The Orcas Island Community Foundation is on target to double the amount of grants it facilitates this year.

So far in 2011, more than $550,000 in grants have been made, an 80 percent increase over the $310,000 distributed in 2010.

This growth in funding inspired the Board of the Community Foundation to take a fresh look at grant-making opportunities. The OICF Board also recognized that in order for the growing needs of the community to be met, current and thorough information on issues facing the community was needed. OICF conducted a Community Needs Assessment, bringing together more than 100 nonprofit and community leaders in eight sectors.

OICF has developed an island-wide nonprofit and service directory, which is now online at http://oicf.us/oicf/directory. This resource contains contact information for more than 109 service providers and programs.

The final needs assessment report will be presented at the upcoming “Report to Community.” The public is invited to attend the luncheon on Friday, Sept. 23 at 11:30 a.m. at Rosario Resort’s Discovery House. A donation of $35 is requested to offset the cost of providing lunch. Call 376-6423 to join the luncheon.