Community Foundation for Southwest Washington

This quarter, we took our board meeting into the community to the Foundation WA, which took over the Bridgeview Resource Center late last year. We toured the space with Operations Manager Navi Bhandal and learned more about the organization’s work alongside youth and people re-entering community after incarceration. Founder Lester Griffin shared how lived experience has shaped an approach centered on belonging, support and helping people navigate what comes next. Since opening, the Foundation WA has served more than 100 young people through after school programming, enrichment opportunities and community connection. Their re-entry program currently supports up to 14 residents at a time. Moments like these remind us that community is strengthened through relationships, and that nonprofits thrive not only through funding, but through networks, expertise and people who are willing to open doors. If you’re looking for ways to support local organizations, consider getting involved with the Foundation WA through volunteering, sharing professional expertise, making introductions or contributing resources that help expand their work. Learn more and contact them through their website, thefoundationwa.org, or email contact@thefoundationwa.org Thank you to Lester, Navi and the Foundation WA team for welcoming us into your space and sharing your vision for community.

This quarter, we took our board meeting into the community to the Foundation WA, which took over the Bridgeview Resource Center late last year. We toured the space with Operations Manager Navi Bhandal and learned more about the organization’s work alongside youth and people re-entering community after incarceration. Founder Lester Griffin shared how lived experience has shaped an approach centered on belonging, support and helping people navigate what comes next. Since opening, the Foundation WA has served more than 100 young people through after school programming, enrichment opportunities and community connection. Their re-entry program currently supports up to 14 residents at a time. Moments like these remind us that community is strengthened through relationships, and that nonprofits thrive not only through funding, but through networks, expertise and people who are willing to open doors. If you’re looking for ways to support local organizations, consider getting involved with the Foundation WA through volunteering, sharing professional expertise, making introductions or contributing resources that help expand their work. Learn more and contact them through their website, thefoundationwa.org, or email contact@thefoundationwa.org Thank you to Lester, Navi and the Foundation WA team for welcoming us into your space and sharing your vision for community.

Join us at the Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at Esther Short Park this Saturday! Hosted by our community partner, OWIES, and the City of Vancouver, Washington, this annual event honors Black freedom, culture and contributions while creating opportunities for our region to connect and celebrate together. We believe strong communities are built through sustained investment in the organizations that create pathways to opportunities for more people in our region. Through our strategic grantmaking, we have supported OWIES over many years to help strengthen the work they lead across southwest Washington. Many of our staff and board members will be volunteering throughout the day, and we look forward to participating alongside our neighbors. For those who joined us at our Annual Luncheon, consider bringing your Field Guide to Community Engagement and using it in the wild. Saturday, June 20 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Esther Short Park Free admission | Family friendly | Pet friendly Learn more at jfcvancouver.org

Last week, 600 of us gathered at the Hilton for our 2026 Annual Luncheon, Groundwork, and we had a lot to celebrate. ✦ Our Philanthropy Award Honorees showed us what’s possible when we dedicate ourselves to doing good and looking out for our neighbors. ✦ Rukiayah Adams of 1803 Fund talked about the difference between money, income, capital and wealth, and she reminded us that every investment is about people. ✦ Matt Morton shared that in 2025, the Community Foundation had another record-breaking year of grants and scholarships—almost $40 million touched lives thanks to the generosity of our donors. Those are a just a few highlights, but there were many more noteworthy moments throughout the afternoon. We’ve loved hearing your takeaways, so keep them coming, and remember to tag us! If you didn’t get to attend, check out the recording at cfsww.org/groundwork.

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington’s luncheon on Laying the Groundwork in Our Community. One of my favorite takeaways was a Field Guide to Community Engagement—a simple but powerful reminder that meaningful community work starts with curiosity, observation, and listening. Rather than offering answers, the guide encourages us to get out into our communities and reflect on thoughtful prompts about the places we inhabit and the people we serve. It’s a practice that aligns deeply with my belief that strong communities are built not only through action, but through understanding. I’m looking forward to taking this guide with me on walks, into coffee shops, and throughout the neighborhoods I care about, using it as a tool to deepen my connection to community. Thank you to the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington for creating space for these important conversations and reflections. #CommunityEngagement #CommunityBuilding #Leadership #Belonging #NonprofitLeadership #SouthwestWashington

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington’s luncheon on Laying the Groundwork in Our Community. One of my favorite takeaways was a Field Guide to Community Engagement—a simple but powerful reminder that meaningful community work starts with curiosity, observation, and listening. Rather than offering answers, the guide encourages us to get out into our communities and reflect on thoughtful prompts about the places we inhabit and the people we serve. It’s a practice that aligns deeply with my belief that strong communities are built not only through action, but through understanding. I’m looking forward to taking this guide with me on walks, into coffee shops, and throughout the neighborhoods I care about, using it as a tool to deepen my connection to community. Thank you to the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington for creating space for these important conversations and reflections. #CommunityEngagement #CommunityBuilding #Leadership #Belonging #NonprofitLeadership #SouthwestWashington

I always have enjoyed the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington's luncheon, but this one more so than most really hit a chord with me. In part, for me, I feel becoming a parent recently has altered my understanding of what community means to me. So having this event showcase these great stories of what people are doing to empower others in their community; I find myself energized, wanting to help people make an impact. Something that Internetworks does in alignment with this is offer an annual nonprofit technology grant. If you are connected with a small nonprofit who is running into some technology roadblocks, please send them this link so they can apply for our grant program: https://lnkd.in/gactv8Ci