The Orcas Island Community Foundation is celebrating 20 years of cultivating a culture of giving.
Donors, nonprofit representatives and community members gathered to hear about OICF’s accomplishments during its annual report to the community on Sept. 10 in the Oddfellows Hall.
That first year, in 1995, the organization had $235,000 in net assets and the first grant distribution totaled $9,500. In 2015, the net assets have reached $13 million and grant distribution was $1.2 million. There are currently 111 nonprofits on Orcas Island.
“What we started 20 years ago began with trust,” said Board President Janet Brownell.
OICF’s mission is to foster philanthropy to enhance and preserve the quality of life on Orcas Island. All donations are specifically directed to benefit the charitable needs of the island.
For the second year, OICF has received national recognition for its philanthropic work. According to CF Insights, a national foundation research organization, the organization ranked number six in the U.S. for “Gifts per Capita,” and number 19 for “Most Active Grantmakers.” CF Insights surveyed 280 community foundations throughout the country.
The organization recently received a grant for a community indicators project to study the overall health of the community.
“Our goal is to continue to be the bridge,” said Executive Director Hilary Canty. “I am looking forward to the next 20 years. It gives me goose bumps.”
Lisa Byers, executive director of OPAL Community Land Trust, was guest speaker during the annual report.
“OICF is a conduit for making this community the kind we want it to be,” she said.
Byers talked about three projects that OPAL is currently undertaking. Thirty rental apartments are slated to go onto 3.7 acres on North Beach Road property across from Children’s House. The Edith Macefield house in Ballard (made famous in the animated film “Up”) may be donated to OPAL and brought up to the island – if enough funds can be raised. If not, the house could be demolished. Macefield refused a $1 million offer to buy her house, forcing developers to build around the home. So far, a total of $18,647 of a $205,000 goal has been raised.
“We’ve had a lot of national press but we’ve learned that publicity doesn’t always result in dollars,” Byers said.
OPAL is also developing a “Community Loan Fund” that would pair individuals looking to borrow money with private loans from community members. Byers said it’s already a common occurrence on the island, but having a non-profit as the intermediary is beneficial for everyone. The fund will make loans to creditworthy individuals and businesses who do not meet bank lending standards. The loans will be for mortgages, equipment and small businesses. It may also offer a line of credit for local nonprofits. For more information, go to https://www.opalclt.org/in-the-works/loan-fund/.
Canty finished the meeting with a special toast to Bob Henigson, an island philanthropist who passed away this year.
