The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington has awarded 10 nonprofits with $351,160 in grants as a part of its annual Focus Grant Program.
The program aims to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty throughout Southwest Washington. It targets basic human needs, educational attainment and asset building.
The fund accepts contributions from all community members. That money is pooled and awarded to a selection of nonprofits serving Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties.
“The Community Foundation has been providing grants to nonprofits throughout the community for well over 20 years,” Senior Communications Officer Maury Harris said. “That is what powers the grid. So really, it’s been a community effort to develop and grow this program over time.”
One recipient of this grantmaking cycle, Sakura 39ers Youth Association, received $40,000. The group focuses on fostering members of the Chuukese community through educational training, health and wellness.
Executive Director Dania Otto wants Sakura 39ers to continue serving the Chuukese community through resource programs developed within the organization.
“When we created this organization, we built it to identify our barriers as a community here,” Otto said. “The funding from this grant really launched the programs that we’d always wanted to work but had to put on the back burner.”
Pax Learning Center received $25,000. It provides GED and second-language English classes to refugees, immigrants and students within underserved communities. Cofounder and Executive Director Alex Herrboldt said he and cofounder Paul Vasquez believe students are their No. 1 stakeholders.
“We want to continue making sure students have the ability to feel like they’re always progressing, even if they need time off,” Herrboldt said. “That is how we continue breaking down barriers.”
The grantees were announced this week. Applications for the second round of Focus Grants are open until Aug. 31; the awards will be announced in November.
Harris said $275,000 is available for the upcoming grantmaking cycle. In total, $950,000 will be awarded this year.
“Our goal is to bring all types of talent together and coalesce them around a common strategy and goal,” Harris said. “We’re just trying to make the greatest impact with the resources that we have available.”
