Community Sustaining Fund announces Spring grant round Sustaining Fund volunteers
The Community Sustaining Fund (CSF) provides grants to support progressive, community-oriented
projects across Thurston County. Their goal is to empower individuals and organizations that advance social justice, environmental health, and community activism. For over 30 years, the CSF grants have supported local innovation and creative collaboration potential.
Thousands of dollars from the community to the community
CSF holds a Spring and a Fall grant round each year and has awarded more than $125,000 to 200+ groups and individuals. CSF is made up of volunteer community organizers who raise funds and directly sow that capital back into our communities for the benefit of all. One hundred percent of CSF donations and contributions are returned in the form of financial support to community-based projects. You can directly contribute to local projects by rounding up your purchases at the Olympia Food Co-Op cash register, and online or by mail.
Standing on the threshold
The 2021 Spring CSF grant round will prioritize funding to projects that address emergent community needs. Our recent past and current reality is a time of unprecedented challenges. We are standing on the threshold of the next chapter: a historical opportunity for healing and rebuilding. The CSF’s highest goal at this time is to support the work of restoration and hope in our communities.
Work that will mitigate, repair, sustain
Priority needs might look like recovery efforts for individuals impacted by COVID-19, equity work that mitigates or addresses suffering caused by racism or xenophobia, or work that seeks to honor, repair, and sustain our Earth, among other community efforts.
Encouraging submission of projects
CSF welcomes projects that meet our traditional grant criteria. If the number of applicants and their requests exceed the funding available, projects that focus on emergent community needs will be prioritized. Note applications have not exceeded funds available for the last several grant cycles, so review your needs and send an application.
The Sue Lundy fund has its own criteria
The CSF is also honored to administer the Sue Lundy Fund as a separate source of grant dollars for community projects that embody Sue’s passion. Sue was a community activist and volunteer at the Olympia Kiwanis Food Bank Garden. She devoted boundless energy to educating, mentoring, and teaching the value of being good stewards of the land and of raising vegetables for those in need. Applications for Sue Lundy funds have their own criteria, also available online through the CSF website.
Applications will be available April 1 with a deadline for submission of April 30, 2021. Grant details, criteria, and application are provided on the CSF webpage www.oly-wa.us/csf/index.php
Thanks to a unique community
The people who make up the Community Sustaining Fund of Thurston County sincerely thank community members for their support and meaningful work – and for the innovation and passion that make this community unique. Please give CSF some love on Facebook and reach out to them with any questions or interests. www.facebook.com/Community-Sustaining-Fund
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