About Whatcom Community Foundation
Whatcom Community Foundation is a place-based funder focused on strengthening Whatcom County’s social safety net, local food systems, and natural-resource conservation, with significant investments in flood recovery and affordable housing. They regularly make multi-grant commitments to local organizations (often funding the same grantees more than once) while also supporting arts, education, and community health services. The foundation combines several large, strategic gifts with numerous mid-sized grants to community nonprofits and disaster response efforts.
Focus Areas
Local food systems & hunger relief in Whatcom County (e.g., Bellingham Food Bank, Sustainable Connections, NW Agriculture Business Center)Flood recovery and disaster resilience in Whatcom County (Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group, Max Higbee Center)Affordable housing and shelter for vulnerable populations (Mercy Housing Northwest, Northwest Youth Services, Lydia Place)Salmon habitat and natural-resources conservation in the Nooksack watershed (Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Whatcom Land Trust, RE Sources)Community services & capacity-building for older adults, youth, and families (Whatcom Council on Aging, Whatcom Family & Community Network, Opportunity Council)
About Whatcom Community Foundation
Whatcom Community Foundation’s recent giving shows a strong local pattern built around basic needs, resilience, and place-based conservation. Two of its largest grants went to Mercy Housing Northwest for housing and shelter and to Sustainable Connections for food, agriculture, and nutrition, pointing to a funding strategy that pairs human services with the local systems that support them. The foundation also made repeated, large commitments to Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group for flood relief tied to the Nov. 15, 2021 disaster, signaling sustained support for disaster recovery rather than one-time response. Beyond immediate relief, the foundation backs organizations working on salmon habitat, land conservation, public health, education, and community enrichment. Recent grants to Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Whatcom Land Trust, and Re Sources show continued investment in natural-resource protection in the county. Other sizeable awards supported Whatcom Council on Aging, Mt Baker Planned Parenthood, and Bellingham Public Library, indicating that its portfolio reaches older adults, health services, and community infrastructure as well. The pattern is not limited to large flagship awards. Mid-sized grants recur across local nonprofits, with many recipients based in Bellingham and the surrounding Whatcom County area, and some organizations appearing in multiple years.
What Whatcom Community Foundation Funds
In food security and local agriculture, Whatcom Community Foundation gave $855,500 in 2023 and $787,500 in 2024 to Sustainable Connections, plus $605,110 in 2023 and $117,514 in 2024 to Alternatives to Hunger Dba Bellingham Food Bank. It also awarded $220,000 in 2024 to Northwest Agriculture Business Center for food, agriculture, and nutrition. In flood recovery, the foundation committed $497,744 in 2023 and $438,764 in 2024 to Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group for relief from the Nov. 15, 2021 disaster. For natural-resource conservation, it gave $363,283 in 2023 and $228,409 in 2024 to Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, and $341,246 in 2023 to Whatcom Land Trust. Its community-serving portfolio also includes $287,529 in 2023 to Bellingham Public Library for building community, $144,909 in 2023 to Western Washington University Foundation for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and $91,216 in 2024 to Mount Baker Theatre for arts and culture.
How Whatcom Community Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$5.9M
Total Assets
$89.6M
Total Revenue
$18.4M
Total Expenses
$11.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $32K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$32K
Geographic Reach
Local10 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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