Grays Harbor Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,997,045 (2023 tax year)
• Success Rate: Not available
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycles for Impact Grants; biannual cycles for Community Building Grants
• Grant Range: $5,000 or less (Quarterly Impact Grants); $5,000-$30,000 (Community Building Grants)
• Geographic Focus: Grays Harbor County, Washington

Contact Details

• Website: www.gh-cf.org
• Phone: 360-532-1600
• Email: info@gh-cf.org
• Mailing Address: 705 J Street, PO Box 615, Hoquiam, WA 98550-0615
• Facebook: Grays Harbor Community Foundation

Overview

The Grays Harbor Community Foundation is a community foundation established in 1994 with a mission to improve the quality of life in all communities throughout Grays Harbor County, Washington. The foundation operates donor-advised funds and provides various grant programmes to support local nonprofit organisations, education initiatives, and community development projects. As a community foundation, they enable donors to support almost any charitable purpose that benefits local residents. In their 2023 tax year, the foundation held total assets of $84,355,567 and distributed $3,997,045 in total expenses.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

• Quarterly Impact Grants: Up to $5,000 - designed for immediate, small-scale community needs with quarterly review cycles. Deadlines typically fall on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1.
• Community Building Grants: $5,000 to $30,000 - supports broader community development initiatives. Requests outside this range can be discussed with the office prior to submittal. Application deadlines typically fall on April 1 and October 1 (biannual cycles).
• Early Learning Grants: Amount not specified - focuses on early childhood education programmes
• After School Grants: Amount not specified - supports after-school programming for youth
• Non Profit Volunteer Fund: Amount not specified - supports volunteer-driven initiatives

Priority Areas

• Community development and improvement
• Education (early learning through high school)
• After-school youth programming
• Volunteer-driven community initiatives
• Local nonprofit capacity building

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not publicly documented on available sources

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Eric Potts (serving since April 2015) Board Chair: Kathryn Skolrood Vice Chair: Molly Bold Secretary: George Donovan Treasurer: Mike Stoney

The foundation maintains a governance structure with community representatives serving on the board to ensure local needs are addressed through their grant-making activities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation offers multiple grant programmes with different application cycles. The foundation encourages all grantseekers to set up a meeting with foundation staff prior to submitting an application. Interested organisations should contact the foundation directly at info@gh-cf.org or 360-532-1600 for application materials and specific programme guidelines.

Decision Timeline

• Quarterly Impact Grants: Reviewed quarterly with deadlines typically on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1
• Community Building Grants: Reviewed biannually with deadlines typically on April 1 and October 1

Specific notification timelines are not publicly documented.

Success Rates

Application success rates and number of grants awarded annually are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants may receive one Community Building Grant award per 12-month period. Information about reapplication policies for other programmes is not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

The foundation emphasises:

• Demonstrating immediate community impact (especially for Quarterly Impact Grants)
• Alignment with Grays Harbor County community needs
• Focus on local benefit and residents
• Clear demonstration of how funds will improve quality of life in the region

The foundation specifically designed their Quarterly Impact Grants programme to be "truly responsive and meet the needs of our community," suggesting they value applications that demonstrate timely, tangible community benefit.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus exclusively on programmes benefiting Grays Harbor County residents
• Quarterly Impact Grants ($5,000 or less) offer the most accessible entry point with regular review cycles (quarterly deadlines)
• Community Building Grants ($5,000-$30,000) are reviewed biannually with applications typically due April 1 and October 1
• Multiple specialised grant programmes available - match your project to the appropriate programme
• Emphasise immediate, tangible community impact in applications
• Consider how your project aligns with improving quality of life in Grays Harbor County
• The foundation manages donor-advised funds, suggesting potential for cultivating specific donor interests
• Schedule a meeting with foundation staff before submitting your application
• Note the one-grant-per-12-months limit for Community Building Grants when planning your application timing

References

• GuideStar Profile for Grays Harbor Community Foundation (EIN: 91-1607005), accessed December 31, 2024
• Grays Harbor Community Foundation Official Website (www.gh-cf.org), accessed December 31, 2024
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Grays Harbor Community Foundation, 2023 financial data (Form 990), accessed December 31, 2024
• IRS Tax-Exempt Status confirmation, exempt since August 1998