We’re delighted to share another update from the 2024 Collective Grants Committee! Since our last update, the committee has been conducting conversations with 15 organizations in our three priorities: Expanding Access to Arts in Schools, Mental Health & Housing, and Re-Entry Support.
This is the third year of our re-imagined grants process, and we continue to lean into trust-based philanthropy practices. At this stage of the process that means a casual, virtual conversation with the organizations to build relationships and learn more about their work, instead of a formal site visit. After their conversations, the grant committee gathered to discuss and select 2 organizations in each priority to move forward to the next phase of our grants process, the ballot.
We’re excited to share a bit about the six organizations that will be on the ballot this year. If you’re interested in learning more about what the committee learned during their conversations, please read the Voter’s Pamphlet which has been shared with active members. We hope everyone will join us at our Grant Award Celebration(opens in new tab) on June 6th to hear from our new grantees and connect as a community!
Expanding Access to Arts in Schools
Inchelium Language & Culture Association(opens in new tab): The mission of the Inchelium Language & Culture Association (ILCA) is to foster and sustain a dynamic community of Salish language speakers whose daily lives are expressed through a commitment to Lakes and Colville culture and a connection to their traditional territories.
South End Stories(opens in new tab): South End Stories’ mission is to ignite joy and justice in classrooms and communities using arts-based learning, anti-racist education, and social activism.
Mental Health & Housing
DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center)(opens in new tab): Our mission is to help people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing.
Foundation for Youth Resiliency and Engagement(opens in new tab): FYRE’s mission is to advocate for equitable opportunities that allow all youth to thrive.
Re-Entry Support
FEPPS(opens in new tab): FEPPS provides a rigorous college program for incarcerated women, trans-identified and gender nonconforming people in Washington and creates pathways to higher education after students are released from prison.
The Way to Justice:(opens in new tab) The Way to Justice’s mission is to pave the way to justice through community empowerment, advocacy, and access. With legal services as a nucleus for programming, comprehensive wraparound services make our approach whole. To prevent recidivism and reduce harm in the system, The Way to Justice focuses on community healing work and reentry navigation, through which we help clients and their families access all the supports they need.
Next Steps
The WaWF membership will vote to determine which organizations will receive a $100,000 Collective Grant. The three organizations that are not selected will receive a $25,000 Merit Award. All six organizations will also be offered an optional $5,000 Leadership and Self-Care grant.
Merit Awardees
The following organizations were considered in the Conversations Phase of the grant process but will not advance to the Ballot Phase. In recognition of their investment in our grant process they have been awarded a $3,000 Merit Award. As impactful organizations doing important work in our community, we hope that you will learn more about them and consider supporting them individually!
Expanding Access to Arts in Schools
Carnegie Picture Lab(opens in new tab): To deliver dynamic art experiences for all young people through innovative and transformative programs.
Tieton Arts & Humanities(opens in new tab): Tieton Arts & Humanities enriches and celebrates our community through artistic and cultural programming.
Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA)(opens in new tab): Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA) grows confident young leaders throughout the neighborhoods it serves by widening access to professional-level music learning, igniting collective pride, and empowering and unifying students and families.
Mental Health & Housing
New Beginnings(opens in new tab): New Beginnings’ mission is to empower survivors and mobilize community awareness and action to end domestic violence.
Triumph Treatment Services(opens in new tab): Triumph Treatment Services provides a multifaceted, integrated continuum of care with a mission to respond to the substance use disorder and mental health needs of the Central Washington region.
YWCA of Kitsap County:(opens in new tab) Kitsap YWCA’s mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, equity, and dignity for all.
Re-Entry Support
Living with Conviction(opens in new tab): Living with Conviction’s mission is to secure economic and racial justice with and for marginalized communities, especially formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, through community-driven research, advocacy-based storytelling, and legal empowerment strategies.
The IF Project(opens in new tab): The IF Project is a gender responsive non-profit organization that prioritizes the experiences of those impacted by incarceration. Through truth telling, empathy and awareness— we heal, empower and transform ourselves, our families and our communities.
Yoga Behind Bars(opens in new tab): We share trauma-informed yoga and meditation with our community behind and beyond bars to support individual healing and a more just society for all.