Whatcom Community Foundation
Bellingham, Washington · EIN 911726410 · Private foundation
Based in Bellingham, Washington, Whatcom Community Foundation has awarded $39.0M across 721 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2025. Its largest grant on record went to Mercy Housing Northwest. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What Whatcom Community Foundation funds
Whatcom Community Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, disability services, economic development, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include children, disabled.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Whatcom Community Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Housing Northwest HOUSING & SHELTER | Seattle, WA | $1.5M | 2023 |
| Meridian School District #505 CHILDCARE | Bellingham, WA | $1.0M | 2025 |
| Bellingham School District 501 CAPITAL | Bellingham, WA | $1.0M | 2018 |
| National Council for Community Development Inc Dba National Development C ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Boston, MA | $988K | 2021 |
| Sustainable Connections ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Bellingham, WA | $884K | 2021 |
| Alternatives to Hunger Dba Bellingham Food Bank FOOD, AGRICULTURE & NUTRITION | Bellingham, WA | $858K | 2020 |
| Sustainable Connections FOOD, AGRICULTURE & NUTRITION | Bellingham, WA | $856K | 2023 |
| Sustainable Connections BUILDING COMMUNITY | Bellingham, WA | $802K | 2020 |
| Sustainable Connections FOOD, AGRICULTURE & NUTRITION | Bellingham, WA | $788K | 2024 |
| Sustainable Connections FOOD, AGRICULTURE & NUTRITION | Bellingham, WA | $635K | 2019 |
| Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association ENVIRONMENT | Bellingham, WA | $608K | 2020 |
| Alternatives to Hunger Dba Bellingham Food Bank FOOD, AGRICULTURE & NUTRITION | Bellingham, WA | $605K | 2023 |
| Bellingham Technical College EDUCATION | Bellingham, WA | $600K | 2025 |
| Alternatives to Hunger Dba Bellingham Food Bank FOOD, AGRICULTURE & NUTRITION | Bellingham, WA | $544K | 2025 |
| Alternatives to Hunger Youth, Family, Human Services | Bellingham, WA | $540K | 2017 |
Whatcom Community Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Whatcom Community Foundation
Whatcom Community Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at whatcomcf.org.
Is Whatcom Community Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what Whatcom Community Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Whatcom Community Foundation
- Does Whatcom Community Foundation accept grant applications?
- Whatcom Community Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Whatcom Community Foundation fund?
- Whatcom Community Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Mercy Housing Northwest, Meridian School District #505, Bellingham School District 501. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Whatcom Community Foundation give in grants?
- Whatcom Community Foundation reported $5.5M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2021). Across all years in our data it has awarded $39.0M over 721 grants.
- Where is Whatcom Community Foundation located?
- Whatcom Community Foundation is based in Bellingham, Washington. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 911726410.
- How can I find foundations similar to Whatcom Community Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Whatcom Community Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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