ABOUT US

How We Do It

We are one of nearly 700 community foundations across America, building endowments to meet ever changing community needs and opportunities. As a 501(c) (3) organization, the Foundation enables donors to take the maximum deduction for charitable contributions under IRS rules.
The Foundation is a tax-exempt public charitable organization. Funds are professionally managed, and endowed funds grow over time.

Investments

The Foundation invests assets in a diverse portfolio intended to produce asset growth, security of principal, and income for grant making. We scrutinize investment returns and have our funds independently audited each year.

Grantmaking

With the help of several community members working with the Board of Directors, the Foundation distributes grants based on community needs, opportunities and, in the case of donor-advised and designated funds, donor goals.
Thanks to a growing pool of unrestricted endowed funds, we are able to make a variety of grants from the endowment’s income to improve Whatcom County’s quality of life through literacy programs, violence prevention, environmental education, service learning projects, youth and family services, community arts programs and much more

Community Foundations are distinguished from other forms of organized philanthropy by three features

Personalized Service

We help individuals and families achieve their charitable goals by offering tools and resources that make giving easy, flexible and effective.

Local Expertise

We have a knowledge of the issues, needs and people that allows us to help you make your giving as effective as possible.

Philanthropic Community Leadership

We actively foster giving throughout Whatcom County and support high impact opportunities