quality of life on Whidbey Island by providing support for the nonprofit sector, assisting donors to build and preserve enduring assets for charitable purposes, and meeting community needs through financial awards.

Your support fuels our ability to provide trainings and grants to Whidbey nonprofits, helping us grow into one of the most effective community foundations in Washington. 
Whidbey Community Foundation Board & Staff
Board of Directors

Sara Kelly, President
Nancy Conard, Vice President & Executive Director
Steve Shapiro, Treasurer/Secretary
Robin Hertlein
Bill Larsen
Jerry Millhon
Helen Price Johnson
George Saul
Staff

Jessie Gunn, Program Director
Maureen Rice, Program Assistant
www.WhidbeyFoundation.org 
 360-660-5041
 Info@WhidbeyFoundation.org