All in WA already supporting these Whatcom funds. Here’s how you can help
Two Whatcom non-profit foundations have raised thousands of dollars from a statewide community relief effort.
The All in Washington initiative has raised $45 million of its $65 million goal since it launched on May 27, according to a Tuesday, June 23, news release. The statewide initiative aims to support workers and families impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
From those donations, the Whatcom Community Foundation is expecting to receive around $170,000 while the United Way of Whatcom County has received just over $5,000 so far. Both funds disburse grants to local organizations that can apply for funds.
All in WA is funded by corporate sponsors and individual donations. People can donate to a general fund or pledge donations to local non-profits. To enable localized giving, All in WA has set up a website where people can donate to specific causes and local organizations.
Mauri Ingram, president and CEO of Whatcom Community Foundation, said her organization’s Resilience Fund started before the All in WA campaign and has raised about $850,000, including the about $170,000 expected from the campaign. These funds are the result of direct donations rather than donations to the general All in WA fund, she added.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has been matching up to $25 million in individual donations under $1 million to All in WA. However, Ingram said she is unsure what amount of the $170,000 her organization raised will be matched because that $25 million is being spread around the state.
Ingram said the Resilience Fund has issued about $650,000 grants to 30 organizations. The grants are focused on supporting people with compromised immune systems and disabilities, and those without health insurance or access to sick days. Additionally, the fund aims to support communities of color, economically vulnerable people and those at risk for intimate partner violence.
Ingram said she has been impressed by the range of individual donations the fund has received. In the last couple of weeks, they have even received three individual donations of around $30,000 each.
“It’s wonderful to see how inspired people are,” Ingram said. “We’ve gotten gifts from service clubs, individuals and families. Just to see the scope and scale of giving is just really exciting.”
Peter Theisen, president and CEO of United Way of Whatcom County, said the just over $5,000 his organization has received so far resulted from matched donations. The money is going into a fund that predated the All in WA campaign called the Emergency Recovery Fund: COVID-19.
United Way of Whatcom County is receiving funds on a monthly basis from All in WA over the next three months based on pledges they receive, Theisen said. He added, United Way has issued grants on a weekly basis to local organizations struggling to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic and is encouraging more to apply for funds.
“We are continuing to respond with these emergency grants to community organizations and we are seeking community support to make that happen,” Theisen said. “We encourage people to go online and make a gift to have a double impact.”
Theisen said United Way grants have initially covered different organization’s technology and communication costs, social distancing equipment, personal protection equipment and facilitated remote work.
However, as the effects of the pandemic continue United Way is also meeting the needs of organizations providing food, housing, childcare and financial assistance in the county, he added.
To promote the fund, All in WA held a virtual benefit concert sponsored by Amazon and Microsoft on Wednesday, June 24. The line-up included Pearl Jam, Macklemore, Brandi Carlile, Ciara, Russell Wilson, The Black Tones, Dave Matthews, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Pete Carroll, Mary Lambert, Joel McHale, Ben Gibbard, Allen Stone, Sleater-Kinney, Travis Thompson, Prometheus Brown, The Head and The Heart, Noah Gundersen, Mark Diamond, Jessica Dobson and more.
Theisen said he anticipates more funds to flow in after the concert and aims to use those funds to meet continued demand throughout the pandemic.
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