Update: Giving Locally

We wanted to follow up briefly on our Community Giving program with the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation.

We are inviting the entire Exit133 reading community to think (and do something) about local philanthropy. By giving a portion of you stimulus check to the Community Foundation we can pool our money together and do something really great.

The story seems to have struck a chord with many of you. The Community started receiving checks. KUOW (National Public Radio in Seattle) ran a story about the program during All Things Considered. The doors are still open and you can still join the process.

But what are we giving to? As part of its community grant process, the Community Foundation is working to identify several important local needs. Anyone who gives through our program will be invited to sit down and discuss those needs — what we feel passionate about, what we would really like to see happen in our community — and together decide on an issue we’d like to support.

So far, the Community Foundation has highlighted three important needs:

• Access to arts and cultural activities for all residents
• Civic engagement initiatives that connect diverse individuals and organization
• Family sustainability through education and personal responsibility

What do these mean to you? What needs do you see in our community that fall under these issues? We all think this is a great place to live and work, but all great places can also use improvement. What philanthropic priorities could a group of engaged citizens (AKA, us) do something about … let us know.

To participate, visit our group donor page on The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation’s website. You can either enter payment information on-line, or follow the instructions to mail in a check. None of the money we pool together will go to the Community Foundation or Exit133 — every penny will go to the need that we all decide to fund.

Previously on Exit133