2024
Welcome
ABOUT US
Washington Women’s Foundation (WaWF) is a women’s collective giving organization that supports community transformation through learning, listening, and grant-making in Washington State.
Based in Seattle with a statewide reach, we’ve invested over 22 million dollars in Washington nonprofits since our founding in 1995. We're a participatory, communitybased collective. This means our hundreds of members collaborate to make funding decisions and we often invite the wider community to join our grantmaking work.
Through our unrestricted grantmaking programs, we support nonprofits, fiscallysponsored organizations, and individuals promoting racial and gender equity in Washington State.
THE GIVING GUIDE
In 2024, WaWF granted over $500,000 to nearly 40 nonprofits and fiscallysponsored organizations in Washington State. We're proud of the work each of these organizations do and hope you'll be inspired to support them.
The WaWF Giving Guide is a tool to support your own individual giving. First, learn about each organization's work, impact, and leadership. Then, make a gift to one or more of the organizations featured here. For a collective giving experience, grab a friend, partner, or family member to join you in the process!
This guide is organized by our annual funding themes and priorities (see below). Want to learn more about our process or how to get involved in choosing our priorities? Head to www.wawomensfdn.org.
HEALTHCARE
2025 Priority: Youth Mental Health
CLIMATE & AGRICULTURAL JUSTICE
2025 Priority: Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change
EDUCATION
2025 Priority: Adult Educational Opportunites
LAW, JUSTICE & INCARCERATION
2024 Priority: Re-Entry Support
HOUSING & HUNGER
2024 Priority: Mental Health & Housing
ARTS & COMMUNITY CULTURE
2024 Priority: Expanding Access to Arts in Schools
Arts and Community Culture
In 2024, our funding priority within the theme of Arts and Community Culture was Access to Arts in Schools. WaWF’s interest was in learning more about the benefits of and barriers to arts education in Washington State.
By funding organizations working in this space, we sought to invest in the integration of arts in school settings and expanding access to arts for students in grades K-12.
SOUTH END STORIES
South End Stories’ (SES) mission is to ignite joy and justice in classrooms and communities using arts-based learning, anti-racist education, and social activism. South End Stories runs a trauma-informed and anti-racist arts education program serving students and educators throughout King County, Washington. They encourage critical thought to stimulate artistic expression and exploration of identity at the highest level of learning.
https://www.southendstories-artsed.com
CARNEGIE PICTURE LAB
Carnegie Picture Labs mission is to deliver dynamic art experiences for all young people through innovative and transformative programs. CPL has established partnerships with 13 schools in WA and OR, serving over 185 K-5 classrooms, and reaching over 4,000 schoolchildren.
www.carnegiepicturelab.com
TIETON ARTS & HUMANITIES
Tieton Arts & Humanities enriches and celebrates community through artistic and cultural programming. Tieton Arts fosters resilience in Tieton by creating environments where families, businesses, and artists can collaborate and flourish.
www.tietonarts.org
YAKIMA MUSIC EN ACCION (YAMA)
Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA) grows confident young leaders throughout the neighborhoods it serves by widening access to professional-level music learning, igniting collective pride, and empowering and unifying students and families. www yamamusic org
2024 Collective Grantee
2024 Merit Awardees
INCHELIUM LANGUAGE & CULTURE ASSOCIATION
The Inchelium Language & Culture Association, founded in 2011, is committed to the revitalization of the Nselxcin dialect. Their primary focus is on nurturing new speakers and educators of Nselxcin within their communities.
While ILCA commitment is firmly rooted in language revitalization, the Inchelium Language & Culture Association extends its efforts to breathe life back into their culture. From captivating Captikwl story nights with elders, to the revival of the Upper Columbia River Culture, ILCA’s dedication is unwavering in reclaiming and sharing Nselxcin Language & Snʕayčkstx & Sxʷyʔiɬp Culture with the world. www.ncaliwmcitxw.com
2024 Merit Awardees Continued
ARTS CORPS
Arts Corps revolutionizes arts education by igniting the creative power of young people through culturally engaging learning experiences. Arts Corps works to address the race and income-based opportunity gap in access to arts education.
www artscorps org
KEY TO CHANGE
Key to Change mission is to inspire underserved youth through world-class music instruction and support their development as self-aware leaders.
www.keytochangestudio.org
SEATTLE JAZZ-ED
Through jazz education that liberates and inspires, Seattle JazzED increases access in the music room, celebrates student expression and builds lasting connection rooted in community.
www seattlejazzed org
SPARK CENTRAL
Spark Central offers imaginative art programs, access to innovative technology, and an inclusive creative community for folks of all economic backgrounds.
www spark-central org
URBAN ARTWORKS
Urban Artworks engages youth, artists, and communities in the creation of public art that inspires connections and honors their voices.
www.urbanartworks.org
Housing & Hunger
Mental Health & Housing
In 2024, our funding priority within the theme of Housing & Hunger was Mental Health and Housing Our focus was on learning more about the systemic intersections of housing instability and mental health, including addiction.
Through this priority, WaWF sought to invest in culturally relevant mental health and addiction recovery services for people who lack stable housing, including organizations with counseling staff and/or those working with a network of external providers.
FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH RESILIENCY & ENGAGEMENT
FYRE’s mission is to advocate for equitable opportunities that allow all youth to thrive. FYRE offers services to ensure underserved youth, ages 12-24, have their needs met in four main areas: 1) education, 2) physical and mental health, 3) basic needs and 4) resiliency programming.
*Featured on the cover
TRIUMPH TREATMENT SERVICES
www.okfyre.org
Triumph Women’s Programs offers co-occurring substance use and mental health treatment opportunities to women of all ages. www.triumphtx.org/inpatient-women/
NEW BEGINNINGS
New Beginnings’ mission is to empower survivors and mobilize community awareness and action to end domestic violence.
www newbegin org
YWCA OF KITSAP COUNTY
YWCA of Kitsap County advocates for survivors of domestic violence and provides prevention programming to halt the generational cycle of violence. Their mission is to eliminate racism and empower women by providing supportive services to survivors of domestic violence and educational opportunities.
www ywcakitsap org
CLARK COUNTY VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROGRAM
CCVLP is providing and facilitating access to justice in Clark County for low-income individuals and marginalized communities through advocacy and civil legal services.
www.ccvlp.org
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER
2024 Merit Award Finalist
DESC helps people with the complex needs of homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness achieve their highest potential for health and well-being through comprehensive services, treatment, and housing.
ELIZABETH GREGORY HOME
HOPE STREET
2024 Merit Awardees Continued
EGH provides a welcoming and respectful refuge where women who are experiencing homelessness, trauma, or economic insecurity have access to a caring community and critical resources. www eghseattle org
Hope Street provides women a safe home, community, and support as they discover their most fulfilling lives in long-term recovery.
www.hopestreethomes.org www.desc.org
NEW PHOEBE HOUSE ASSOCIATION
NPH provides a safe place for women who are experiencing homelessness and looking to recover from addiction, where they can reunify with their children. For up to two years, basic daily needs are provided so each mother can focus on her recovery, education, job skills, and parenting skills.
THE ARC OF KING COUNTY
www newphoebehouse org
The Arc helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages and their families navigate the various disability resources and systems including mental health and behavioral health care. www arcofkingcounty org
Law, Justice & Incarceration
Re-Entry Support
In 2024, WaWF's funding priority within the theme of Law, Justice, & Incarceration was Re-entry Support. We are interested in learning more about the unique challenges individuals leaving incarceration face, and how re-entry support can assist them holistically in this transition, in turn improving their experience and reducing recidivism. Through this priority, WaWF sought to invest in the specific types of support that individuals leaving incarceration need to thrive.
THE WAY TO JUSTICE
The Way to Justice is a community nonprofit legal aid organization led and created by women of color. Through direct representation, impact litigation, policy reform, and advocacy work, they address the barriers facing individuals who have been negatively impacted by our justice system. The Way to Justice envisions a legal and justice system that does not oppress, suffocate, and murder people of color; a system that does not see them as a threat, or view them as expendable. Their focus programs are driver’s relicensing/restoring driving privileges and post conviction relief, including restoring client rights, clearing criminal records and reducing/waiving legal fees.
www.thewaytojustice.com
2024 Merit Awardees
LIVING WITH CONVICTION
2024 Collective Grantee
Living with Conviction is a collaboration between formerly incarcerated individuals and their legal allies, working together to help people advocate for relief from both courtimposed debt and unconstitutional drug possession convictions.
THE IF PROJECT
www livingwithconviction org
The IF Project is a collaboration of currently- and formerly-incarcerated adults, community partners, and law enforcement focused on holistic intervention and the reduction and prevention of incarceration and recidivism.
www.theifproject.org
FREEDOM EDUCATION PROJECT PUGET SOUND
FEPPS provides an accredited college program for incarcerated women, transgender, and gender nonconforming people in Washington and creates pathways to higher education after students are released from prison.
www.fepps.org
YOGA BEHIND BARS
YBB yoga and meditation programs focus on restorative practices that facilitate nervous system regulation, stress management, and resilience for incarcerated adults and youth. 2024 Merit Awardees Continued
www.yogabehindbars.org
ARMS AROUND YOU
Arms Around You is a re-entry program that provides referrals and resources to formerly incarcerated individuals coming out of correctional facilities, the homeless community, victims of domestic violence and substance abuse.
www.armsaroundyou.org
RECLAIM
RECLAIM provides reintegration support that centers the mental, emotional, and relational health of individuals and families impacted by the criminal legal system to better prepare them for the return home www reclaimwa org
THE BLACK ROSE COLLECTIVE
BRC provides individualized care to community members returning home from incarceration and reintegrating into their families, the community, and their healing process.
www.theblackrosecollective.org
TEAMCHILD
TeamChild upholds the rights of youth involved in the juvenile justice system to help them secure the education, healthcare, housing and other supports they need to achieve positive outcomes in their lives.
www teamchild org
REVIVE CENTER FOR RETURNING CITIZENS
Revive’s mission is to empower those impacted by the criminal justice system, advance multi-dimensional solutions to the effects of incarceration and achieve racial justice. www.rc4rc.org
Women & Girls
Supported by the WFA Fund for Women, WaWF offers the Women & Girls Grant to organizations focused on women and girls.
We define women and girls as individuals whose gender identity, or internal, deeply held sense of their gender, is as a woman or girl. With this grant, we support organizations fostering more equitable opportunities for women and girls, and work with an intersectional lens.
2024 Women & Girls Grant Finalists
FIRST SIGHT PRODUCTIONS LLC
First Sight Productions created SHARE: Screenwriting for Healing, self-Actualization, Redemption, and Empathy a transformative program for incarcerated woman/youth that uses the art of screenwriting and filmmaking as powerful tools for healing and personal growth.
SPARK CENTRAL
www.sharescreenwriting.com
Girls Rock Lab is a Spark Central program that provides workshops, mentors, and a space where girls are empowered as leaders in musical creativity Spark Central values diversity and welcomes girls, non-binary, and transgender kids of any identity and background to participate
RAIN CITY ROCK CAMP
www spark-central org
RCRC empowers girls, women and gender nonconforming individuals to engage their creative potential through music, champion equity, and thrive in a community of allies and activists.
www raincityrockcamp org
Housing & Hunger
HOPE STREET
Hope Street exclusively serves women, many of whom are low income, have experienced trauma, and have faced barriers to equitably accessing resources and support that could help them overcome addiction and homelessness
www.hopestreethomes.org
INNOVATIONS HUMAN TRAFFICKING COLLABORATION
IHTC is a survivor-led org , deeply rooted in indigenous communities and communities of color IHTC helps survivors escape trafficking by providing access to culturally appropriate safe shelter/housing, food, health care, mental health services, employment, and other vital support.
YWCA OF KITSAP COUNTY
www.innovationshtc.org
Their mission is to eliminate racism and empower women by providing supportive services to survivors of domestic violence and educational opportunities
www ywcakitsap org
ARMS AROUND YOU
Arms Around You programs are designed to address the culmination of barriers that formerly incarcerated Black women face in reintegration.
www.armsaroundyou.org
FEPPS
FEPPS addresses the systemic inequities that prevent incarcerated women and gender nonconforming individuals from accessing transformative education and career development opportunities
www fepps org
YWCA SEATTLE/KING/SNOHOMISH
YWCA’s vision is as a healthy and joy-filled community, transformed by racial and gender equity, where women and girls of color have equal access to opportunity and resources to pursue their full potential.
www.ywcaworks.org
BECOME A WAWF MEMBER
Become a WaWF member by making your annual membership contribution today! We’re delighted to offer three membership levels: Our Sustaining Membership of $5,000, Classic Membership of $2,500, and Nonprofit Professional and Under-40 Memberships of $900. As a WaWF member, you'll have access to exclusive education programming, a spot on our grantmaking committees, voting rights on our collective grantees and annual priorities, and more!
www.wawomensfdn.org/join-give/
GIVE TO OUR WORK
A gift to WaWF's annual fund helps us remain flexible and nimble, explore new grantmaking opportunities, build spaces for membership connections, and foster learning. We do what we do because of the generous contributions of our members and donors. By supporting us, you're supporting women's philanthropy, collective giving, and community transformation. www.wawomensfdn.org/join-give/
FOLLOW US
Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on events, grants, and other programs Sign up for our community mailing list at: www.bit.ly/WaWFCommunity
@wawomensfoundation @wawomensfdn @wawomensfdn
FEPPS students, FEPPS is the 2024 Merit Award Finalist in Re-Entry Support, featured on Page 7!
