To improve the quality of life in all communities throughout Grays Harbor County, Washington.
Focus Areas
Education (K-12, early learning, after-school)Scholarships and student loansHealth and human servicesArts, culture and historyFood security and basic needsCommunity development and capital projects
Who They Fund
unspecified/undetermined
Funding Style
program/project supportrestricted funding (for a specific program)operational program support
Topics
About Grays Harbor Community Foundation
Grays Harbor Community Foundation’s largest recent grants center on local institutions that anchor daily life in Grays Harbor County, especially youth services, education, and community support. Three consecutive awards to YMCA of Grays Harbor — $363,875 in 2023, $428,375 in 2024, and $386,500 in 2025 — show a sustained commitment to operating support over multiple years. The foundation also made major gifts to The Arc of Grays Harbor and Grays Harbor College Foundation, pointing to support for disability services and postsecondary access alongside its broader community role.
Across the recent grant list, the foundation backs school districts, a community college foundation, health and human services organizations, and local civic groups. Aberdeen School District, Hoquiam School District, Montesano School District, and organizations in Westport appear among the recipients, along with arts and culture partners such as Missoula Children’s Theater and Caswell Sculpture. The pattern is local and program-oriented, with awards aimed at keeping community organizations, schools, and service providers operating within Grays Harbor County.
What Grays Harbor Community Foundation Funds
Education is a recurring theme. The foundation gave $134,260 in 2025 to Twin Harbors, a Branch of New Market Skills Center, and also funded Aberdeen School District multiple times, including $116,555 in 2023 and $103,769 in 2024. Those grants align with its scholarship and after-school programs, which support K-12 students and postsecondary pathways.
Health and human services also appear in the recent grants. Grays Harbor County Public Health received $50,000 in 2025, while South Sound Parent to Parent received $60,000 in 2023.
Arts and enrichment are part of the mix as well. The foundation awarded $56,050 in 2025 to Missoula Children’s Theater and $52,750 in 2024 to Caswell Sculpture, showing support for cultural programming alongside education and basic community services.
How Grays Harbor Community Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: the p25 is $15,000, the median is $24,750, and the p75 is $32,012. The recent list also includes smaller community awards and much larger operating gifts, so the distribution is wide rather than tightly banded.
The pattern is recurring. YMCA of Grays Harbor, Aberdeen School District, and Grays Harbor College Foundation each appear in multiple years, often with renewed support. The foundation operates as a community foundation and gives through named programs, including scholarships, after-school grants, quarterly impact grants, and other local grant rounds. Several programs accept unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.6M
Total Assets
$106.8M
Total Revenue
$31.9M
Total Expenses
$4.6M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $32K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$32K
Geographic Reach
Local9 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ERIC POTTS
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Grays Harbor Community Foundation Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Grays Harbor Community Foundation.
Rank
Country
Grants
Total
Share
1
United StatesDomestic
293
$10.4M
99.7%
2
Canada
Deep Analysis
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Where Grays Harbor Community Foundation Makes Grants
Giving is overwhelmingly in Washington: 91% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 212 grants in the United States.
Within Grays Harbor County, awards land in Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Westport, Montesano, and Elma. Hoquiam and Aberdeen appear most often in the recent grant list, while Westport and Montesano also receive repeated support. A few grants go beyond Washington to Oregon and Montana, but the overall footprint remains local.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grays Harbor Community Foundation
What kinds of grants does Grays Harbor Community Foundation make most often?
It funds schools, scholarships, after-school programs, health and human services, arts and culture, food security, and community development. Recent grants include school districts, a college foundation, public health, and arts organizations, which matches its listed focus areas for Grays Harbor County.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. Several active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including Student Scholarships, After School Grants, the Haerlen Family Elma Education Loan Program, the Nonprofit Volunteer Fund, Community Building Grants, Quarterly Impact Grants, and Early Learning Grants.
What is the typical grant size?
Typical awards sit in the mid-five-figure range. The reported p25 is $15,000, the median is $24,750, and the p75 is $32,012. The recent grant list also shows smaller awards under $5,000 and larger operating grants above $100,000.
Where does the foundation give?
Its giving is local, with 91% of grants going to recipients in Washington. The recent grants are concentrated in Grays Harbor County cities such as Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Westport, Montesano, and Elma, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Are scholarships part of the foundation’s grantmaking?
Yes. The foundation runs a scholarship program for Grays Harbor County students, including renewable awards for undergraduate and vocational or technical study. It also has a combined application for multiple scholarships and a separate education loan program for Elma students.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
1
$29K
0.3%
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Grays Harbor Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 4 days (Oct 1, 2026)Award: $5K – $30K
Community Building Grants
Arts and cultureEducationHealth+2 more
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations serving local residents in Grays Harbor County whose proposals fit the Foundation's giving priorities. Applicants must demonstrate organizational strength, ability to leverage other funding, community need, positive impact, and sound administrative and financial management. Applicants may receive one Community Building Grant per 12-month period; the same project may be submitted only once per calendar year.
Deadline: Cycle 1 inquiry due February 20, 2026; Cycle 1 application due April 1, 2026. Cycle 2 inquiry due September 18, 2026; Cycle 2 application due October 1, 2026.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations throughout Grays Harbor County and school districts addressing one or more of the Foundation's giving priorities. Funds should generally be used immediately or within two months. Organizations and school districts may apply for one small grant per year, and school district requests require approval from district officials. Funds cannot support fundraisers, endowments, re-granting programs, or scholarships.
Deadline: Applications are due March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1.
Nonprofit sustainabilityEndowment buildingGeneral operating support+1 more
Who can apply: The organization must have 501(c)(3) status, be based in Grays Harbor County, serve county residents, maintain a healthy operating budget with reserves, and demonstrate a plan for long-term sustainability. The endowment requires a minimum initial gift of $5,000 and compliance with the Foundation's spending policy.
Deadline: No application deadline stated; organizations may contact the Foundation to establish an eligible endowment fund.
Early learningEarly childhood educationChild development
Who can apply: Organizations serving children ages birth through five in Grays Harbor County. Organizations may apply once per year and may not apply for the same project more than once per year. Proposals should address a community need, fit the Foundation's giving priorities, demonstrate organizational capacity and financial management, and show positive impact.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations eligible under the Foundation's grant guidelines; additional program-specific criteria were not provided in the scraped content.
Opening soonCloses May 1, 2027Award: Based on request
After School Grants
After-school programmingYouth developmentSTEM+4 more
Who can apply: Public school districts serving K-8 students in Grays Harbor County and nonprofits or community organizations offering after-school programs. Grants must be used during the designated academic year for intended purposes. Recipients must submit a final report.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
