Submitted by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
Neighbors across the region will soon see a boost in local connection, storytelling, and civic participation, thanks to $60,100 in Project Connect: Civic Life & Belonging Grants awarded to 21 nonprofit initiatives. The funding supports community-driven efforts that bring people together, foster understanding, and create opportunities for meaningful participation in everyday community life across Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties.
The awarded projects reflect a wide range of local approaches to strengthening community—spanning youth leadership, intergenerational storytelling, cultural celebrations, community meals, public art, and civic engagement initiatives.
Now in its second year, Project Connect has expanded from $55,000 awarded to 19 projects during its 2025 pilot to $60,100 supporting 21 projects in 2026. To ensure the funding directly addresses regional needs, a volunteer committee of 12 community evaluators who live across Lewis, Mason, and Thurston counties reviewed the proposals to help determine the final 21 grant recipients.
“We are inspired by the many ways local people are coming together to strengthen their communities,” said Mindie Reule, President & CEO at Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. “These projects remind us that connection and neighborliness are important to civic life, and that stronger communities are built when people connect, participate, and work together.”
Across this year’s applications, several themes emerged, including creative approaches to building belonging, growing cross-sector collaboration, and a focus on projects designed to strengthen skills, relationships, and community networks beyond the grant period.
The 2026 Project Connect Grant recipients are categorized into five key focus areas:
- Stories Across Generations: Nature Nurture Farmacy (“Bridging Generations: The CARE Initiative”); Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America (“Scouts & Elders: Voices That Built Our Community”); Indigenous Performance Productions (“The Fox and the Butterfly: Native Youth Storytelling”); Unforgettable Arts Programs (“Unforgettable Art”).
- Cultural Belonging & Community Identity: Women’s Dignity School (“Lead With Dignity: From Voices to Action”); TOGETHER! (“Familias Unidas”); Arbutus Folk School (“Chinese Community Workshop”); The Rebecca Howard Park Community Engagement Project and Black Heritage Cultural Program (“OURstory in the Park”).
- Gathering Around Community: Mason Matters (“The Great Local Block Party”); FEED NEEDS (“Community Table Shelton”); South Sound Food System Network (“Setting the Table of Equity”); PNW Market & Event Co. (“Camp Belonging”); Olympia Art Space Alliance (“Summer Community Mingle”).
- Creativity, Access & Shared Learning: Hummingbird Studio (“Creating in Community: A Mosaic Gift for Thurston County Food Bank”); Computer Upcycle Project (“Neighbors Who Fix Computers”); Lewis County Autism Coalition (“Bridging Distance, Building Belonging: Community Connection Shuttle”); Toledo Neighbors Program (“Internet Café”).
- Youth Leadership & Civic Participation: Child Care Action Council (“Caring Kids: Family Volunteer Program”); Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound (“Torch Club & Keystone Clubs at North Mason”); Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County (“Project Connect: Youth Voices Podcast”); Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County (“Back to Belonging: A Youth Connection Initiative”).
To learn more about this grant program, or the projects funded, visit the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound website.
