Fostering philanthropy to enhance and preserve the quality of life on Orcas Island. The Orcas Island Community Foundation encourages and supports local philanthropy and connects people and organizations to improve the quality of life on Orcas Island.
A $3.6 million grant to Orcas Island Food Bank in 2025 stands out in the foundation’s recent record and points to its role as a major local funder on Orcas Island. Orcas Island Community Foundation makes board-directed grants across community needs, with support flowing to organizations in Eastsound and other Orcas Island-serving nonprofits. Its recent pattern includes substantial awards to Orcas Senior Center, OPAL Community Land Trust, Orcas Community Resource Center, and Orcas Center, alongside funding for arts, housing, and human services. The foundation’s grantmaking is built around flexible approvals, with many awards described as being for “various purposes as approved by OICF board.” That structure allows it to support operating needs, projects, and community initiatives through multiple channels, including the GiveOrcas campaigns, the Community Endowment Fund, and donor advised funds. Recent grants also show repeat support to the same organizations across several years, suggesting an ongoing relationship with local institutions rather than one-off project-only funding. The result is a grantmaker focused on the daily infrastructure of community life on Orcas Island: food access, senior services, housing, cultural programs, education, and nonprofit capacity.
Food security is a clear priority. Orcas Island Community Foundation gave $3,624,259 to Orcas Island Food Bank in 2025 for various purposes approved by the board, placing basic needs at the center of its local grantmaking. Housing and homeownership appear through a grant of $1,939,549 to Opal Community Land Trust in 2024, also for board-approved purposes. That grant aligns with the foundation’s Community Loan Fund initiative, which is described as supporting home ownership and bridging housing affordability gaps. Community services and aging are another thread. The foundation awarded $923,996 to Orcas Senior Center in 2025, reflecting sustained support for senior-focused infrastructure on the island. Arts and culture also receive support. Orcas Center was funded at $325,090 in 2025 for board-approved purposes, showing that cultural institutions sit alongside human services in the foundation’s portfolio.
Typical awards cluster at a median of $17,650, with a lower quartile of $10,300 and an upper quartile of $66,420. That spread suggests a mix of smaller community grants and larger institutional support. The foundation is a mixed community foundation, and its grantmaking is board-directed and opportunity-driven rather than tied to a single open-program model. Recipients recur across years: Orcas Senior Center, Opal Community Land Trust, Orcas Community Resource Center, Orcas Center, Kaleidoscope Preschool, YMCA Camp Orkila, and Funhouse Commons all appear more than once in the recent grants list. The foundation also accepts unsolicited applications in several active programs, including GiveOrcas Grants, LEAD, and annual endowment distributions.
$7.6M
$26.9M
$7.5M
$8.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $66K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$66K
LINDSAY JENNINGS
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local. Ninety percent of grants go to recipients in Washington, the headquarters state, and the recipient list is dominated by Eastsound organizations. Named recipients in Eastsound include Orcas Island Food Bank, Orcas Senior Center, Orcas Community Resource Center, Orcas Center, and Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. Outside Washington, the recent list includes grantmaking through Schwab Charitable Operations in Orlando and Vanguard Charitable in Boston, but the recipient-country distribution remains entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports a broad mix of local causes, including healthcare, food security, education, arts and culture, environmental conservation, youth development, community services, and nonprofit capacity building. Its active programs also point to support for basic needs, community health and resilience, social services, cultural experiences, and educational opportunities.
Typical grant sizes cluster around a median of $17,650, with a p25 of $10,300 and a p75 of $66,420. The recent grants list also includes much larger board-approved awards, showing that the foundation makes both smaller community grants and larger institutional gifts.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Orcas Senior Center, Opal Community Land Trust, Orcas Community Resource Center, Orcas Center, Kaleidoscope Preschool, YMCA Camp Orkila, and Funhouse Commons. That pattern suggests recurring support rather than a purely one-time approach.
Yes. The active GiveOrcas Grants program, LEAD Grant Program, Community Endowment annual grants, and other annual grant rounds are described as accepting unsolicited applications. Those programs cover areas such as basic needs, leadership development, community services, education, arts and culture, and environmental stewardship.
Its giving is local, with 89% of grants going to recipients in Washington. The recipient list centers on Eastsound and Orcas Island-serving organizations, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Orcas Island Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving Orcas Island; applicants are encouraged to discuss proposals with OICF before submission. Full eligibility and guidelines available in the annual grant guidelines/RFP.
Deadline: Annual call for applications (historically in late winter/early spring). Specific dates vary by year and are published with each call.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORCAS ISLAND FOOD BANK | EASTSOUND, WA | $3,624,259 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS SENIOR CENTER | EASTSOUND, WA | $923,996 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS CENTER | EASTSOUND, WA | $325,090 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL | EASTSOUND, WA | $275,475 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE | EASTSOUND, WA | $255,300 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER | EASTSOUND, WA | $243,886 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SAFE SAN JUANS | EASTSOUND, WA | $175,300 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| KALEIDOSCOPE PRESCHOOL | EASTSOUND, WA | $140,691 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUMS | EASTSOUND, WA | $128,950 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY | EASTSOUND, WA | $103,450 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| FUNHOUSE COMMONS | EASTSOUND, WA | $101,401 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE OPERATIONS | ORLANDO, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE | BOSTON, MA | $97,605 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST | EASTSOUND, WA | $97,542 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND CHILDREN'S HOUSE | EASTSOUND, WA | $93,699 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| KWIAHT | LOPEZ ISLAND, WA | $87,415 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION (OIEF) | EASTSOUND, WA | $86,611 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SAN JUAN COUNTY TREASURER | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $81,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL | EASTSOUND, WA | $52,041 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SISKIYOU LAND CONSERVANCY | ARCATA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ART FOR ORCAS KIDS (AOK)OIEF | EASTSOUND, WA | $43,450 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| CIRCUM-PACIFIC COUNCIL FOR ENERGY & MINERAL RESOURCES | EASTSOUND, WA | $40,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| MERCY FLIGHT ORCAS AVIATION ASSOCIATION | EASTSOUND, WA | $35,800 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $33,550 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| AMERICAN LEGION POST #93 | EASTSOUND, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| YMCA CAMP ORKILA | EASTSOUND, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND LIONS CLUB | EASTSOUND, WA | $23,400 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP (MAG) | EASTSOUND, WA | $20,900 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| DEER HARBOR MARINA | EASTSOUND, WA | $18,750 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $17,650 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| DEER HARBOR COMMUNITY CLUB | DEER HARBOR, WA | $17,500 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SAIL ORCAS--A SAILING EDUCATION FOUNDATION | EASTSOUND, WA | $17,274 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SAN JUAN PRESERVATION TRUST | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $16,350 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ODD FELLOWS HALL | EASTSOUND, WA | $15,550 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ISLAND STEWARDS | OLGA, WA | $15,350 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS DANCE COLLECTIVE | EASTSOUND, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ISLAND | EASTSOUND, WA | $14,950 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND BOOSTER CLUB | EASTSOUND, WA | $13,323 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND ROWING ASSOCIATION (OIRA) | EASTSOUND, WA | $12,855 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SALMONBERRY SCHOOL AND LEARNING CENTER | EASTSOUND, WA | $12,500 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| SEADOC SOCIETY | EASTSOUND, WA | $11,500 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| HEALING ARTS CENTER | EASTSOUND, WA | $11,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT 137 | EASTSOUND, WA | $10,997 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | EASTSOUND, WA | $10,800 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY | EASTSOUND, WA | $10,510 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| WEST SOUND COMMUNITY CLUB | EASTSOUND, WA | $10,307 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| TRADITIONAL FOODWAYS | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| WOLF HOLLOW WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER | FRIDAY HARBOR, WA | $7,750 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND LIT FEST | EASTSOUND, WA | $7,500 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
| ORCAS ISLAND FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION | EASTSOUND, WA | $7,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD |
ORCAS SENIOR CENTER
$923,996VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE
$255,300VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
SAFE SAN JUANS
$175,300VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
KALEIDOSCOPE PRESCHOOL
$140,691VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUMS
$128,950VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY
$103,450VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
FUNHOUSE COMMONS
$101,401VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND CHILDREN'S HOUSE
$93,699VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
KWIAHT
$87,415VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND EDUCATION FOUNDATION (OIEF)
$86,611VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
SAN JUAN COUNTY TREASURER
$81,000VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$52,041VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
SISKIYOU LAND CONSERVANCY
$50,000VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ART FOR ORCAS KIDS (AOK)OIEF
$43,450VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
CIRCUM-PACIFIC COUNCIL FOR ENERGY & MINERAL RESOURCES
$40,000VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
MERCY FLIGHT ORCAS AVIATION ASSOCIATION
$35,800VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
AMERICAN LEGION POST #93
$25,000VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND LIONS CLUB
$23,400VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP (MAG)
$20,900VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
DEER HARBOR MARINA
$18,750VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
DEER HARBOR COMMUNITY CLUB
$17,500VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
SAIL ORCAS--A SAILING EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$17,274VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ODD FELLOWS HALL
$15,550VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ISLAND STEWARDS
$15,350VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ACTORS THEATER OF ORCAS ISLAND
$14,950VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND BOOSTER CLUB
$13,323VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND ROWING ASSOCIATION (OIRA)
$12,855VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
SALMONBERRY SCHOOL AND LEARNING CENTER
$12,500VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
HEALING ARTS CENTER
$11,000VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT 137
$10,997VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$10,800VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS CHORAL SOCIETY
$10,510VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
WEST SOUND COMMUNITY CLUB
$10,307VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
TRADITIONAL FOODWAYS
$10,000VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
WOLF HOLLOW WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER
$7,750VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND LIT FEST
$7,500VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD
ORCAS ISLAND FARMERS MARKET ASSOCIATION
$7,000VARIOUS PURPOSES AS APPROVED BY OICF BOARD