Langley resident and super can-doer Jane Spalding invited me to interview Jessie Gunn, the executive director of the Whidbey Community Foundation—or WCF—which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Jane serves on its board.
Meeting at the Coffee at Dawn Cafe, I typed fast while Jessie, who has worked with WCF since 2019—and was hired as its ED in 2022—filled me in on the opportunities offered by WCF. The foundation is supported by philanthropic donors, grants and fundraising to further its mission, which is “connecting people who care to problems that matter.”
“Donors are critical to the work of nonprofits, comprising 70 to 80 percent of our budget,” said Jessie. “When we started we were managing a handful of funds totaling about $20,000. Today we steward over 50 funds totaling over $7.6 million in total assets.”
Impressive.
One of the foundation’s roles is strengthening nonprofits. The WCF website notes: ”We provide essential philanthropic support, capacity-building, and training specifically designed for small- to mid-size rural nonprofits across Whidbey Island. By sharing expertise and hosting workshops like grant‑writing and budget development, we help nonprofits build long‑term resilience.”
“Our mission is to improve quality of life across the whole island,” noted Jessie. “We support donors and their philanthropic interests, support the nonprofits in being sustainable and successful. We also make financial awards for community needs.”
While waiting in line to order coffee and a GF pastry, I saw Grethe Cammermeyer, standing in front of me. Grethe once served as a colonel in the Washington National Guard, and is an activist and author whose book Serving in Silence was made into a film. I told her I’m always glad to see her, after first meeting Grethe and her spouse Diane Divelbess last year for stories. When mentioning why I was there, Grethe said she donated to the WCF. Later she emailed with a note on why she supports the foundation:
“Where do I put my measly monthly charitable donation as a resident of Whidbey Island and for that matter, the USA? Alone, those small donations seem so small that one wonders if it makes any difference in the grand scheme of things. Whidbey has over 300 non-profits each with a dedicated staff, volunteers and purpose. Again I would ask, where does my small donation make the most difference?
“Using Charity Navigator, I learned there are over 245,000 charities which supply information on how they spend their donated money. As a donor, where would I ever be able to assess my best target? However, I found that the Whidbey Community Foundation is listed in this registrar and rates 94% (of 100%) which is quite remarkable. The Whidbey Community Foundation is a place to direct our individual resources, which then combine with other monthly donations make a much larger difference. The Foundation determines who will be the annual benefactors and thus makes a much larger impact to support local entities which ultimately help us all. I would certainly encourage monthly donations to the Whidbey Community Foundation.”
Some donors prefer to keep their identity anonymous. The Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, for instance, is one of the nonprofits supported by WCF. The art school posted a thank you from a generous donor on its Facebook page the past February. Lisa Bernhardt, executive director of PNW Art School, gave me permission to run her quote: “We are deeply grateful to have received a surprise generous donation from a mysterious and lovely donor that will be utilized for a worthwhile purpose. Thanks Coupeville Peony Fund and Whidbey Community Foundation.”
For the past 10 years WCF has built a culture of trust with its donors and non-profits. First it began by bringing in professionals to advise Whidbey Island’s non-profits. Learn more about its local giving and community impact here.
“Before we had the discretionary dollars to give away in competitive grants, we recognized our ability to network and bring training and workshops to Whidbey Island,” said Jessie. “We became members of the Nonprofit Association of Washington or NAWA. We can’t do this alone. We partner with groups like NAWA to bring succession planning, board development, financial management, volunteer management, strategic planning and training opportunities. They are free or low cost.”
Succession planning, for instance, is offered by WCF in a June 24th workshop.
“Succession planning is a way to prepare for the inevitable—like an executive director retiring,” said Jessie. “We help nonprofits to start thinking about the prep work ahead of time so the organization stays viable.”
She spoke of the term Founder’s Syndrome. “A lot of institutional knowledge stays in the founder’s head,” said Jessie. “In succession planning there is an opportunity for the nonprofit to pause and ask: What will we do in the interim? You think about generational changes. Many founders started 30 years ago. A new generation of leaders is coming through the ranks. We want to bring the kind of training to make it through changes without fizzling out.”
WCF offers workshops on nonprofit board development as well.
“We have over 250 nonprofits and profiles on our website,” said Jessie. “It’s a matter of board members retiring. Who is coming up in the wake? It’s another area where we invest our training dollars.”
Jessie worked in nonprofit sectors the past 20 years.
“It’s my calling. I’ve worked in management consulting for nonprofits, with New York City’s public health department, private and corporate philanthropy. I’ve seen how government and philanthropy can come together.”
WCF really hit its stride during the COVID pandemic. By April of 2020, it raised close to half a million dollars in nine months for organizations working on the frontlines during the shutdown. Since then, WCF has partnered with the Goosefoot Community Fund, to fundraise for the Essential Needs Program, which continues to this day. Along with Goosefoot, Island Thrift in Oak Harbor is now partnering with WCF to add discretionary dollars to the program to fill gaps where needed. One common need is helping seniors on fixed incomes.
Workforce housing is another area cultivated by WCF. Dan Neumeyer, owner of Jade Craftsman Builders, saw an opportunity to invite his clients—many of whom were building second homes on Whidbey—to contribute half a percentage or more of their building cost to offset the cost of housing for people who live and work on Whidbey. His clients donated over $50,000. He opened the Whidbey Affordable Housing Fund, stewarded by the WCF, which used the funds toward a grant and loan for affordable housing at the Upper Langley Co-Housing Community.The WCF is the fiscal sponsor of non-profit Whidbey Home Raising, which was created to bring social investors and the community together to build permanently affordable homes for our work force residents.
“Anyone can give to this fund,” said Jessie.
Meanwhile, Jane Spalding said some of WCF’s funding goes toward paying staff in its member nonprofits.
“One of our signature grant making programs is capacity building,” said Jessie, adding to Jane’s comment. “I use the phrase the ‘unsexy grants.’”
An example is funding a social worker position for the nonprofit South Whidbey at Home, “a membership-based nonprofit dedicated to helping older South Whidbey residents remain in their homes and active in the community they love,” founded by the late Lynn Willeford.
Jessie also wanted to plug its Legacy Giving Program. Donors who are planning their estate—can designate tax deductible dollars to specific or general programs under the WCF umbrella.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for upcoming decade celebrations with WCF. For more information visit their website.
Non-profits are invited to join the WCF free directory.