Message from the President
December 2024
Dear Friends:
You may have noticed that since January 2023 the operative word for NW Fund has been “transition.” This has had many implications for the community:
● All grants for 2023 and 2024 were foundation-directed and multi-year.
● We did not accept applications for standard grants nor community response fund (CRF) grants.
● We faced the reality of a new era without the support of our valued long-time staff, Zoe Rothchild and Pam Fujita-Yuhas.
● NW Fund board members stepped up to assume myriad responsibilities to keep the Fund operative and funds flowing to grantees.
Today the operative word is “progress,” and I am delighted to share the following updates:
● Most administrative functions have migrated to Foundation Source, a company which supports more than 4,000 charitable organizations across the country, with technology and philanthropic expertise. Simply stated, they manage our finances and cut the checks to our grantees, among many other functions.
● Genevieve Geiger of GGNPM is our part-time contract-based administrator serving as communications hub. She can be reached at staff@nwfund.org or 206-207-6883.
● We successfully closed our physical office space, transferred communications and record-keeping functions to online platforms, and will realize significant financial savings each year, which can then be invested in our grantees.
● In 2023 and 2024 NW Fund disbursed $355,000 to 34 nonprofit organizations throughout Washington state.
● In December 2024, once all expenses were confirmed, we were left with a budget surplus of $44,000. Consistent with our mission, the Board voted to “put those funds to work,” which we gave as special one-time grants to our 34 current grantee organizations.
● Four talented new Trustees joined the NW Fund Board in 2024: Audrey Clungeon, Steve Dubiel, Phoebe Lipkis and Sarah Yerkan. They bring expertise in environmental law, nonprofit management, grantmaking, and finance.
● One valued Trustee, Jaimini Parekh, left the Board in 2023. Her proficiency in environmental law contributed greatly to the depth of our discussion and decision making.
● Four stalwart Trustees left the Board in 2024. Nicole Herron and Marty Minkoff joined in January 2022, and their terms ended in December 2024. Their perspectives added greatly to the quality of our discussions and actions. Paul Kampmeier, environmental lawyer and Past President of the Board, finished nine years of dedicated service of the NW Fund Board. Finally, Jim Harless just wrapped up two 9-year stints on the Board, most of that time as Treasurer. His institutional knowledge has been a tremendous asset, especially during the years of transition.
As we look to the future, the operative word is “steadfast.” While much about the future of our country and world is uncertain, our mission remains unwavering, and we have only redoubled our resolve. Today, it is my pleasure to share with you the following “sneak peek” into 2025:
● Beginning in January 2025 we will restart our Community Response Fund (CRF) grantmaking. These are intended to respond to emerging needs of nonprofit organizations that are not current grantees, requiring quick turnaround, and will generally range in size between $3,000 and $5,000. Check our website for updated information.
● Our Board leadership will transition, with some new officers, and some welcome returning officers:
o President, JoAnn Yoshimoto
o Vice President, Chris Golde
o Treasurer, Sarah Yerkan
o Secretary, Audrey Clungeon
o Investment Liaison, Ken Nitz
It has been my pleasure to serve on the NW Fund Board for the past three years, and a distinct honor to contribute as President this past year. I leave the NW Fund in capable hands, confident in the positive collective impact that we will have in “the protection of wild fish, native wildlife, natural forests, wetlands and shorelines, and the preservation of pure and free-flowing waters.”
All the best,
Marty Minkoff, President
2024 Grant process has been started!
Grantees will be receiving an email soon, so watch out for it!
Checks should arrive in about 2 weeks or somewhere before April 14, 2024. So watch out for that as well. Send us an email when you receive the check since we are using a new system to distribute the checks. Check our ‘Recent Grants’ menu for the 2024 list.
Transition at the NW Fund for the Environment
Our long-time staff Pam Fujita-Yuhas and Zoe Rothchild bid farewell effective December 31st, 2022. Please read the letter from our Board President, Paul Kampmeier below for more information.
The NW Fund for the Environment will not be accepting applications for its standard or community response fund grants for the foreseeable future. All grants will be foundation-directed and grantees who have ongoing multiyear grants or have recently received NW Fund grants will be contacted with status updates in the first quarter of the new year.
The Fund made grants in 2023. The complete list is under our Recent Grants tab.