Bainbridge Community Foundation’s 2024 Community Grants Cycle awarded a record-setting amount of $768,041 in 74 grants to local nonprofits, which exceeds the previous high mark of $605,975 last year.
Total funding since the CGC began in 2005 is more than $5.2 million—and almost every year the CGC reaches a record, which reflects the values and generosity of the community, a BCF news release says.
Peninsula Community Health Services requested $12,000 to help establish a primary clinic on Bainbridge Island. Access to health services has been identified as a critical need in the community, and finding local primary care is extremely challenging, foundation research says. As a result, BCF awarded $30,000 to PCHS, including$8,000 through the Klasky Collaboration & Innovation Award.
BCF provided special funding to five organizations for prioritizing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Social Justice (IDEAS) as part of their work. This year’s IDEAS Award went to organizations that made extra efforts to make their programs and services more accessible and inclusive. While 49 of the 74 applications identified their work as related to IDEAS, only five organizations received the award—recognizing nonprofits at different stages in their IDEAS journey.
These organizations were: Bainbridge Schools Foundation, Kitsap Homes of Compassion, Living Arts Cultural Heritage, Neurodiverse Connections and Vitalize Kitsap. Their applications included providing Neurodiversity education and NeuroEmpathy workshops for local schools, supporting social-emotional curriculum at public schools, and empowering teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each nonprofit received $2,000 as part of their grant for their IDEAS efforts.
“The impact nonprofits have on this community is profound,” said Ellin Spenser, who helped found BCF and is a board member. “They ensure everyone can access a quality life here,”
This year, 55 volunteers approved 74 of the 76 applications—10 more applications compared to 2023, and 13 that were approved for the first time.
For details email Debbie Kuffel at debbie@bainbridgecf.org
