Investing experience and resources to strengthen and advance individual and community health.
Chuckanut Health Foundation’s recent giving shows a strong local pattern in Whatcom County, with grants centered on services that support children, families, older adults, and people facing mental health or health-access barriers. In 2023, its largest listed grant went to Skookum Kids for general operating support, while other sizeable awards backed dementia respite services, supervised visitation, and case management in Bellingham. That mix points to a funder that combines operating support with program-specific grants tied to community health needs. The foundation also uses scholarship funding to shape the local health workforce. Its active programs include scholarships for students pursuing nursing, behavioral health, early learning, and advanced medical degrees, including the North Sound Health Equity Scholarship and the Dr. Susan Holstine Behavioral Health Professions Scholarship. Alongside that, the foundation runs open community grant rounds, strategic impact grants, and a health equity zone pilot in the Mount Baker School District area. Across the latest grants list, support reached organizations working in early childhood, youth mental health, aging, and community health, all within Washington state.
Early childhood and youth services appear throughout Chuckanut Health Foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $25,000 to Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center for a supervised visitation program, $17,500 to Whatcom Center for Early Learning for a DEI Outreach & Training Project, and $7,000 to MakeShift Art Space for educational programming. Support for aging and caregiving is another clear thread. Dementia Support Northwest received $27,830 for social respite programs, showing attention to older adults and the people who support them. The foundation also backs health access and behavioral health. Road2Home received $25,000 for its Community Ally program and case management services, Lydia Place received $22,500 for mental health programs, and Compass Health received $10,000 for its Summer Group Series. Vocational support also appears in the list: DISH Foundation received $7,500 for vocational and on-the-job training programs.
Chuckanut Health Foundation’s typical grant size sits around the low- to mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $13,750, a median of $21,064, and a p75 of $25,000. The 2023 grants list shows both general operating support and program-specific awards, suggesting flexibility in how it funds. Several organizations received operating support, while others were funded for defined services or projects. The active programs also show that the foundation uses open grant rounds, strategic impact grants, and scholarships, and it accepts unsolicited applications in those rounds. The foundation is a public charity and does not fund individuals.
$390K
$19.9M
$2.7M
$2.3M
Most grants fall between $14K and $25K, with a median of $21K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$21K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Chuckanut Health Foundation’s giving is fully in Washington, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Most listed recipients are in Bellingham, including Skookum Kids, Dementia Support Northwest, Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, Road2Home, Lydia Place, and Whatcom Center for Early Learning. A smaller number of grants reached Everett, such as Compass Health. Its active programs focus on Whatcom County, with a separate health equity zone pilot in the Mount Baker School District area and scholarship programs tied to the North Sound region.
Its stated focus areas include early childhood, aging and older adults, youth mental health, the opioid epidemic, health equity, and health care access. Recent grants also show support for supervised visitation, social respite services, case management, mental health counseling, educational programming, and vocational training.
Yes. The active programs list marks Community Grants, Event Sponsorships, Eleanor & Henry Jansen Foundation Grants, Open Grant Rounds / Letter of Inquiry intake, scholarships, WAHA Fund, Strategic Impact Grants, and the Health Equity Zone community project grants as accepting unsolicited applications.
Its typical grant size is $13,750 at the 25th percentile, $21,064 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The active Community Grants round is listed at $2,600 to $26,000, while Event Sponsorships are listed at $0 to $5,000.
Its grantmaking is local and all listed grants in the dataset go to Washington recipients. The active programs are focused on Whatcom County, with one pilot in the Mount Baker School District area and scholarship programs serving the North Sound region.
The recent grants list includes service providers, education organizations, and community health groups such as Skookum Kids, Dementia Support Northwest, Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, Road2Home, Lydia Place, Whatcom Center for Early Learning, Compass Health, DISH Foundation, and MakeShift Art Space.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Chuckanut Health Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit agencies in Whatcom County. The foundation notes a special emphasis on youth-focused work.
Deadline: Summer/fall grant rounds have been announced; one notice stated applications were due July 1st, another stated applications would be accepted through October 9th.
Who can apply: Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3), or other eligible entities such as schools, school districts, colleges, government entities, or tribal nations. Projects must benefit people and communities of Whatcom County. Preference is given to deeply rooted, community-led organizations with relevant expertise or lived experience, and projects addressing a documented community health need in one of the foundation’s focus areas.
Deadline: Annual deadline January 23, 2026; typical open grant round deadline October 1 in prior cycles.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SKOOKUM KIDS | BELLINGHAM, WA | $65,200 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH |
| VAMOS OUTDOORS PROJECT | BELLINGHAM, WA | $45,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY HEALTH LEGACY AWARD |
| NORTHWEST YOUTH SERVICES | BELLINGHAM, WA | $32,700 | 2025 | COMMUNITY HEALTH LEGACY AWARD |
| BELLINGHAM BAY ROTARY FOUNDATION | BELLINGHAM, WA | $30,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH |
| NAMI OF WHATCOM COUNTY | BELLINGHAM, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY HEALTH LEGACY AWARD |
| WHATCOM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BELLINGHAM, WA | $24,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH, NON PROFIT HAPPY HOUR, UNCHARITABLE SCREENING |
| CASCADE MEDICAL ADVANTAGE | BELLINGHAM, WA | $20,750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WHATCOM COUNTY | BELLINGHAM, WA | $20,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH |
| HEALTH MINISTRIES NETWORK | BELLINGHAM, WA | $17,500 | 2025 | FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, PROGRAM ADOPTION |
| DEMENTIA SUPPORT NORTHWEST | BELLINGHAM, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | IN HONOR OF SARA WILLIAMS SERVICE |
| CASCADIA INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL | BELLINGHAM, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH |
| FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT | FERNDALE, WA | $14,750 | 2025 | COMMUNITY HEALTH LEGACY AWARD |
| WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BELLINGHAM, WA | $14,340 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL | BELLINGHAM, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION AND MATCH |
| MOUNT BAKER THEATER | BELLINGHAM, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION AND MATCH |
| WHATCOM FAMILY YMCA | BELLINGHAM, WA | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP CAMPAIGN |
| BELLINGHAM FOOD BANK | BELLINGHAM, WA | $7,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH |
| WHATCOM CENTER FOR EARLY LEARNING | BELLINGHAM, WA | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WHATCOM DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER | BELLINGHAM, WA | $5,200 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WHATCOM COUNCIL ON AGING | BELLINGHAM, WA | $5,100 | 2025 | ELECTED OFFICIALS MEET AND GREET |
| Opportunity Council | Bellingham, WA | $20,000 | 2024 | Support the Whatcom Resource Information Collaborative that aims to create a centralized community database of services that individuals and families can search to assist in meeting their safety net needs. |
| Whatcom Council on Aging | Bellingham, WA | $7,500 | 2024 | Expand awareness of the Aging Well Whatcom Coalition 'Senior Day in the Park' event that hosts hundreds of seniors and connects them with resources in the community. |
| Skookum Kids | Bellingham, WA | $40,000 | 2023 | General operating support |
| Dementia Support Northwest | Bellingham, WA | $27,830 | 2023 | Social respite programs |
| Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center | Bellingham, WA | $25,000 | 2023 | Supervised Visitation program |
| Road2Home | Bellingham, WA | $25,000 | 2023 | Community Ally program & case management services |
| Lydia Place | Bellingham, WA | $22,500 | 2023 | Mental health programs |
| Animals as Natural Therapy | Bellingham, WA | $22,128 | 2023 | Learning Life programs |
| Communities in Schools of Whatcom-Skagit | Bellingham, WA | $20,000 | 2023 | General operating support |
| Whatcom Center for Early Learning | Bellingham, WA | $17,500 | 2023 | DEI Outreach & Training Project |
| Whatcom Clubhouse | Bellingham, WA | $15,000 | 2023 | General operating support |
| Compass Health | Everett, WA | $10,000 | 2023 | Summer Group Series |
| DISH Foundation | Bellingham, WA | $7,500 | 2023 | Vocational & On the Job Training programs |
| MakeShift Art Space | Bellingham, WA | $7,000 | 2023 | Educational programming |
VAMOS OUTDOORS PROJECT
$45,000COMMUNITY HEALTH LEGACY AWARD
BELLINGHAM BAY ROTARY FOUNDATION
$30,000HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH
NAMI OF WHATCOM COUNTY
$25,000COMMUNITY HEALTH LEGACY AWARD
HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH, NON PROFIT HAPPY HOUR, UNCHARITABLE SCREENING
CASCADE MEDICAL ADVANTAGE
$20,750GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WHATCOM COUNTY
$20,000HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH
HEALTH MINISTRIES NETWORK
$17,500FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, PROGRAM ADOPTION
DEMENTIA SUPPORT NORTHWEST
$15,000IN HONOR OF SARA WILLIAMS SERVICE
CASCADIA INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL
$15,000HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION + MATCH
FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT
$14,750COMMUNITY HEALTH LEGACY AWARD
MOUNT BAKER THEATER
$10,000HOLIDAY CHEER DONATION AND MATCH
WHATCOM FAMILY YMCA
$7,500SCHOLARSHIP CAMPAIGN
WHATCOM DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER
$5,200GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Support the Whatcom Resource Information Collaborative that aims to create a centralized community database of services that individuals and families can search to assist in meeting their safety net needs.
Expand awareness of the Aging Well Whatcom Coalition 'Senior Day in the Park' event that hosts hundreds of seniors and connects them with resources in the community.
Dementia Support Northwest
$27,830Social respite programs
Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center
$25,000Supervised Visitation program
Road2Home
$25,000Community Ally program & case management services
Lydia Place
$22,500Mental health programs
Animals as Natural Therapy
$22,128Learning Life programs
Communities in Schools of Whatcom-Skagit
$20,000General operating support
Whatcom Clubhouse
$15,000General operating support
DISH Foundation
$7,500Vocational & On the Job Training programs
MakeShift Art Space
$7,000Educational programming
