Whatcom Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7.4 million (2025)
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: 12-16 weeks
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $10,000 (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: Whatcom County, Washington

Contact Details

Website: https://whatcomcf.org Phone: (360) 671-6463 Email: wcf@whatcomcf.org Address: 1500 Cornwall Avenue, Suite 202, Bellingham, WA 98225 Online Grants Portal: Available at whatcomcf.org

Overview

The Whatcom Community Foundation was established in 1996 with an initial contribution of around $1 million and has grown to become a major philanthropic force in Whatcom County. Since inception, the Foundation has invested more than $86 million across all corners of Whatcom County, funding vital community structures including Bellingham's Depot Market Square, Fairhaven Village Green, Mount Baker Theatre improvements, Ferndale Library, Blaine Community Center Pavilion, and East Whatcom Regional Resource Center. With assets exceeding $50 million as of their 25th anniversary in 2021 and annual grantmaking of $7.4 million in 2025, the Foundation serves as what CEO Mauri Ingram describes as "the community's Swiss Army knife" - flexible, adaptable, and responsive to community needs. The Foundation has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect score of 100%, reflecting its strong governance and financial management.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Health & Wellness Grants: $1,000 - $10,000 (based on organizational staffing size). Focus on staff wellness, addressing sector-wide fatigue, turnover, and burnout in nonprofits. Application opens December 31, closes May 11 at 4PM.
• Project Neighborly Grants: Up to $5,000 per project. Inspiring, actionable projects that develop community and promote neighborliness. Application opens October 10, closes February 23 at 4PM.
• Youth Philanthropy Project (YPP) Grants: Up to $5,000 per project. Youth experiencing homelessness (ages up to 24) and environmental stewardship programs involving youth. Timeline varies by year.
• General Community Grants: Various amounts from unrestricted and restricted funds. Rolling basis for various designated funds.

Priority Areas

• Developing a sense of community and promoting neighborliness
• Connecting people who would not normally come together
• Food security, housing access, arts and culture, disaster preparedness, and education
• Projects that reflect and promote diversity in Whatcom County communities
• Community-driven problem-solving and long-term planning
• Nonprofit capacity building and organizational wellness
• Youth support, especially addressing youth homelessness
• Environmental stewardship

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations that discriminate based on gender, religion, sexual orientation or identity, ethnicity, national origin, or physical ability
• Religious activities (though grants may be made to faith-based organizations for non-religious programs)

Governance and Leadership

Mauri Ingram, President and CEO: Leads with a philosophy of flexibility and community responsiveness. "We often think and talk about the Community Foundation as the community's Swiss Army knife. We have incredible tools, we're flexible, and can adapt based on whatever the community needs and whatever opportunities there are."

Management Team:

• Brad Tuininga, Vice President of Philanthropy
• Marcus Warolin, Controller
• Jenn Daly, Director of Engagement and Philanthropy

Board Leadership:

• Karen Occhiogrosso, Vice-Chair
• Tasha Dewey, Secretary-Treasurer
• Lucas Gutiérrez Senger
• Sylvia

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online grants portal at whatcomcf.org. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, Native American Tribes, religious and educational institutions, and projects with fiscal sponsors. The Foundation strongly recommends reviewing grant guidelines before starting your application.

Decision Timeline

• Health & Wellness Grants: Opens December 31, closes May 11 at 4PM, awards announced June
• Project Neighborly Grants: Opens October 10, closes February 23 at 4PM, awards announced April
• Youth Philanthropy Project: Timeline varies by year

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not published, Project Neighborly received more than double the applications in 2025 compared to the previous year, representing the largest pool of applicants since launching in 2016. In 2024, Project Neighborly funded 36 projects. Health & Wellness Grants funded 45 organizations in 2025.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply each cycle for recurring grant programs. Projects that were not funded can reapply in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

The Foundation values community involvement and diversity, stating "Successful proposals describe the essential work you do in the community and how it involves others in the community who need to be part of truly successful problem-solving and long-term planning." CEO Mauri Ingram emphasizes "Just be neighborly, think of neighboring as a verb" - seeking projects that actively connect people who wouldn't normally come together.

Applications with match funding and detailed cost estimates are generally more successful. The Foundation advises to "do your homework on costs and provide price lists or written estimates as attachments." They maintain openness to creative approaches, with founders who "didn't come at it with a predefined idea," suggesting "a sense of responsible risk taking and possibility."

Successfully funded Project Neighborly examples include interactive art installations on bike trailers, kayaking expeditions pairing rural and urban high school students, intergenerational community dinners, Indigenous children's books programs, LGBTQ youth support activities, and neighborhood bowling events. Grant amounts ranged from $360 to $5,000.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Think beyond traditional nonprofits - community groups, individuals with fiscal sponsors, schools, tribes, and government agencies are welcome
• Emphasize connection over services - focus on how your project brings together people who wouldn't normally meet
• Show community involvement in planning and implementation, not just service delivery
• Be practical with budgets - include match funding, detailed estimates, and demonstrate fiscal responsibility
• Explicitly address how your project reflects and promotes diversity in Whatcom County
• Contact them early with questions at (360) 671-6463 - they encourage pre-application communication
• Always review grant guidelines first - this is their direct advice to applicants

References

• Whatcom Community Foundation official website: https://whatcomcf.org (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "Apply for a Grant" page: https://whatcomcf.org/apply-for-a-grant/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "Community Grantmaking" page: https://whatcomcf.org/nonprofit-partnerships/community-grantmaking/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "Who We Are" page: https://whatcomcf.org/who-we-are/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "People" page: https://whatcomcf.org/people/ (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• GuideStar Profile, EIN 91-1726410: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/91-1726410 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• Charity Navigator Rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/911726410 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "Q & A with Whatcom Community Foundation CEO Mauri Ingram," Sustainable Connections (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "Whatcom Community Foundation Marks 25 Years of Community Philanthropy," WhatcomTalk, November 2, 2021 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "Whatcom Community Foundation Announces Three 2024 Grant Opportunities," Bellingham.org (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• "2024 'Neighborly' Grants Fund 36 Projects with $173,000 Across County," Downtown Bellingham, July 1, 2024 (Accessed March 3, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/911726410 (Accessed March 3, 2026)