About Us

• An independent, publicly-supported, tax-exempt organization formed to attract, manage and distribute the income from gifts of capital for community betterment.
• A grant maker and advisor available to assist compatible nonprofit groups in providing and improving services in health, education, the arts/humanities, community development and social programs. 
• A vehicle through which individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations and private foundations can more effectively support nonprofit organizations throughout the Yakima Valley.  People do not give to the Yakima Valley Community Foundation...they give through the Yakima Valley Community Foundation.

What is a Community Foundation?

Community Foundations are philanthropic organizations whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in a specific geographic area.  They carry out this very broad mission by building a large endowment (or permanent) fund, using the annual income to make grants to support projects for a variety of local nonprofit organizations.  In addition, community foundations help regional nonprofit organizations and individuals meet their philanthropic goals by managing and growing assets for them over time. 

Typically, a community foundation comprises a collection of many separate endowed funds established by individuals, families, charitable organizations and corporations…a community of donors.  These funds are pooled and invested by the foundation board of directors who represent the community, and the income is distributed as grants to nonprofit organizations.

The first community foundation began in 1914 in Cleveland.  There are more than 700 community foundations nationwide, with aggregate assets totaling more than $40 billion.  In 2009, these foundations awarded grants totaling more than $3.2 billion.

Are there other Community Foundations in Washington?

There are community foundations in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Wenatchee, Walla Walla, Olympia, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Skagit County, Snohomish County, Grays Harbor County, Whatcom County and other smaller communities.  Community foundations are defined in part by serving a specific geographic area. 

How was the Yakima Valley Community Foundation funded?

Initial funding for the creation of the Yakima Valley Community Foundation came from assets formerly held in the Providence Health Foundation (approximately $8,000,000).  Health Management Associates will also make an annual contribution of $1,000,000 for a period of ten years. 

Initial funding enables YVCF to cover operating costs and to make significant grants during the first years of operation.  The foundation will continue to build on this initial base to ensure its standing as a foundation that will operate in perpetuity.

What other sources of funding will support the foundation?

Contributions of cash, securities and real property from individuals, corporations and foundations will be the major source of future funds. 

How does the YVCF differ from other nonprofit programs?

Most nonprofits have a mission that addresses a specific area of interest.  The Yakima Valley Community Foundation has a very broad mission to improve the quality of life for residents of the Yakima Valley; thus, it is free to make grants in any area with a charitable purpose. 

Also - most nonprofit organizations conduct annual fundraising drives to support their current operations.  As a general rule, much of the funds raised during a given year are used that same year.  Community foundations do not mount annual campaigns, seeking instead to secure larger gifts (typically in the form of bequests or planned giving) in order to build a large endowment.  The annual income from the endowment then funds the grant making and operations of the community foundation.

Simply stated, other nonprofit organizations operate as the “checking account” for community programs, whereas the Yakima Valley Community Foundation is the charitable “savings account”, benefiting valley residents from generation to generation through a variety of endowment funds.

What is an endowment?

An endowment is a type of fund that is set up to produce income for a purpose, usually charitable.  The fund is created so that only the income is distributed, typically annually.  An endowment is a permanent fund, designed to work in perpetuity to benefit future generations.  Its principal is not distributed, and its value is protected against inflation.  The typical distribution from a foundation endowment is 4-5% per year.

What happens to a contribution?

There are several possibilities, depending on the donor’s wishes.

• If the donor makes a contribution to the Unrestricted Endowment Fund, the contribution, together with previous and subsequent such contributions, will generate income.  The YVCF board of directors will determine what amount of income will be applied for grantmaking purposes annually.
• The donor may specify that the contribution be applied to a Field of Interest Fund, which has a more narrow scope of purpose.  (Such as education, mental health, performing arts, youth programs in Sunnyside, etc.)  Such funds produce annual income for grants to fulfill a donor’s specific purpose(s) for these funds exclusively.
• A donor may choose to contribute to a Designated Fund, which is a fund that is authorized to benefit up to 5 particular nonprofit organizations.  (You tell us which specific nonprofits you wish to benefit.)  Income from designated funds may be distributed only to the organizations named by the donor.
• Donors may specify that a contribution go to a Donor Advised Fund.  In this case, the donor, members of the donor’s family, or others designated by the donor may periodically recommend to the board that distributions be made to nonprofit organizations, and in amounts recommended by the donor.  Yakima Valley Community Foundation is not legally bound to follow these recommendations.  However, YVCF will do so in most cases when the intended grantee is a legitimate nonprofit organization, meets all relevant laws and is dong work consistent with the mission of the foundation.
• Finally, nonprofits may wish to establish a Nonprofit Organization Fund, wherein the agency's long-term assets may be assigned to YVCF as "agency transacitons" for investment purposes.  Each year, earned income from the fund is sent to the organizaton pursuant to the YVCF Investment Policy distribution guidelines.   

How does YVCF invest its assets?

Yakima Valley Community Foundation, like most community foundations, invests its assets in securities, as recommended by the Investment Committee in consultation with outside professional investment advisors.

How does YVCF select grant recipients?

Yakima Valley Community Foundation is committed to building and sustaining a strong sense of community among the people of the Yakima Valley.  Therefore, it encourages and supports projects that bring people together to enhance their understanding of each other, to improve the quality of their lives and to strengthen their sense of sharing a common future.  YVCF favors projects that show a potential for becoming self-sustaining within a reasonable time after the grant period.  The foundation sees the making of grants as a process of exploring possibilities together so that all parties can become engaged participants in the mutual goal of building community among Yakima Valley residents.