Deadline: 15-Mar-25
The Community Foundation of NCW is pleased to announce its Okanogan Valley Fund grant cycle, offering financial support to nonprofits that work to preserve, protect, and enhance the quality of life in Okanogan County.
The Okanogan Valley Fund aims to foster long-term support for charitable endeavors that benefit local residents and initiatives. A Local Advisory Board (LAB) of community members ensures that annual grants align with the needs of Okanogan County.
Funding Information
- Minimum grant award of $2,000
Grant making Values
- CFNCW recognizes that the grantmaking process is an expression of the values and the primary way they build relationships and fulfill the role in the nonprofit sector. They acknowledge the role of power in grantmaking. They strive to minimize power dynamics and use the unique position to further the partners’ mission-based work. As grant makers:
- They treat organizations as valued partners. Recognizing that the local nonprofits are serving the community on the ground and the role is to support their work.
- They are guided by mutual respect, appreciation, and trust. They approach each interaction as a partnership rather than a top-down relationship.
- They focus on the work people are doing over how they present it. Grant writing is a specific skill, and they recognize that not everyone has that skill and for some, English may not be their first language. They focus on each organization’s role in making meaningful change and achieving outcomes that matter.
- They strive for objectivity and fairness in the evaluations. Theyuse an evaluation matrix so that they are not making decisions based on gut feelings or casual conversation; they disclose conflicts of interest and recognize and try to mitigate affinity bias in the decision-making.
Grantmaking Guidelines
- In most cases, local nonprofits are eligible for unrestricted/general operating support, rather than specific programs or projects. Grantees can use these unrestricted funds to strengthen the organization and further its charitable purposes as they see fit. CFNCW believes that this type of grantmaking is valuable because it:
- Enables nonprofits to build strong & sustainable infrastructures to provide programs and services that will have the greatest impact on the communities;
- Eases fundraising pressure on nonprofit leaders and allows organizations to focus on fulfilling their missions and running effective programs;
- Gives flexibility for adapting and innovating to meet changing needs
- Serves as a vote of confidence for nonprofit leaders and lessens the power imbalance between funder and grantee; and
- Shifts the conversation towards the outcomes of the grant and overall impact of the organization rather than focusing on a small slice of the mission.
Eligibility Criteria
- Qualified applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities operating within Okanogan County school district boundaries (excluding the Methow Valley).
- Government agencies and faith-based organizations are eligible only for project-specific funding in line with Community Foundation of NCW guidelines, and there is no wait period—organizations may apply annually.
- Public schools (k–12) are ineligible to apply, but fiscal sponsorships are allowed if the fiscal sponsor meets 501(c)(3) status.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Ineligible for Grants
- Individuals
- Lobbying or Political activities
- Multi-Year Requests
- Tuition, scholarships, or core operating expenses for public schools, public charter schools, private schools, or universities and colleges
For more information, visit CFNCW.
