Bainbridge Community Foundation’s 2022 Community Grants Cycle (CGC) awarded a record $558,442 to local nonprofits, exceeding the previous high of $507,313 in 2020.
BCF gave awards to five organizations for prioritizing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Social Justice (IDEAS) as part of their applications, along with a Catalyst Award for an organization that provides a critical service to the community.
50 volunteers evaluated, vetted and approved 61 applications to the CGC by reviewing proposals and conducting interviews with nonprofit staff. Out of the 61, 60 were funded. More than a dozen received more funds than requested. BCF provided $50,000 in initial funding, and the rest of the support came from donors.
The IDEAS Award went to organizations that made extra efforts to make their programs and services more accessible. While 32 of the 61 identified their applications as IDEAS work, only five were given the award.
Theorganizations that received the IDEAS awards were Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center, Peacock, Vitalize Kitsap and WEAVE Presents. Their applications included requests for ensuring affordable access to childcare for low-income families, expanding access to programs for neurodiverse adults and teens, and creating awareness of social and cultural diversity through the arts. Each received $2,000 as part of their grant for their IDEAS efforts.
BCF also awarded its inaugural Catalyst Award to Bainbridge Youth Services, or an additional $11,000 to nearly double their grant for a total of $24,000, to support their work in providing free, confidential, and professional mental health counseling and related services for adolescents.
A recent rise in mental health concerns in both youth and adults due to the COVID-19 pandemic have deemed their work as critical to the community. Courtney Oliver, executive director of BYS, said, “We continue to see an increase in counseling needs from our community youth, and the Catalyst Award will provide us the opportunity to expand our mental health program as well as increase the number of hours dedicated to counseling.”
BCF gave the Klasky (Trustees) Award and $10,000 to Bainbridge Prepares to support its request for 13 Disaster Hubs around BI to ensure emergency supplies are accessible to everyone when a disaster occurs. Their total grant was for $15,000. That award is for working closely with others.
Close to 50% of the grants went toward Health, Housing, and Human Services. BCF has awarded more than $3.9 million through the CGC since the program’s inception in 2005. BCF’s cumulative grantmaking totals more than $20.7 million since 2001.
For details about the grants email Debbie Kuffel at debbie@bainbridgecf.org or visit www.BainbridgeCF.org to see a full list of funding.
