More than 92 nonprofit organizations were among the recipients of grants awarded by GECF in 2007. The Foundation processed more than 330 grant applications and awarded more than $1,157,000 in grants and scholarships in 2007; $643,000 of that total was awarded through competitive grant processes or at the recommendation of individual Foundation donors.

Grants for education and youth led the way and comprised the majority of the giving by the Foundation and its donors, followed closely by grants to Arts, Human Services, Community Development, the Environment and Health & Wellness – all pieces of our Healthy Community pie.  

Some examples of the programs we funded are:
Arts:  Seniors Making Art – Senior Art Program
Community Development:  American Red Cross – GPS units for disaster preparedness
Education:  Sno-Isle Library - Darrington Library expansion
Environment:  Stilly Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force – Restoration Ecology for Youth Stewards
Health & Wellness:  Youth Suicide Prevention Program – Building Public Awareness
Human Services:  Snohomish County Center for Battered Women – Transitional housing start-up kits
Youth:  The Dance School - Scholarships

Our largest grants in 2007 came through the Verizon/MCI settlement fund.  These totaled $747,000 for 2007.  This competitive grant process funded programs around the state for these organizations:  Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology; Opportunity Council; Potlatch Fund; Stone Soup; WithinReach; Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Npower Seattle and Community Voice Mail.

2008 promises to be a busy grantmaking year for the Foundation, with eight competitive grant cycles scheduled, and a strong base of highly engaged donor-advisors already developing their individual grantmaking strategy for the new year.   We look forward to a successful year of working with you in your giving.