Changes at the Community Foundation recharge island non-profits

Hilary Canty, Executive Director of the Orcas Island Community Foundation, stands in the new office across Prune Alley from Island Market.

With the move to a new location in the heart of Eastsound,  four outgoing Board Members and two new board members, a new Board President and an ambitious endowment program — Endow Orcas — recently launched, the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF) is well-situated to deal with the growth and challenges of the next decade.

At the OICF Grants Ceremony last Friday, May 22, outgoing President Susan Gudgell praised the partners who “developed a heightened sensitivity to the needs in the community … and stepped up more than any year in the past” to respond.

Incoming President Moana Kutsche frankly admitted, “I’m terrified, but I’m really excited,” to be heading the nearly 20-year old organization.

Kutsche, who headed the Grants Committee in recent years, reviewed the grants process, saying that the worldwide — and local — economic downturn gave the committee “the opportunity to become more efficient.”

In the grants process, the OICF grants committee reviews, prioritizes and approves grant applications. The Partners in Philanthropy choose from among the grants vetted by the grants committee. OICF grant funds come from the returns on its Community Endowment, and also from a couple of returned grants from previous years. 

This year, the OICF gave out nearly $73,000, with $30,00 coming from OICF’s Community Endowment funds and $43,000 from Partners in Philanthropy.

Kutsche noted that the committee received 34 grant applications this year, in contrast to 38 last year. Several organizations had called to say that they had received grants from OICF and the Partners in Philanthropy in the past, and while grateful, recognized that there were now other organizations who needed the money more.

This year, grant requests for operating expenses were considered, “in response to the greater need,” Kutsche said.

OICF Executive Director Hilary Canty gave an update, including the recent move of the foundation, and the Endow Orcas program which helps individual non-profits create and grow endowment funds.

Canty also announced the new OICF board members, Rachel Adams and Christopher Peacock, and noted the outgoing members — Midge Kraetzer, Doug Pearson, Ann Snelson, and OICF Founder Bob Waunch.

OICF Board Member Rick Gould produced a brochure, to guide people who may want to assist with projects of organizations that applied for OICF grants this year, but were unable to be funded, or were partially funded.

That brochure, and other information is avalable at the OICF office. Earlier this month, the Community Foundation moved to the upstairs office on Prune Alley, at the south end of the Doty building. The office was formerly the counseling offices of Michael Mele, and was originally the family home of the Dotys.

For further information about the Community Foundation’s work, call 376-OICF (6423) or email hilary@oicf.us.