Hello neighbors, There are a few people in my life that I would describe as “the kind of person you want around in an emergency.” They are level-headed, take-charge type people who lead with compassion, humility and courage. They know how to do things and if they run into something they don’t, they MacGyver. They delegate,...
YOU and are invited to help us fill the Mount Baker Theatre for a FREE community screening of the movie UnCharitable, followed by a panel discussion about the movie’s themes and their potential local impacts. Chuckanut Health Foundation, Mount Baker Foundation, United Way of Whatcom County, and Whatcom Community Foundation are cohosting the film. Collectively, we strongly believe that Whatcom’s...
Hi Friends, Ten years ago, I’d guess that few people reading this newsletter would have known what Narcan is. Today, many know it’s a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. Parents of teens have been urged to keep it on hand — advice as terrifying as it is practical. People — family, friends, neighbors, children —...
Hi Friends, If I were a betting woman, I’d bet that every single person in Whatcom County has benefited from the work of at least one of our nonprofit organizations — they’re so integral to our lives we risk taking them for granted. That’s a problem. Because with the erosion of this committed and hardworking “third...
2024 Funds for Whatcom County Grant Round Focused on Health and Wellness of Nonprofit Sector Staff What would life look like here without you and our entire essential nonprofit sector? Where would we go for culture and entertainment, to adopt animals, to find affordable and supportive housing, to feed our families, to get healthcare, to...
The Whatcom Community Foundation Youth Philanthropy Program (YPP) was created for students to engage in experiential based learning opportunities that foster leadership, technical and critical thinking skills. YPP connects youth to the community through charitable giving. This year the team will focus on learning about youth homelessness and youth mental health challenges that often exacerbate youth...
Earlier this year, the Whatcom Community Foundation partnered with the City of Bellingham to learn together about the needs and challenges of our local small and mid-sized housing and shelter providers. The findings were compiled in the a report in September 2023: Capacity Building for small and mid-sized housing and shelter providers: Needs, priorities, and...
Hello neighbors! Today we’re looking at housing in Whatcom County, and how to crack the serious lack of places to live affordably for anyone who makes less than $150,000 a year. Both locally and statewide, there are many smart and compassionate people across the public, private and nonprofit sectors focused on improving housing infrastructure. They are...
Hello neighbors! What a stunning summer it’s been, especially considering the extreme heat experienced virtually everywhere else in the country. But our community has not wholly escaped the consequences of hot dry conditions– as I write, the Sourdough fire is not expected to be contained until October; I just spoke with partners about relief funding for...
Happy Summer, Neighbors! In keeping with the spirit of optimism that maximum daylight brings, we’re continuing our focus on economic opportunity in Whatcom County with a spotlight on employee ownership. As an option for business owners that brings a variety of both individual and collective benefits, employee ownership offers a lot of upsides. Read on for...
