Thursday, October 1, 2026
CASHMERE — The Community Foundation of North Central Washington awarded $42,000 to local nonprofit organizations through the Cashmere Legacy Fund Grant Program in 2025, continuing a community-led approach to philanthropy focused on local needs.
Launched in 2024, the Cashmere Legacy Fund has distributed $68,500 in grants over its first two years, supporting organizations that serve the Cashmere community and surrounding areas.
The program relies on Local Advisory Boards, or LABs, made up of community members who work with Community Foundation board representatives to review applications, conduct site visits and determine funding priorities. The model is based on the belief that residents are best positioned to guide how charitable dollars are invested in their own communities.
Now in its second year, the Cashmere Legacy Fund continues to grow as communities refine their approach to collaborative giving.
“[It has been an] enchanting experience working with this LAB, a group of folks truly dedicated to helping our community, and community-based organizations that deliver that loving care,” said Paul Wojciechowski, a Cashmere Local Advisory Board member. “As an added bonus I learned how much good and caring work takes place in [our] seemingly quiet community that otherwise I wouldn’t see.”
The fund was launched with support from the Community Foundation’s Founders Circle, a group of donors who contributed $5,000 or more to establish the fund. Ongoing support is accepted at any level through grantable or endowed giving options.
To recognize this year’s grant recipients, the Community Foundation and the Cashmere Local Advisory Board hosted a grantee celebration Dec. 8 at the Mission Creek Community Club. The event brought together nonprofit partners, advisory board members and Community Foundation representatives.
The Community Foundation thanked donors, community members and advisory board participants for their support and congratulated the 2025 grant recipients for their service to the Cashmere area.
Wojciechowski said the need for local support continues to outpace available funding.
“My wish is that there was more money to allocate, because there is such a need,” he said. “The help that the endowed organizations provide is on the grassroots level and targets the most needy and vulnerable. If you can, please give generously or volunteer. Our work and our donations make this community blossom for all of us.”
Grant recipients and award amounts include:
In addition to local grantmaking, the Community Foundation uses a Regional Pool to support organizations whose services extend beyond a single community. Nonprofits with more than one-third of their service population outside a local Legacy Fund boundary may be eligible for this funding. Alatheia Riding Center received a $10,000 Regional Pool award in recognition of its regional impact.
Local Advisory Board members for the Cashmere Legacy Fund include Teresa Boushay, Lacey Price, JoAnne Prusa, Laurie Shorett, Randy Smith, Tod Treat, Sophia Troeh, Cassie Warman and Wojciechowski. Founders Circle supporters include Gerald Doyle and Randy and Donna Smith.
The Community Foundation of North Central Washington, established in 1986, works to grow, protect and connect charitable gifts supporting communities across Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties. The foundation manages $163 million in assets through more than 690 individual funds and has awarded more than $63 million in grants and scholarships.
For more information, call 509-663-7716 or visit www.cfncw.org.
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