GHCF Community Building Grants Program

The Grays Harbor Community Foundation offers Community Building Grants to nonprofit organizations working to meet a variety of community needs across Grays Harbor County, Washington. These grants are intended to support efforts that align with the Foundation’s priorities in arts and culture, education, and health and human services. Applications are welcomed from all qualifying nonprofit organizations that serve local residents and propose projects capable of creating positive, substantive change in the community. The Community Building Grants program operates on a biannual cycle, with two submission deadlines each year: April 1 and October 1. Awards typically range between $5,000 and $30,000, although applicants may request amounts outside of this range after consultation with the Foundation. Priority is given to projects that demonstrate the applicant organization’s capacity and alignment with Foundation values, such as responsiveness to community needs, potential for long-term impact, and efficient administrative and financial management. Applicants may only receive one Community Building Grant per 12-month period, and preference is given to those who have not received a Foundation grant in recent years. Organizations that apply for both the Community Building Grant and a Quarterly Impact Grant in the same calendar year must propose different projects for each grant. Some project types and activities are generally ineligible for funding. These include one-time events (except school field trips), deficit funding, re-granting programs, feasibility studies, strategic planning, and most endowment contributions. For capital projects, the Foundation requires applicants to submit project bids and photographs with the application and to accommodate site visits as part of the review process. First-time applicants must contact the Foundation to schedule an introductory meeting before submitting their application. All grantees are required to submit a final report as a condition for eligibility in future funding cycles. Applications that fail to meet this requirement will be disqualified from consideration in subsequent rounds.

Schedule a meeting if applying for the first time. Prepare detailed budget and include supporting documents for capital projects. Avoid proposing projects previously funded within the same calendar year.