Grant Making

We believe that quality of life is grounded in the health of our communities.  We believe that healthy and safe communities result when:

• Children and youth become citizens who have the desire and the skills to be employed, and the skills to participate in the civic life of the community.
• Working age adults obtain and retain employment with adequate income.
• Working age adults have the skills and resources needed to support the needs of children and youth and the elderly.
• Working age adults have access to responsive affordable health care.
• Elderly citizens are able to maintain their economic well-being and engage in community.
• Community members are stewards of our community and natural resources.
• All citizens are safe.
• All citizens are active in civic and cultural life of the community.

Measuring Change in Community   Asking SO WHAT?

To learn how our grants and activities have affected community we implemented a systems change model of evaluation we refer to as the “so what?”

We did this to inform ourselves about the strengths and weaknesses of community, the impact of our grants, and to provide important information to our donors about how their contributions are making a difference.

When we award a grant for a eyeglasses we want to know what will be seen with them and what will change in community because of what we see.